118 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 22 , 1887. 
pleasure grounds from the highway leading from 
Brentford to Hanwell, and travellers on that road get 
little idea of the extent of the ground within the 
enclosure, although the garden wall, and occasional 
glimpses of tall old Cedars and other trees, give 
evidence of a garden of some antiquity. Once inside, 
however, a pleasant prospect meets the view ; and one 
cannot but feel delighted as Mr. Jefferies, the gardener, 
leads the way now through rich garden-ground, well 
cultivated and richly stocked with fruit trees, and now 
over pleasure-grounds dotted with standard Hoses, old 
trees, and thriving young conifers on the sunny 
western slope overlooking the old channel of the river 
Brent, now simply a passage for the overflow of waste- 
water from the canal, up and down which boats ply 
almost continually. 
At the time of our visit some hundreds of Chrysan¬ 
themums lined the sides of the kitchen garden walks, 
and reminded us that even here this popular autumn 
flower receives a large share of attention, and furnished 
another instance that Chrysanthemums are indispen¬ 
sable in modern horticulture. A grand lot of C. 
uliginosum also occupied the back line of an herbaceous 
border, and testified to its utility for cutting purposes. 
Sunflowers were a conspicuous feature in the same 
border, and included Helianthus annuus, EL cueumeri- 
folius, H. decapetalus multifloTus, the double form of 
the latter, H. argophyllus, and H. laetiflorns. The 
border was also rendered gay by various other subjects, 
such as Chrysanthemum maximum, the Winter Cherry 
(Physalis Alkekengi), with its large inflated orange 
calyx surrounding the scarlet fruit; Sedum spectabile, 
aglow with its lively rose-coloured blooms ; and those 
grand autumn flowers, Anemone japonica alba and 
A. j. hybrida. Various annuals were interspersed 
amongst the other plants, but had mostly gone to seed. 
The various fruit trees on the walls were a fine sight, 
especially Pears; but there were some very large 
Peaches, and a quantity of Morello Cherries. Plums— 
especially Victoria and Pond’s Seedling—bore heavy 
crops, but had just been gathered. A large standard 
Apple tree, Golden Knob, was a truly ornamental 
object, from the heavy crop of yellow fruits that every¬ 
where covered the tree. Pears were the chief feature, 
however, as already stated, and conspicuous for their 
size were Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre 
Diel, and Calabash. The crop of Beurre Clairgeau and 
Beurre Diel was exceptionally heavy ; but although 
the fruits of Calabasse were of great size, they were 
sparingly distributed on all of the trees grown. Of 
early kinds, Williams’ Bon Chretien and Louise Bonne 
of Jersey bore heavily, as did Beurre Hardy, a large 
and richly-flavoured October Pear. He Plus Meuris, a 
medium-sized fruit, ripening in December, also bore well. 
On the lawn leading from the garden towards the 
mansion was a grand lot of standard Roses of Souvenir 
de la Malmaison and General Jacqueminot, planted in 
1860. Occasionally a death occurs amongst them, but 
the greater number are still in rude vigour. The 
house itself is a commodious though not very imposing 
building, and looks so fresh that the spectator would 
scarcely credit its age. On the lead gutters are two 
dates, namely, 1622 and 1670 ; the first commemorates 
the founding of the house, and the second date refers 
to the restoration of a part that had been burnt down. 
The basal part of the wall is covered for 10 ft. or 12 ft. 
up with large old double-flowered Pelargoniums, and 
has been so for many years back during the summer 
months—the old plants being housed in winter. A 
large number of vases, some of a costly character, 
particularly five specimens of Chinese work ornamented 
with trees and birds, done in gold colours, stand in 
front of the house, and are filled with bedding plants. 
The Chinese vases are so large as to require two men to 
lift them when empty. Two ornamental rustic wood¬ 
work designs, also filled with bedding stuff, stand 
on the lawn, where they have certainly a fine appear¬ 
ance, being quite devoid of that stiffness which char¬ 
acterises the terra-cotta and other vases. 
At the far end of the lawn is a pond ornamented 
with massive clumps of Water Lilies, and hugging the 
margin is a massive bed of Typha latifolia, which had 
flowered more abundantly than we have ever seen it 
before, and was literally black with its cylindrical 
brush-like heads of fruit. On the bank, and con¬ 
veniently situated so that its roots could dip into the 
water, is a handsome piece of Osmunda regalis, a huge 
plant such as we should like to see in every garden. 
Conifers deserve something more than a passing 
notice, especially a fine old patriarchal specimen of 
Cedrus Libani, which from its appearance must have 
been planted soon after its introduction into Britain. 
About 5 ft. from the ground the trunk measures 24 ft. 
in circumference, and above that starts away with four 
leaders, each of which in themselves would constitute 
a respectable tree. Seventeen years ago, or thereabout, 
seedlings came up under the old giant, like a crop of 
grass. Some of these were planted, others being given 
away ; and one of the seedlings, now about 12 ft. in 
height, is a perfect model of beauty, with strictly 
horizontal branches, as in the parent, which it bids 
fair to rival in the future. Although in the vicinity of 
the reputedly smoky town of Brentford, with its gas, 
soap, and other works, conifers of various kinds thrive 
remarkably well here, and require but a small modicum 
of attention in the matter of thinning, so that they may 
not destroy one another by overcrowding. A perfectly 
pyramidal specimen of Sequoia gigantea stands on a 
lawn, and does not suffer in this latter respect. It is 
now about 40 ft. high, and in vigorous health. Equally 
robust are Abies (Picea) Nordmanniana, 30 ft. in height; 
A. pinsapo, 30 ft. ; Pinus excelsa, 35 ft. ; P. austriaca, 
20 ft., and Cupressus Lawsoniana. These are now 
rather encumbered with deciduous trees, which we 
should like to see pruned or altogether removed, as the 
case may be. A magnificent standard specimen of 
Negundo aceroides variegatumis unfortunately hidden— 
or, rather, buried—by other and less important trees. 
There is a great curiosity in the shape of an old Yew 
tree in the vicinity of the house, which covers a con¬ 
siderable space of ground, and is annually pruned in 
the lower part, so as to preserve an opening or vista, 
through which its owner catches a glimpse of the Roses 
and flower garden from his window. 
—-- 
THE DAHLIA. 
Pkotided we get enough of them, it seems doubtful 
whether the Dahlia is not the most effective of all our 
exhibition flowers. "We say this much whilst having 
in mind both Rose and Chrysanthemum shows ; and 
whilst both are, in their way, very beautiful, yet both 
seem to lack those remarkable hues and combination of 
hues which Dahlias give. It is true the Dahlia is a 
flower of sunshine, and needs ample light to create form 
and colour, as also to enable these qualities to be fully 
seen, but the Rose is equally a thing of sunshine and 
light. The Chrysanthemum, however, seems to figure 
so well in November fogs and under gloomy skies, that 
we fear it would suffer much if it were seen under gay 
sunshine ; and for that special quality it merits hearty 
approval. Still there remains the fact, that whilst we 
have in the Dahlia form and material constituting 
perfection, we have also such remarkable hues—so 
brilliant and beautiful, that no other flower, however 
popular, can compete with them. 
Show Dahlias have been termed lumpy ; equally so 
are globular Roses and Chrysanthemums, if criticism is 
to take that hypercritical form ; but those who see 
beauty in Dahlias, find, on the other hand, wondrous 
form, singular combination of petals, perfection of 
arrangement and lovely hues of colour. "Who would 
quarrel with these qualities and find defects only in 
outline ? If such critics think the show Dahlias too 
large, they may have their fill of the Pompons, which 
are as perfect in form and colour as can be desired, and 
present effective floral material such as cannot be too 
highly praised. If the Pompons, also, be too formal 
in outline, there are then the pointed-petalled Cactus 
forms, which, whatever may be the floral defects of the 
plants, yet in bloom are individually singularly striking 
and pleasing. But, in the matter of colour, what 
flowers can excel the single Dahlias—the gorgeous 
butterflies, if the term may be used, of this interesting 
family ? It is true single Dahlias are somewhat fugitive 
in hot weather, but in the cool autumn months the 
colours seem richer, and the petals more enduring. 
The banks of Dahlias of these various sections, staged 
at South Kensington on September 26th, whilst at once 
a surprise and a source of delight to the fair visitors 
who troubled to attend, were strikingly marked by 
richness of hue, and made a display which no other 
flower, showing equal variety in colour and form, could 
excel. 
Dahlias, and especially the smaller forms, lend them¬ 
selves in a facile degree to variation in setting for show 
purposes, and there can be no doubt, did opportunity 
offer, but that experts in the art of decoration could 
work out effects with these flowers which might become 
sensations. From what we have learned, there seems 
to be some dissatisfaction with the few opportunities 
shown to Dahlia growers to exhibit these favourite 
flowers to the public. That such should be the case 
we can but deplore, because we are assured there are 
in the metropolis alone, tens of thousands of persons 
who would gladly have admired the glorious lot of 
flowers seen the other day at South Kensington, could 
they have been placed in some convenient locale. 
When it is so painfully obvious that, in spite of the 
kindness and generosity of florists and others in dis¬ 
playing their lovely flowers at South Kensington, the 
public will not attend to see them, of course these 
growers find no reward for their labours. They do not 
mind what trouble they take, or how many beautiful 
flowers they set up, if only the myriads who love 
flowers, and, perchance, would like to grow them also, 
would but flock to see the shows. 
If Mahomet will not come to the mountain, then, in 
a sense, though not literally, must the mountain be 
taken to Mahomet. But how? that is the query. 
And here we must to some extent condemn the 
apparent lack of energy, in a purely business direction, 
which seems to mark our nursery and florists’ trade. 
Why wait the lead of a body of any kind outside the 
trade, especially a body of recognised incapables. Why 
not form a trade syndicate, and obtaining some suitable 
place for exhibition purposes in a central spot in 
London, hold during the season perennial exhibitions 
of plants fit for sale, cut flowers of all kinds, fruits, 
vegetables, in fact, of anything horticultural but which 
is attractive ? What matter if this show place became 
a sort of market ; so much the better. At least it 
would offer flower growers of every kind an ample 
opportunity to display their produce in season, and 
create effects as novel as they would be beautiful. We 
commend this suggestion to the trade, inviting that 
body to put aside all jealousy and combine for its 
interests, allied to that of horticulture in general.— Z. 
-—- 
PEA.S, OLD AND NEW. 
Notes upon Peas and Pea culture I always read with 
avidity, for I like them, and there is some force in the 
old adage that “The way to a man’s heart is through 
his stomach.” I have accordingly read the recent notes 
in your columns concerning Ne Plus Ultra and British 
Queen, and if their merits are looked at fairly, all 
things considered, it is questionable if the modern 
varieties are so much in advance of them as some 
imagine. Ne Plus Ultra is not to be beaten, and still 
holds its own, as also with many does British Queen, 
and to these I wish to add General Wyndham ; the 
names are all good ones, and there are many gardeners 
who will back these sorts in contest against all comers. 
In some parts of Yorkshire General Wyndham is 
still largely grown, especially for exhibition purposes, 
and during the past summer I came across this sort at 
several shows. At Elland dish after dish, and tray 
after tray of General Wyndham were exhibited. 
“ Ah! ” said a good old gardener, Mr. Baxendale, known 
for miles round as a keen critic and judge of vegetables, 
‘ 1 you may talk about your Dukes and your Telephones, 
but it will take them all their time to drive the General 
off the boards. Give me pods that are long, straight, 
nearly round, of good colour, and full to compression. 
The weak ‘ points ’ of the modern show sorts are their 
want of colour and bluntness ; they do not fill up to 
the ends as they ought to do, and are inclined to curve.” 
Thus spoke my honoured and respected old friend, 
who has cultivated Peas for a great many years, and 
who knows what are the best “ points ” of a vegetable, 
as he was one of the two who originated judging by 
“ points.” 
The samples shown of General Wyndham were 
indeed good, the pods being 5 ins. long, with ten peas 
in each, exactly as stated above, and covered with a 
bluish bloom so essential to exhibition sorts. This 
has not been a good year for Peas, but I was somewhat 
surprised that of such a large number of dishes, so 
great a proportion consisted of this good old sort; and 
it was clear that, at least this season, it had not 
betrayed the trust the growers had reposed in it. For 
a late dish it will compare with any sort grown, and 
here I may remark, parenthetically, that it is known 
also under the name of Pontefract Castle. In what 
points then are the modern sorts superior to the older 
ones ? In colour and flavour I am inclined to say there 
is no advance ; but as regards length of pod, I shall 
give my vote to the moderns, though taking General 
Wyndham as a standard, even this to some may appear 
doubtful. Allowing this to be so, what gain is there 
if the pods do not fill up well at the ends ? Nine or 
ten peas in one pod may or may not be as good as those 
in another of greater length, but it is the size and 
number of the peas that count in judging, and 
General Wyndham, as I saw it, would compare pea 
