360 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
February 6, 1886. 
THE GARDENS AT REDLEAF. 
The residence of F. C. Hills, Esq., is beautifully 
situated within a mile of Penshurst Station, and close 
to Penshurst Castle, the seat of Lord De Lisle. The 
views from the terrace at Redleaf are very fine indeed, a 
very extensive and most picturesque part of ‘ ‘ the garden 
of England” being visible ; the estate is well planted, 
and gardening in its various branches is well carried out, 
Mr. Hills taking a great interest in horticultural pur¬ 
suits. Joining the mansion is a very fine Fernery, well 
planted with a choice collection of the most popular 
and suitable Ferns, and the grand condition that they 
are in at once convinces one that they are quite at 
home. But what struck me most on a recent visit was 
another house, joining the mansion, which has been 
erected for flowering plants, from designs prepared by Mr. 
Hills himself, and a prettier and better house, for such 
a purpose, I have never seen. No expense has been 
spared in its construction, and a very charming effect 
has been produced by the introduction of mirrors, so 
placed, that, whichever way one looks, a lively picture 
presents itself, and each one entirely different from the 
others; the house can also be illuminated by the 
electric light, the effect of which must be grand, for by 
daylight it is a perfect fairy-land. 
Some nice light suspending baskets from the roof are 
very.well arranged and planted with suitable subjects, 
and on the stages the grouping is most natural and 
pleasing. The following Orchids were in flower, and 
being arranged with various foliage and flowering 
plants, form one of the most beautiful displays it is 
possible to behold at this season of the year :—Several 
good Calanthes, of sorts, Ccelogyne cristata, Cattleya 
Trianse, various varieties, Cypripedium insigne and 
venustum, Cymbidium odoratum, Dendrobium Wardi- 
anum, fine forms, Dendrobium nobile, the lovely Den¬ 
drobium Dearei, with its pure white flowers, Lselia 
anceps, many well flowered plants, Lycaste Skinneri, 
good varieties, Lrelia albida, nice variety, Odonto- 
glossum Alexandra, hystrix, gloriosum, Roezlii, carini- 
ferum, all well represented; Oncidium papilio and 
others were also good ; Phalsenopsis amabilis and 
grandiflora, Pilumna nobilis, and the bright Sophronites 
grandiflora were here grouped in such a manner as to 
jproduce a glorious picture ; in most instances these 
plants are shown in quantities. A most useful old 
plant is used in the grouping with good effect, viz., 
Rivinia humilis, the bright scarlet berries of which 
show up conspicuously. 
A short distance from the mansion is a conservatory, 
which was gay with well flowered Camellias, Azaleas, 
Ericas, Epacris, Callas, very fine specimens, Primulas, 
Cinerarias, Libonias, and the old Echeveria retusa, well 
grown, makes a grand display. This last-named plant 
■when well done makes a capital plant for conservatory 
decoration, lasting a very long time in flower. The 
other plant houses contain a good collection of miscel¬ 
laneous stove and greenhouse foliage and flowering 
plants, and some small span-roofed houses contain a 
nice, although not extensive, collection of Orchids of 
the most useful and popular varieties, doing well. The 
fruit houses and forcing departments are all in good 
order, showing that they are managed in a thoroughly 
practical manner by Mr. William Holah, Mr. Hills 
intelligent gardener .—Alfred Outram. 
-- 
SCENTED-LEAVED GERANIUMS. 
The large number of new plants that are being 
continually introduced into our gardens, and the 
marked improvement that has taken place in many old 
favourite species, has had the effect of almost or quite 
exterminating many plants that were dear to the heart 
of the past generation of gardeners. In many cases 
this weeding out has been of great advantage to all 
concerned, because the great demands made upon the 
resources of gardens, either large or small, has ren¬ 
dered it absolutely necessary that only such things 
should be grown as will best answer the purpose for 
which they are intended. On the other hand, this 
weeding-out sometimes consigns to obscurity plants 
which are of great value for special purposes, although 
they may not be quite so showy as many that have so 
much attention. 
This I think is the case with many of the best 
varieties of scented-leaved Geraniums. It is not often 
one sees them grown in any quantity, or do they have 
much care bestowed on their culture ; yet they are 
invaluable at all times of the year for mixing with cut 
flowers in bouquets, buttonholes, or vases on account 
of their delicious scent and the elegant forms of many 
of then- leaves. The present is a capital time to put in 
a stock of cuttings in any structure where there is a 
faff amount of heat, if a hand-light can be spared so 
that they may be kept close for a time, they will root 
very quickly ; and there is no difficulty in striking 
them on shelves over hot-water pipes in the way that 
Zonals are generally struck at this time of the year, 
only their progress under such circumstances will not 
be quite so rapid, as they do not like such a dry 
atmosphere as the Zonals delight in, and in all stages 
of their growth they do better where the atmosphere 
surrounding them is kept in a moderately humid 
condition, than when the reverse is the case. 
As soon as the young plants are well established 
they should be grown in a greenhouse temperature till 
all danger of frost is over, when they can be removed 
to cold pits for the summer months. Many of the 
strong growing kinds do well in the open air, but the 
weak growing ones are better kept in pits or frames, 
and if stopped a few times and potted on as required 
will make nice useful stuff for cutting from during the 
autumn and winter months, at which season of the 
year any light position in any structure where they can 
have a temperature ranging between 45° and 60°, and 
where they will not be subjected to cold draughts, will 
suit them well. A good compost to grow them in is one 
consisting of two parts good loam to one of leaf soil, with 
plenty of sharp sand and a little charcoal added ; and a 
few of the weakest growers should have a little peat also. 
The following sorts are all well worth growing. 
Trifolium odoratum is the best of all for button-hole 
work, its elegant and deeply cut leaves rendering it 
especially suitable for that purpose, and to anyone who 
only wished to grow one variety I would say by all 
means grow this ; Redula major, Denticulata majus, 
Lady Scarborough (the young shoots of this variety are 
most useful for massing with cut flowers in small glasses), 
Crispum, Pheasants’ Foot, Capitatum (rose-scented), 
Graveolens-variegatum, Quercifolium (Oak-leaved), and 
Lady Plymouth.— H. Dunlcin. 
-- 3 >=£«•- 
SHRUBS IN TOWNS. 
In London gardens few attempts are made to increase 
the diversity of shrubs grown in borders near the 
houses, which is the more regrettable since they form 
such permanent objects either of beauty or the reverse. 
In thousands of gardens we find Aucubas ad nauseam 
and almost invariably the common yellow blotched leaf 
variety ; in few are fruiting Aucubas seen although 
they are extremely ornamental. In numbers the com¬ 
mon Privet would probably rank next, though this is 
being supplanted in many places now by the much 
finer Ligustrum ovalifolium, a strong growing evergreen 
shrub, very useful for hedges that are to be formed 
quickly. Then come the common green Euonymuses, 
useful plants, but why not grow more of the variegated 
forms ; the little Euonymus radicans variegata, it is 
true, is occasionally seen as a margin to large flower 
beds, but the handsome variegated gold and silver 
forms of the latifolius type are rarely met with, except 
in some sea-side towns, such as Brighton, where they 
constitute a beautiful feature in the gardens at the 
west end of the town. 
Hollies are good town shrubs or small trees, but the 
small green-leaved sorts are those usually planted in 
London, whereas, the value of the bold and much 
smoke enduring Hodginsi has been amply proved in 
the northern manufacturing towns. The Laurustinus 
is a pretty shrub, yet, except in suburban districts 
which are outside the smoke radius, it is by no means 
common, although it will stand almost as well as the 
Aucuba. The common Cherry Laurel is a serviceable 
plant and bears cutting into shape better than many 
others ; the varieties rotundifolia and caucasica are 
excellent, the former being the more handsome, but the 
latter is hardier and better suited to the colder districts 
of the kingdom. That lovely shrub, Berberis Darwini, 
has not become so popular in towns as it will do when 
it is recognised as adapted for such gardens, for it 
thrives well everywhere but in the densest smoke. It 
forms a beautiful hedge if kept moderately pruned, and 
when loaded with its deep orange flowers few shrubs 
can equal it in attraction, it is much superior to 
Mahonia aquifolia, though the latter will grow in some 
situations where the other is not so satisfactory. 
Deciduous-flowering shrubs are still less common, 
perhaps, because it is thought their bare stems would 
be objectionable in winter ; but if planted judiciously 
with the evergreens there would be little cause lor 
complaint in this respect. First on the list of these 
must be placed the Lilacs, both the common broad¬ 
leaved and the narrow Persian varieties succeeding 
capitally in towns. Than the so-called “Flowering 
Currants,” the yellow, red, and pink varieties of 
Ribes are great favourites ; the Weigelas—especially 
rosea—the Mock Orange (Philadelphus) and many 
Spiraeas, with Leycesteria formosa and the European 
Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) can be advantage¬ 
ously added to collections of shrubs in town gardens. 
These are only a few hints as to how such might be 
improved, but it would not be difficult to extend the 
list. — 
-- 
THE AFRICAN VIOLET. 
Under this popular name the charming little 
Tinnaea ethiopica is known to some persons, and when 
it becomes more abundant it will be a favourite with 
many who have not yet had an opportunity of seeing 
it. I am not sure if the nurserymen keep it in stock, 
several I have enquired of do not, and the majority do 
not seem to know it. My plants, of which I have 
several, were raised from seed kindly sent to me by a 
friend who has travelled in the region of tropical Africa 
where this Tinnaea grows wild, and whence it was 
introduced by the lady (Madlle. Tinne) whose name it 
bears. It first made its appearance in the north of 
England, and was, I believe, first publicly exhibited in 
London in 1S66, since then it has found its way into a few 
botanic and private gardens, though it does not appear 
to have ever been distributed by the trade in the usual way. 
One of the great recommendations the plant possesses 
is that it naturally flowers at this time of year ; and 
beautiful as are the bulbs and other plants conven¬ 
tionally forced to adorn our houses, yet any that are 
somewhat out of the common are doubly welcome now 
when we cannot turn for relief to the outside borders. 
The flowers of the Tinnaea are not unlike the Antir¬ 
rhinums, but are more compressed lengthways than 
those, and are not so large. The calyx is propor¬ 
tionately large and pale green, affording a marked 
contrast with the intensely rich dark crimson corolla, 
which projects from it in a curious two-lipped form. 
The flowers are produced freely when the plants are 
healthy, and possess a strong agreeable fragrance 
suggestive of Violets, aud so long does this last that 
two or three plants will perfume a moderate sized house. 
Though not difficult to grow, the plants require some 
careful attention to ensure success. In the first place 
they must have a light compost of loam, leaf-soil, and 
sand, or equal parts ‘of loam and peat are similarly 
satisfactory ; if the pots are well drained, and the 
plants are placed in a moist stove, they will grow and 
flower freely during the early months of the year. 
The habit is not naturally very compact, except in a 
young state, and it is, therefore, necessary to cut in the 
long straggling branches as the plants become older to 
cause young shoots to start from the lower parts. It 
can be increased by cuttings, but I have not been very 
successful vith them, only about 50 per cent, of those 
inserted producing roots ; they were placed in sandy soil 
under bell-glasses in a small propagating frame.— A. B. 
--- 
FERNS FOR BASKETS. 
The gracefulness of Ferns is acknowledged by all, 
and their usefulness for many purposes has established 
them firmly in the favour of majority of plant lovers. In 
pots for ordinary decoration they are indispensable, par¬ 
ticularly those sorts that from the natural hardiness of 
their constitution, and the firm character of the fronds 
can endure more exposure and a drier atmosphere than 
the bulk of delicate tropical species. Ou either indoor or 
outdoor Ferneries they produce some lovely effects, but 
especially in the former when there is a tastefully 
arranged rockery upon which they can be planted. 
When grown as stock to furnish fronds for arranging 
with flowers either for stands, bouquets, or wreaths, 
they are equal, or in some establishments of greater 
importance, but there is no more elegant use to which 
they could be applied than culture in baskets for sus¬ 
pending in stoves, conservatories, corridors, or other 
suitable situations. There are certain Ferns that are 
exactly adapted for this mode of treatment, and very 
beautiful they appear with their fronds drooping round 
the basket, forming balls of graceful green foliage. 
