322 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 4, 1894. 
aggregate rainfall as a sum total for each year, followed by a 
detailed tabulated statement to prove that, notwithstanding 286 hours 
less sunshine this year than last, there is such a thing as “ ripe 
wood," despite all his strong statements to the contrary both 
previously and after. 
“ Sceptic’s ” amusement at the term “ solar influences ’’ is as con¬ 
sistent as all the rest of his logic. He prefers the vague term “ sun¬ 
shine,” which to himself can mean nothing, since he labours so 
diligently to prove that wood ripens as early without sunshine as with 
it. Although he may call it “ meaningless vapourisation,” allow me 
to state that to the faddist sunshine is the one special factor in 
natural forces essential to vegetable vitality, and its action is seen 
through the whole realm of plant life by those who can grasp the 
true significance of the term “ripened wood” in its relation to the 
processes of flowering as leading up to the fruit-bearing period. At 
the proper time, when “ Sceptic ” gives us sound reasons for his 
scepticism, he can be abundantly furnished with reasons bearing on 
the above point, but at present when he writes about the wood being 
“hard” and “ firm” it is evident that ripened wood is to him a con¬ 
crete term only, and any attempt to convince to the contrary at this 
stage of his education would be time wasted. As he has such an 
antipathy to “ wordy generalities,” will he kindly explain what he 
means by wood being both “ hard ” and “ firm ? ” 
“ Sceptic’s ’’axiom on keeping my pruning knife sharp is the best 
part of his homily to myself, but the wonder of all the other 
wonders is that it must be a scientific knife and be used intelligently, 
but since “ Sceptic ” has disposed of the necessity of sunshine, he 
will also inform us where the scientific pruning comes in ? —Azoto. 
[We have received another article on this subject from 
“ Sceptic,” but which arrived too late for insertion in the present 
issue.] 
HARDY BAMBOOS. 
These unique and beautiful plants are at present being largely 
employed in the embellishment of flower gardens and pleasure 
grounds, and now that their claim to be considered hardy has been 
thoroughly established they will doubtless in the future play a 
still more important part in the ornamentation of gardens gene¬ 
rally. This they deserve to do, for when well established they 
create a distinct feature, and impart quite a tropical appearance to 
many an otherwise unattractive spot. Although the varieties which 
I shall presently enumerate may with safety be regarded as hardy in 
England, they should, if possible, be planted in sheltered positions, 
where they grow much more freely, and are less liable to disfigure¬ 
ment by the cold east winds of springtime. Several varieties seem 
to be able to bear from 20° to 30° of frost with impunity, but the 
edges of the leaves become browned when exposed to cutting winds. 
Bamboos are especially adapted for planting among rockwork, 
as they are in character with the many species and varieties of 
plants now employed for the same purpose. They should not be 
used too freely, or the effect is spoilt after they have made 
good growth for a few seasons, as although they grow very slowly 
for the first year or two, when once well established they annually 
send up many strong suckers, which would quickly overgrow the 
other occupants of the rockwork. If, however, plants of the 
taller growing varieties are dotted about in prominent positions 
here and there, so as to have room to develop into fine specimens, 
and have room to display their beauty, a striking effect is produced. 
Bambusa aurea is a useful variety for this purpose. It reaches a 
height of from G to 10 feet, is of elegant habit, its long slender 
stems being freely branched from base to summit. The stems are 
of a yellow hue, and the leaves light green. B. nigra somewhat 
resembles it in habit of growth, except that it is not so freely 
branched ; the stems are black and the leaves deep green. Both 
varieties are well adapted for the purpose above named. B. Simoni 
is another excellent kind, which should be in every collection, 
as it grows quickly, attains a height of 10 feet, and the leaves are 
occasionally streaked with white. 
Among the dwarfer-growing kinds B. gracilis is, I think, the 
most handsome and useful, as the stems from base to summit are 
freely branched with arching shoots covered with narrow light 
green leaves. It reaches a height of 4 or 5 feet, and makes even 
shapely specimens. B. Metake grows to about the same height, 
has long deep green leaves, and is of compact habit of growth. 
B. Fortunei and its variegated form are both of dwarf habit, and 
leaves of a bolder type than the majority of Bambusas. There 
are several other varieties which I think will prove hardy enough 
to withstand the frosts of English winters if planted in sheltered 
positions. Two of the best of these are B. Arundinacea and 
B. nana. The latter will be especially welcomed for planting on 
rockwork if it should prove hardy, as its long stems with arching 
tufts of leaves at the extremities require to be planted in elevated 
positions to display their beauty to the best advantage. 
Masses or single specimens of Bamboos when planted on the 
banks of streams or lakes are effective and in character with the 
surroundings. They thrive well in such positions, too, as they are 
moisture-loving plants. When once established they need but little 
attention, and yearly improve in attractiveness. They are also well 
adapted for pot culture, and when thus grown they may be 
frequently turned to good account for house decoration of various 
descriptions. When not wanted for that purpose they are always 
useful for arranging in greenhouses or conservatories. 
Propagation is easily effected by division of plants in spring just 
as growth commences, all the varieties being amenable to this treat¬ 
ment, but some may also be rapidly increased in the following 
way :—The plants send out long “ fleshy ” roots in all directions. 
At a foot or more from the parent plant these roots send up suckers, 
sometimes two or three in a clump. These generally make good 
growth during the summer. By the time this growth is completed 
the fleshy root runners, which connect them with the parent plant, 
should be cut asunder. The plants may then be either lifted and 
placed in pots a few weeks later, or loft till the spring to be then 
transplanted to nursery beds, or where required. — H. Dunkin. 
LANGLEY REVISITED. 
A GREAT deal happens in ten or twelve years in the horticultural 
world, and much has certainly happened in connection with the branch 
nursery of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, near Slough, since the writer 
saw what there was of it some time early in the “ eighties.” Then it 
was like a young plant just established—small, yet thrifty. Now it is 
as if the plant had grown into a vigorous tree, with its branches 
spreading far and wide. Then a small holding, so to say, but the land 
of the best, with a commodious and prettily situated tenement. Now a 
large “ farm ” of thereabouts 100 acres, the tenement a mansionette, with a 
charming pleasure ground frontage, and several villa-like houses erected 
here and there on the property. The former, and older, building is the 
residence of the Manager of the nursery, Mr. Scott; the newer buildings 
the well-appointed abodes of departmental assistants of the firm. 
These and a good part of the nursery may be seen on the right side of 
the Great Western line shortly before Slough is reached, and doubtless 
millions of passengers have admired the display of spring, summer, and 
autumn fiowers afforded by acres of beds arranged at a right angle with 
the railway ; the long lines and breadths of varied colours have 
there produced a beautiful effect for some years, heightened by the 
attendant cleanliness, neatness, and orderly arrangement which always 
appear to prevail. The fiowers are fianked by young fruit trees in 
serried lines, also visible from the railway, but to see what is to be seen 
we must detrain at Slough and go behind the fiowers. Those who 
do this and who are interested in observing what is “ going on ” beyond 
the brilliant fringe will not be disappointed. They will meet with 
much in routine work that is excellent, much that is interesting, as well 
as courteous attention without obtrusive fuss or complacent self- 
commendation, a marked characteristic of really great and strong firms. 
A “ harkback ” is now necessary in the interest of accuracy, and a 
fair start for Langley—no, not Langley, for this is where the need of 
connection arises. What is conversationally called the Langley Nursery 
is more modestly termed by its proprietors “ Middle Green Farm, 
Slough.” It is situated about midway between the Langley and Slough 
stations, but the best trains run direct to the latter in half an 
hour from Paddington. The “ Farm ” is about a mile and a half froqa 
Slough, and conveyances can be had there by visitors who do not prefer 
walking, as is the case with some, including a certain man just now 
behind a pen. There is no imposing entrance to this farm nursery. It 
is a busy field of work, and the good this change from agriculture to 
the present industry has done is apparent on the face of it. 
This farm of flowers, fruit trees, Roses, and trials of most things grown 
in gardens, has been acquired by the purchase from Lime to time during 
the last twenty years of a number of small freeholds—it is hoped to the 
advantage of both purchasers and vendors ; it has certainly been of 
benefit to many others, for it will be safe to assert that where once £10 
were spent in wages over the area, at least £100 are spent now, and no 
doubt a great deal more. It is said that the exigencies of the times 
will steadily but inevitably lead to the subdivision of large farms into 
small holdings, and that at no remote period many more of our peasantry 
than is the case now will become yeomen as of old, with land to till for 
themselves and not for others. Some optimists see in such change the 
vision of an arcadia—everybody happy in his abundance of the neces¬ 
saries of life. Doubtless there will be industrious, thrifty men of the 
future with greater facilities for improving their condition than every¬ 
where exist now ; but the millennium of patchwork holdings of which 
enthusiasts dream, making all men happy, is not yet. Possibly some of 
the holders might make themselves the 7nost happy by selling their plots, 
as in this Langley case, and thousands of others in the past. Subject to 
the removal of artificial impediments it is a question of each individual 
working out his own happiness by his own endeavour, dreamers notwith¬ 
standing. That this “ Middle Green Farm” of small aggregations has 
been helpful in the most practical way to numbers of workers is beyond 
