214 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 4, 1886. 
Bearing to the left we reach two lean-to Vineries, and 
another plant house against the south wall. The Vines 
in the earliest house, which is 45 ft. long and 15 ft. wide, 
are said to be over fifty years old, and are growing in 
an outside border, as are those in the late house, which 
seem to have been planted but a few years back ; but 
Mr. Smith, the gardener, who has only been in charge 
eighteen months, is not satisfied with their progress. 
One thing, the situation is rather low, and the rain¬ 
fall heavy in the district for outside borders, unless 
they are well raised above the normal level. In the 
plant house I noticed Camellias, Chrysanthemums, 
and Callas, with some score of tuberous Begonias of the 
Forest Hill strain, which, judging from the growth, 
must have been very fine, and as to the strain, I was 
informed nothing could be better. After the growth 
has died down, Mr. Smith shakes the soil from the 
tubers, and packs them closely in boxes until there are 
indications of growth again. At right angles with this 
house, and connected with it, is a span-roofed house 
filled with Epacris and Heaths, mostly of the soft- 
wooded early-flowering section. The frame ground is at 
the opposite end of the garden, where, in a forcing pit, 
I noticed quantities of Hyacinths and other spring¬ 
flowering bulbs in a forwardstate, also Spiraeas, Deutzias, 
Dielytras, and Lily of the Valley. Several cold frames 
are sheltering Calceolarias, aurea floribunda being the 
favourite variety. There are also some excellent plants 
of the herbaceous section, which must have been sown 
earlier than is usual ; and as they have still a long 
season before them, there.is no earthly reason why they 
should not be bushy plants over 2 ft. in diameter, as is 
Mr. Smith’s wont to grow them. 
Leaving here w r e cross the road and through a door¬ 
way enter the pleasure ground, which rises gradually 
up to the mansion, at its northern extremity ; on 
our right is a walk flanked by a belt of newly planted 
trees extending east and north, shutting out the public 
road from view; on the west are open meadows, 
separated from the pleasure ground by a neat iron 
fence, and but for the operation of the lawn mower on 
the eight or ten acres of the latter, it would present no 
difference to the land adjoining ; and our impression 
was, that with more judicious planting and bioader 
walks, much improvement might be effected here. 
Walks barely 5 ft. wide may be right enough for the 
convenience of workmen, but scarcely admit a couple 
of ladies to parade without their garments trailing the 
grass on either side, and the breadth of lawn this 
one encircles makes it look dreadfully insignificant. 
Following the walk up the meadow side we reach the 
partly panelled flower garden, which is west of the 
mansion ; other beds are also cut out on the grass at 
different points near the walk edges. Raised banks 
planted with Evergreens form the western boundary, 
while ensconced here is an irregularly sunk rockery, 
with tortuous paths and numerous recesses, which must 
look very beautiful when the plants are established 
and have covered their allotted space. 
On the north a handsome conservatory, built by 
Messrs. Messenger, of Loughborough, provides agreeable 
shelter for the flower garden. The lantern-topped 
dome stands in about the centre of the panel, with 
broad corridors right and left, and wings running north 
and south, and, from the latter, there is an entrance 
into the mansion. Under the dome, raised above the 
other plants, is a specimen of Livistonia borbonica, 
8 ft. or 10 ft. across ; and numerous groups of 
Chrysanthemums effectively arranged, assisted with 
Ferns and foliaged plants, gave a bright and cheerful 
aspect. Drooping from the roof were such creepers as 
Tacsonia Van Volxemii, Cobiea scandens variegata, &c. 
There were also, in the corridors right and left, such 
plants as Yucca aloifolia variegata and others, Aralias, 
Camellias, Cinerarias, Salvias, Ferns and various 
Palms, and well-fruited Orange trees ; on the back 
wall of the wing adjoining the mansion were Kennedya 
rubicunda, Chorozema cordatum splendens, and Mare- 
chal Niel Rose planted out in a border ; whilst the 
back wall of the corresponding part at the other end, 
which is a stove, and wider, is covered with Ferns, 
Panicum, small Coleus, Begonias (foliage) and Lycopods, 
newly planted in moss stuffed behind diamond-shaped 
galvanised wire netting. On the centre and side stages 
are healthy plants of Crotons, Dracaenas, Ferns and 
Palms of various kinds, and other popular foliage plants, 
with numbers of healthy-looking potfuls of Eucharis 
and a good pan of Ccelogyne cristata. Overhead was 
Stephanotis floribunda, full of health and vigour. 
Near the entrance into this is a doorway leading 
into the potting-shed communicating with a yard, 
which must save immense labour in carrying the plants 
to the one in the kitchen garden, as is often the case 
whenever they require potting. Considering that this 
glass palace has only been erected three years, a fair 
collection of plants has been got together, and some idea 
of its extent may be gleaned when it is stated that to 
get the nearest way from one end to the other a dis¬ 
tance of 95 yds. must be traversed. With so many 
deplorable accounts of closed mansions and reduced 
and “going down” gardens dinning in our ears, it is 
highly gratifying to gardeners to see that others such as 
Ryelands magically appear in their place. — TF. P. R. 
-- 
SPRING GARDENING.—IV. 
Primroses. 
Without doubt, the modest Primrose of our woods 
and meadows is known to all, its sweetly innocent 
flowers being admired by all ; and both young and 
old welcome this sure harbinger of spring, for in its 
freshening flowers, as they spring from amidst grassy 
blades, we have a true forerunner of spring. Apart 
from its modest beauty, and the tidings, so to speak, 
which it would seem to bring, it has long been a popular 
flower, not only among the poorer classes, but even 
among the upper and more distinguished aristocrats of 
our time. Taken collectively, we have few flowers, if 
any, in spring-time which are sweeter and prettier than 
these Primroses. 
For spring bedding purposes, the single-flowered 
kinds are, perhaps, the best, yielding as they do a long- 
continued supply of flowers. Apart from the type, we 
have various hues of yellow, white, lilac and lilac-rose, 
together with shades of red. Any or all of these, by 
careful selection from time to time, may be made to 
harmonise most effectually in the spring garden, and 
from their dwarf habit and free and profuse flowering, 
they are most serviceable. Another point is their 
Simplicity of Culture, 
Either by seeds or division, so much so that they may 
be increased by all—a fact which only makes them 
still more valuable. Not less beautiful are the various 
double-flowered kinds, such as the Double White, 
Double Sulphur, Double Yellow and Double Lilac. 
These are all free-flowering and useful kinds, and such 
as may be easily obtained and readily increased. After 
they have performed their flowering in the beds in 
spring, and the beds are needed for the summer occu¬ 
pants, the Primroses may be lifted, divided and planted 
in nursery rows under a north wall, or on a shady 
border, which, if moderately moist and rich, will 
materially assist in making strong-flowering plants for 
another year. Upon their treatment after flowering 
depends the success of the ensuing season, so that they 
should not be allowed to lay about to suffer. Very near 
akin to the Primrose comes the 
Polyanthuses, 
Which are equally showy and valuable in the spring 
garden, and as the same remarks apply to the latter as 
the former, a mere repetition may appear superfluous. 
From the best strains of seeds some good kinds are ob¬ 
tainable, possessing bold vigorous constitutions, and 
spikes of flowers some 6 ins. high or more. The giant 
trusses produced on some kinds make them most 
desirable, and where soil and situation agree with them, 
we have certainly nothing more beautiful than these 
simple and common-place plants. The only thing 
needful is to continue to select a few of the very best 
marked and most distinct kinds, year by year, and 
increasing these by every means in your power, you 
will eventually secure a strain of sterling merit. The 
above-named groups are only two taken from a very 
extensive and interesting genus of hardy spring¬ 
flowering plants. We have, however, some others 
equally well suited for the spring garden, and promi¬ 
nently among these I may mention 
Primula denticulata, 
A truly noble and imposing spring plant, it possesses a 
stout vigorous constitution, and from its huge deciduous 
crowns bold flowering stems are produced terminating 
■with a capitate umbel of lilac flowers ; it has at present 
hardly found its way into the spring garden, though I 
see no reason wdiy it should not have done so long 
before this, seeing it is a free seeder and good grower, 
and one which rarely dies, unless through gross neglect. 
Altogether it is a plant of noble parts, and always 
admired in spring ; it lasts some weeks in perfection, 
too, and, in the case of strong plants, several umbels 
are produced from each ; it flowers during April and 
May. It is well suited for the centre of a large bed, 
where its bold, and, in many cases, massive heads of 
flowers may be seen to advantage. It is a native of the 
Himalayas, where it is found at a great elevation ; it 
delights in a deep rich loam rather moist—but not too 
much so ; and it roots deeply. Another plant which 
bears a strong likeness to this is P. Cashmeriana, and 
comes from the same locality ; the main distinction 
being in its leaves and stems, which are covered with a 
dense golden meal, the flowers in this case being of a 
rich violet hue. As illustrative of the floral riches of 
the Himalayas, I will mention a third species, and 
which is, perhaps, the brightest of ’all the spring 
Primulas ; this is 
Primula rosea, 
Which is a gem for either the rockery, the her¬ 
baceous border, or the spring garden. I do not say, 
however, that it is capable of enduring the periodical 
removal which is needful for the majority of spring 
■bedding plants, and for that reason it would be better 
to devote a permanent spot to it where its peculiar 
requirements may be met, and where it in turn will 
produce its lovely rose-coloured flowers in the earliest 
days of spring. It is one of the brightest gems among 
liardv plants which has ever reached this country. It 
is easy of cultivation, and the smallest plants produce 
flowers. It grows 10 ins. to 1 ft. high, and from stroDg 
plants numerous spikes of its lovely flowers are pro¬ 
duced. The only other Primula suited for spring bed¬ 
ding is that known as 
Primula Sieboldi, 
A healthy, invaluable plant for almost any purpose, 
and w'hich cannot be too strongly recommended for the 
embellishment of the spring garden. It is distinct in 
many respects, mainly, however, in its being strictly 
herbaceous in character, and in its underground rhizo- 
rnatous root-stock ; these are the chief characteristics of 
the group which is now made up of so many forms, 
though, perhaps, of all of them, the type which was for 
years known and distributed as P. cortusoides amcena 
is the best fitted for the spring beds : its flowers are of 
a magenta-crimson with light centre, and it grows 1 ft. 
high or thereabouts. Yery beautiful is this on the 
rockery in large tufts ; and they may be grown also in 
pots for conservatory decoration ; in short, they are 
serviceable in a great variety of ways, and are fast 
becoming popular. — J. 
-- 
SHRUBBY CALCEOLARIAS. 
There is no plant cultivated for the embellishment of 
the flower garden that is more easy to manage than the 
Shrubby Calceolarias, and there are few plants more sus¬ 
ceptible to mismanagement. Some years ago we thought 
we should have to dispense with it altogether, and seek 
for some substitute to take its place on account of a 
disease that was said to attack it, and which was 
thought likely to be a permanent malady ; but I think, 
from my own experience, that the whole matter may 
be conclusively summed up in one word, viz., misman¬ 
agement, to which this genus, both the herbaceous and 
shrubby, are peculiarly susceptible. Admitted that 
they require a good amount of attention, yet they want 
no coddling or any extraordinary treatment to insure, 
healthy vigorous growth. For private use it is not 
necessary, in the least, that thej r should be treated as 
pot plants ; neither is it requisite that they should 
ever see the inside of a greenhouse. Hand-glasses with 
portable tops, one or two light garden-frames—according 
to the number that may be required—is all, in fact, 
that is absolutely necessary to insure good stuff for 
the bedding-out season. 
For commercial purposes, pots and boxes are of 
necessity used to facilitate transit, &c. ; but the private 
gardener has not the slightest need of either, and as an 
old grower, I may, perhaps, be allowed to offer a few 
pertinent observations on what I call judicious treat¬ 
ment. I usually put in about sixty dozen cuttings; 
this season mine have been in about a month. 
In the first place, I select a not too sunny situation 
to fix my frame—a 2-light one—which is placed 
on the level surface, and a watering is given with 
diluted carbolic acid, or a solution of salt, to pre¬ 
vent the ingress of worms from the subsoil; 2 ins. 
or 3 ins. of cinder-asli, or some rough material, is 
placed at the bottom to insure good drainage, and to 
