DECEMBER. 
357 
Thus much “ of Roses in general.” “ Of Louis Chaix in particular,” 
little need be said, for he is he^e to speak for himself,—glorious in 
his crimson uniform, and blushing like some handsome boy, who has 
put on his regimentals for the first time, and come forth to be kissed 
by his mother and sisters, and to be awfully admired by the servants. 
“ He was born ” (and for all I know of him, I must here say, I am 
indebted to my friend, Mr. W. Paul,) “ at Guillotiere, near Lyons, and 
came into this country,—having been previously educated, trained, and 
‘ worked,’ by Mons. Lacharme, and having often, no doubt, enjoyed the 
sweet society of Madame Lacharme, B.—in the autumn of 1857. His 
parent is a tall military man, commonly called Geant des Batailles, and 
he is, consequently, related to Lord Raglan, and other distinguished 
characters. His whiskers (I mean his foliage) are said to be luxuriant, 
and of a good colour; his habit is free and generous, and his health 
strong and vigorous. Mr. Paul gives so good an account of his 
behaviour in the nursery , that we cannot doubt but that “ the child ” 
will prove “ father to the man,” and that Louis Chaix will turn out a 
good young Rose, a comfort to his * raiser ’ and guardians, and an 
ornament to the floral world ! 
S. R. H. 
THE ROYAL EXOTIC NURSERY, KING’S ROAD, CHELSEA. 
Those of your readers who have been accustomed to visit the London 
Horticultural fetes will have a lively recollection of the grand display 
of plants which the Messrs. Yeitch so liberally contribute towards the 
support of the metropolitan exhibitions. The principal portions of these 
plants are furnished from the King’s Road nursery, solely the property 
of Mr. James Veitch, whose collections of Orchids, Pitcher Plants, 
Ferns, and fine foliaged plants, are universally admired at the 
exhibitions, and are as wonderful evidences of skill in cultivation as 
they are of the energy and public spirit of the proprietor. 
Not many years ago, this nursery was the property of the late Mr. 
Joseph Knight—a name well known to many of our readers, as that 
of a most successful and enterprising individual; it next merged into 
the firm of Knight and Perry, but whether an almost unprecedented 
success in business, or the desire to retire and enjoy otiurn cum digni- 
tate which a prosperous profession had secured to the firm, we know 
not, but when Mr. Yeitch entered on the nursery, five or six years 
ago, he found much to do to bring up to his standard of culture the vast 
miscellaneous collections of exotic and hardy plants, grown here for 
sale ; but the energy and perseverance of Mr. Veitch soon put all to 
rights, and we now find the nursery in every department (and it has 
doubled itself in every way since it came into Mr. Veitch’s hands) 
remarkable for good culture, order, and cleanliness. The principal 
entrance to this nursery is from the King’s Road, and consists of a large 
parallel building in the Paxtonian style, with a perpendicular front, 
tastefully ornamented, and ridge and furrow roof. This structure, 
called the front conservatory, is filled with a good assortment of 
