February 26, 1887. 
THE HARDENING WORLD- 
407 
ANEMONE APENNINA. 
The Apennine Windflower, Anemone apennina, 
is a near relative of Anemone blanda, hut flowering 
much later than that plant; hence it makes a 
good succession to it, and being, in point of 
colour, very near akin, the secret in using both plants 
in the spring garden has the effect of supplying 
our gardens with a continuance of an exquisite and 
much-needed colour—a colour of which we can hardly 
have too much. The flowers are bright sky-blue and 
erect, smaller than in A. blanda, but not less lovely ; 
and the profusion with which they are produced, 
together with the cheap rate at which it may be pur¬ 
chased, should render it among the most popular of 
early spring flowers. If words could convey an adequate 
idea of its real beauty and worth, it is not too much to 
assume that this Italian beauty would, ere long, grace 
almost every garden in the British Isles where natural 
beauty is of the first moment. It can hardly be mis¬ 
placed, since it is so beautifully adapted for the shrub¬ 
bery, the herbaceous border, or sunny grassy slopes. 
In the rock garden it may chastely mingle with our 
native wood Anemone, as well as in the woodland or 
wild garden, where, year by year, it will increase in 
beauty till we have at length one of the most beautiful 
floral pictures of nature.— J. 
-- 
STYLE HALL, KEW BRIDGE. 
With the exception of the mansion itself, little is 
discernible of a family residence and grounds attached, 
from the high road leading from Turnham Green to 
Brentford. This shelter and seclusion is obtained by a 
high wall and trees all along the north side. The 
kitchen garden itself is, perhaps, invisible from any 
point of view, owing to the high walls, but the front of 
the house, together with the lawns and parterres that are 
gay in summer, and some ornamental ponds ■with trees 
and islands, are all that are visible from the railway on 
the south side. The extent of the ground is surprising 
when we consider the locality and the wide-reaching 
influence of the speculative builder in recent years, and 
Mr. Beaton, the gardener, with his staff of assistants, 
must find his energies taxed to keep the work abreast 
with the times. Much pruning and nailing of wall 
trees, especially Peaches, has to be got through. 
The extent of glass, however, is scarcely adequate for 
the necessary supply of flowering plants, forced or 
otherwise, required to keep the large conservatory gay 
during the winter months. The centre of this latter 
structure is occupied by large healthy specimens of 
Camellias grown in pots or tubs, and from which a large 
quantity of bloom is cut annually. Large conical or 
pyramidally-trained Azaleas also receive due attention, 
and appropriately occupy various parts of the house. 
The principal feature of the house at present, as far as 
flowering plants are concerned, consist of Chinese 
Primulas and Cyclamen persicum. These are varied 
in character, but the red seifs and the whites are 
most desirable and attractive. Some large plants of 
Daphne odora have been gay the whole winter, and 
diffuse a most delicious odour through the house. Mo 
conservatory should be without this useful old green¬ 
house plant. A variety of Solanum capsicastrum named 
Empress was conspicuous for the great size of its 
berries. 
Cinerarias, in another house, promise well. Amongst 
the occupants of a stove, Anthurium "Warocqiuanum 
was notable for its deep pea-green leathery leaves, 
shining with a satiny lustre. Euphorbia spleudens 
seems almost universally distributed in gardens, and is 
nearly a perpetual bloomer when the conditions are 
suitable. Several specimens of Dendrobium nobile 
■were bristling with flower-buds, another instance of the 
utility of this species, which, notwithstanding its fre¬ 
quency in gardens, will never become tame or unin¬ 
teresting. Of all the Calatheas, probably none are 
more widely disseminated in gardens than C. zebrina, 
whose green and bronzy leaves add a charm to the 
occupants of any stove, and contrasted well, in this 
instance, with different species of Adiantum and other 
Ferns, such as Pterisquadriaurita argyrea, Phlebodium 
aureum, and Pteris serrulata. The Phlebodium was a 
large specimen, well furnished with its characteristic 
orange spores, contrasting remarkably with the deep 
bluish or glaucous colour of the fronds. A variety of 
Pteris serrulata was notable for the fine tasselling of its 
fronds. Selaginella caulescens is a useful species, but 
is possibly surpassed by its variety S. minor, which 
thrives admirably in a greenhouse temperature, and is 
both dense, bushy and dwarf. We also noted an ex¬ 
tremely convenient method of arrangement for the 
production of Mushrooms. The house or cellar was a 
large one, divided off in sections along each side. All 
these sections or compartments can be occupied with 
Mushroom-beds of different ages for a succession. 
Those in full bearing order were producing large and 
handsome specimens of the favourite esculent Agaricus. 
Mr. Beaton is also making a trial of the ridge system 
of growing Mushrooms, bj r making the bed in the form 
of a ridge along the centre of the house. 
■-- 
Hardening ffoTES from 
Scotland. 
Vegetables. —The time has now arrived when 
experienced northern growers make special preparations 
for crops which do not with impunity admit of late 
sowing. In cold and late districts, arrears with 
vegetable crops are not easily overtaken ; and it often 
happens that because of delay some growers assert that 
it is of no use attempting certain things in their locality, 
as they never come to maturity. Habit rules many, 
and no amount of writing or anything else will remove 
prejudice, or induce a new course of progress. This is, 
of course, more applicable to amateur growers than to 
professional men. Ground which has been laid up to 
frost may now be forked over again preparatory to 
sowing Onions and Parsnips for the main crops ; also 
a border for Leeks and Parsley, for permanent sowing 
or for transplanting ; and a pinch of early Carrots, 
between which Radishes can be sown. Spinach can 
be sown between any other crop, such as Peas and 
Beans. Preparation of the ground should also be made 
for planting Shallots and old Onions for seed or for use 
during early summer. The planting of Rhubarb, when 
the weather will allow, and the ground is free from 
frost, should be done as soon as time permits. 
Jerusalem Artichokes may also be planted ; to have 
them good they must not be left to shift for themselves 
as is often the case. 
The lifting of roots which have been left in the 
ground to be placed securely in “pits” covered with 
straw and soil should be done soon. This way of 
leaving roots in the ground all the winter suits many 
tastes, and certainly we prefer Parsnips lifted now, to 
those taken from the ground at any other time. Our 
own at present, from ground which had been waste 
for many years, are really finer in quality than we ever 
had them ; so are the Jerusalem Artichokes and Carrots. 
The latter (Short Horn) covered with ashes have been 
exceedingly tender and of fine flavour. Some prefer 
Potatos treated in this manner, but except what are 
called “new” Potatos, we have never seen them 
improved by remaining to the present time, in northern 
gardens. — Caledonian. 
North of Scotland Horticultural Asso¬ 
ciation. —The usual meeting of the members of this 
association was held in the Christian Institute, Aber¬ 
deen, on Friday evening, 18th inst. There was a fair 
attendance, and Mr. Alexander Grigor, Fairfield, pre¬ 
sided. A communication was read by the secretary, 
from Mr. J. Maitland, Cawdor Castle, Nairn, on “ The 
Geographical Distribution of Plants.” The paper, 
which was exceedingly interesting, related chiefly to 
the distinctive flowering plants that are peculiar to 
different countries. An elaborate paper on “Her¬ 
baceous Perennials” was then read by Mr. Cunningham, 
Kintore Nurseries. He spoke of the great development 
of these plants during the last thirty or forty years, 
and their suitability for decorative purposes. They 
were usually very hardy out of doors, and were less 
troublesome and expensive than many of the more 
fashionable varieties of plants. The paper, which was 
listened to with evident appreciation, concluded with 
a brief description of various herbaceous perennials. 
Discussion followed the reading of each paper, and the 
thanks of the association 'were heartily accorded to the 
authors. A specimen of the Primula, that had been in 
flower all winter, was sent by Mr. Peter Harper, head 
gardener, Duthie Public Park, for inspection. It was 
intimated that the next meeting of the association will 
be held in Marischal College, when a lecture on “Worms ” 
will be given by Professor H. Alleyne Nicholson (Chair 
of Natural History). A cordial vote of thanks to the 
chairman terminated the proceedings. 
The Am ateurs’ Garden. 
The Conservatory. —-With the aid of fermenting 
hot-beds, and a little fire-heat, the conservatory should 
now be commencing to look gay. Camellias and Azaleas 
flower late or early according to the varieties ; but 
with the aid of a little fire-heat during the night, and 
the natural rise of the temperature during the day, 
together with occasional sunshine, the old greenhouse 
favourites mentioned should now be flowering freely or 
preparing to do so. Coronillas and Cytisus racemosus, 
supplemented with C. canariensis and C. filipes—the 
latter with slender, white-flowered, pendulous twigs— 
will do much to render the conservatory an attractive 
feature at this early period. Primula sinensis and 
Cyclamen persicum in great variety, as ■well as 
Cinerarias, are indispensable occupants of a conservatory 
just now. Heliotropes, Daphnes, Eupatoriums, and 
others not only serve to keep the house gay, but diffuse 
a delicious fragrance through the atmosphere. Add to 
these the numerous subjects that have been forced, 
such as Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Crocuses, Solo¬ 
mon’s Seal, and Lily of the Valley, and there need be 
no lack of variety, or cause for complaint in the matter 
of flowers. Freesias are so easily obtained, grown and 
flowered to perfection, that amateurs should endeavour 
to possess them. 
Kitchen Garden. —The winter has been a severe 
one for vegetables of all kinds out-of-doors, causing a 
scarcity that will be felt later on when the supply runs 
short, and before the season is sufficiently advanced to 
fill up the gaps by fresh growth. Even the young 
Cabbages planted out in the autumn have been greatly 
destroyed, and if there are plenty in the reserve beds 
the gaps may be made up at the earliest convenience, 
or whenever the ground is sufficiently dry to permit 
treading without becoming puddled. After filling up 
the blank spaces, stir the soil with the hoe, this will 
help to destroy slugs and assist in drying up the soil. 
Attend to Cauliflower, Endive, Lettuce, spring-sown 
Cabbages, and such things that are under the protection 
of handlights, frames, &c. It is too early and unsafe to 
plant out yet, but give air on all possible occasions, to 
keep them strong and healthy.— F. 
-- 
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 
In the discussions dealing with the difficulties of the 
Royal Horticultural Society, and the many suggestions 
offered for the purpose of lifting it from the slough in 
which it has so long floundered, I have been surprised 
to note how little relative attention has been directed to 
that, which for many years, I have regarded as the 
primary cause of evil. I allude to its constant want of 
touch with popular opinion and popular aspiration. 
For more than forty years, during which period I have 
noted its course, this has been only too palpably ap¬ 
parent. It was as marked under the lead of Dr. Lindley 
as under the more recent management; and there were 
difficulties forty years ago, if not of the same magnitude, 
at least quite as vital in principle as those of to-day. 
During recent years, again and again the good work 
of the committees—the Floral, Fruit and the Scientific 
—has been referred to, as entitling the Society to sub¬ 
stantial support. I do not care to dispute that that 
work, on the whole, has not been of great value, though 
it is very certain there is a widespread—and, I 
believe, a well-founded—feeling that the methods 
pursued are lax and imperfect in a very marked degree. 
This, however, is due to organisation rather than prin¬ 
ciple, and may speedily be corrected in competent 
hands. But did the R. H. S. originate these com¬ 
mittees ? Certainly not. In 1846 the w r ork of the 
florist was frowned upon as severely and as systematic¬ 
ally as in 1876. In 1847 it had become intolerable, 
and a revolt—led by the late Mr. Edward Beck, the 
late Mr. Thomas Rivers, and some others—ensued. On 
the 1st January, 184S, the Florist appeared ; in the 
season the 'Worton Cottage Meetings for the receipt of 
new flowers, for description and discussion thereupon, 
were held, and from these, early in the ’50’s, the 
National Floricultural Society sprang. Then the 
R. H. S., finding the damning with indifference in¬ 
operative—finding, in fact, that the cold shoulder 
might be applied to itself—made a virtue of necessity, 
and magnanimously adopted them. But here, again, 
true to its unhappy history, it marred in affecting to 
