626 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 1, 1889. 
the former, and this was more striking in the Parrot 
species—a clear proof that these two sections prefer 
medium loam to sand. I am a little surprised that the 
species are not more cultivated. If we take Gesneriana, 
Fulgens, Elegans, Elegans alba, Retroflexa, &c., their 
effect in beds or borders is simply grand. 
The question wiil naturally arise, Can they be grown 
to pay ? I have had some experience in growing them 
by the acre, and cannot throw out the hope that a 
fortune can be made, but if properly managed a fair 
profit may be realised. In field culture we cannot 
always be certain of sound market flowers. I have seen 
a shower of hail damage thousands of buds, and the sun 
shine out ten minutes afterwards and smile on all the 
destruction the hail had done. Partridges and rooks 
are fond of the buds when young. Such are a few of 
the difficulties to contend with. However, so far as I 
have seen, none of these misfortunes interferes with the 
development of the bulbs. 
Now, if we compare our advantages and disadvantages 
with the Dutch growers, how do we stand ? One thing 
is very certain—we do not find the Dutch growers 
asleep. What they do they do well. Our advantages 
over them are better and cheaper land, and no one can 
dispute but that we have more of it. There are hun¬ 
dreds of acres of suitable land in this country. We 
can also procure cheaper manure. Our great disad¬ 
vantage is the want of skilled labour ; in this the 
Dutch grower has a great advantage over us. I believe 
one of their workmen will lift as many bulbs in one 
day as ours would do in four. No doubt, if cultivation 
increased here, our workmen would improve. Taking 
all things into consideration, I believe we could place 
the Tulip in the market as good and as cheap as the 
Dutch grower. 
I have a robust faith that with a sturdy will and a 
little skill England truly may be made the home for 
the Tulip. 
-- 
HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIAS. 
Among the notable triumphs of the hybridising florists 
of a generation or two ago may be instanced the 
herbaceous Calceolaria. The species from which they 
have been derived were introduced between the years 
1822 and 1830, and very soon attracted the attention 
of the improvers, whose labours were rewarded with a 
considerable amount of success. The species Arach- 
noides and Corymbosa are credited by some as being 
the forerunners of the present race, of which there are 
various strains, differing to some extent in size, in the 
colour of the flowers, and the habit of growth. 
In years gone by, many growers kept up named col¬ 
lections—a practice which was attended with some 
difficulty, and which, we believe, has fallen into entire 
disuse, owing to the uniform good quality of our best 
strains having rendered it quite unnecessary, as a packet 
of seed contains an almost endless variety. Our best 
growers still devote much time and attention to the 
cross-fertilisation of their flowers, and so secure strains 
of seed in which every confidence may be placed. 
Their efforts, too, have not been solely confined to the 
colour and form of the flowers, as the habit and style of 
growth has been kept constantly in view, so that in the 
best strains there is little or nothing more to be desired. 
It ought to be impressed upon the minds of those who 
would undertake the culture of this popular flower 
that although its cultivation is really of the simplest 
character, it will stand no nonsense, but soon succumbs 
to careless or injudicious treatment, and very little 
neglect will quickly spoil the results of previous toil 
and care. 
To insure success, every operation in connection with 
the growing of Calceolarias must be well done, the 
attention given must be unremitting, and those who 
cannot give this had better leave them alone. On the 
other hand, where it can be done, there are few things 
which so well repay what skill may be bestowed upon 
them. The seed may be sown from May till August, 
but the times of sowing must be decided upon by every 
cultivator for himself, and be ruled as to the size of 
plant required, and the time at which he requires 
them to be in flower. Too early sowing, however, 
except for special reasons, should be avoided, there 
being as a rule less failures among the later sown 
batches ; and it would seem that the climatic conditions 
prevalent during the autumn months are more 
favourable to the later sown than to the earlier plants 
of larger growth. 
The seed being very fine requires great care in the 
sowing, and is best done in shallow pans, well drained, 
using fine sandy soil for the surface, well pressed down 
and made smooth, and watered with a fine rose 
previous to sowing the seed, which should be scattered 
evenly on the surface, then given a slight sprinkling 
over with silver sand, and covered with a pane of 
glass, which must either be wiped or turned over daily. 
Keep the seed pans in a shady position, and as soon as 
the seed leaves show themselves remove the glass, but 
be very careful not to expose them to the sun, nor allow 
them to suffer either from drought or an excess of 
moisture. 
When the second leaf is formed, commence pricking 
off into pots or pans, which should be well drained, 
and use fine sifted soil. Do not select the strongest to 
the exclusion of the more backward ones, because there 
will be found among the latter some of the best and 
richest colours. Those which at the first start are the 
strongest, are mostly the yellow ones ; but the others, 
although smaller at first, will often make as good 
plants in the end. It is best to give them ample room 
in these store pans, as every precaution should be taken 
to avoid their becoming drawn in all stages of growth. 
A shady frame is perhaps the best place for them at 
this period, and when large enough, and before they 
touch each other, pot them off singly, and place them 
in a frame or on a cool shelf. Never let them suffer 
from drought, and when rooted to the side of the pots 
give another shift, keeping them always growing and 
near to the glass. 
Although they will stand a very low temperature, 
they will not endure frost, and must on no account be 
allowed to get frozen or they will be spoiled. Keep a 
sharp look-out for aphis, and fumigate at their first 
appearance. By the beginning of March they ought 
to be ready for a final shift into their flowering pots, 
8 -in. or 10-in. will generally be large enough. Special 
attention should be given to the drainage, as they 
cannot endure sour soil ; and for compost use light 
yellow sandy loam if obtainable, with leaf-soil and 
well-decayed cow-manure, say two-thirds of loam, and 
the rest leaf-soil and manure. Use also plenty of sand 
if the loam does not contain enough in itself. Pot 
moderately firm, so that the roots can readily work 
through it, and when fairly full of roots give liquid 
manure once a week till the flowers show colour. 
The staking out should be done by that time, and a 
final fumigation be given. Maintain as far as possible 
in all stages of growth that condition of atmosphere 
which causes a nice dew to form on the plants during 
the night; but give air during the day to dispel any 
excess of damp. Avoid cutting draughts ; use rain¬ 
water if obtainable ; be careful in watering to avoid 
all extremes of drought or an excess of wet, of which 
they are very impatient; and remember that slight 
sprinklings over the foliage on all favourable opportuni¬ 
ties are highly beneficial.— TV. B. G. 
-->X<-- 
ROOK’S NEST, GODSTONE. 
Within easy distance of Oxted, Godstone, and other 
railway stations, Rook’s Nest, the seat of the Hon. 
Pascoe Glyn, lies embowered amongst tall trees of Elm, 
Horse Chestnut (now grandly in bloom), Limes, Oaks, 
and other subjects. The house itself is a fine-looking, 
old-fashioned building, situate on a piece of rising 
ground commanding some fine views of the North 
Downs in that part of Surrey. On an outlying hill or 
rounded knoll, and in close proximity to the house is 
a spring furnishing a copious supply of water, which, 
although chalky and in popular parlance termed hard, 
is otherwise of good quality. 
The mansion itself is a massive block, oblong in out¬ 
line, with a flat roof; and the interior, which we had 
the pleasure of inspecting, is handsomely furnished, 
and contains many fine ivorks of art, as well as a 
library richly stocked with botanical and horticul¬ 
tural literature. Amongst other large volumes is a 
magnificent copy of Hooker’s Himalayan Rhododen¬ 
drons. In connection with this it may be stated that 
there are several species of the Himalayan Rhododen¬ 
drons in the American garden here. Some huge glass 
vases in the rooms were filled, not with blooms, but 
with flowering branches of Rhododendrons arranged in 
a loose but most natural and charming way. Azaleas, 
Lilacs in variety and other subjects were treated simi¬ 
larly. The outside walls of the house and conservatory 
are draped with Clematis Jackmanni, Jasmine, Briers 
and other Roses. The lawns in the immediate neigh¬ 
bourhood are in excellent keeping with the house, and 
on one oblong piece of grass are vases ^representing 
spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Amongst the 
choicer trees in the vicinity of the mansion are two 
fine Amelanchier canadensis, from 25 ft. to 30 ft. in 
height, seldom if ever equalled for size in this country. 
Then there are the pretty purple and white-flowered 
Magnolia conspicua Soulangeana, Walnuts, Picea 
morina, 40 ft. to 45 ft. high, Cupressus Nutkaensis, 
35 ft. high, double Cherries, Berberis vulgaris purpurea, 
Laburnum vulgare, Lilacs, in soft violet and other 
colours, and many other fine old-fashioned subjects. 
The broad-leaved Holly (Ilex latifolia) is usually grown 
on walls, but there is a tree on the lawn here about 
14 ft. in height, with clusters of small red berries on 
some of the branches. 
The Glasshouses. 
The conservatory is oblong in outline, and forms a 
wing of the mansion, into the drawing-room of which it 
opens. It is in keeping with the mansion, and has its 
ground floor on two levels, from the lower of which a 
flight of steps leads into the drawing-room. The best 
view is obtained from here. One side of the building 
is entirely covered with Camellias, which supply a large 
quantity of flowers ; and the pillars of the other sides 
are well furnished with Lipageria rosea, Fuchsias, 
Cantua dependens, with its long tubular rose and yellow 
flowers, Acacia dealbata, and other climbers. On the 
pillars supporting the two-ridged roof are a variety of 
Abutilon venosum, with orange-scarlet flowers, the Tea 
Rose Van Houtte, and others. To the right of the 
spectator are the Tangerine Orange and the Shaddock 
(Citrus decumana), the latter carrying a number of large 
pale yellow fruits. The central bed is occupied with 
large old Camellias, and facing the spectator is a varied 
assortment of flowering plants, including pieces of 
Oneidium sphacelatum, with panicles 3 ft. to 4 ft. in 
length of richly-coloured flowers, Datura Knightii, 
Rhododendron Countess of Haddington, Spiraea pal- 
rnata, Astilbe japonica, and other popular subjects 
flowering at this season. 
The rest of the hot-houses are some distance away, 
and almost hidden amongst trees. The roof of the 
stove is largely occupied with Passiflora racemosa, well 
named, for the showy scarlet flowers are produced in 
long racemes at the end of pendent shoots. The species 
is better known in gardens under the name of P. 
princeps. The bod} 7 of the house is filled with a 
variety of subjects, amongst which are Caladiums, in¬ 
cluding well-grown pieces of C. argyrites. A number 
of Orchids are grown in this house, including Cypri- 
pedium Lawrenceanum and C. barbatum Crossii, with 
a fine /\-shaped blotch of purple on the standard, which 
was of wonderful size. Miltonia vexillaria also finds a 
suitable home here. In a cool house adjoining this 
are Begonia fuchsioides, and double Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums trained up the rafters. The quantity of flowers 
produced by plants under this mode of treatment shows 
that all strong-growing varieties should be cultivated as 
climbers. Nearly the whole end of this house is 
covered with Asystasia (Mackaya) bella, literally a 
mass of bloom. Mr. James Friend, the gardener, may 
well be proud of it, for a finer plant is probably not to 
be found in Britain. Baskets of flowers have been cut 
from it, and yet the racemes were heaped over each other 
in a manner that readered the counting of them 
laborious and out of the question. 
On the top shelves of a vinery was a splendid crop 
of the President Strawberry, rich in colour, and highly 
flavoured. Early Tomatos in this house are also well 
advanced. The favourite is Perfection, as Hackwood 
Park does not set so freely, or has not done so this 
year. A set of young Vines, consisting of Black 
Hamburgh and Foster’s Seedling, have j ust been planted 
in this house, and fine growths the rods are making. 
Close by is a house of old-established Vines, consisting 
of Black Hamburgh, Muscat Hamburgh and Muscat of 
Alexandria, now rapidly swelling. In the earliest 
house the berries are nearly ripe, and of good size. 
The favourite varieties here again are the same as the 
young Vines mentioned. 
Three houses are devoted to Peach culture. In the 
earliest one Early Mignonne is now ripe and beautifully 
coloured for this season of the year. Curiously enough 
the fruits of Eirly Albert will take some time yet to 
ripen. There is a good set of both Peaches and Nec¬ 
tarines in the latest house. Mr. Friend speaks of 
transferring the trees to the back wall, and of growing 
Tomatos and early crops of other useful subjects along 
the front of the house. Hero of Lockinge Melon and 
the Telegraph Cucumber are grown in pits ; and the 
latter have been in constant use for a long time. 
The Kitchen and Fruit Gardens. 
There are practically two gardens situated in different 
parts of the estate. Near by the glass houses is the 
smaller of the two, mainly occupied with fruit. Goose¬ 
berries, Red Currants and Cherries, the latter on walls, 
are bearing heavy crops of fruit, while Raspberries 
promise well. Green Gage Plums also on walls are 
heavily laden. Apples are not yet certain, as the trees 
