746 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
July 24, 1886. 
crosses have been kept strictly to two parents, great 
diversities of character have appeared in the progeny. 
'Of rose Tulips the following were made seed parents:— 
Kate Connor and Sarah Headley, Mrs. Lomax (or Merit) 
and Kate Connor, Mrs. Lomax and Sarah Headly ; 
the result being that there have been obtained substance 
of petal and fine shape from Sarah Headley ; purity, 
colour, and marking, from Kate Connor and Mrs. 
Lomax. It is not to be wondered at that such 
a fine variety as Mrs. Thurston came from such a 
parentage. 
Here we leave Mr. Thurston for the present, with 
the intention of giving further details of his excellent 
floricultural work. 
-- 
DOUBLE HARDY WHITE 
FLOWERS. 
From the frequent inquiries made in reference to 
white flowers, and from their adaptability for purposes 
that other colours are not so suited for, I believe I am 
justified in assuming they are not only the most popular, 
but the most useful. Their popularity and usefulness 
become emphasised when they are hardy, and still more 
so, when they are double. This is easily understood 
without entering into a comparison from an esthetic 
point of view, as generally double flowers of the same 
species hold more than twice as long cut than do singles. 
"Without further preface, from practical experience, I 
subjoin a few notes of a dozen or so, that any reader, 
even with a dozen square yards of a town garden may 
grow— 
Spirba filipexdula flore pleno (Double Drop- 
wort).—This is so easily grown, that once obtained, it 
is never likely to get lost. The foliage is beautifully 
pinnate, Fern-like, and prostrate, so much so that I 
know cases where it is grown for that alone, especially 
as an edging ; the flowers are a beautiful creamy white, 
and formed into compact corymbs. It will bear re¬ 
moval or division at any season of the year, and with 
me even when left uncared for years, has regularly 
bloomed. S. palmata likes a moist soil and shade ; 
this will thrive in any position. I presume it would 
force and bear greenhouse treatment, but I have not 
tried. 
Achillea ptabmica flore plena (Double Sneeze- 
wort).—This has many traits in common with the 
foregoing, and where white flowers are needed for 
cutting should never be absent. It has been in the 
same corner of a border with me for years, and although 
I forget all about it for months together, its handsome 
white terminal corymbs in summer prove a welcome 
reminder. When a new bed or border is manured and 
remade, it deserves a place. 
Double "White Pyrethrums and P. Achillbfolium 
flore plena. —First a word as to the last. It is very 
old, yet I doubt if it is to be found in one garden out 
of every five hundred ; the blooms are pure white, and 
somewhat resemble the foregoing. I have another 
wariety, shaded yellow, and a chance seedling with a 
set of guard petals crimped ; they give any amount of 
cutting, but are only a fraction of the size of the grand 
double white Pyrethrums. Of many varieties of those 
obtained from Messrs. Cannell of Swanley, Kelway, 
Langport, and Carter’s, Forest Hill, and tried for many 
years past, Mont Blanc is the freest bloomer and purest 
white, and then Nione plenum. To these might be 
added Virginal, Vio Lactee, and there are, at least, 
half-a-dozen whites, shaded rose, carmine, or orange, 
all worth growing. When first planted there is im¬ 
mense difficulty in saving them from slugs ; perhaps a 
small inverted flower pot is safest 
Double White Linums—Flowering Chrysan¬ 
themums. —Looking a little into the future, there can 
be little doubt where double white flowers, especially 
Composites, are desired or prized, these will be found 
filling beds, and getting back positions in the borders. 
I should like to know what would be more showy than 
a few beds of varieties with established reputations, 
and blooming during August and September, such as 
Madame C. Desgrange, Sceur Melaine, or Le Petite 
Marie, the heights varying according to the richness of 
the soil, from 3 ft. for the former to 6 in. to the latter. 
The varieties to choose from, as well as the colours, are 
numerous ; I hope to try this next year. 
Matricaria inodora flore pleno. —This is allied 
to and frequently called a chrysanthemum. Unlike 
some other desirable border perennials, I prefer rooting 
cuttings or taking off-sets every year. In very dry 
soils or plants several years old, the blooms are spare 
and semi-double. In rich moist soils the blooms are 
produced in immense quantities, very double and large, 
and continued for three or four months ; no border 
should be without this, if only for the foliage. 
Campanula persicifolia alba flore pleno.— I 
never lose an opportunity of saying a good word for 
this, and still I am aware it is not grown everywhere, as 
it ought and might. Unlike other things it require no 
petting, butnaturally the blooms are finerwhen regularly 
once a year divided and replanted. My variety—I am 
aivare there are inferior strains—is as double as a white 
Camellia and regularly imbricated to the centre. The 
blue, not so much so like those already named, 
is in bloom at present, and can be planted at any 
time. 
Hesperis matronalis alba plena (Double "White 
Rocket).—The recent revival in hardy flowers has 
rescued this grand old favourite from unmerited 
oblivion in old country gardens. There is a flesh- 
coloured strain, seemingly of more robust constitution 
as it is more frequently met with, but cannot compare 
with this in purity of colour or fragrance. I find it 
difficult to retain. One of the reasons is, that propa¬ 
gation caunot be had except by suckers, and these are 
not produced freely, except soil is lifted up around the 
stem. 
Ranunculus aconitifolius flore pleno “(Fair 
Maids of France).”—This is more a spring than a 
summer flower, but when well treated, the side shoots 
bloom on for several months and give lovely little 
white blooms for cutting. The foliage is now dying 
down, and except the little clawy tubers are lifted, 
replanted, and labelled, may get readily lost. 
Double White Carnations and Pinks. —Any 
notes under this heading would be radically incomplete 
that did not include those deliciously fragrant and 
handsome flowers. I cannot be persuaded the Car¬ 
nation or Pink were ever meant to be grown indoors. 
Compare the delicate growth and few blooms on “ The 
Bride ” or “ Glorie de Haney,” or the still more robust 
“The Governor” (Cross) Clove Carnations, as from in¬ 
doors and out. I have seedlings—no doubt the edges 
of the petals are serrated—pure white, with blooms 
produced on single stools by the hundred. Then look 
at the old double white pink, with fragrant flowers by 
the thousand, or the still better “ Mrs. Sinkins,” quite 
at home in beds or borders. I must add one other old 
favourite that may be planted now, very useful for 
cutting in spring, Saxifraga granulata flore pleno.— W. 
J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
-- 
NOTES ON CHERRIES. 
• 
Last week wdiile Waterloo and White Hart Cherries 
were being sent into the neighbouring markets by tons, 
and sold at a price which enabled every Londoner in 
the possession of a few coppers to enjoy a feed of the 
luscious fruits, we received from Mr. T. Francis Rivers of 
Sawbridgeworth, some samples of his choicest varieties, 
half-a-dozen sorts in all, and which may roughly be said 
to be three blacks and three whites. They were 
Early Rivers, raised by the late Mr. Thomas 
Rivers, from the Early Purple Gean, and which first 
bore fruit at Sawbridgeworth in 1869. The fruits are 
large, black in colour, and exceedingly sweet and 
pleasant in flavour. The tree is said to be a great 
bearer, the fruits being produced in clusters of ten or 
twelve. 
Turkey Black Heart.—A Bigarreau in shape, 
resembling the last in colour, but not quite so large. 
The flesh is also firmer, but though of sweet flavour, 
not so refreshing to the palate as the Early Rivers. 
Black Hawk. —An American variety, skin and 
flesh dark purple, nearly black in colour, the flesh firm 
in texture and rich in flavour. 
Bigarreau Monstreuse de Mezel. —This is a 
very handsome Cherry, very large, and dark red on the 
sunny side, paler on the reverse, -with plenty of firm 
flesh adhering to the skin, and very rich in flavour ; a 
very fine variety. 
Ludwig’s Bigarreau. —This is also an early variety 
which we believe was raised at Sawbridgeworth, of 
good size, and a darker red in colour than the last 
named, with pale yellow, melting flesh, and deliciously 
flavoured. 
White Bigarreau.— Fruit large, heart - shaped, 
pale yellow in colour, and the flesh moderately firm, 
juicy and sweet. 
THE GLEN, LEWISHAM. 
Dr. Duke’s garden at the above address, although 
small, is full of interest ; indeed, there is more to 
delight an enthusiastic horticulturist in this small 
space than in many gardens much more extensive. 
Good old alpine and herbaceous plants find a home on 
borders and rockeries round the lawn ; hardy Ferns 
and shrubs are also well looked after, but the chief 
feature of the place is the splendid collection of Orchids, 
so well described in The Gardening World on Mav 
1st. 
I think no grower of Orchids could wish to cul¬ 
tivate Barkerias in better style than they are done at 
The Glen. They occupy a small house only 12 ft. 
long ; the plants are suspended close to the glass, and 
the thick healthy roots hang about in all directions. 
Water is freely used until growth is completed, and an 
abundance of air given, the door being allowed to stand 
open all day at this time of year. Certainly their 
treatment is well understood here, and both Dr. Duke 
and his gardener ought to feel proud of their success. 
They might certainly oblige many less fortunate by 
publishing their secret in this paper concerning the 
mode of treatment. 
In the new span-roofed Cattleya-house the plants are 
at home and perfectly healthy, although they stand 
so thickly together (as, indeed, they do in all the 
houses, not an inch of space being wasted). The 
Cattleyas are well syringed early in the afternoon, and 
the house closed for about two hours, after when the 
ventilators are again opened for a time to dry the at¬ 
mosphere. A nice variety of C. bicolor is bearing a 
seed vessel crossed with pollen from C. Lawrenciana. 
Should the possessor be fortunate enough to raise 
seedlings, I trust he will fare better if he exhibits them 
before the Floral Committee than he did with the 
first flow T ering specimen of the male parent in February 
last. 
The old Cattleya-house is turned to good account 
for the reception of imported plants, and with the 
earth floors and moist air, proves to be just the place 
for them, as their numerous roots and sturdy growth 
testify. In one house are a quantity of Oncidium 
Jonesianum, growing and rooting freely on bare 
pieces of Pear-wood along with Odontoglossum grande, 
&c. 
The Phalsenopsis are grown iu a house, above 
stove plants. I have always noticed that where this 
system is adopted the Phalaenopsis are growing the 
most satisfactorily. There are several choice species 
grown, and P. amabilis, P. Luddemanniana and P. 
Sanderiana are in bloom. The cool-house is filled with 
many plants, chiefly of the Odontoglossum crispum type, 
and some exceptionally fine varieties are amongst them. 
Aerides japonicum is thriving well close to the glass. 
Angnecum Leonis occupies a position in the flowering 
house ; there are several plants, one being a large 
healthy specimen. 
Among other subjects in bloom I made a note of the 
pretty Angrfectun falcatum, with sweet-scented white 
flowers; Acineta Barkerii, Anguloa Clowesii, the curious 
Acanthophippium bicolor, a very fine Cattleya Dow- 
iana, C. bicolor, C. Gaskelliana, dark and light varieties 
of C. Leopoldi, C. Mendelii, and a few late-flowering C. 
Mossi® ; also a good form of C. Sanderianum, Cym- 
bidium Lowii, which has been in bloom for sixteen 
weeks ; Cypripedium concolor, C. c. Regnieri, C. 
Spicerianum, a very fine plant of the beautiful Coelo- 
gyne Massangeana, Dendrobium Bensoni®, D. infundi¬ 
bulum, D. Jamesianum, D. Freemanii, D. Parishii, 
and D. superbiens ; Epidendrum falcatum, E. nemorale 
inajus, E. tovarensis, with pretty white flowers ; and 
E. vitellinum, a distinct crimson variety, I never saw 
one before so rich in colour; Galeandra Devoniana and 
G. nivalis ; Lycaste Deppei, Lselia purpurata, Odonto¬ 
glossum cordatum, 0. crispum, 0. maculatum, 0. scep- 
trum prsenitens, Oncidium curtum, 0. crispum grandi- 
florurn, very fine, two spikes bearing seventy-five large 
blooms ; 0. longipes and 0. metallicum. Oncidium 
Harrisonianum is coming into bloom, showing 200 
flowers on the spikes, and will be very effective soon. 
Some of Dr. Duke’s best varieties are sketched in 
colours on plates and other china. Had they been at 
the great Liverpool show they would have been admired 
by all lovers of this artistic work. It is worthy of note 
that anthracite coal has been used for some time at 
The Glen, and has proved to be the best and by far the 
most economical of any fuel yet tried. — G. IV. Cummins, 
The Grange, Wallington. 
