312 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 15, 1887. 
THE LATE MR. THOMAS MOORE. 
Br the demise of this much-esteemed gentleman we 
have lost an important link in the chain connecting 
the old school of gardening with the new. In the 
year 1843 I was a subscriber to the Florist’s Journal, 
and, at that time, had the pleasure of reading some 
well-written articles therein, on the “ Xorth Indian 
Species oflmpatiens as Border Plants,” also “Remarks 
on the Properties, Cultivation and Preparation of 
Tobacco,” &c. At that time Mr. Moore was at the 
Regent’s Park Botanic Gardens. In the following year, 
1844, a series of papers appeared under the heading of 
“ Horticultural Essays, by the Members of the Regent’s 
Park Gardeners’ Association, on Vegetable Physiology,” 
in the perusal of which, at that early period of Mr. 
Moore’s career, the master-mind was seen dealing 
with a profound subject in a most elaborate and able 
manner ; and, even after a lapse of so many years, a 
perusal of these papers would at the present time, I 
have no doubt, very much interest and instruct young 
gardeners anxious to acquire a thorough knowledge of 
their profession. It was in this year also that his work 
on the “Theory and Practice applied to the Cultiva¬ 
tion of the Cucumber in the Winter Season,” was very 
favourably noticed by the editor of the Florist’s Journal. 
It was about the year 1845 or 1846 when I first 
became personally acquainted with Mr. Moore, and 
weU do I remember meeting him at various times at 
the South London Eloricultural Society’s Shows, 
Surrey Zoological Gardens, Walworth, and other ex¬ 
hibitions ; also at some of the meetings of the Regent’s 
Park Gardeners’ Association, in the management of 
which he took a very deep interest. I have also a vivid 
impression of Mr. Moore as a young man of about 
twenty-five years of age, quiet and retiring in his 
demeanour, his mind always appearing to be engrossed in 
matters of deep interest, and that such was the case has 
been proved by his subsequent contributions to horti¬ 
cultural and floricultural literature. Mr. Moore has 
left behind him records of a life, whose precepts and 
example young gardeners would do well to follow and 
imitate .— George Fry, Lewisham,. 
-->X<—- 
THE MISTLETO. 
It may be asked, “Why is not the Mistleto more 
widely spread if, as is often said, birds carry the seed 
abroad ?” This is easily answered by the facts—first, 
that the plants are dicecious, and, therefore, the chances 
are numerous against the seed possessing the principle 
of life. It has been remarked by a keen observer that 
the majority of plants which were examined in an or¬ 
chard of several acres in Herefordshire were pistiliferous. 
Out of fifteen trees which were specially examined, 
twelve were only pistiliferous, two both pistiliferous 
and staminiferous, and one staminiferous only. Then, 
many seeds are annually destroyed by birds, and 
especially the tits— the great tit in particular. 
The seeds being deposited, no matter in what position 
in regard to the bough, the radicles are directed to the 
bark, and the root penetrates to the heart of the wood. 
Specimens have been cut having the plants growing in 
every possible direction, and yet a section vertical to 
the plane of growth of the bough on which it was 
found exhibited the root forcing its way to the heart of 
the wood, or beyond the heart, at right angles to a 
tangent drawn from the point of contact with the bark. 
The root appears to force its way, taking entire posses¬ 
sion of the bough by expansion, behind the growing 
point, and gradually forming an excrescence above the 
bark somewhat resembling the crown of a root. 
The absorption of the juices by the Mistleto in time 
causes the decay of that part of the branch cut off from 
communication with the trunk by it. This, in all 
probability, will account for large plants of Mistleto 
found on the branches being almost invariably at the 
end thereof. 
A theory was at one time held that the Mistleto 
might be propagated by fibres running from one plant, 
and so taking possession of the whole tree. The 
observer alluded to above states that in order to test 
this theory, he tried several specimens where, on the 
same bough, he found two large plants within 6 ins. of 
each other ; but he failed to detect, in sections cut 
from between the two plants, any fibrous connection. 
The capricious habit of the Mistleto is very remark¬ 
able. In a wide district, abounding in white and 
Lombardy Poplars, there is scarcely one of the former 
that is not covered with masses of Mistleto ; but not a 
single sprig was found on the latter. Is it the white 
Poplar only to which “ J. S. T.” refers on p. 283 ? 
On one Ash, standing in a clump of Ash trees, there 
could be found ten plants of Mistleto ; but not one of 
the surrounding trees bore a plant. It is said that the 
same caprice applies to its growth on the Lime and 
white Thorn. — Quo. 
-->r<-- 
CLEVELEY, ALLERTON. 
The neighbourhood of Liverpool abounds in fine 
places, and gardening, in its various branches, is well 
carried out in many of them. Convincing proof of this 
may be seen by the grand examples of cultivation 
which are yearly shown at the horticultural exhibi¬ 
tions by the local growers. The above place — the 
seat of F. S. Timmis, Esq.—is situated about six miles 
from Liverpool, and here gardening, in its various 
branches, is practically carried out. The horticultural 
buildings are new, and are everything that can be 
desired for the purpose for which they were intended. 
The mansion, which is built of stone, has a very 
imposing appearance, and commands extensive views 
of the "Welsh hills and part of Cheshire, including the 
River Mersey. Although the gardens and pleasure 
grounds are not very extensive, there being only about 
six acres, they are full of interest and well kept. A 
lawn tennis ground, and retiring-room or tea-house of 
Chinese design, has just been added, the latter being 
of a very pleasing character. The surroundings are well 
planted with choice Rhododendrons, which seem to do 
well here, as also do the Hollies. Several fine speci¬ 
mens of both are very conspicuous in various parts of 
the grounds. The kitchen garden likewise occupies a 
suitable position, and is well stocked with fruit trees of 
various descriptions in all the leading varieties. 
I wish to draw attention to the horticultural erections, 
which, to my eye, form as compact and useful a block 
of houses as I have ever entered. They were erected 
by Mr. J. Hill, of Woolton. The heating was entrusted 
to Mr. Joseph Bramham, of Liverpool, whose boilers 
are used ; and it must be gratifying to both these 
engineers to hear such favourable accounts from those 
in charge. The work has been done in a thoroughly 
practical manner, and both aTe entitled to great credit. 
A walk on the east side of the mansion brought me to 
these houses, which I will describe by starting with 
Xo. 1, which is in two divisions, one devoted to Azaleas 
and Rhododendrons, the other to Camellias. Amongst 
the former are many finely trained specimens of all the 
leading sorts 2J ft. to 3 ft. through ; standards with 
stems 2 ft. to 3 ft. high were about the same size. Rhodo¬ 
dendrons are represented by the leading sorts, in¬ 
cluding Yeitchii and Gibsoni, of which there are very 
fine specimens. The side stages are devoted to young 
Azaleas and miscellaneous hard-wooded plants. The 
Camellia house, the other division, is well stocked with 
fine plants of all the leading sorts, pictures of health 
and well set with flower buds. Around one standard 
specimen a table is arranged with seats in a circular 
form, which can be used as a snuggery for smoking. 
The entrance to this house is very ornamental with 
carved wood of fruits and flower, while from the ridge 
goes up a weather vane, giving the whole a very im¬ 
posing appearance. 
Going from these houses, the roofs of which are 
adorned with creepers most suitable for the structures, 
we came to a corridor 120 ft. long and 10 ft. wide. At 
the time of my visit this was full of well-grown Chry¬ 
santhemums of all the leading sorts, arranged along the 
back. The front staging was gay with zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums, Primulas, Xarcissus, Roman Hyacinths, and 
other winter-flowering plants. The back wall is also 
planted with climbers of various sorts, which, from 
their gracefulness, produce a pleasing and charming 
effect. 
Xo. 2 range, in two divisions, leads from this corridor, 
and, as well as the others, is a fine span-roofed structure. 
One division is used as a stove, the centre of which 
contains fine specimens of well-coloured Crotons, healthy 
Palms and showy Anthuriums. The side stages are 
filled with a varied collection of Orchids and stove 
The first Hybrid Begoxia : B. Sedexi. 
