September 26, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
61 
weak application of Clay's fertilizer is much appreciated 
by some cultivators. All of the manures named are 
good, but the great thing is to apply them weak and 
often, as if used in too strong doses the surface roots are 
liable to be damaged, which causes a check to the 
growth, and consequently the buds do not swell to their 
piroper size. An application of soot-water once a week 
will also he found advantageous, as it imparts a deep 
green colour to the foliage. Care should be taken to 
keep the plants securely tied to the stakes, as the tops 
are very brittle and easily snap off with the rain and 
wind, which causes much disappointment. Birds 
alighting on the points is another source of annoyance 
in causing breakages, hut which can be prevented by 
keeping the shoots closely tied up.— E. Molyneux, 
The Gardens, Swanmore Park, Bishop's IValtham. 
Mutisia decurrens. — I beg to thank Mr. O’Brien 
(p. 42) for his prompt reply anent the propagating of 
this lovely climber, which is evidently another of those 
beautiful plants that invariably do well when let alone, 
but which die when meddled with or coddled. Manj r , 
1 have no doubt, will be glad to learn, that after all the 
management of this plant is comparatively easy, and 
also its propagation ; and not a few will be thankful 
to Mr. O’Brien for thus letting us into the secret. 
I wonder what kind of a sensation a well-flowered ex¬ 
ample of this plant would create, at one of our London 
shows, if grown in a pot and trained on a trellis ?— J. 
A fasciated Hollyhock. —I send you a rough 
sketch of the top portion of the stem of a Hollyhock 
which is quite flat, measuring 9 ins. across at the top, 
and 13 ins. across some two feet lower, and densely 
packed with buds and flowers of a rich dark maroon 
colour. It has the most extraordinary appearance of 
any Hollyhock I have ever seen.— J. K. D., Adiscombe, 
Croydon. [Fasciation in the stems of Hollyhocks is by 
no means an uncommon occurrence, but we have never 
seen one of such large dimensions as this.— Ed.] 
Pentstemons. —It used to be said that to see the 
Pentstemon (and sundry other things) in its glory 
“you must go north,” and especially visit the Pinkhill 
and other Edinburgh nurseries. Pinkhill in particular 
was always mentioned, because it was there that the 
flower was first substantially improved. When Mr. 
Laing pitched his camp at Forest Hill he too had a 
lingering regard for the Pentstemon, and raised many 
good flowers. As to the origin of the many fine 
varieties now grown there is not much that can be 
definitely stated, but there can be little doubt, we think, 
but that P. gentianiodes was one of the original parents ; 
although about fifty years ago, besides the sort named, 
there were also others in cultivation, such as coccinea 
and alba. The first variety which came out with a 
white throat was named Buckii. This was followed by 
Kingii, Lemoinei, and a number of good continental 
varieties. P. Cobaea also became popular, and to this 
species the garden varieties also doubtless owe the 
broad open tube which is now considered a leading 
“point” when the quality of a flower is under con¬ 
sideration. Mr. John Downie, who did so much for 
this flower in years gone by at Pinkhill, seems to be 
still keeping on with his old love, and at Beechhill 
grows the Pentstemon with all his old enthusiasm. A 
large gathering of cut blooms before us show perhaps 
more than anything that the improvement effected of 
late years has been in the habit of the plants rather 
than in the quality of the flowers, the habit of growth 
being more compact and dwarf, and the flower spikes 
altogether more dense and compact than they used to 
be. On the score of shape and brightness, in the red 
and crimson shades especially, the latest seedlings 
leave nothing to be desired. 
White Magnum Bonum and Coe’s 
Golden Drop Plums. —The Plum crop generally 
this season has been a much more than usually abun¬ 
dant one, but if we may judge from specimens before 
us, the crop in the gardens at Swanmore Park, Bishops 
Waltham, approaches the marvellous in regard to quan¬ 
tity and quality. Of that splendid preserving plum, the 
White Magnum Bonum, we have on our table a shoot 
measuring 10 inches in length, which bears fourteen 
large full-sized fruits ; and on a shoot of Coe’s Golden 
Drop, 22 inches long, there are no less than thirty of 
its pale yellow fruits. The last-named sort is a healthy 
vigorous grower and a free bearer in most seasons, but 
such crops as this are surely exceptional. Mr. Moly- 
neaux, who so ably conducts the gardening operations 
at Swanmore Park, attributes much of his success with 
the plums to keeping the trees clean and free from 
gieen and black fly, which in such a season as the 
present, must have been a matter of some difficulty. 
Whatever may be the secret of success, it is clearly not 
altogether the season. 
Notes on Violas. —I send you blooms of a few 
Violas which are still masses of colour here, but must now 
succumb to the knife, for stock must be looked after. 
In Countess of Hopetoun, we have our premier white, 
short robust habit, and an immense bloomer, both 
early and late. You will see it has no bar or blotch 
whatever in the flower, and it is truly a grand variety. 
Mrs. Gray, also a white, more snowy white than the 
Countess, has a tendency to flush, especially in hot 
weather when it is frequently marked with lilac, but it 
is a very fine bedder, but of taller growth than the 
Countess, and a very early and continuous bloomer, 
and most fragrant, quite as so much as a violet. True 
Blue is in my opinion by far our best bedding blue, but 
at this late season of the year the blue colour is not so 
prominent as earlier. It is a very early bloomer and 
still in full bloom here ; of short stiff habit, and therefore 
suitable for any purpose. Elegans is an old variety, 
but stands out prominently for its delicate pretty colour 
a soft lilac, and is a splendid bedder and telling in a 
mass. All our yellows are cut down, excepting a few 
plants of Lutea profusa, deep golden yellow, with a 
small varied blotch, stronger in constitution than 
many of the yellows, and a very early and profuse 
bloomer. Queen of Lilacs, a blue lilac is a wonderful 
bloomer and a sturdy grower, grand in masses, and hot 
weather does not affect it. Archie Grant is of the 
Holyrood type, with much of the Pansy in its habit, 
and all of this type are not very early bloomers for 
spring work, but Archie is a grand fellow for summer 
work, and of a rich blue-violet colour. I name Countess 
of Kintore, Ardwell Gem, Duchess of Albany, Golden 
Queen of Spring, Queen of Purples as everybodys’ sorts. 
This summer has severely tested Violas, and a large 
number have succumbed to the heat and drought, 
yellows especially, but those I have named have good 
constitutions, and should be universally grown.— 
William Dean. Florist, Walsall. 
-- 
THE PHCENIX PARK, DUBLIN. 
This beautiful Park is in close proximity to the city, 
the approach being by Park Gate Street entrance. It 
contains about 1,752 acres, of which 1,300 are open to 
the public. Within the Park boundaries is the residence 
of the Lord Lieutenant, the Viceregal Lodge, to which 
160 acres of gardens and pleasure grounds are attached ; 
the Chief Secretary and under Secretary’s lodges, and 
the lodges of the Park Rangers, and their assistants ; 
the Hibernian schools for soldier’s children ; the 
military magazine, and infirmary; the Zoological 
garden, the constabulary barracks, the ordnance survey 
depot, and the people’s garden. There are finely kept 
roads and avenues running through the Park, and on 
entering it the first thing that arrests attention is the 
Wellington Monument, a gigantic pillar in the form of 
an obelisk, 250 ft. high, erected at a cost of £20,000. 
On the sides of the pedestal are four panels, one of 
which contains an inscription, and the other three 
battle scenes, and higher up the dates are given on 
which the great captain won his victories. A portion 
of the Park called “the fifteen acres,” was celebrated 
in former times as the place where duels were fought, 
but is now used for grand military reviews. 
On the right of the monument is the people’s garden, 
and a bronze statue of the late Earl of Carlisle, who 
for many years was Viceroy of Ireland. The people of 
Dublin have good reason to be proud of their Park, 
for, independent of its extent and picturesque beauty, 
it is the only Park or square to which the public have 
the right of access at all times, where they can range 
at will over its richly wooded slopes, hills, vales, and 
glens, or rest on the sunny banks overlooking the 
Liffey with the venerable Hawthorns around them, 
while the mountain ranges lying to the south, with 
the richly cultivated intervening country, and the City 
lying to the east, presents one of the most magnificent 
views on which the eye of the most fastidious could 
repose. 
The people’s garden is about 16 acres in extent and 
enclosed ; the grounds are beautifully undulated, well 
w'ooded, and splendidly planted. There are two lakes, 
the upper and the lower, upon which the graceful 
swans and other water birds enjoy their freedom. The 
bedding is well done. A telling feature is, a partly 
circular ribbon border, which is very showy. The back 
row is planted with Salvia patens, with succeeding 
rows in front of Scarlet Pelargoniums, Yellow Calceo¬ 
larias, Variegated Silver Pelargoniums, and blue Violas, 
Scarlet Tropseolum, Blue Lobelia, and a dwarf golden 
leaved Pelargonium ; this is an extremely pretty ar¬ 
rangement. A bed of succulents is also very effective. 
The carpet bedding is well done, the various designs 
being good, and a nice discretion shown in the blend¬ 
ing of the colours. Single Dahlias, Nicotiana, Stocks, 
Gladiolus, summer-flowering Chrysanthemums, Fuch¬ 
sia, Sunray and others, each have a bed to themselves, 
and planted in masses are very effective. Tuberous 
Begonias do well here. Some splendid varieties fill a 
large bed, and are one mass of flowers. Other mixed 
beds of Violas and silver and bronze-leaved Pelargoniums 
are likewise very attractive, the combination of colours 
being very soft and pleasing. The rockeries have been 
very much extended, and are planted with a good 
collection of plants best adapted for such work, and 
conspicuously in some of the beds dotted here and 
there are miniature standard plants of Acacia lophantha, 
and Dracaena australis, which stand well and relieve 
the flatness that would otherwise exist. 
I may mention that here the Single Dahlias and 
Gladiolus are not lifted in the autumn, but are simply 
covered with bog mould, and the ground then planted 
with Wallflowers, which flower early in the season ; 
they have stood thus three years. Aralia japonica, 
Various Bamboos, New Zealand Flax, and Chamaerops 
Fortunei have stood out here for years unprotected. 
A grand collection of Willows that overhang the lake 
are also worthy of mention. The Arundos just now 
is also very fine, as also are Tritomas, and clumps of 
the Pampas Grass stand conspicuously before the eye. 
The principal trees in the park are Oaks, Beech, and 
Elms, of which there are numerous fine specimens. 
There are 16 miles of roads and the same of walks ; 
and plenty of seats are provided so that visitors can 
ramble about without much fatigue. 
The entire charge of this Park and Garden is en¬ 
trusted to Mr. Dick, who has been superintendent here 
for eight years, and the various improvements that 
have been made, and the practical manner in which 
everything is carried out, speaks volumes in praise of 
his management.— Alfred Outram, Victoria and Para.- 
disc Nurseries, Upper Holloway. 
-—--- 
The Gardeners’ Calendar. 
♦ 
THE PLANT HOUSES. 
Re-potting. — All plants that require re-potting 
should now have attention ; if done at once they will 
have a chance of getting well rooted before the winter 
is upon us. The early-flowering varieties of Pelargo¬ 
niums that were propagated in June should now be 
ready for potting on into their flowering pots, and old 
plants that were cut hack early will also require a shift 
now. To prevent the plants starting into too vigorous 
growth they should be potted firmly, and although it 
is best to have the plants indoors by this time yet they 
should be as much exposed as possible, so that short 
sturdy growth may^be secured. Any late struck cut¬ 
tings that require potting off may be placed where there 
is a little heat for a few days, but they should only 
remain long enough to give them a fresh start, after 
which they should be kept as cool and as much exposed 
as possible while the weather remains favourable. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias should now be ready 
for potting off into 60-size pots, after potting they 
should be kept close and shaded from the bright rays 
of the sun for a few days until they make a fresh start. 
A pit will be the best position for the plants during 
winter, and after the plants have made a fresh start 
plenty of ventilation should be given on all favourable 
occasions, and later on only sufficient protection to 
keep off severe frosts. 
Intermediate Stocks should also be ready for pot¬ 
ting into small 60-size pots; these will do well through 
the winter in a pit or frame with a southern aspect, the 
lights should only be kept on in rainy or frosty weather. 
If mildew should make its appearance the plants should 
be dusted over with sulphur. We may add that Stocks, 
like all other fine-rooted plants, require great care in 
watering to keep them healthy during the winter. 
