July 25, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
. 745 
The Trials at Chiswick —On the occasion of the 
recent Chiswick Conference a sub-committee, se¬ 
lected from the Floral Committee, examined the 
collection of border Pinks growing in the garden, and 
awarded three marks to each of the following 
varieties:—Her Majesty (Hooper), Beauty of Bath 
(Hooper), Modesty (Turner), Hettie Dean (Dean), 
Charmer (Dean), Mrs. Dark (Dean). The Fruit and 
Vegetable Committee examined the collection of 
Peas growing in the garden, and awarded three 
marks to the following sorts :—Ameer (Harrison & 
Sons), Early Green Marrow, Sutton’s Empress of 
India (Sutton & Sons); Early Green Wrinkled. 
Three marks were also awarded to the following 
varieties of Peas, as representing the best types in 
the collection :—Duke of Albany (Veitch), tall 
Green Marrow; Telephone (Veitch), tall Green 
Marrow ; Chelsonian (Veitch), tall Green Marrow ; 
Extra Dwarf Daisy (Carter & Co.), Green Marrow ; 
Critic (Eckford), tall; Essential (Eckford), tall ; 
Epicure (Eckford), tall ; The Echo (Eckford), dwarf ; 
Alderman (Laxton), tall ; The Marquis (Laxton), 
tall. Two marks were awarded to the following 
varieties:—Sutton's Early Marrowfat (Sutton & 
Sons), dwarf; Optimum (Laxton), tall. A first 
class certificate was awarded to Potato Early Short 
Top, provisionally named (Laxton), a remarkably 
fine and early variety. Tubers large, fully-growm— 
greatly in advance of any other variety. 
The North Lonsdale Rose Society held their 
eighth exhibition of Roses and Pansies in the Drill 
Hall, Ulverston, on Friday, July 17th. The nursery¬ 
men made an excellent display, and on the whole the 
exhibition was the best ever held under the aus¬ 
pices of this Society. Messrs. A. Dickson and 
Sons of Newtownards, were- specially successful, 
inasmuch as they won four first and three 
second prizes. Also for the best bloom in the 
nurserymen’s classes and the best bloom in the show 
their new rose, Margaret Dickson, carried the day. 
That this Rose is the coming one there is no gain¬ 
saying. Seldom has a new Rose come so rapidly 
to the front as Margaret Dickson has done ; yet in 
the face of very keen competition, in which 
the leading growers of the Kingdom took part, 
this superb new white Rose was awarded the first 
prize. We congratulate the raisers on their well- 
earned awards. Truly it is a grand Rose, and is, 
beyond any doubt, the best Rose raised since Mrs. 
Laing’s advent, a rose that does honour to the 
memory of the late Mr. H. Bennett. Mr. B. R. Cant 
gained three first and four second prizes ; in fact the 
competition was keen throughout all the classes, 
Messrs. Dickson of Chester and Harkness of Bedale 
exhibiting in good form. The local exhibits of 
Roses were much in advance of any previous year, 
although nearly all the first blooms were over, 
owing to the excessive heat of the previous week and 
the great drought which has lasted since November. 
The Pansies were excellent as to quality and size, 
Mr. A. Irvine, of Tighnabruaieh, remarking the 
competition was considerably keener than at any 
previous show he had attended this season. 
WHITE CLARKIA. 
When writing the paper on Clarkias which appeared 
in the last issue of The Gardening World I little 
thought I should see immediately after how very use¬ 
ful a subject it is for employment in making up 
arrangements of flowers for the dinner table. At 
the recent exhibition of the Ealing Horticultural 
Society some very pretty table decorations were 
staged, and in one case the flowers of Clarkia 
pulchella alba were employed with excellent effect. 
I think those of C. pulchella integripetata are better 
for the purpose because of their more refined form, 
but either can be employed with great advantage. 
They were sparingly introduced by the exhibitor, 
but with a profusion ample enough to give the 
desired effect. The white Clarkias are very pure in 
colour, and that is much in their favour; and they are 
decidedly elegant. In one of the pretty arrangements, 
set up by Miss Lilian Hudson, a charming small- 
flowered single white Rose was employed with excel¬ 
lent effect. It appeared to be a species, the blossoms 
greatly resembling those of half-developed blossoms of 
Anemone japonica alba. Mr. Hudson could not give 
me the name of it, but it has the appearance of a 
Japanese species. — R. D. 
HOLLAND HOUSE, 
KENSINGTON. 
The fine old garden of Holland House in the 
west-end of the Metropolis, and now in the possession 
oi Lord Porchester, still remains intact and enjoys 
immunity from the grasping clutches of the builder. 
The stranger driving along the busy thoroughfare 
through High Street, Kensington, and peeping 
through the rails that enclose the grounds of 
Holland House, can have no idea of the extent of 
the demesne, nor the distance it extends beyond the 
fine old pile situated on the brow of the rising ground, 
and deeply embowered on all sides by tall, aged and 
leafy trees. The grounds on the north side of the 
mansion are occupied by an extensive and rich col¬ 
lection of trees, of which we hope to speak on a 
future occasion. 
At the lower end of the flower garden, and in the 
vicinity of the mansion itself, is the garden pavilion, 
used as a conservatory in summer and as an orangery 
in winter. The construction is that of an orangery. 
At present it is occupied with various flowering plants, 
and the roof is draped with vines and a large old 
specimen of Holboellia (Stauntonia) latifolia. The 
interior was occupied for the time being by a large 
garden party on the 18th inst., and one table for the 
reception of Royalty was spread under a Walnut 
tree close by. On the top of the pavilion is a 
terrace, from which a fine view of different portions 
of the flower garden may be obtained. At the lower 
end of the garden are some arches, the remains of 
old buildings, now completely covered with Ivy and 
Virginian Creeper, which give them a picturesque 
effect. 
Near these arches is a huge bed of Calceolaria, 
and another of Dahlia, White Queen, the latter 
being already quite gay with its large single 
white flowers. Extending towards the mansion is a 
rectangular piece of ground laid out in large angular 
beds, some of which are largely occupied with an 
intricate pattern of scroll work done in low but 
massive lines of Box, which, being evergreen, gives 
the beds a furnished appearance even in winter, 
when the more tender occupants are being preserved 
under glass. Looked at from various points of view 
the beds are a blaze of bloom at present. Pelar¬ 
goniums of various colours, Calceolarias and 
Tropaeolums, both single and double, are extensively 
used, and bedding Violas are used to some extent as 
edgings. The whole has a very unique appearance 
owing to the peculiar character of the design and 
the use made of Box. Perhaps nowhere else can 
such a design be seen. 
Bounding this garden on the north side is a long 
and high brick wall formerly covered with Peach 
trees, but now occupied with an extensive collection 
of choice climbers, one only of each kind. The white 
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is still one of the best 
for town gardens, and is now gay. Of the choicer 
subjects we can only mention a limited number where 
all are good. Amongst them were the common Passion¬ 
flower, and the white Constance Elliott, also Ceano- 
thus ccerulea, C. c. grandiflora, Gloire de Versailles, 
and others, the Pomegranate, Akebia quinata, 
Solanum jasminoides, Bignonia capreolata, out all 
winter and thriving finely, Clematis Jackmanni, 
Prince of Wales, and Lady Boville, the rich purple 
flowers being very effective. 
Another variety of Clematis named Lord Bea- 
consfield sometimes has the upper leaves coloured 
like the flowers. C. montana grandiflora and 
C. viticella grandiflora are other fine kinds, the 
latter being in bloom. Periploca graeca has covered 
a great extent of wall this season. A plant of Rham- 
nus alternus latifolius variegata has its leaves beauti¬ 
fully edged with white. Other choice subjects are 
Berberis stenophylla, Elaeagnus reflexa aurea, 
Choyzia ternata, Wistaria sinensis alba, Illicium 
religiosum and others. A large, old tree of Wistaria 
extends round the terrace of the pavilion and keeps 
on flowering all summer. 
To the west of the arches above mentioned is a 
bit of neat carpet bedding, planted with Alter- 
nantheras, Mesembryanthemum, Herniaria glabra, 
Antennaria tomentosa, Sedum glaucum, Echeverias, 
and other subjects of that nature. On the lawn 
close by are some old standard trees of the Stone 
Pippin Apple, laden with Mistletoe, so that they look 
almost as 'green in winter as in stammer. On the 
south side of the pavilion, and looking down from 
the terrace, qnq gets a fine yie-ty of tlje oranges in 
large tubs, which are removed indoors during winter. 
At present they are finely in bloom, and very fragrant. 
Amongst them is a fine dark hued specimen of the 
Olive, so grateful to the eyes of travellers in sunny 
eastern climes, also a large branching specimen of 
Sparmannia africana and some Himalayan Rhodo¬ 
dendrons. 
Passing a little way along the terrace leading to 
the pavilion, the spectator looks down upon a 
secluded and quiet piece of gardening, consisting of 
beds of Zinnias, Pelargoniums, Ageratums, and other 
subjects. One bed of White Vesuvius edged with 
Centaurea candidissima, and that again with white 
Lobelia, is very choice and a favourite with Lord 
Porchester. In the centre is a pond covered with 
white Water Lily, Aponogeton distachyon, and 
Richardia africana all in bloom. Passing round to 
the mansion itself one comes upon rockeries and 
nooks planted with various subjects. Large Myrtles 
in tubs are stood about in various places, and some 
fine standard Pomegranates with red foliage, such as 
one sees in Paris and other continental towns. An 
old Gingko (Salisburia) biloba had unfortunately 
been planted close to the house years ago, and has 
frequently to be cut back in order to keep it within 
bounds. 
Near by is another garden where flowers of another 
kind are grown, including Carnations, amongst which 
we noted the Coroner, Alice Ayres, Mrs. Reynolds 
Hole, with terra-cotta coloured flowers, and the Old 
Clove in quantity. Here also is a collection of fifty 
varieties of bedding Violas, including Hollyrood, 
Lord Elcho, Countess of Kintore, Countess of 
Hopetoun, Goldfinch, Duchess of Fife, Skylark, 
Blue Cloud, and many other of the more popular 
and leading kinds in vogue at the present day. A 
border is occupied with Provence and French or 
Gallica Roses, which were the favourite kinds many 
years ago before the hybrid perpetuals were evolved. 
They are very floriferous, fragrant, and afford a large 
quantity of cut flowers. Sweet Peas in quantities of 
a colour also afford unlimited supplies. 
In another part of the grounds is the kitchen and 
fruit garden, in which also annual and perennial 
herbaceous plants are extensively grown for cut 
flower purposes. They are cut with long stalks and 
placed in vases, &c., in various parts of the house. 
Amongst Poppies we noted Danebrog, Victoria 
Cross, The Mikado, and the Carnation-flowered, all 
varieties of Papaver somniferum, also Shirley and 
Iceland Poppies in great variety, as well as P. 
umbrosum with its black blotches on a scarlet 
ground. Malva moschata alba, Polemonium, Gaill- 
ardias, Evening Primroses, Lilies and others 
occupied the borders everywhere. 
Apple and Pear trees grown as standards are 
heavily loaded with fruits and must present a fine 
sight by and bye. Morello Cherries are here grown 
as standards and form low round-headed trees simply 
laden with fruit in various stages of maturity. Some 
of them were netted for protection against birds, 
which must be numerous on account of the shelter 
afforded by so much wood. Even the wood pigeon 
finds a secure retreat in this town garden. 
The glass houses are largely devoted to fruit 
growing. One large Peach-house is occupied with 
trees both against the glass and on the back wall. 
Many of the trees bear an exceptionally fine crop. 
Here also Lilium auratum is grown in quantity. 
One division of a vinery is filled with Alicante, and 
another with Black Hamburgh. A separate vinery 
is filled with four vines of Foster's Seedling, Black 
Hamburgh, and Alicante, each consisting of a num¬ 
ber of rods. The structure was not originally 
intended as a vinery. The crop is a good one, and 
presents various stages of ripeness. Behind this is a 
well-filled Mushroom house. Orchids are not exten¬ 
sively grown, but in one house occupied by them was 
a batch of Cattleya Gaskeliana in bloom and some 
Cypripediums. Tomatos, Melons, Cucumbers, 
Eucharis, Gardenias, and Carnations occupy other 
houses, pits, and frames. The cool Odontoglossums 
were located in one of the latter. The place would be 
incomplete without the large collection of Chrysan¬ 
themums grown here. The various vineries and other 
houses are largely filled with bedding plants in winter, 
and must in themselves require a considerable amount 
of attention on the part of the gardener, Mr. C. Dixon, 
independently of the endless details of an old and 
extensive place. He has already seen twenty-eight 
years of service at Holland House, and the keeping 
of the place does him great credit, 
