September 22, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
49 
THE BARNET NURSERIES. 
Whoever finds his way to the top of the hill at High 
Barnet, Hertfordshire, will find much to interest him 
in the Barnet Nurseries as well as in the Wood Street 
Nurseries of Messrs. Cuthush & Son. The visitor will 
find a purer and clearer atmosphere there than at 
Highgate, where the other nurseries of this firm 
are situated, although the elevated situation, even 
there, is not bad. At Barnet, however, the season 
is much later than in London, judging from Tilia 
petiolaris and Ligustrum japonicum, which are still in 
full bloom, while L. lucidum will not be in flower for 
some time. The flowers of the Lime in question are 
powerfully fragrant. 
The glass-houses are at the Barnet Nurseries proper, 
and we made a rapid survey of their principal contents. 
A great portion of one house was devoted to the culti¬ 
vation of Marechal Niel Roses in pots, together with 
Tacsonia Van Volxemii, Lapageria rosea, and Passiflora 
princeps, a large plant of which was in full flower in 
another house. A quantity of large plants of Tacsonia 
is also grown in 24-sized pots ; Figs, Tea Boses, Vines 
in pots, Hederoma tulipifera and the sweet-scented 
Mandevillea suaveolens. What a beautiful climber 
is Swainsonia galegifolia alba, with long racemes of 
pure white flowers ? In the same house is a 
In the pits are large quantities of Bouvardias, in¬ 
cluding the white-flowered Candidissima, winter- 
flowering Heaths, Azalea indica, A. amoena, Aralia 
Sieboldii,and Cyclamens, which are last year’s seedlings. 
Hundreds of Heaths and other winter-flowering sub¬ 
jects are grown out of doors, including a fine stock of 
the richly-coloured Boronia elatior, from 18 ins. to 
24 ins. high. B. megastigma is also a great favourite, 
as is the popular Ampelopsis Veitchii. Acacias are 
represented by A. armata, A. Riceana and A. Drum- 
mondi. 
Conifers and Fine-foliaged Plants. 
The small piece of ground here which is not occupied 
with glass is chiefly devoted to the cultivation of 
Conifers, variegated trees and shrubs, as well as to 
berry-bearing subjects, such as Skimmia japonica and 
the larger-leaved S. oblata. Amongst fine-foliaged 
subjects are Aucubas, Golden Yews and Cornus mas 
variegata. Young’s Weeping Birch is being inarched 
on tall slender stems. 
Cupressus Lawsoniana is grown in all the beautiful 
forms that are to be found in good collections. Among 
others are fine specimens of C. L. lutea, wholly yellow, 
C. L. albo spica with white tips, C. L. erecta viridis, 
and others too numerous to mention. Podocarpus 
japonicus bears a strong resemblance to an Irish Yew, 
Staphylea colchica : Flowers White 
quantity of Abutilon Queen of Yellows, a free-flowering 
sort, put into commerce from here. Tea Boses of 
different kinds are also grown in several of the houses, 
accompanied by such valuable window or foliage plants 
as Ficus elastica, Aspidistra lurida, A. 1. variegata and 
Aralia Sieboldii in large quantities and of various sizes. 
Very distinct is Statice imbricata, with its deeply 
pinnatifid leaves, and close by were the white Plumbago 
capensis, the white Swainsonia, and the blue-flowered 
Hovea Celsii. 
A large quantity of Gardenia florida, G. intermedia, 
and G. radicans having completed their growth are 
now well set with bloom buds. A large stock of dwarf 
plants of Ardisia crenulata are well set with fruit, and 
must be charming when the latter is ripe. Fragrant 
subjects are Clerodendron fragrans flore pleno and 
Tabernsemontana coronaria flore pleno, while a fine 
contrast is afforded by the singularly-marked foliage of 
Tillandsia hieroglyphica, with its hieroglyphical tracings 
of brown on a green ground. The free-flowering 
Elvaston variety of Stephanotis floribunda is also 
grown in large quantity in pots. There is a whole 
house devoted to Epiphyllum truncatum, of which 
there are fourteen varieties. The plants are small, and 
have been grafted on the Pereskia, so as to form small 
standards. Dracaena australis is also grown by 
hundreds. 
while the allied Cephalotaxus Fortunei is fruiting freely. 
Beautiful and seldom-grown Conifers are Libocedrus 
chilensis with flattened branches, Fitzroya patagonica, 
Prumnopitys elegans, the curious Arthrotaxus cupres- 
soides, and Thujopsis dolobrata. They are all very 
distinct and beautiful in their way, and ought to find a 
place in select shrubberies. Beautiful Junipers are 
Juniperus chinensis aurea, J. tamariscifolia, and J. 
excelsa stricta glauca, the name of the latter describing 
it very accurately. Useful subjects, that will hold 
their own in gardens while Conifers are grown, are the 
Retinosporas, from R. obtusa through all its varying 
forms of R. pisifera, R. p. plumosa, and its silver and 
golden forms, R. p. squarrosa, R. p. decussata and 
R. p. ericoides, R. filifera, and the compact and conical 
R. leptoclada, which supply endless variations in shape 
and habit as well as colour. 
The Wood Street Nursery. 
Closely adjoining the Barnet nurseries is that here 
mentioned, belonging to the same firm. It consists of 
a piece of ground on the slope of the hill, the upper 
portion of which is gravelly but rich soil, while the 
lower portion is much heavier, consisting of a deep, 
rich, clayey loam, varying considerably within a small 
area. About sixteen acres of it are occupied with nursery 
stock, which forms a continuation of the other nursery, 
so far as Conifers are concerned, and besides those 
already mentioned, contains many fine specimens of 
Cedars, Cupressus nutkaensis, and its varieties C. n. 
glauca and C. n. compacta, the white Cedar (C. 
sphoeroidea, better known as C. thyoides) and its 
variegated variety, together with many fine Silver Firs, 
and Hemlock Spruce. A quantity of trees of Picea 
orientalis range from 2 ft. to 4 ft., Pinus cembra from 
18 ins. to 2 ft., and Abies Douglasii from 2 ft. to 4 ft. 
Hollies. 
The largest collection of Hollies to be met with near 
London, perhaps, is grown here in all sizes that may 
conveniently be transplanted. Pyramidal and standard 
specimens of Silver Queen, Golden Queen, and Hands- 
worthiensis, range from 4 ft. to 8 ft. in height. The 
latter fruits most freely, and is now laden with berries, 
from the tallest to specimens only 1 ft. in height. 
Small plants of the yellow-berried Holly (Fructu luteo), 
are also heavily laden, and very attractive. The 
Hedgehog Hollies in their green, silver, and golden 
varieties are also charming. Great variety in the size, 
shape, colour, and smoothness, or spiny character of 
the foliage is also afforded by Scotica, argentea stricta, 
ovata argentea, serratifolia, Donningtoniensis, grandis, 
argentea marginata, lutescens, aurea picta (the Golden 
Milkmaid, and others) all of course, being varieties of 
Ilex aquifolium, and grown in bush, standard, or 
pyramidal form. The dwarf almost Heath-like I. 
crenata is suitable for rockwork. There are also bushes 
of the Winter Berry (Prinos Cunninghamii), 3 ft. to 
4 ft. high. The genus is now united with Ilex by 
leading authorities, and the plants have evergreen- 
leathery leaves. 
Ornamental and Deciduous Subjects. 
Besides those in the Barnet Nurseries proper, there is a 
large and varied assortment of all the most popular 
and beautiful, both of flowering and fine-foliaged trees, 
and shrubs, some of which are far from being common. 
A huge bush of the Scarlet-berried Elder (Sambucus 
racemosa) was laden with ripe fruit at the time of our 
visit, and the Golden Elder (S. nigra aurea) was plen¬ 
tiful. The variegated Box Elder (Negundo aceroides 
variegata) is grown as standards on stems 4 ft. to 6 ft. 
high, and also [on bushes for forcing, for which it is 
very well adapted, and lightens up a conservatory 
wonderfully. The purple and variegated-leaved Syca¬ 
more, and the Golden Laburnum also add considerably 
to the beauty of the landscape. Where there is a pond 
or lake on an estate, distinct and fine effects would be 
produced by planting the Kilmarnock, American, and 
Babylonian Weeping Willows, all of which are striking 
in habit and very pleasing additions to the banks of 
ornamental water. Other useful subjects for the park 
shrubbery are the white and red Almonds, Cerasus 
Sieboldii, Prunus Pissardi with white flowers and 
bronzy purple foliage, P. Mahaleb variegata, and two 
very fine forms of the Cherry Laurel, namely, Prunus 
Laurocerasus colchicus, a very rapid grower with light 
green foliage, and P. L. caucasicus, of slower growth 
than the last with dark green leaves. Both are superior 
to the type for ornamental purposes, and are hardier. 
The Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier botryapium) may 
also be mentioned here, as well as Paul’s Imperial Crab, 
with crimson-red fruit about the size of a Plum, the 
Siberian Crab, with smaller yellow fruit, and Pyrus 
nanus, having scarlet flowers with a rose centre, and 
very small fruit. Staphylea colchica, one of the 
finest of white-flowered forcing shrubs, is also exten¬ 
sively cultivated. Roses, both as bushes and standards, 
are grown in considerable quantity, the former on the 
Manetti, and the latter on the Briar stock. 
Fruit Trees. 
The stock of these is annually being increased by 
budding on the respective stocks, and a large quantity 
of each has recently been worked. The Apple and 
Pear stocks are particularly strong, so that the trees will 
commence fruiting the second or third year from the 
bud. In the case of some standard Pears we noticed 
that Citron des Carmes and Jargonelle had been budded 
near the surface of the ground, and the bud allowed to 
run up to form the stem, and beautiful clean stems 
they make. Some are also grown as riders on tall 
stems for walls. Fan-shaped trees of Apricots and 
Cherries, two years old, Plums, three years, and 
Peaches, four years old, grafted on the Brompton stock, 
are grown in considerable number, as well as Peaches 
on the Mussel stock budded two years ago. Grand 
Duke and other Plums are also growm as pyramids, as 
well as Apples. Some of those we noticed fruiting 
most freely were Keswick Codlin, Cellini Pippin, ana 
others, ranging from 6 ft. to 8 ft. high. Maiden Apples 
budded last autumn have made shoots from 2 ft. to 
4 ft. high, and Lord Suffield, budded at the same time, 
in one particular instance bore a large fruit. The bud 
must have contained flowers at the time of its insertion, 
but it serves to show the precocious nature of the 
variety. 
