774 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 4, 1888. 
carrying a wonderful crop. A new roof was put on this 
house two years ago, and the Vines have done wonders 
since. Black Hamburgh is the variety grown in the 
fifth division, and the berries are really black and in 
good bunches. The sixth division is devoted to Canon 
Hall Muscat and Gros Maroc, which are everything that 
can be desired. The Grapes in the seventh division are 
late sorts—namely, Lady Downe’s and Alicante—and 
as a house of Grapes this was as good as one could wish 
to see. The eighth division is another Peach house, in 
which the trees are carrying a fine crop of excellent 
fruit. 
There are other houses, one devoted to Figs and 
another to Peaches grown in pots, from which a fine 
crop was obtained in April. There are numerous pits 
and frames, where Bouvardias, double Primulas, &c., 
are grown in quantity, and there is also a good frame 
ground, where I noticed an excellent batch of Azaleas, 
Staphyleas, Lilacs, and other plants being prepared 
for forcing. The garden otfices are situated at the back 
of the long range, and are fitted up with all the con¬ 
veniences necessary to meet the requirements of such an 
establishment as this, where everything is remarkably 
well done. Cleanliness and good order are prevalent 
everywhere, and all departments reflect great credit 
upon Mr. Cook, who has been in charge here 
for some years, and under whose entire supervision 
the numerous improvements have been carried out in 
such a satisfactory manner.— Rusticus. 
-—>X<~- 
HARDY PLANTS IN FLOWER. 
Centaurea macrocephala. 
Conspicuous amongst the yellow Composite flowers just 
now are the huge globular heads of this perennial. For 
the back of the herbaceous border or on exposed parts 
of the rock garden it is by no means a plant devoid of 
interest. The foliage is somewhat rough, but one or 
two well-developed plants will produce enough flower- 
heads to render them attractive whilst in flower. This 
species is easily raised from seed, the plants flowering 
the season after sowing. 
Liatris spicata. 
A handsome North American perennial, producing 
rigid spikes of a pinkish purple colour, and which grow 
about 18 ins. high. The leaves are ligulate-acute, 
rather hispid, the hairs being more decided on the 
midrib. The Liatris family are well adapted for border 
cultivation, being compact, and suitable for ordinary 
soil. L. spicata succeeds well in a moist border, with 
plenty of good loam to root into. In the United States, 
as a native plant, it is known by the curious name of 
Button Snake-root, w'hilst another cognomen for it is 
Blazing Star—a common term for several species. 
Adenophoea liliifolia. 
This is an interesting and graceful perennial, closely 
allied to the Campanulas. Its growth is rather weak, 
leaves (radical) cordate, those of the stem being more 
ovate and sessile. The flowers are very pale blue, 
slightly scented, and developed in a loose panicle. A 
feature of the bloom is the long protruding style. 
This is a perfectly hardy species, being a native of both 
temperate Europe and Siberia. Our plant is flowering 
in a partially-shaded border; possibly in the full sun 
the colour would be deeper. 
Aconitum Lycoctonum. 
This is a very vigorous Alpine plant, with the 
typical foliage of the Monk’s-hood family. The general 
habit is somewhat similar to A. napellus, the flowers 
being smaller and of a pale cream-yellow colour. This 
plant is the Wolf’s-bane of the Alps. —J. IF. 0., 
Pinner. 
Spiraea digitata. 
At a distance this bears considerable resemblance to 
the old North American Queen of the Prairie (S. 
venusta). It comes from Siberia, and grows to the 
height of 3 ft. to 4 ft. or more, and bears terminal 
panicles of bright rosy pink flowers, similar to those of 
S. palmata, but of a more delicate tint. It derives its 
name from the deeply seven to nine-lobed character of 
the terminal leaflet, which resembles the whole leaf of 
S. palmata. It has, however, numerous pinnse, which 
are deeply three to five-lobed, and appear as if whorled 
on the petiole. Like most of the Spiraeas it likes a 
considerable quantity of moisture, and this year has 
suited it admirably. 
Gentiana sceptrum. 
Several of the North American Gentians seem to be 
characterised by large inflated or narrowly balloon¬ 
shaped flowers that do not open widely like the 
European and Asiatic forms. In the present instance 
the flowers are borne in a terminal truss, are ellipsoid 
in outline, and of a deep blue colour. The ovate- 
lanceolate leaves are of a deep green colour, and three 
to five nerved. It is a distinct-looking plant, and well 
deserves a place in a collection. A good specimen may 
be seen in the bog bed by the dripping well in the 
rockery at Kew. 
Michauxia CAMPANULOIDES. 
A well-grown plant of this Bellwort is a conspicuous 
object in any position of the garden. On favourable 
soils the plant attains the height of 5 ft., but the 
usual altitude here seldom exceeds 4 ft. The flowers 
are white, slightly tinged with dull purple. The 
corolla is rotate, about 3 ins. across, with the segments 
recurved ; the stem is branched towards the top, the 
flowers being developed in a drooping position upon 
the secondary branches. Seed of this biennial should 
be sown in time to grorv to good strong plants before 
winter sets in, as the plants if at all weak will not get 
safely through a wet or a severe season. If kept too 
long in seed pots a stunted growth is developed. 
Senecio macrophylla. 
Amongst ornamental-leaved plants this species should 
find a place. The leaves (radical) are large, elliptical, 
and from 2 ft. to 2£ ft. long— i. e ., from the base of 
footstalk to apex of blade. The latter is about 9 ins. 
wide, indented and glaucous, reminding one more of a 
large Ganna leaf than a Composite. The flowers are 
borne upon a branching panicle, and are densely 
crowded and yellow, the florets being small. Isolated 
on a damp lawn or on the margin of water it forms a 
good foliage specimen, not too weedy-looking. Slugs 
are extremely fond of its succulent foliage. Our plan 
to checkmate this pest is to place a zinc hoop around 
the plant buried about 2 ins. in the soil, with an 
occasional sprinkling of soot both inside and outside the 
ring. 
Thymus rotunuifolius. 
The plant under this name is but a variety of the 
common Thymus serpyllum, which varies to an 
astonishing extent even in the British Islands. The 
especial beauty of this plant depends on the flowers, 
which are large and purple, with a white spot on the 
lower lip. They are produced in great profusion, 
almost concealing the creeping stems and foliage in 
favourable seasons, and in several heads or whorls, 
after the manner of T. s. chamsedrys, the most common 
garden form in the south of England. Nothing could 
be prettier in its way than a large patch of this plant 
on the rockery, where it would feel quite at home as it 
does in a state of nature ; or it may be planted with 
equally good effect as an edging to a bed, which it 
renders very gay during the months of June and July. 
A bed in the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at 
Chiswick has been rendered an object of interest and 
beauty for some time past with a broad border of this 
Thyme. 
Crinum capexse. 
There are numerous varieties of this plant in cultiva¬ 
tion, and some fine hybrids, all of which are perfectly 
hardy. "When originally introduced from the Cape it 
was figured under the name of Amaryllis longifolia. 
Like many of the species of Crinum it has a long thick¬ 
necked bulb that rises partly above the soil unless very 
deeply planted. It requires no artificial protection 
when buried deeply enough, and grows with sufficient 
vigour when left undisturbed to flower freely and 
regularly every year. The flower stems rise to the 
height of 2 ft. or thereabout, bearing an umbel of from 
six to twelve flowers of large size, and presenting an 
appearance that is quite uncommon amongst herbaceous 
plants. Of course it may be grown in the ordinary 
collection of hardy plants without any other preparation 
of soil than an admixture of sand and peat if the 
ordinary soil is of a retentive character, otherwise no 
preparation need be made. The tube of the perianth 
is white in the typical form, suffused with red ex¬ 
ternally, and the tube measures about 3 ins. or 4 ins. 
in length, while the limb is equally long, so that a 
large and well-grown clump has a handsome appearance 
when in flower. It is strange the plants or some of its 
hybrids are not more frequently grown. We noticed 
it flowering in the herbaceous border at Devonhurst, 
Chiswick. 
Giant Asparagus. —A monster bunch of Asparagus 
raised by Mr. Robert Nichols, a market gardener near 
Philadelphia, is stated to have been on exhibition 
lately in New York. The bunch is 2 ft. in height, 
36 ins. in circumference, and weighs 40 lbs., or nearly 
1 lb. a spike, all of which is edible. 
CLIFTON HALL, NOTTINGHAM. 
This delightful old residence, the seat of Henry 
Markam Clifton, Esq., J.P., is beautifully situated 
upon the banks of the river Trent, about five miles 
from the great lace-making town of Nottingham. The 
nearest and most pleasant approach from the town is 
through the renowned Clifton Grove, which the poet 
Kirkwhite so often described as being an earthly 
Paradise. Favoured by nature and fostered by art, it 
has become a delight to the wanderer, the philosopher, 
and the savant. As we approach it from the east, the 
ridge, from its base to the top, is clothed with groves 
of Oak, Beech, and Fir, and as the mid-day sun 
catches their tops, a flush of purple from the spreading 
Oaks, a glow of yellow' from the massive Beeches, and 
a gleam of metallic-purple from the Firs and Pines, 
delights the eye. With eager step, however, we press 
forward and seek to enter the charmed circle, for we 
know that however beautiful to the eye the eastern 
slopes of this lofty ridge may be, its highest and most 
rare beauty is within its gates. 
At the entrance to the grounds we are met by the 
enthusiastic gardener, Mr. Anderson, whose courtesy 
is as marked as the evidences of his undoubted ability. 
The majority of the glasshouses are built upon the 
north side of the kitchen garden, the principal vineries 
occupying a central position amongst them, and it was 
these we were first invited to inspect. They are span- 
roofed, about 50 ft. long by 20 ft. wide, and each 
contains a beautiful evenly-balanced crop of remarkably 
well-finished bunches. They are all grown upon the 
single-rod system, and are planted inside the houses. 
Black Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Colmar, 
Buckland’s Sweetwater, and Muscat Hamburgh are 
each well done, and bear every indication of careful 
culture. Many of the Muscat and Hamburgh bunches 
are perfect examples, and would occupy a very 
prominent position if brought into the exhibition tent. 
There are houses near here which are devoted to 
Peaches, Roses, and other things, but the principal 
plant houses are situated upon the south side of the 
garden. A small but choice collection of Orchids are 
grown, and conspicious amongst those in flower we 
noticed the beautiful little Dendrochilum filiforme, 
which was flowering very freely ; a fine healthy piece 
of Cvpripedium Lawrenceanum, and many good varie¬ 
ties of Cypripedium barbatum, &c. "Worthy of notice 
also in the same house was a fine batch of Calanthes, 
with enormous bulbs and growths of great promise. 
The plant-stoves are not large, but are fully utilised 
for the growing of cut flowers, table plants, and plants 
for the embellishment of the interior of the hall, which 
are in great demand at Clifton. 
Leaving the houses, and passing through the kitchen 
gardens, which contain heavy crops of bush fruit and 
vegetables, a most pleasant and unexpected sight is 
opened up to view. The rock or wild garden, which 
contains many interesting Alpine and herbaceous 
plants, intermixed with summer-flowering subjects, is 
a grand, distinct and imposing feature. "We left this 
delightful spot with regret, for each step took ns from 
that which was wildest through varying gradations to 
where the hand of man was more apparent. The great 
and abiding charm of this spot, however, is the absence 
of any attempt to supplant nature. To coax her into 
admitting a few adornments on her lovely person, to 
twine a garland of flowers about her neck and brow, 
to civilise her ever so little, and not quite leave 
her alone in her savage beauty, is all that has been 
attempted ; and truly it has been the work of a master, 
for knowledge, refined taste and loving care have all 
been exerted to make this spot what it is. As we 
passed onwards along the well-kept path little breaks 
and patches of beautiful floral decorations presented 
themselves, leading always to others more complete 
and lovely. 
"We now descend a flight of massive stone steps, 
which brings the mansion and flower garden into view ; 
and, indeed, the eye is charmed somewhat to excess by 
the many beds of rich colours, and turns for relief to 
the sombre Yews that bestud the terraces above. They 
seem to look down with pity on this flowery paradise, as 
if to say how soon it will be over. Many of the prin¬ 
cipal beds are devoted to carpet bedding, and although 
the season has been adverse to the proper colouring of 
many of the plants employed, the effects they present 
are of the most telling character. "We cannot refrain 
from mentioning the free-flowering properties of a 
seedling scarlet Pelargonium raised by Mr. Anderson, 
and which seems to withstand the excessive rains much 
better than other varieties planted in close proximity 
to it. It is of dwarf habit, with flowers of the most 
