September 22, 1888. 
THE GAKDENING WOELD. 
55 
THE FOREST HILL NURSERIES. 
The chief feature of Stanstead Park, where the offices of 
the Messrs. Laing are situated, consists of the tuberous 
Begonias, both indoors and out. Indeed, taken 
altogether, the Begonia season is a long one, and even 
now the houses devoted to them are brilliant with 
many hues after flowering for several months ; nor do 
they seem at all exhausted, although the plants are 
reaching their limits as to size. Goliath, a variety 
a yard in height and proportionately stout, bears deep 
rose flowers about 7 ins. or 8 ins. in , diameter, and 
large enough for any purpose ; but we can admire 
plants of this class when considerably within the limits 
given. Duke of Edinburgh, dark velvety crimson ; 
Monarch, scarlet ; Prince Albert Yictor, brilliant 
orange-scarlet ; Prince of Wales, crimson-scarlet ; 
Princess of Wales, deep rose ; and many seedlings of 
various charming colours are all first-class kinds, which 
are extremely desirable for their large, richly-coloured 
flowers and floriferous character. The Picotee-edged 
varieties, of which Charmer may be taken as the type, 
are white or blush-coloured, with a cheerful band of a 
darker colour round the margin. Princess Victoria is 
one of this type, having rose flowers of enormous size, 
with a scarlet margin. The purest and best white is 
Princess Louise, which has round, regular flowers. 
Well-shaped orange-yellow flowers are also borne by 
Torey Laing. For basket work Pendula is notable, not 
less for the drooping habit than the large size of the 
rose flowers. 
The doubles are equally showy and interesting, a 
good selection being afforded by Lord Randolph, Iona, 
Anak, Davisii flore pleno superba, and H. Adcock, all 
of which are scarlet, but varying much in shape or 
structure as well as in hue. Albo rosea, Leonora, 
Mrs. Apthorp, Viscountess Cranbrook, and Lord Mayor 
all agree in having a white centre ; but they otherwise 
vary in the colour of the outer portion of the flower, as 
well as in other respects. A fine rose variety is Jubilee, 
with petals undulated like a Hollyhock. 
The Begonia field has not made such progress as it 
did last year, owing to the unfavourable nature of the 
season, and from the fact that seedlings alone have 
been used. The cold and wet weather they experienced 
in July made growth almost an impossibility, and the 
consequence is they are yet very small, but struggling 
bravely to flower. Although seedlings of this year, 
the flowers are large, well-shaped, and of good sub¬ 
stance, the latter quality accruing from the free play 
of air about them. The whole piece of ground is laid 
out in beds, which run at right angles to the public 
highway ; seven rows are planted in a bed, and the 
colours are massed together, showing how well they 
come from seed. 
The Vineyard. 
This nursery is within a few minutes’ walk of Stanstead 
Park, and is chiefly occupied with Vines, Roses, and 
Strawberries. There are 1,000 pot Vines in a house 
150 ft. long, while fruiting canes are growing in 
structures close by. The leading kinds are Black 
Hamburgh, Lady Downes, Madresfield Court, Muscat 
of Alexandria, Alicante, Gros Colmar, Gros Maroc, 
Alnwick Seedling, Barbarossa and Foster’s Seedling. 
Tea Roses are also grown in considerable quantity, 
including W. H. Bennett, Comtesse de Nadaillac, 
Madame Lambard, Sunset, Madame M. Guillot, 
Marechal Niel, Niphetos, Silver Queen, The Puritan, 
The Bride, Rubens, Madame Welsh and others. One 
house is devoted to Laing’s Pedigree Tomato, a smooth 
or slightly corrugated scarlet variety, with a thin skin 
and very full of pulp. A collection of Strawberries is 
also grown here, including the older and most useful 
kinds, such as President, which stands wet well, 
British Queen, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, Dr. 
Foggi James Veitch and others. To these have been 
added King of the Earlies and Noble, both very early 
varieties, while the latter is very productive, and bears 
large-sized fruits. 
Southend Park. 
The soil here is a heavy rich loam resting on gravel, 
and is chiefly planted with fruit trees, Roses, orna¬ 
mental trees and Conifers. Of the latter Cupressus 
Lawsoniana, C. L. erecta viridis, and Thuja gigantea 
are possibly most largely planted. A large quantity of 
Berberis Mahonia is now very ornamental from the 
large quantity of berries covered with a blue bloom 
which they bear. Amongst ornamental subjects are 
Limes, Maples, Poplars, Mountain Ash, now laden with 
its scarlet fruit, and Ligustrum ovalifolium, one of the 
best of the Privets for general purposes. A golden¬ 
leaved variety of this having completed its growth is 
now very effective, and superior even to many of the 
forms of Euonymus, while it is hardier. Cherries, 
Plums and Pears, grown as standards, are notable for 
the strong, clean stems and the vigour of growth the 
head is making. More interesting are the dwarf 
pyramidally trained Apple trees grown on the Paradise 
Stock. They are from 3 ft. to 3-j ft. high, bushy, 
healthy, and fruiting beautifully in many cases. 
Keswick Codlin, Emperor Alexander, Cox’s Pomona, 
and Lord Suffield are furnished with large, clean 
specimens of fruit. 
Rutland Park. 
The dwarf pyramidal Apple trees on the Paradise are 
fruiting more freely here than in the Southend Park, a 
fact which may be owing to the shelter afforded by tall 
Elm trees around the outskirts, as well as to the 
dividing lines of Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra 
pyramidalis), which runs up with astonishing rapidity, 
and from the density of the branches and foliage, forms 
an effectual screen against winds. The Apple trees in 
question are only three years old, yet the following 
are fruiting heavily:—Frogmore Prolific, Emperor 
Alexander, Manks’ Codlin, Yellow Ingestrie, Lord 
Derby, New and Old Hawthornden, The Queen, 
Bedfordshire Foundling, Schoolmaster, and "Warner’s 
King, all of which are good Apples. A considerable 
breadth of ground is occupied with Peach, Apricot, 
Cherry, and Plum trees trained fan-shape, and Pears 
trained as espaliers. The Peaches are* however, the 
most noteworthy. The growths they have made are 
vigorous, showing how suitable the soil is, and being 
of large size, they will commence fruiting immediately 
when transferred to their permanent quarters. 
Roses are also extensively grown in both bush and 
standard form. All the leading and popular varieties 
are cultivated, including La France, Louis Van Houtte, 
Merveille de Lyon, Mrs. John Laing, Earl Dufferin, 
Silver Queen, Grand Mogul, Grace Darling, Mrs. Geo. 
Dixon, and Wm. Warden. The latter is a vigorous- 
growing sort, with leathery dark green leaves, and 
appears to be mildew proof—a matter of no small 
importance in some districts. 
A fine effect is produced here, not only by the 
Lombardy Poplars mentioned, but also by rows of a 
golden-leaved kind—namely, Populus canadensis aurea 
and Mop-lieaded Acacias, the latter both being grown 
as standards. P. balsamifera candicans is notable for 
the enormous breadth of the foliage on the young trees. 
Osborn’s Purple Beech is even now hardly to be 
described as purple, but almost black. The old 
variety grown by the side of it is of a bronzy metallic 
green rather than purple. Ornamental and useful 
shrubs are Cotoneaster microphylla (in pots), Kalmia 
latifolia, Clematis’ flammula, Olearia Haastii, Spirrea 
japonica alba, and S. j. purpurea, the latter better 
known in gardens as varieties of S. callosa. Most of 
these are now either in flower or fruit. 
-- 
STOVE CLIMBING PLANTS. 
Allamandas. 
These are gorgeous flowering plants, producing large 
trumpet-shaped yellow flowers of various sizes and 
shades of yellow on the different varieties. As a rule, 
the bulk of the sorts require a good amount of room to 
develop themselves, and generally do best when allowed 
free scope on the roof of a stove where plenty of light 
can be obtained. 
In the early spring months their long trailing shoots 
require pruning back rather sharp, and the use of 
the syringe will be found beneficial to them by assisting 
the dormant eyes to swell from the hard w T ood. As 
soon as the plants show any signs of activity in growth, 
they should be taken out of their pots, the ball of soil 
greatly reduced, and soaked with water before potting 
again should it prove to be dry in the middle of the 
ball of earth which contains the main body of strong 
roots. Usually the same size of pot does again for 
large plants ; the only need for using larger pots will 
be in the case of young plants that require to be 
pushed along into specimen plants. Where they can 
be planted in a border inside the stove they generally 
do well, and produce very fine and large flowers, the 
same process of pruning, &c., being necessary with 
the subjects planted out as with those grown in pots, 
at the same time scraping away any loose soil from 
the surface of the roots, and filling in again with a 
good, rough, rich compost. A soil composed of three 
parts loam and one part peat, with the liberal addition 
of some £*in. bones, charcoal and sharp sand, and 
used in a rough condition, will suit their requirements 
well, taking the precaution to see that the pots are 
well drained, so as to ensure a free passage for the 
water away from the ball of soil. Give liberal doses of 
liquid manure as soon as the plants become thoroughly 
established in the new soil, and are well away from the 
top, so that the extra stimulant can be properly 
absorbed by the plant. Where they are required for 
exhibition purposes early, it may be necessary not to 
shake them out from the pot in which they are estab¬ 
lished, but to induce them to grow by the aid of 
a good surfacing of rich soil, and the frequent appli¬ 
cation of strong doses of liquid manure. At all 
times, whether for exhibition or not, the shoots should 
be allowed to ramble on the roof thoroughly exposed 
to the sun ; in the case of plants in pots these shoots 
may be taken from the roof as soon as the flower-buds 
show at the points, and be coiled on a balloon-shaped 
trellis, bringing the points with the flower-buds in, as 
nearly as equal as possible on the face of the balloon. 
In performing this work great care must be used so 
that the foliage may present its upper surface to the 
eye when the work is finished, but should a few leaves 
be somewhat irregular, a few days will bring them 
round into their proper position. All the kinds root 
readily from cuttings, except A. grandiflora, which is 
better grafted upon some stronger-growing kind ; this 
fine sort is, perhaps, the best when in condition for 
exhibition work, but it is not often that the plant 
keeps well during the winter, frequently losing a 
good number of its shoots, and being a weak-growing 
kind it takes a long time to fill up the gaps that are 
thus caused. It produces flowers in great abundance 
when in a healthy condition. 
A. Schottii is, perhaps, the strongest and largest 
flowered kind, and is the best for planting out with 
the idea of covering a large wall or roof. A. Hender- 
soni is about the best of the stronger-growing sorts for 
exhibition purposes, and yields flowers in great quantity 
of a light yellow colour, whilst A. nobilis is finer in 
flower, and of a darker yellow colour ; this latter one 
is to be preferred to A. Hendersoni when well bloomed 
as an exhibition plant. A. Chelsoni somewhat 
resembles A. nobilis in the colour of its flower, the 
bloom being much smaller, and the plant of much 
weaker habit. All may be cultivated with considerable 
ease, taking care that the plants have a period of rest 
during the winter months, but not to dry them to the 
extent of losing all their foliage. They require to have 
the water gradually withheld so that no sudden check 
be given to the plants.— TV. G. 
-- 
ISCELLANY. 
“The Flower of the Future.” 
Having, at various times, read articles on and seen 
illustrations of the Begonia in The Gardening 
"World, and having also invested in a copy of your 
manual on the same (which I recommend to all about 
to start Begonia growing), I decided to pay a visit to 
the Messrs. Laing, at Forest Hill. Thinking there are 
others of your readers like interested, but who may 
not have an opportunity of seeing for themselves, I 
have sent a few lines on what I saw there. The thing 
that strikes one most on entering the nurseries is the 
quantity of Begonias that are grown in beds ; they 
must be reckoned by tens of thousands, and, although 
everything in the bedding line has had a sorry time of 
it this year, the Begonias were looking very bright, 
especially the scarlet and crimson tints, which quite 
put the Pelargoniums in the shade. I suggested 
that they would look even better the second 
year from seed, but was informed that there was no 
chance of using them a second time, as the demand for 
them was so great. But the greatest treat was our 
visit to the Begonias that were under glass ; the sight 
on entering each house was something to be remem¬ 
bered and to talk about. Here was to be seen flowers 
of every colour, from the purest white to the darkest 
crimson, being nice dwarf plants, with stout flower- 
stalks, and blooms almost as round as a shilling, and 
from 4 ins. to 7 ins. across. In the doubles were to be 
seen some grand flowers, Alba fimbriata (white) and 
Lady Hulse (yellow) being very striking. I will give 
the names of a few that may be useful to anyone 
starting to grow them. The following are doubles, 
namely—Alba plena, a good white ; Excelsa, scarlet ; 
Formosa, rosy crimson; Gloire de Nancy, vermilion ; 
Rosamonde, fresh rose ; Louis d’Or, bright saffron- 
yellow ; and Madame Arnoult, salmon-rose. Good 
