198 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
KoVeniber 24, 1888. 
The Amateurs' Garden. 
The Greenhouse or Conservatory. 
The most prominent feature in the show house at 
present, is, or should be, the Chrysanthemums, and 
those who have not yet mastered their culture should 
give them a trial, as they are really very easily grown, 
and although they are on hand for the greater part of 
the year, yet they more than repay the trouble at 
this dull season. Plants that have been cut 
down and are therefore dwarf, or those that have been 
struck late and have not been severely disbudded, are 
most suitable for conservatory work generally. The 
object should be to keep them so low that the eye can 
see over them ; while those that are grown for exhi¬ 
bition purposes are wholly unsuited for the decoration 
of houses unless very high in the roof. Cyclamens, 
Chinese Primulas, and a few of the commoner heaths 
are easy to grow, and should occasion no difficulty to 
the amateur who has devoted a little time to them, and 
has carefully noted their requirements at different 
seasons. Of course only the early sown hatches will be 
in perfection now, but later batches should be strong 
enough now to throw up flower spikes. The scarlet- 
berried Solanums are now in perfection, and will remain 
so during the winter months. Those who have taken 
the trouble of growing on a batch of Zonal Pelargoniums, 
now know the value of them, as their rich colours iu 
the dull light of November have a very telling effect. 
Hyacinths. 
The most advanced of these will be the Roman 
Hyacinth, which is botanieally a variety of the 
common one, although for horticultural purposes very 
distinct. The flowers are fragrant, and for cut flower 
purposes it is more suitable than the larger kinds. 
Keep them as well as all others which may now be 
advancing as near the light as possible. Pot the late 
batches if not already done. Where it is intended to 
grow any in glasses the present is a suitable time to 
have the latter filled. 
Climbers suitable eor Town Gardens. 
Generally speaking, deciduous kinds are most suitable 
for planting in and around towns, because they rid 
themselves of the dust and sooty deposits to a great extent 
by the fall of the leaf. Smooth leaved evergreen kinds 
are also highly suitable from the fact that rain readily 
washes off any deposit that may settle upon them. 
Evergreen climbers that are hardy enough to withstand 
our winters are, however, comparatively few. The 
most important is the Ivy, with its numerous beautiful 
green and variegated leaved kinds, the names of which 
need not be mentioned, as a selection suitable to the 
taste of the grower can best be made by examining any 
good collection. Cotoneaster Simonsii and C. mi- 
erophylla are both excellent in their way, and 
recommend themselves by the profusion of berries they 
produce in winter. Ayrshire Roses are also evergreen, 
or almost so, and several species of Jasmine, including 
Jasminum officinale, J. revolutum, J. nudiflorum, and 
several others appear evergreen on account of the 
colour of their numerous twiggy branches. They are 
really deciduous, however, but none the less ornamental 
on that account. The Fiery Thorn (Crataegus pyra- 
cantha) is truly evergreen, and a handsome object at 
present on account of its brilliantly-coloured berries, 
which are produced in great profusion. Aristolochia 
Sipho, or the Dutchman’s Pipe Plant, is too seldom 
seen in town or other gardens, and should be more 
extensively grown. The Japan Quince (Cydonia 
japonica) should he planted for the sake of its handsome 
scarlet or crimson flowers in spring. The Virginian 
Creeper and its congener, Vitis tricuspidata, better 
known under the name of Ampelopsis Veitchii, should 
not, on any pretence, be overlooked, on account of the 
brilliant colours of its fading leaves in autumn. 
Preparation of the Shrubbery Border. 
It is a mistake to plant shrubs as it is to plant almost 
anything else in beds, borders, or otherwise, where the 
ground has had no previous preparation. This, how¬ 
ever, is more often done than the present age of progress 
and advancement in horticultural matters would 
warrant. Amateur as well as professional planters too 
often consider it enough to make a small hole sufficient 
to admit the roots of the tree or shrub to be planted, and 
after having crowded the roots into it, and buried them, 
the operation is considered completed. The result is, if 
the ground is of a poor nature or the sub-soil is a heavy 
clay, the plant succeeds, it may be for a time, but 
afterwards becomes stunted, pale green, ragged, and 
altogether unhealthy. Where no particular kind of 
soil is necessary, the first consideration is the laying out 
or marking off the ground to he planted, if that has not 
already been done. Then the whole should be trenched 
at least to the depth of two feet, and the sub-soil 
beneath that thoroughly loosened up and the more 
especially if it is of a clayey nature. In this the roots 
of the subjects planted will be able to ramble at will, 
and other conditions being equal, the results cannot 
fail to be satisfactory. 
-—-- 
SYON HOUSE. 
Passengers going along the river Thames, or on its 
banks, have a fine view of the old and massive-looking 
mansion belonging to the Duke of Northumberland. 
Except in the immediate neighbourhood, however, a 
view cannot be obtained of it from any other quarter, 
owing to its being surrounded by massive old trees in 
which we are specially interested. It is a square 
building covering a great space of ground, and the side 
fronting the river is surmounted with the figure of a 
lion rampant, and which is very conspicuous, even at a 
distance. The walls of the rooms on this side are 
richly panelled, while those of the state rooms facing 
Isleworth are hung with tapestry. The house dates 
back for 300 years or more, and was then used as a 
monastery. 
The Glasshouses. 
The conservatory is a huge building with the central 
division square, and surmounted by a large dome. A 
long curved wing on either side of this makes the 
whole appear of a semi-circular shape. Being divided 
off into several compartments it accommodates both 
stove and greenhouse plants. The central dome is 
occupied by the gigantic Bamboo recently described by 
us, so that it is here unnecessary to go into detail. 
Amongst other large plants in the central division are 
some fine plants of Musa ensete ; Pachira, better known 
as Carolinia; and specimens of a Giant Cactus— 
namely, Cereus pentagonus, with stems 30 ft. to 40 ft. 
high, and breaking their way through the glass roof. 
Huge banks of Camellias and various New Holland 
plants occupy the further end on either side of the 
building. The curious blue and yellow flowers of 
Strelitzia regina bear a striking resemblance to a bird’s 
head. Some of the massive pieces of Todea barhara 
used at the Colonial Exhibition have found their way 
here. 
Some of the smaller plant houses are occupied with 
the more useful decorative subjects, such as Gardenias, 
Crotons, Dracaenas, Palms, Ferns. Others contain 
Heaths, Epacris, Cyclamens, Pelargoniums, Orchids, 
and Hymenocallis macrostephana, which has been well 
and extensively grown at Syon House for many years. 
Amongst Orchids the Calanthes have made excellent 
growth. 
Forcing is very extensively carried on, and low pits 
or houses are devoted to the culture of Cucumbers, 
Melons, Figs, Peaches, Grapes, Bananas, Strawberries, 
Tomatos, French Beans, and other subjects. Of 
Strawberries, 4,000 plants are potted up, including the 
best kinds for the purpose. Auguste Nicaise was 
notable for the healthy dark green colour of the foliage. 
Indeed, all the kinds looked well with the exception of 
Sir Joseph Paxton, which appeared weakly by com¬ 
parison with the others. Two houses are devoted to 
the culture of Musa Cavendishi for its fruit. Each 
plant is grown with its roots in a separate brick-built 
tub, so that when one has fruited, it is cut down, the 
soil and the old plant removed, and a sucker put in its 
place. Growth is unsatisfactory unless the old roots 
are removed. At the time of our visit, one of the large 
vineries was occupied with Madresfield Court, Muscat 
of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, and Trebbiano, all in 
fine condition. Another division was occupied with 
Lady Downes, finely finished with a handsome blackish 
blue bloom. Mr. Withes, the worthy successor to 
the late Mr. Woodbridge, said that the Lady Downes 
would last till March in good condition, till used up. 
Here, as in other departments, a succession has to he 
kept up, and the early vinery was started some time 
ago. 
Trees and Shrubs. 
Syon House has long been noted for its fine collection 
of trees, and especially for their great size and age. 
The monarchial old Cedars of Lebanon date hack for 
about 300 years, and some of them cover a great extent 
of ground. Limes, Elms, and Morns nigra are also of 
this date. The latter was planted in 1548, when Syon 
House was an Abbey, and if not the first is at least one 
of the first trees of the Mulberry introduced to this 
country. The original trunk, after becoming prostrate, 
had taken fresh root and has again made healthy growth. 
A Gleditschia triacanthos, about 50 ft. high, with a 
broad spreading head and a gnarled trunk, would he 
about 150 to 200 years old. On the western side of the 
house is an avenue of very tall Limes, planted in a 
double row on each side. 
Eastward from the house are some massive and inter¬ 
esting old trees, the ages of which would be difficult to 
determine. The Horse Chestnuts have huge, twisted- 
looking trunks, while the Yellow Buck’s-eye (Pavia 
flava) is smaller and about 50 ft. high. A large 
number of trees of the deciduous Cypress (Taxodium 
distichum) are studded about the ground, but the most 
interesting is a fine specimen on the borders of the 
lake, and which has thrown up a large number of 
curious excrescences from the roots, necessitated by the 
swampy nature of the ground, in order that the roots 
may have access to air. The rich reddish brown 
colour of the decaying foliage was magnificent in 
autumn. The largest tree of Acer cretieum probably 
in this country, may be seer, at Syon House, and 
although only about 30 ft. high, spreads over a 
considerable extent of ground. A fine tree of Sophora 
japonica, with a gnarled trunk, stands about 70 ft. 
high ; and near by it is a tree of Fraxinus excelsior 
heterophylla, about 70 ft. or 80 ft. high, and no 
doubt one of the finest specimens of the kind in the 
country. A singularity occurs in a tree of Acer mon- 
spessulanum, which has a hole right through the base 
of the bole of the tree as though it consisted of two 
grown together, the two pieces being covered with bark 
all round. Other deciduous trees in this part of the 
ground are Populus alba, P. a. canescens, 80 ft. high ; 
and P. nigra, all with great gnarled trunks ; jAlnus 
glutinosa laciniata, 80 ft. high, with about the same 
spread of branches ; Catalpa syringsefolia, 50 ft. ; 
Juglans nigra, about 90 ft. ; Yirgilia lutea, 50 ft. to 
60 ft. ; the yellow-berried Holly (Ilex aquifolium 
flavum), 40 ft. ; the Tulip Tree, 70 ft. ; and Fraxinus 
lentiscifolia, 50 ft. The Yallonea Oak (Quercus 
iEgilops), the acorns of which constitute an article of 
commerce for tanning purposes, forms a tree about 
30 ft. high. 
To the westward of the house the collection is equally 
rich, and the size of the trees generally speaks to the 
fertile nature of the soil, which is of an alluvial kind, 
doubtless laid down by the river in past ages. Close 
by the Isleworth gate of the grounds, the Lombardy 
Poplar (Populus nigra pyramidalis) towers up to a 
height of more than 100 ft., and not far from it is a 
spreading healthy specimen of the Constantinople Nut 
Tree (Corylus Colurna), about 40 ft. high. The 
Sassafras Tree (Sassafras officinalis), notable for the 
variation of its leaves, is 18 ft. high. Old Yews are 
fairly red with fruit, perfectly ripe and beautifully 
coloured, testifying to the suitability of the climate 
notwithstanding the sunless character of last summer. 
Stuartia virginica, 18 ft. high, and the Snowdrop Tree 
(Halesia tetraptera) had flowered well, as is evidenced 
by the seedless fruit still hanging on them. Large 
trees of the red and the Willow-leaved Oaks, as well as 
the Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), are trees not 
so often seen in parks or pleasure grounds as they might 
be. Of the Cork Oak (Quetcus Suber) some of the trees 
are 40 ft. high, while others have a trunk about 2 ft. 
in diameter. A fine tree of the Indian Holly (Ilex 
dipyrena) stands about 25 ft. high. Conifers are also 
represented by Sequoia gigantea, 50 ft. high ; Picea 
Englemanni glauca, the Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo 
biloba), Retinospora plumosa, 18 ft. ; and a variety of 
the Mountain Pine (Pinus pumilio Mughus), about 
18 ft. high, hut covering a great extent of ground. 
Before taking leave of Syon House we would fain 
testify to the generosity of His Grace towards the 
employes in the garden, inasmuch as he supplies the 
means for having them taught on two evenings every 
week. The young men can choose any subject they 
like for study, and the local schoolmaster is employed 
to impart the instruction. This is an example which 
might well be followed by employers in many other 
establishments. 
Yeitch’s Main-crop Onion. —I can fully endorse 
the remarks of “F.,” p. 163, anent this Onion, 
which has proved the best variety with me this 
season. The bulbs are very fine, many of them 
exceeding 12 ins. in circumference, and from all 
appearance they will prove good keepers. Your corre¬ 
spondent admits that those he saw were not properly 
thinned. This, of course, is a very important matter if 
fine bulbs are required ; in fact, I would advise a rather 
severe thinning than otherwise, and much prefer to 
making another sowing, where less thinning is resorted 
to, so as to obtain a good number of picklers, as these 
are in great demand in most places.— J. S. T. 
