September 12, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
27 
other vegetables, are all the better for a change of soil 
and air. With regard to Elton and Frogmore Late 
Pine, I can say that they are good late varieties, 
especially the latter, and both did well with me in my 
last place, some seven miles away, though they are not 
at all satisfactory here. My latest and best here have 
been Dr. Hogg and James Veitch ; the last named has 
very large crimson fruit, of globular form, and good 
flavour, and it is a strong grower, and fine cropper. 
The soil here is of a strong binding nature, on a clay 
subsoil, and the elevation 500 ft. above the sea level. 
— B. L., Bindley, Huddersfield. 
Gigantic Lilium auratum.— At Mr. Wm. 
Gordon’s Lily Nursery, Twickenham, where many 
hundreds of very fine Lilium auratums are blooming 
in the open ground, among them is a plant bearing 
about fifty blossoms on a single stem—a very fine 
object. Mr. Gordon’s strain of this favourite plant is 
very superior, a large number of the pure white and 
the crimson striped varieties appearing among them. A 
fine lot of L. speeiosum cruentum, a magnificent 
Lily, is also in bloom at Mr. Gordon’s, the bright 
magenta-crimson colour on the snow-white perfectly 
striped petals constitutes it by far the handsomest of 
its class. L. speeiosum Kratzeri, in bloom at the same 
nursery, is the perfection of a pure white Lily, its flowers 
being without any tinge of colour and of exquisite 
shape. It also, like all the other speciosums, is very 
fragrant, and not with an odour which some only like 
and others dislike, but with a fragrance generally pro¬ 
nounced delightful. — J. 
Ranunculus Segnieri. — This pretty little 
Buttercup is figured in the June number of The 
Gartcnflcrra. It is a tiny Alpine gem, about 2 ins.- high 
and grows in a little tuft. The leaves are much divided 
and dissected ; the flowers are pure white, and measure 
i in. in diameter. It is a European plant, and should 
be planted with other Alpines on the hardy rockery. 
Escallonia macrantha and E. rubra.— 
These handsome summer flowering South American 
shrubs have long been favourites of mine, then- ever¬ 
green bright shining leaves effectually clothing any 
low walls, against which they'may be planted. The 
richly coloured flowers of both are now in great beauty, 
and valuable for indoor decorations. The ladies'too, I 
find, like a spray for their hair. In very severe winters 
the plants whether grown against walls or as low bushes 
require a slight protection, and we have found a few fir 
branches ansv T er the purpose admirably.— T. IV. 
Armeria ccespitosa. —This is a minute cushion- 
pink, not exceeding 2 ins. high, including the flow-ers. 
It is figured in The Gartcnflora for June. The leaves 
are grass-like, and grow in tiny tufts ; from the centre 
of these tufts a short peduncle is produced, which bears 
a little head of white flowers. It is an interesting 
little Alpine, and should be planted in the front of the 
rockwork. 
Propagating Bedding Plants.— A great ob¬ 
jection to rooting Pelargoniums in the open ground is 
that they have to be taken up in the autumn and 
potted, and to save this labour many put them at once 
into boxes or pots, in which they are to be stored for 
the winter. If this is done, a'sunny spot suits just the 
same for standing them in till struck, but they should 
be placed somewhat close that they may shade and 
shelter each other, as, when in such a small body of 
soil, the drying becomes exceedingly rapid, and the 
cuttings are apt to suffer thereby. The variegated 
kinds, being more tender, and of a less sappy and 
robust nature, are best put in singly in small pots, and 
then placed under the cover of a cold frame, where the 
lights can be either kept on or off, according to the 
state of the weather. If wet, and it is necessary to 
have them on, they should be tilted behind, as they 
cannot well have too much air, for nothing militates 
against the striking of Pelargoniums so much as a close 
damp atmosphere, which soon causes decay of the 
leaves, and a general “fogging off” of the cuttings. All 
plants with small shoots, such as the Heliotrope, 
Verbenas, Ageratums, Lobelias, and others of that 
class, must be kept close, and, therefore, require just 
the opposite treatment; but instead of striking cuttings 
of any of these quick-rooting and quick-growing plants 
at this season, it is far better to keep a few store ones 
of each, and work up a stock in the spring. This may 
readily be done then by putting the plants in any 
forcing-house, where they can feel a gentle heat, which 
will soon start them into growth, and the tender young 
shoots taken off, will then strike as freely as weeds. 
All they will require to induce them to do this is 
genial warmth, such as that afforded by a dung-bed, or 
propagating box, where successive batches may be put 
in, and carried through in rapid succession.— Alpha. 
Hardy Heaths for late autumn flowering. 
—Few plants are more worthy of cultivation than 
hardy heaths for late autumn and spring flowering. A 
bed, or some beds of them, in full flower in extensive 
pleasure grounds where there is often a lack of variety, 
would be a feature of interest as well as of beauty, and 
would be useful also for decorative juirposes at a time 
when the winged tribe are being shot in the woods. 
Among the best sorts that flower at that season, I may 
mention Erica vagans intermedia, which is of spreading 
habit, and makes a fine mass, and E. vulgaris Steeli, 
which is equally valuable for massing or cutting. 
Erica stricta is pretty all the year round, and flowers 
very freely in the autumn, supplying sprays which a 
sharp hand, who has much to do with table decorations, 
would know how to turn to good account.— H. W. 
Primula auricula. —An excellent figure of _ the 
wild form of this showy Primula is given in the 
September number of the Botanical Magazine. It is 
remarked that 1 ‘ this typical wild form does not appear 
to have ever been figured in any of the horticultural 
journals.” Certain it is that it is'a very showy plant, 
the flowers being large, deep yellow, and the umbels 
with numerous flowers. It is drawn from a plant which 
flowered on the rockwork at Kew during the present 
summer. Mr. J. G. Baker remarks “ what the relation 
is of this widely spread wild type to the multiflora 
races of the garden Auricula is a subject that still 
remains to be fully worked out. ” It evidently both 
runs into varieties and hybridises freely with several 
other species, both of the Auriculastra and Anthritica 
groups, but the subject is much too wide to be discussed 
fully now. Primula auricula is one of the most widely 
spread of all the species, as it extends in a wild state 
from Daupliine and the Jura on the west, through 
Switzerland to Lombardy, the Tyrol, Hungary, and 
Transylvania. It is to be hoped that the origin of the 
garden Auricula is a subject which may be elucidated 
during the forthcoming Primula Conference 
Veronica satureoides. —This neat little Alpine 
Veronica is a native of Dalmatia, where it grows from 
4,800 ft. to 5,500 ft. above sea-level. The little tufts 
when in flower measure 3 ins. high ; the leaves are 
cuneate and elegantly toothed, and the bright blue 
flowers are borne in little spikes. It should be planted 
in an open situation on the hardy rockwork. A good 
figure is given in the June number of The Gartcnflora. 
-->X<-- 
BURTON CONSTABLE. 
Burton Constable, the palatial residence of-the Con¬ 
stables, but not now occupied by any member of the 
family, is situated about two miles from Burton Con¬ 
stable station on the Hull and Hornsea station, and 
here in the kitchen, gardens, as we learn from The Hull 
News, Mr. E. P. Dixon has established a nursery. The 
gardens are some ten acres in extent, and are devoted 
to the rearing and growth principally of forest trees, 
ornamental trees and shrubs, fruit trees and roses. 
There are acres of standard roses of the very best 
varieties known, acres of young fruit trees, some of 
them only of last year’s grafting, and many of these are 
bearing most profusely. There are some extensive 
vineries here, and the vines, which comprise, some of 
the. best known varieties, are just now in full bearing, 
and amongst the pendant bunches we noticed several 
which must have weighed four or five pounds each. 
Amongst the ornamental trees and shrubs which we 
saw may be mentioned the Acer Negunda variegata, 
Magnolia Soulangeana, and many examples of Cupres- 
sus Lawsoniana, Biota aurea, &c., also Picea Nordmanni- 
ana, Picea nobilis, &c. There are also mail}- specimens 
of the Wellingtonia gigantea, such as have been from 
time to time planted by Boyal hands at Bratingham- 
thorpe. Amongst the ornamental shrubs, too, there 
was one which certainly ought to be more frequently 
seen in our gardens and parks. We refer to the Golden 
Elder, which has, as its name implies, a considerable 
proportion of yellow in its leaves, whilst it produces an 
abundant white bloom, and set against a dark back 
ground is most effective. The flowering shrubs include 
Rhus cortinus, Spiraeas in endless variety, Ligustrum 
lucidum, Lilacs in great variety, Viburnum opulus, &c. 
Amongst the fruit trees there are peaches, apples and 
pears of the choicest and most prolific varieties, but 
perhaps the greatest feature of this department is the 
raspberries. The variety most largely grown is one 
first introduced by Mr. Dixon, and which he has given 
the name of Baumforth Seedling. For some years now 
Mr. Dixon has largely exported the canes to America 
and the Continent, and wherever they have been sent 
they have given the most complete satisfaction. The 
fruit is larger than any other raspberry known, it is 
also unusually firm, and of the very richest flavour. 
Upwards of two tons of fruit have, during the season 
just closed, been gathered at the Burton Constable 
nurseries. 
The standard trees for park and avenue planting 
include Acer Schwedleri, Acer Pensylvanicum rubrum, 
globosum, &c.. Limes, Elms, and Planes, Sycamore, 
Birch, Beech, &c. There is also a very large collection 
of forest trees for cover planting, in the jrest possible 
condition for autumn planting, whilst the standard and 
half-standard roses are amongst the best and healthiest 
we have seen. The Burton Constable nurseries are not 
the most extensive of Mr. Dixon’s grounds, as he has 
added at least 25 acres to his business at Coniston, and 
it is at this place more particularly that he raises those 
seeds which have made his name famous all over the 
world. He has still another department, and that a 
most attractive one, at Sculcoates, where stove and 
greenhouse plants are grown in glasshouses that cover 
one acre of land. From this notice it will be seen that 
Mr. Dixon’s business is an extensive one, and certainly 
a visit to his several establishments cannot fail to be 
both interesting and instructive, especially to those 
who have known the business from its small beginning. 
It is one that has always been watched over by the 
master’s eye, and managed with that rare skill and 
taot which has had its reward in the development of 
what is now the most extensive nursery and seed¬ 
growing business in that part of the country. 
--> 33 <—-- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
♦ 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
The chief work in connection with the plant houses 
just now will be the housing of the plants for the 
winter; Many people recommend top-dressing pot 
plants in the autumn, but as this renders it very diffi¬ 
cult to ascertain when the plants are dry at the roots, 
and as it most essential that all pot plants should be 
carefully attended to with regard to watering at this 
season of the year, we think the practice of top-dressing 
is not a good one. It is a good plan, however, to scrape 
off any green from the surface and loosen.the soil up a 
little, and anj'’ plants that require encouragement may 
have a slight sprinkle of fertilizer apiplied. In any case 
where worms have penetrated the pots, they should be 
watered with lime-water, this will generally dislodge, 
if it does not actually kill the worms. 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Transplanting, &c. —Where a sufficient breadth of 
Parsley for winter and spring use was not sown, as re¬ 
commended at p. 715, now will be a good time to sup¬ 
plement the sowing then made by transplanting an 
adequate number of young plants in rows 1 ft. apart, 
and about 7 ins. asunder in the rows. From sowings of 
Endive made at the end of July, make good plantings 
under south and west walls, as also on warm borders ; 1 
ft. apart for the curled varieties, and 15 ins. each way 
will be none too much space for the Batavian varieties. 
In the event of dry weather at the time of planting, the 
plants should be watered until they have established 
themselves. Plants sufficiently advanced for blanching 
should be tied up forthwith. 
Thin-out the plants of winter Spinach and Turnips 
to 9 ins. apart in the rows, and where the former crop has 
not already been sown, no time should be lost in doing 
so. Make successional plantings of Lettuce on warm 
borders, and tie up plants as they become fit for 
blanching. Cut down old stems of Globe Artichokes, 
and attend to the thinning, stopping, and nailing of 
Tomatos out of doors, so as to prevent overcrowding of 
the leaves and shoots, and the breaking of the latter by 
the wind. Provision should now be made for pro¬ 
tecting the latest sowing of French Beans from the 
effects of early frosts, by constructing a temporary 
framework and covering at night with mats or old sashes 
when the sky indicates the approach of frost. Attend 
to earthing-up of Celery plants when necessary, and, 
when they are dry, taking care in doing so not to let the 
soil get into the heart of the plants.— H. JF. Ward, 
Longford Castle, Salisbury. 
