458 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March. 19, 1887. 
lifting not to break or bruise them, for upon this 
depends in a great measure the high colour and fine 
flavour, so highly prized at table. Three good sorts 
were given : Egyptian Turnip-rooted, Pineapple Short- 
top and Nutting’s Dwarf Red ; Mustard and Cress was 
passed with a few remarks; while Corn Salad or Lamb’s 
Lettuce was briefly discussed. The treatment for 
Rampion and Watercress was given ; Cucumbers were 
only alluded to because, as Mr. Hrrrison said, they 
alone would supply ample material for the subject of a 
paper. 
The discussion on the paper was very limited ; some 
remarks being made by Mr. Bardney relative to the 
surface-planting of Celery instead of in trenches, in 
which Mr. Glover took part. The probable cause of 
the Tomato disease was afterwards raised for discussion, 
in which Messrs. F. Harrison, Bardney, R. W. Ker, 
Rainger, White (chairman), and others took part. The 
usual votes of thanks to Mr. Harrison and the chairman 
terminated the proceedings. 
-- 
NASH COURT, FAVERSHAM. 
Xash Court was formerly the seat of the Hawkins 
family, from the time of Edward III. Thomas Hawkins, 
who died in 1766, built the mansion. Shortly after 
its erection, during the ferment of the Jacobite rebel¬ 
lion, in 1715, being the property of a Roman Catholic, 
it was scandalously plundered by some people of the 
neighbourhood. Every part of its valuable contents, 
heirlooms and title-deeds were burnt and destroyed by 
the rioters, and the valuable family plate was stolen 
and never recovered. The house was purchased by the 
late J. P. Lade, Esq., and is still maintained in a 
proper spirit by that gentleman’s widow. 
It is situated about two miles from Faversham, on 
the Canterbury road. The approach is through a pair 
of handsome iron gates, with a good substantial red 
brick lodge. The carriage-drive is through an avenue 
of fine specimen Spanish Chestnuts, many of which 
measure 17 ft. in circumference 4 ft. from the ground. 
In front of these noble trees others of Araucaria im- 
bricata are planted, which are also fine specimens. 
The drive, which is some 400 yds. long, brings us to 
the noble mansion, which is built of red brick, standing 
on the declivity of a hill. The house, facing south¬ 
east, commands a fine view of the surrounding country, 
including the Blean Woods. 
The meadows surrounding the mansion are planted 
with specimen Conifer®, such as Wellingtonia, Arau¬ 
caria, Pin us, &e., which are assuming gigantic propor¬ 
tions. Between the mansion and the houses there is a 
fine lawn divided by a walk, which is planted on cither 
side with a Yew hedge, which is well kept. The 
borders on either side of this walk are planted with a 
choice collection of herbaceous and Alpine plants. 
Between the mansion and this border, to the left, is a 
fine Rose garden planted with standards and dwarfs of 
all the leading sorts, and which grow well and flower 
freely. To the right the beds are planted with choice 
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, hardy trees and shrubs ; all 
growing luxuriantly. On the other side of the walk 
before mentioned, and in front of the house, is the 
flower garden. Bedding is well carried out, and makes 
a fine display. 
The range of houses facing this garden is 70 yds. 
long ; the centre one is the conservatory, which is 
51 ft. by 22 ft., and furrow-ridged. Planted out in 
the centre bed, in the middle, is a perfect Latania 
borbonica, 15 ft. by 15 ft. ; on either side are Kentias ; 
one, K. Mooreana (true), 12 ft. by 12 ft., is a splendid 
plant, one of the finest in the country ; the other is 
K. Canterburyana, about the same size. A few 
Camellias judiciously planted, and which are flowering 
freely, fill the bed, the surface of which is planted with 
Selaginella ; a few Palms and Ferns are introduced 
also, which have a very pleasing effect. The back 
walls are covered with Camellias, which are planted 
out; they do well and flower freely, and are the best 
varieties. The front stages are filled with Azalea 
indica, A. mollis, Camellias, Calla, Cyclamen, Epacris, 
Erica, some well-grown Cinerarias, Primula alba 
magnifica, a magnificent strain ; these with Imanto- 
phyllum and spring bulbs, all well flowered, form a 
grand display. Isolepis gracilis is here and there 
hanging over the front of the stage, giving a nice 
finished appearance. 
The roof is covered with Lapagerias, which are planted 
out, and grow luxuriantly. The white and red 
varieties are intermixed, and to give some idea of 
their strength and condition, there are dozens of leaves 
which measure over 7 ins. long and 4 ins. broad. It is 
in this house that the splendid variety exhibited by 
Mr. Humphreys in October, 1884, at the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s meeting, and awarded a First Class 
Certificate, under the name of L. rosea superba, Hash 
Court variety, came from ; the splendid sprays of deep 
rose-coloured flower of gigantic size which he showed, 
was considered by those able to form an opinion to be 
the best ever seen. The stock of this is being dis¬ 
tributed by Messrs. Laing, of Forest Hill, and is well 
worthy the attention of those in want of a plant of real 
sterling merit. 
To the right of the conservatory is the stove. The 
front stages were filled with nicely grown well-coloured 
Crotons, Dracaenas, Anthuriums, Begonias, Phalsenopsis, 
Oncidiums and Phajus grandiflora, all in flower. 
Crossandra infundibuliformis was alson'icely in flower ; 
this is a good stove-flowering plant, with bright salmon 
flowers. Some fine Cattleya Triante were also in flower. 
These mixed with Ferns and other foliage plants, 
formed a very nice display. The other side was filled 
with fine-flowered half specimen Gardenias, specimen 
Microlepia fuscans, Asparagus plumosus, &e. Such 
climbers as Dipladenias, Clerodendrons and Allamandas 
find suitable places on the roof, and Nepenthes are at 
home in baskets. The next two divisions are Vineries 
—the first a Muscat house, the other a late house. In 
the latter are some fine specimen Fuchsias just begin¬ 
ning to grow. On the corresponding side of the 
conservatory are other houses, vineries and Peach 
houses. In the early vinery good plants of various 
Dendrobiums were showing well for flower, many good 
plants of D. nobile, over 2 ft. through, being literally 
covered with blossoms. These departments are very 
suitable for their requirements. Behind this range are 
the garden offices and stoke-hole. The houses are heated 
by two powerful Trentham boilers, which give great 
satisfaction. 
At the end of the garden offices is a fine fernery, 
built and designed by Mr. Humphreys, the gardener 
here. It is 80 ft. long by 30 ft. wide, and lofty. The 
rockwork is w T ell arranged and planted ; fountains, 
waterfalls and miniature ponds are all introduced, the 
whole forming a grand and imposing picture. There 
are noble specimens of Cyathea Smithii, with 10 ft. of 
stem, C. Burkii, with 8 ft., fine C. dealbata, Alsophila 
excelsa, Dicksonia antarctica, Cyathea medullaris, and 
various Cibotiums—all represented by fine healthy 
examples. A few Palms suitable for the purpose are 
introduced, and Microlepia hirta cristata, 10 ft. through, 
and Adiantum Williamsii, 4 ft. through, are companions 
amongst the many. Most of all other Ferns suitable 
for such a situation find a place and are quite at home, 
as is evident from their grand condition. 
Suspended baskets with graceful Ferns adorn the 
roof; the pillars are hid by Maiden-hair Ferns planted 
in cups at intervals, which is a capital idea. Mr. 
Humphreys cuts down completely all his A. cuneatum, 
and thins out others ; by so doing he gets a capital 
growth on his plants. Behind this fernery is another 
house devoted to the culture of plants, chiefly Ferns 
and Lycopods, for furnishing the fernery. In this house 
stood a dozen fine plants of Eucharis amazoniea, 
magnificently flowered ; there some plants flowered in 
December last, which shows what they will do when 
properly treated. 
Close by are two ranges of pits 70 ft. long filled with 
succession Pines, Cucumbers and bedding stuff; also a 
three-quarter span-roofed house in two divisions. The 
first division contains a well-grown lot of Vandas, 
Cypripediums, Angraecums, some well - coloured 
Dracaenas, Pavonia Wiotti and Scutellaria Mocciniana, 
all flowering and in useful condition. The roof is 
covered with Stephanotis, Elvaston variety, showing a 
great quantity of flower. In the other division was a 
fine clean lot of fruiting Pines just throwing up their 
fruit. On a back shelf there is a fine lot of young healthy 
Cattleyas. The end wall is covered with the old useful 
perpetual-flowering Euphorbia splendens. Another 
span-roofed house, 45 ft. by 22 ft., contains perfect, 
well-grown specimens of Azaleas. These are beautifully 
trained, well set with flowers, and include all the 
very best sorts, which must make a very fine display 
when in flower, for there are about three dozen good 
plants averaging 3 ft. by 3 ft. The side stages are 
filled with specimen Mignonette, well-grown Cinerarias, 
Calceolarias and Primulas, of a very fine strain, both 
double and single. Noticeable in this house is a good 
plant of Camellia reticulata flowering freely, its im¬ 
mense flowers being very attractive. The pillars are 
covered with Roses. 
The kitchen garden is well stocked with fruit trees 
of all the most useful sorts, and vegetables are grown 
in quantities to suit the requirements. The place 
in all its various departments is exceedingly well kept. 
Cleanliness and order is prevalent everywhere, and 
speaks volumes in favour of Mr. George Humphreys, 
the intelligent and enthusiastic gardener’s abilities.— 
A. Outram, Victoria and Paradise Xurseries, X. 
-- 
Hardening Miscellany. 
The Awards of the Floral Committee.— 
Although a member of that committtee, I am bound to 
admit that there is much truth in the remarks of your 
correspondent who signs himself “The Boy Jones,” at 
p. 442. In my opinion, some of Mr. H. Little’s 
Lycastes were certainly worthy of First Class Certifi¬ 
cates ; and an equally bad case still in upholding that 
distinction was to be found in Mr. Sidney Courtauld’s 
grand Cattleya, which is certainly the very best of its 
section, but to which only a Cultural Commendation 
was awarded—not a very great acknowledgement for 
bringing a fine new plant worth £150 all the way 
from Braintree. Some time ago Mr. F. W. Burbidge 
and a few more brought forward the idea of an 
Orchid society, but I and others kept out of the 
discussion, as we fancied the much-talked-of Orchid 
Conference at Liverpool would tend to the establish¬ 
ment of an Orchid Committee at the Royal Horticul¬ 
tural Society. No good came of it, however, and I 
think now that the subject is fairly open to discussion 
and support from the large and increasing number of 
Orchid growers, of whom this country can boast. 
If possible, I should say it would be better to start 
the society or responsible committee under the auspices 
of the R. H. S., and if not, some other place must 
be found. To all suggestions on the subject, however, 
I hope correspondents will sign their proper names, so 
that we may know with whom we are treating. 
Privately, however, I shall be glad to correspond with 
any -who wish for information other than through the 
press .—James O'Brien. 
Lady Downes Grape. —AVe do not know what 
has been the general experience this winter as regards 
the keeping of Lady Downes Grapes ; but at the Tweed 
Vineyards, Clovenfords, the Messrs. Thomson have 
been remarkably successful in keeping the great 
quantity they grow sound and fresh. A few days ago 
we received a sample which were simply perfect in 
form, colour, freshness and flavour, even the foot¬ 
stalks being as green as in the autumn. One of the 
bunches weighed 2 J lbs. —a good sample of the crop on 
Vines that have been bearing for sixteen years, and 
which, we are assured, are fruiting now more freely 
than when young. 
The Chinese Primrose.— At the monthly 
dinner and conversazione of the Horticultural Club, 
held on March 8th, Dr. Masters alluded to the history 
and development of the Chinese Primrose as affording 
a remarkable illustration of the phenomena of varia¬ 
tion independent of those produced by cross-breeding 
or hybridisation. The presumed causes, purpose and 
significance of variations were briefly alluded to. Some 
of the variations were apparently due to excessive, or 
to diminished heat, light, or food supplies ; others to 
reversion to a primitive ancestral state—presumptive 
evidence of which latter is derived from an examination 
of the course of development of the seedling plant. 
That hybridisation had played no part, in recent times at 
least, was shown by the fact that until lately the wild 
form of the plant was not known, and, moreover, that 
all attempts to cross-fertilise the Chinese Primroses 
with pollen from other species had hitherto failed. 
The plant as first introduced to this country was a 
cultivated form, which immediately manifested a ten¬ 
dency to vary, and in practice it was always grown as 
an annual. During the last few years, however, the 
true wild species had been found in the mountains of 
Y-Chang, in Central China, by several collectors, grow¬ 
ing on bare limestone rocks, exposed to the sun, and 
with but a scanty supply of water. Dr. Masters, owing 
to the kindness of M. Franchet and Mr. Hemsley, was 
enabled to give a slight account of the wild plant 
