January 23, 1886. 
THE HARDENING WORLD 
329 
JAMES LYE. 
Champion Fuchsia Grower of the West of 
England. 
With this issue of The Gardening World we are 
able to give the portrait of a Wiltshire gardener who 
has for many years past held—and very deservedly 
held too—the title of the champion Fuchsia grower of 
the West of England. At the exhibitions held at Bath, 
Trowbridge, Caine, Chippenham, Bradford-on-Avon, 
in the Keevil district, &c., the Fuchsias of James Lye 
are always one of the leading features ; and their high 
value as exhibition specimens can best he appreciated 
by those whose privilege it is to see them. We have 
seen his specimens for the past ten or twelve years ; 
plants 7 ft. and 8 ft. in height, and 5 ft. through, the 
branches feathering down and covering the pots, the 
foliage robust and healthy in the extreme, and over¬ 
laying all a raiment of admirable blossoms. They are 
circular pyramids, perfect in form, and truly marvel¬ 
lous to look upon. Outside of Wiltshire we have never 
seen anything in the way of the Fuchsias exhibited 
there, and in the Trowbridge district we have seen 
cottagers exhibiting specimen Fuchsias that would put 
to shame the productions of gar¬ 
deners in many other parts of the 
kingdom, whose conveniences for 
producing plants are ten . times 
greater than those of Wiltshire 
labourers and artisans. 
James Lye was born about the 
year 1830, at or near Clyffe Hall, 
Market Lavington, and the whole 
of his gardening career has been 
spent in the gardens of which he 
has the oversight. Clyffe Hall is a 
small estate, the residence of the 
Hon. Mrs. Hay, a member of the 
Bouverie family, and sister of one 
of the Earls of Radnor. Mr. Lye 
is both gardener and steward, and 
as a grower and exhibitor of agri¬ 
cultural roots he has for many years 
past been highly successful. What 
lie takes in hand he does thoroughly ; 
the work his hands find him to do 
he does with all his might. He 
is the trusted confidential servant 
of his employer ; he is so courteous, 
considerate, and unassuming, that 
it can scarcely be imagined he has 
a single enemy. It need scarcely 
he stated he is much respected in his 
immediate neighbourhood. 
At twelve years of age he went 
into the gardens of Clyffe Hall at 
four shillings per week, assisting'in 
the sweeping, &c. At that time the 
gardener was one Richard Smith, a 
good man with trees and vegetables. 
From the first James Lye showed a 
great fondness for gardening, and 
Mr. Smith noticing that the lad was 
apt at learning and quick at turning his hand to any 
work, seems to have been actuated by a kind of 
jealous feeling, and retarded rather than helped the 
progress of his young assistant, but he held on, quali¬ 
fying himself in every possible way, and at the age of 
twenty-three succeeded to the post of head gardener. 
It was about 1857 that he commenced to grow 
Fuchsias for exhibition. The Trowbridge Horticul¬ 
tural Society has held an annual exhibition for many 
years past, and it was while visiting one of the shows in 
the busy manufacturing town that he was fired with 
the idea of growing Fuchsias. The specimens then 
grown were from 3 ft. to 4 ft. high, and he was so 
struck with them that he w T as filled with the desire to 
grow plants as good, and he made up his mind to try. 
He managed pretty well, but it was four or five years 
before he made his mark, and since then, to quote his 
own words, “ I appear to see a way to improve upon 
the plant year after year.” He has taken more first 
prizes for Fuchsias than any other grower in Wiltshire, 
the number of such awards is very great. 
And yet, if any one interested in these plants were 
to pay a visit to Clyffe Hall gardens, they would see 
how it is the plants are brought to such a marvellous 
state of perfection. There is a remarkable deficiency 
of glass ; he has one house in which he winters and 
starts his specimens into growth, but the completion 
of, and final finishing touches given to the cultural 
process, are done in the open air ; and, whether the 
summer be hot and dry, or wet, cold, and retard¬ 
ing, the cultivator’s skill appears to rise superior to all 
difficulties, and the victor's crown is invariably, or 
with very few exceptions, won. It would occupy too 
much space on this occasion to give an outline of 
Mr. Lye’s cultural progress, but it shall be furnished 
in the course of a week or two. 
As an exhibitor of Fuchsias, Mr. Lye early in his 
career became practically acquainted with the short¬ 
comings of the leading varieties recommended for the 
purpose. He then set to work to raise seedling varieties, 
with the result that he has been able to put into 
cultivation varieties characterised by admirable habit 
of growth and free-flow T ering propensities, invaluable 
alike for show and decorative purposes. Of light 
varieties, i.e. the tube and sepals white, cream, or 
blush, he has raised, Beauty of Wilts, Blushing Bride, 
Delicata, Letty Lye, Mrs. Huntley, Miss Lye, Beauty 
of the West, Lye’s Favourite, Mrs. Wills, Arabella 
Improved, Ellen Lye, Duchess of Albany, Glory of the 
Day, White Souvenir de Chiswick, Beauty of Swanley, 
James Lye. 
Clyffe Hall Gardens, Market Lavington. 
Mrs. James Lye, Pink Perfection, Mrs. Hooper Taylor, 
Mrs. Grant, Miss Welch, Star of Wilts, Beauty of 
Clyffe Hall, Harriett Lye, Mr. Bright, and Mrs King. 
Of dark varieties : Charming, Elegance, James Lye, 
Gem of the West, Royal Standard, Hon. Mrs. Hay, 
Henry Brooks, Aurora, Final, Mr. Hooper Taylor, 
Spitfire, Lye’s Rival, Thomas King, Duke of Albany, 
and Crimson Globe. 
During the last four years, Mr. Lye has adopted the 
plan of sending out his new Fuchsias himself, and he 
is now distributing the following new varieties for 
1886,—dark: Mr. F. Glass, Emperor, James Welch, 
and Mr. F. Bright. Light: Lye’s Perfection, Mr. F. 
Glass, Diadem, Beauty of Lavington, Emily Bright, 
Lye’s Excelsior, and Nellie. We saw several of these 
in the seedling state, and were much struck with their 
fine quality. Mr. Lye has also raised some very useful 
bedding Zonal Pelargoniums ; a pink variety, named 
Climax, being an excellent type for flower garden 
decoration. 
But it is not only as an exhibitor of Fuchsias that 
Mr. Lye has made a reputation. At the exhibitions at 
Trowbridge, Bath, Caine, &c., he also exhibits some 
very fine specimens of Verbenas, Petunias, and varie- 
gated Zonal Pelargoniums in pots ; and almost invaria¬ 
bly takes 1st prizes in their respective classes. Like 
his Fuchsias, the two first named especially are 
wonderful examples of high class culture. Though 
visiting a good many flower shows, we see nothing in 
the way of Verbenas and Petunias like those shown in 
the Trowbridge district. 
Here then is a record of floricultural works of a high 
order of merit; floriculture is ennobled by such 
specimens of cultural skill as Mr. Lye produces. His 
work is by no means done ; of late years he has added 
the Potato to his other subjects, and has raised a few 
very useful varieties. Well done ! James Lye ! and to 
this the readers of The Gardening World will, we 
are sure, add their grateful amen. 
-->*<-- 
THE PROPAGATING HOUSE. 
This is one of the most important and interesting 
adjuncts to any gardening establishment. Although it 
is necessary that the structural arrangements should be 
as complete as possible, yet to ensure success it requires 
something more than a well-built house. There is no 
department where it is more necessary that everything 
should be kept clean, and where careful and regular 
attention will be attended with more satisfactory 
results. Before commencing the 
spring propagating, the house 
should have a thorough cleansing ; 
all the plunging material should be 
removed, and replaced with fresh 
clean material, but before doing so, 
the walls should be cleaned and 
well washed over with lime wash, 
this should be made from un¬ 
slaked lime, and a little sulphur 
may be added; the wash should be 
made rather thin so that it will 
penetrate any crevices where in¬ 
sects are likely to be lodged ; all 
woodwork should be well washed, 
using either carbolic or soft-soap 
for the purpose. The above will be 
the first step towards success. 
The next thing will be to see that 
the compost to be used is free from 
worms or insects of any kind, and 
that it does not-contain any woody 
or other substance that is likely to 
contain fungus spores. Pots and 
drainage should be quite clean. If 
the sand used for the surface of the 
pots is inclined to get caked and 
hard after it has been watered a few 
times, it is a good plan to wash it. 
If about a gallon of sand is put into 
a pail of water and well stirred, it 
will remove any clay, and the sand 
will feel much sharper after the 
water has been poured off; if the 
sand is very dirty it should have 
two or three washings. 
In taking off cuttings it should be 
remembered that it is very damag¬ 
ing for cuttings to lay about long, 
therefore, only such a quantity as can be put in before 
they have a chance of getting withered should be 
taken off at one time. For putting in cuttings, a 
dibber should be used that is large enough and cut oft' 
straight, so that the cutting will go to the bottom of 
the hole made ; we have a great objection to pointed 
dibbers, as in using these there will often be a cavity 
left where it is most essential that the cutting should 
come in firm contact with the soil. In almost all cases 
short cuttings are preferable, and they should only be 
put in just deep enough to keep them firm. After the 
cuttings are put in, they should not be allowed to 
stand about longer than is absolutely necessary, the 
sooner they are in the pit the better. Now follows the 
after attention In the first place the temperature 
should be considered, this should be kept as regular as 
possible, and the bottom heat somewhat in excess of 
the surface heat. 
The frames should be opened regularly every morn¬ 
ing, as early as convenient, and closed again before the 
cuttings begin to wither from exposure. Before closing 
the frames they should be looked through, and if there 
is any sign of damping or decay of any kind it must be 
removed, and any pots that are dry should be watered, 
or in some cases a slight sprinkling will benefit the 
cuttings. Shading should ahvays be put on before the 
sun is too fully on the house, and removed early 
