666 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 20, 1891. 
effect at a distance may be slightly enhanced when the 
flowers are abundantly produced ; but on closer in¬ 
spection, double flowers of the Lilac lose much of their 
natural grace and prettiness. The additional variety 
they afford to a collection is their chief recommendation, 
and for that reason they will always find a number of 
admirers. The old double variety, Syringa vulgaris 
flore pleno, has certainly double or semi-double flowers, 
but they are of small size, and poor in colour. Their 
smallness may also be due in a measure to the fertility 
of the soil, and the condition of the plant as to vigour 
or age. A great improvement is Alphonse Lavallee, 
with large azure blue flowers tinged with violet, and 
double. Michel Buchner, a double variety also of 
French origin, recently received an Award of Merit, 
and has large lilac flowers shaded with purple. The 
doubling consists of one or two extra corollas inserted 
hose-in-hose fashion within the primary one. Lemoinei 
has pale greyish white, double flowers, but for general 
effect may be considered inferior to the pure white 
Madame Lemoine. The latter received an Award of 
Merit at the same time as Michel Buchner, and the 
flowers consist of two or three smaller corollas inserted 
within the true one. The tubes of some of them 
occasionally become elongated, giving the flower a 
curious appearance. For general effect in a cut state, 
Madame Lemoine is undoubtedly one of the best of the 
double kinds, if not the best of all. 
-- 
GUNNERSBURY PARE. 
There is always some feature of interest to be seen at 
Gunnersbury Park, Acton, the seat of the Messrs, de 
Rothschild. The glass is extensive, and much fruit 
and flowers are grown to meet a. heavy demand at all 
times of the year. A great display of bloom at any 
one time cannot be expected in the houses, seeing that 
mostly everything is grown with a view to being cut as 
soon as ready. The pleasure grounds for an estate near 
London are extensive, and varied by wood, water and 
undulation, while fresh scenes of interest crop up here 
and there in every part of it. 
Fruit Houses. 
The fruit houses are all in full working order, and 
heavy crops of Grapes may be seen in the succession 
houses, but at present it is unnecessary to specialise 
them until the fruit is ripe. This is almost the case in 
the early house, filled with permanently planted-out 
Tines of Black Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling and 
Madresfield Court, the first and last of which were 
mostly coloured when we saw them the other week. 
The Peaches and Nectarines ip the earliest house were 
swelling fast, and showed a fair crop on some of the trees. 
The leaves on young trees we measured were 6 ins. to 
8 ins. long. The long Peach case is divided into 
several compartments, and the trees which came into 
bloom during the foggy weather are sparingly cropped, 
but others in the late divisions have a good show. 
The earliest plantations of Melons were destroyed by 
fog, as in other suburban gardens, but a good crop of 
Hero of Lockinge and The Countess may be seen in 
one of the pits. The fruits are nearly full sized, and 
in the case of the first named are already beautifully 
netted. 
The Cherry house at Gunnersbury is always a great 
feature of interest to the visiting gardener, from the 
time the first flowers open till the last of the fruit is 
gathered. The house is a three-quarter span structure, 
and although not of great size, contains a considerable 
number of varieties, as many of the trees are grown on 
the single cordon system, while others are allowed to 
run up with three or five stems. The long-continued 
succession produced by the different varieties was amply 
illustrated, for some of the fruits were quite small or of 
the size of peas, while others were coloured and almost 
mature. This was the case with Early Rivers—of which 
there are several trees in the house—when we visited it 
on the 6 th inst. Early Lyons, Bigarreau Jaboulay 
(more correctly named Early Jaboulay), and Early 
Gean were also in an advanced state, as some of the 
fruits were becoming red. Early Rivers may, however, 
be considered the earliest of those named. The fruits 
of Mammoth also appeared full grown, and were of a 
beautiful shining creamy white. Many of the kinds 
are remarkably prolific, the fruits hanging in large 
clusters from the short spurs on the sides of the stems. 
This was particularly the case with Early Gean, 
Frogmore Early Bigarreau, Early Jaboulay, and some 
others. 
Strawberries are forced in large quantities, and at 
present the last batch is in full bloom. Some were 
hanging ripe in the Strawberry house, while later 
batches occupied the shelves on the south, and sunny 
side. British Queen is the favourite here, being much 
appreciated for its rich flavour and, we might add, 
fragrance. La Grosse Sucre and Noble are also forced, 
but to a much smaller extent. The large Fig house is 
divided into three compartments, which are started 
into growth at different times. Brown Turkey, Negro 
Largo and “White Marseilles are some- of the kinds 
grown. In the earliest house the second crop is now 
ripening; the fruits of the second crop are about half 
grown in the second early house ; and in the latest one 
the fruits of the second crop are only about the size 
of peas. 
Flower Houses. 
Orchids are fairly well represented in the flower 
houses, and like the rest they are grown for cut bloom. 
One of the warm pits is chiefly occupied with Aerides 
odoratum, having stems 1 ft. to 2 ft. in height, and 
flowering freely. Coelogyne speciosa in another house 
was upholding its reputation as a continuous bloomer. 
In the cool house were quantities of Odontoglossum 
crispum, 0. nebulosum with beautifully marked flowers, 
Miltonia vexillaria, Masdevallia Yeitchii, M. Lindeni, 
M. coriacea, and M. Harryana. The flowers of M. 
Yeitchii were notable for their size and abundance. 
The flowering stem of Oncidium macranthum was 
still growing, although it measured S ft. long. There 
was a fine display of Anthurium Scherzerianum and 
Palms in a warmer compartment, and plants of Cattleya 
Warneri and C. Eldorado suspended in baskets were 
already strongly in sheath. The beautiful Dendrobium 
Dearei kept them company. A large quantity of 
Maidenhair Fern is required for mixing with the 
flowers, and one side of a house was occupied with 
Adiantum cuneatum in remarkable vigour, and were 
mixed with a few Gloxinias. Yandas were at one time 
grown in considerable quantity here, in one of the 
stoves, but they have been replaced with Cattleyas, 
and other kinds that will supply a larger amount of 
bloom. At present Cattleya gigas with its huge lip, 
C. Mossise, C. Mendelii, and Lielia purpurata are 
leading features in the house. Dendrobiums also are 
rather conspicuous, including D. densiflorum, D. 
thyrsiflorum, and the beautiful white and rose tinted 
D. Farmeri. The pale yellow flowers of Brassia 
verrucosa with their green warted lip are both attractive 
and full of interest. The fragrant Odontoglossum 
citrosmum is suspended from the roof. 
Amongst Cypripediums we noted the beautiful C. 
barbatum Crossii, otherwise known as C. b. biflorum, 
and C. b. Warnerianum. Several plants of Oncidium 
sphacelatum were quite a feature in themselves. One 
piece, bearing three branching panicles of bloom, bore 
in the aggregate over 300 of their bright yellow and 
brown striped flowers. The roof of this house was gay 
with the floriferous Passiflora kermesina. We noted a 
useful invention for suspending Orchids in pots. This 
consisted of a brass rod, coiled round in a horizontal 
direction so as to hold the pot, with the upper part 
bent and furnished with a swivel connecting it with 
the hook by which it was suspended. It is suitable for 
any pot of approximately the same size, and as it does 
not corrode with the moisture, always looks clean and 
neat. 
A houseful of Carnations will be a grand sight about 
the end of the present month or beginning of next. 
The bulk of them consist of Souvenir de la Malmaison 
with a few of Germania, and Madame Arthur Waroeque. 
Six plants of the latter stand about 2 ft. high, notwith¬ 
standing the amount of cuttings which have been taken 
from them. The constitution of the variety is much 
superior to that of the type, and the foliage is of a rich 
dark, glaucous green, not “pale green. The flowers 
under the influence of good sunlight have greatly 
improved, compared with those produced in winter. 
Pleasure Grounds. 
June has certainly great attractions in the delicate 
green colouring of the foliage, and the profusion of 
flowers with which numerous trees and shrubs are 
laden. Everywhere rich glimpses open out to view, 
and the vistas here, whether intentionally or otherwise 
produced, are most charming. The dark red foliage of 
Acer palmatum arropurpureum brightens to crimson 
when the sun shines upon it. One of the numerous 
large old Cedars of Lebanon here is rendered con¬ 
spicuous by the heavy crop of cones which it bears. 
The Horse Chestnuts seem heavily laden with large 
wax tapers ready to be lighted. Some trees are greatly 
improved by two large yellow blotches on the upper 
petals soon changing to red. Some large spreading 
trees of the single and double red Hawthorn, frequently 
in close proximity to a Laburnum in full bloom, awakens 
enthusiasm in the spectator. The ground here and 
there is ornamented with beds or masses of hvbrids 
of Rhododendron ponticum, Azalea pontica and A. 
viscosa. An old Araucaria is made to do duty as a 
support to Roses and Clematis. At present C. montana 
rambles to the topmost boughs, and is covered with its 
snow-white blossom, as C. Flammula will do later in 
the season. 
Close by a pond covered with Water Lilies is the old 
Orangery, which has lately been heightened and 
improved. It affords shelter to several tall plants 
during winter, but two large, old trees of Dicksonia 
antarctica, with stems IS ft. to 20 ft. high, and very 
stout, are the leading feature of the house at present. 
They are planted out in a bed, the natural soil of 
which was removed to a depth of 6 ft. The base of 
the stems are at the ground level, and are ornamented 
throughout their length with Scolopendriums, Poly¬ 
podium Billardieri, Polystichum, and other Ferns. At 
one end of the pond is a rich corner, ornamented with 
flowering specimens of Berberis stenophylla, Myricaria 
germanica or the early-flowering Tamarisk, as it is 
called. Daphne ponticum, Spirtea palmata, and others. 
Hydrangea paniculata also does well here. At the other 
end of the pond are large masses of the Guelder Rose. 
At the northern end of the grounds are two fine 
specimens of Chamrerops excelsa. They were protected 
with canvas in winter, so that the foliage is now in fine 
condition. The larger tree is pushing up nine strong 
flower spikes, and the smaller one has six spikes in a 
more advanced state. They must have a striking and 
sub-tropical effect when in full bloom. At the lower 
end of the undulating grounds is a larger pond with a 
wooded island upon it. The sloping banks are also 
richly wooded with healthy young trees and shrubs, 
except here and there where the effects of surly winter 
may still be seen. The white Poplars, waving in the 
breeze and turning up the under surface of their foliage, 
are rendered more conspicuous by contrast with the 
green kinds. The wild form of Yiburnum opulus, the 
Purple Beech, and Cornus mas variegata all serve to 
beautify and adorn the scene. Large beds of various 
herbaceous plants on the grass here and there are not 
without their effect; amongst them Is one edged with 
Irises, the beautiful flowers of I. florentina being very 
conspicuous, rivalling in beauty many of the Cattleyas. 
The flowers are not exactly pure white, but one hesitates 
to say whether their delicate shading is lavender, 
indigo or blue. 
ROSES SINCE 1860. 
The period 1860 to 1889 may be fairly called the era 
of the Hybrid Perpetuals and Teas. 
One hundred varieties winning the most valuable first 
prize in 1857 are thus divided :—11 Gallicas, 9 Hybrid 
Chinas, 1 Provence, 1 Damask, 1 Alba, 1 China (Mrs. 
Bosanquet), 12 Bourbons, 54 Hybrid Perpetuals, and 
10 Teas. Total, 100. 
The largest proportion were Hybrid Perpetuals 
(H.P.), but of all these kinds (referring to their names) 
only one would be shown to-day on a prize stand— 
viz., General Jacqueminot. 
Jules Margottin and Lselia are still in catalogues. 
The ten Teas are still grown and shown, showing 
that, great as has been the progress in Teas, it is in the 
Hybrids that the greatest gains have been won. 
It was in the autumn of 1S59 that the new H.P. 
Roses, which have held their own since, began to 
appear—some the produce of the free-seeding General 
Jacqueminot, others the first of those H.P.’s with 
distinct traces of Tea Rose blood, Senateur Yaisse and 
Madame Crapelet representing the first, Yictor Yerdier 
and Mademoiselle Bonnaire the second class. 
1861 was, as occasionally happens, a year when good 
Rose3 came in numbers. It was “ Charles Lefebvre’s ” 
year. This variety established its reputation directly 
—my budding note being, “ very good desirable col our.’ 
Due de Rohan is marked “good.” Louise Darzens, 
the first of the Hybrids with Noisette blood, is noted 
as “the advance of the year.” Francois Louvat. 
Madame Charles Wood, Olivier Delhomme, Maurice 
Bernardin, and Prince Camille de Rohan are all fine 
Roses now. Beauty of Waltham, one of the earliest of 
the red English-raised Roses, was of this year, to be 
followed in 1862 by John Hopper, and in the spring of 
1S63 the seed-bed companion of Beauty of Waltham, 
our Lord Clyde, 
1863 gave us our freest dark Roses, Madame Yictor 
Yerdier and Pierre Notting—also that fine Rose on the 
briar, La Duchesse de Morny. 
1864 differs in bringing specially bright Roses—Dr. 
Andry, perhaps the best red Rose we have, Duke of 
