April 24.] 
45 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
ample collection of plants in England, but because they 
are far better cultivated—and we speak this to the shame 
of the Horticultural Society—than in any other public 
garden near London. The Kew Gardens and their 
Museum are open every day (Sundays excepted), from 
one to six o’clock; and the pleasantest mode of journey¬ 
ing thither is by one of the steamboats which take 
passengers to Chelsea, whence another boat conveys 
! them to Kew, the entire expense being tcnpence. We 
shall not particularise the objects most worthy of notice 
in Kew Gardens, because a shilling guide, by Sir W. 
! Hooker, may he obtained at the gates. 
Although we have held up to reprobation the prac- 
j tice of the Horticultural Society, yet their Chiswicic 
Garden will he found well worthy of a visit at any of 
1 their three exhibition days, May 3, June 7, and July 19. 
Here will he then assembled specimens of the best 
achievements of modern gardening. But visitors must 
seek for warnings rather than examples in the cul¬ 
tivation of the garden itself. The flower-borders 
rarely exhibit anything striking, the fruit-trees are 
diseased and mostly barren, whilst the kitchen-garden 
is a farce. Some first-rate gardeners were walking 
round this department last year, and seeing the aspara¬ 
gus beds marked out as under experiment, the simulta¬ 
neous query was, “ But where is the asparagus?” and 
a similar query would have been applicable to each 
quarter—“Where is the crop?” This is not as it 
ought to he; and we say so whilst we gladly admit the 
benefit the Society effects by its exhibitions, and by 
distributing cuttings, and other means of propagating 
new and superior tenants for our gardens. 
We have yet to mention some other public gardens, 
hut these must he postponed until next week, and we 
will conclude to-day with a notice of some of the nursery 
gardens near London, and that we may avoid even the ap¬ 
pearance of partiality, we shall arrange them alphabeti¬ 
cally. 
Ambrose, Battersea. —A well-kept nursery. Here are a 
large number of the best kinds of Geraniums, especially the 
fancy varieties. To such persons as admire this class of 
florists’ flowers, a visit to this nursery will be very gratifying. 
Three miles from London, by omnibus. 
Beck, Isleworth. —A well-known raiser of fine Gera¬ 
niums. Tire young stock is particularly well grown, as 
well as the specimens. Ten miles from London; by either 
steamers on the river, by South Eastern Eailway, or by 
omnibus. 
Chandler and Sons, Vauxhall. — This old established 
nursery is particularly famous for fine collections of Camel¬ 
lias and Chrysanthemums, especially the latter. Two miles 
from London, on the Wandsworth-road. South Western 
Rail, from Waterloo Station to Vauxhall; and by omnibus 
from the Bank. 
Fairbarn, Brothers, Clapham. —This is a good nursery 
for Greenhouse plants, but more especially for Heaths. 
These are grown by thousands, and are exceedingly healthy. 
The large specimens are also very fine. Three miles from 
London; omnibuses every ten minutes pass their gate. 
Fraser & Co., Lea Bridye Road. —An excellent nursery 
for New Holland greenhouse plants, and a fair collection of 
Heaths. This nursery is famed especially for specimens of 
the above plants. Five miles from London; by Eastern 
Counties Railway to Lea Bridge. 
Gaines, Battersea. —In this nursery is a large collection 
of Geraniums and Calceolarias. Persons desirous of seeing 
these plants well grown, should visit this nursery in May 
aud June. It is close to Mr. xYmbrose’s nursery mentioned 
above. 
Groom, Clapham. —Here, in the month of May, may be 
seen, perhaps, the finest bed of Tulips in the kingdom. 
There are also a good collection of Auriculas, also an im¬ 
mense stock of the Lilium lancifolium, and all its varieties, 
besides several other rare bulbs, such as the beautiful and 
rare tribes of Calochortus, Rigidella, <fcc. Two and a half 
miles from London. Omnibuses from Gracechurch-street 
pass the gate every ten minutes. 
J. A. Henderson and Co., Pine Apple Place, Edgeware 
Road. —This is, perhaps, the largest plant nursery near 
London, and well deserving a visit. There is a good collec¬ 
tion of select Orchids; a select collection <if Glove plants; an 
extraordinary collection of New Holland, Chinese Azaleas, 
and other Greenhouse plants ; a fine select collection of Cape 
Heaths ; a choice collection of the best Carnations, Cinerarias, 
and Calceolarias ; a fine collection of Exotic and Hardy Ferns, 
&c. At their Nursery at Kilburn, a mile and a half further 
down the road, they keep a good collection of Vines, Peaches, 
Nectarines, and all other choice hardy fruits. One mile from 
the marble arch, Oxford Street. Omnibuses every five 
minutes from the Bank and Charing Cross. 
E. G. Henderson, Wellington Road Nursery, St. John’s 
Wood. —The great attraction of this large nursery is the 
Cinerarias. Their fame has gone forth to all parts of the 
kingdom. Heaths are grown in great numbers ; also Chinese 
Azaleas and Geraniums, especially the fancy varieties. There 
is, also, a fair collection of Stove plants, Camellias, &c., &c. 
Two miles from London. The Atlas omnibuses run past 
every five minutes from Charing Cross. 
We have before ns some specimens of dried Ferns, 
mounted and arranged by a young botanist, for whom 
we confidently ask the patronage of our readers. He 
proposes, if he can obtain one hundred subscribers, to 
furnish each subscriber with a complete set of dried 
specimens of British Ferns. They will be in six parts > 
each part containing fifty named species, and be 
charged no more than five shillings. We can vouch for 
Mr. Brocas’ good knowledge of the subject, for the 
excellence of his specimens, and for the taste and care 
with which they are mounted. He is a youth struggling 
up that rough path which the orphan has to take, 
whose own head and own hand have to win the blessing 
promised to the diligent. We hope many of our readers 
will add their names to his subscription list. His 
direction is, Mr. F. York Brocas, at R. S. Hill’s, Esq., 
Basingstoke, Hants. 
NEW PLANTS. 
THEIR PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES. 
Smooth-leaved Solandra (Solandra leer is). — Pax¬ 
ton's Flower Garden, i. 171.—Dr. Solander, like A. 
Bertolini, whose namesake we have biographied at page 
82, had four genera named in compliment to him by 
four different botanists, of which Linmeus, his preceptor, 
named one; but to this one by Swartz, a German bota¬ 
nist, Solandra is now limited. It belongs to the natural 
order of Nightshades (Solanacefe), and in this arrange¬ 
ment comes nearest in affinity to the genus Datura, and, | 
like it, is characterized by large handsome flowers and ! 
soft succulent wood. In the sexual system of Linmeus \ 
it comes into the first order of the fifth class, Pentandria 
Monogynia, having five stamens and one pistil, like 
Solarium, to which the Potato is referred, and after 
