324 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 19, 1889. 
The Swanley Primulas. 
Me. Cannell’s enterprise happily saved the National 
Chrysanthemum society’s mid-winter show from 
comparative failure. Were a few other members of 
the trade to make as fine an effort the exhibition 
might soon become one of the most attractive of the 
year. The Messrs. Sutton & Sons did for one or two 
years send up grand displays of their fine Primulas, 
but they were absent last week, owing to the severe 
weather of a few days previously. It would have been 
indeed interesting to have seen the best of the Reading 
and Swanley trains in competition. Mr. Cannell, at 
least, has nothing to fear, for his strain seems to be one 
of the very finest and most varied in the kingdom ; and 
we are compelled to say the same of the Messrs. Sutton 
& Sons superb strains also. It is a case of Greek versus 
Greek, only unhappily for critics at a distance. Mr. 
Cannell cultivates his Primulas with marvellous 
excellence, and his flowers show gradual but still 
wonderful development. Even if the mid-winter show 
achieved no other good, at least it enabled many 
gardeners to see what grand forms of Chinese Prim¬ 
roses are being produced. 
Some of the newer ones in particular were much 
admired, and three of them were selected for the award 
of Certificates. These were : Empep.or Improved.— 
The foliage of this variety is of the ordinary type, but 
very robust, of a bronzy red beneath, with hairy, red 
petioles. The flowers are of large size, well thrown 
above the foliage, and of good substance, with a 
peculiar shade of crimson-red and a large lobed yellow 
eye. Eclipse. —The flowers of this new form are 
somewhat smaller than those of Emperor Improved, 
and of a brilliant fiery crimson, being quite distinct 
from anything in cultivation ; a brownish crimson line 
surrounds the yellow eye. The leaves are ovate- 
cordate, but greatly elongated and deeply lobed. 
Beauty. —The rich warm pink flowers of this variety 
well merit the distinction given by the name, for they 
are indeed beautiful. The lobed yellow eye is sur- 
-L.led by a white line. The flowers are well thrown 
>ve the foliage, which is of medium vigour and deep 
green, with green petioles. 
Show Pelargoniums. 
Fashion in horticulture varies, as in other things, and 
flowers that have been great favourites with the public 
lose their popularity after a time, and get elbowed out 
of favour. Such is the case of the show Pelargonium. 
Such enormous strides have been made in the zonal 
section of late years, both in size of pip and truss, 
in the richer shades of colour, habit, and free con¬ 
tinuity of blooming, that they have almost ousted the 
show Pelargonium from our greenhouses; probably 
because, in addition to their merits as bloomers, they 
are of easier culture, and do not become infested with 
that pest of the show varieties—green-fly. The show 
Pelargonium does not appear now at exhibitions, either 
in such numbers or in such quality as in years gone 
by, for the reason that, in this age of decorating, glass 
structures are so crammed with ‘ ‘something to cut from,” 
that such subjects as these Pelargoniums rarely receive 
the space they require to produce good specimens, or 
sufficient ventilation to keep them strong, clean, and 
healthy. 
At this period of the year the plants have had half 
their season, so perhaps I had better hark back some 
months before offering a few notes on their cultivation, 
as their season of growth commences from the “cutting 
down ” period, rather than from the advent of the New 
Year. Well, after my ,plants had done flowering 
they were placed out of doors in an open position ; but 
as last summer was so wet and devoid of sunshine, 
their wood took longer to ripen, and as they require 
little or no water at such a period they passed a good 
deal of their time laid on their sides, to prevent them 
getting saturated. They were cut down to within a 
few eyes of the current season’s growth, and damped 
overhead — when bright weather did occur —with a 
rose-pot or the syriDge. So soon as they had fairly 
started growing, and before the young growths got at 
all long they were shaken out, and the roots cut well 
back with a sharp knife. They were then potted into 
as small pots as they would reasonably go into, using 
a compost of light turfy loam, leaf-soil, and sand. 
They were then stood in a one-light box, received a 
good watering, and were shaded when requisite until 
root action commenced. Shading was then dispensed 
with, and ventilation was afforded to keep them from 
becoming drawn. 
\\ hen fairly on the move they were stood on ashes 
out of doors, and carefully supplied with water, the 
aim being to keep them stocky, and to harden their 
growths for the approaching dull days of autumn and 
winter. They were in that position on the night of 
October 1st, when we had 7° of frost, which proved so 
disastrous to many Chrysanthemums ; but fortunately 
I took the precaution to cover up my Pelargoniums, and 
the next day removed them to a shelf close to the glass 
in a Peach-house, where they received plenty of venti¬ 
lation. Water was sparingly applied, in fact, they 
were kept rather on the dry side ; all decaying leaves 
were removed, and all small puny shoots rubbed off, 
as it was preferred to have a few vigorous growths 
rather than a mass of weaklings. Towards the close of 
the year, as they were nicely rooted, they were trans¬ 
ferred to their flowering pots, using turfy loam and 
sand ; they were potted rather solid, and the soil being 
in good condition as regards moisture they did not 
require watering for a week or so, only a slight dewing 
overhead to freshen the foliage. They were afterwards 
removed to a light span-roofed structure, where they 
stand not far from the glass, air being admitted on all 
favourable occasions ; a temperature of 40° is desired, 
with a little heat turned on when frost occurs. 
When the shoots get longer they will require staking 
out neatly, and later on the least bushy will need 
stopping to make them so, as well as to produce a suc¬ 
cession of bloom. Fumigate often to prevent green¬ 
fly. In propagating it is usual to put in cuttings of 
the ripened shoots at the time the plants are cut down, 
but, for my own part, I prefer to put in green cuttings 
in June ; if these are inserted in fine sandy soil in the 
open border, dewed overhead morning and evening, 
and shaded, they will root as freely as zonals. When 
root formation has taken place and active growth com¬ 
mences they should be topped, and when they have 
started breaking Take_them up and pot them, treating 
similar to the old plants.— Geo. Potts, Junr., Northiam. 
-- 
BRIDEHEAD HOUSE, DORSET. 
Until quite recently the nearest railway station to 
this fine old Dorsetshire demesne was at Dorchester, 
some seven miles distant, and difficulty of access must, 
I take it, be set down as the reason why I have never 
seen the estate alluded to in gardening papers. 
Leaving Dorchester on a dry clear day early in the 
present month, I was delighted with the lovely hilly 
country through which we drove, and the beautiful 
scenery surrounding Bridehead House, the residence of 
R. Williams, Esq. Near the end of a well-kept 
carriage-drive, about a mile in length, the visitor 
arrives at the top of a hill overlooking the mansion, 
from which coign of vantage he gets such a view of hill 
and dale scenery, with glimpses of the sea in the 
distance, as is seldom met with. Though it was mid¬ 
winter, one could hardly realise the fact from the fresh 
green appearance of the hillside pasture, dotted with 
frisky lambs of the Dorsetshire Horn breed, many of 
which were born in November. These horned sheep 
are a characteristic and striking feature in the land¬ 
scape, so different from what the hornless breeds 
afford. 
The mansion stands in a low position, with a large 
sheet of ornamental water on the west side, and takes 
its name—Bridehead—from its situation at the source 
of the River Bride, which flows through the valleys and 
empties itself into the sea at Bridport. The ornamental 
grounds contain many examples of trees and shrubs of 
good dimensions. Evergreen Oaks do well here, so 
also does the Tree of Heaven, Weeping Elms, Weeping 
Beech, &c. Handsome young Conifers are also dotted 
about, and specially worthy of mention I noted a 
Thuiopsis dolobrata. Specially beautiful, too, are the 
well-sheltered borders, appropriately situated, of hardy 
plants, the large clumps of Tritomas, perennial Sun¬ 
flowers, Lilies, &c., and the large beds of Ghent and 
other Azaleas, Bamboos, Kalmias, Rhododendrons, and 
other plants of a kindred nature. The old white 
Azalea indica does grandly in these mixed beds. 
In another part are some well-filled beds of H. P. 
Roses, and here, too, are some poles clothed with 
climbing varieties, which afford a change, and must 
be beautiful to look upon iD the summer. Other beds, 
again, are filled with hardy spring-blooming plants, 
such as the finer strains of Primroses, bulbs, &c. 
Close to the mansion is a small flower garden kept 
for ordinary summer bedding plants, which, however, 
are not used so extensively as formerly, the hardy 
perennials meeting with greater favour every year. 
Leaving the pleasure grounds, we direct our steps 
towards the first kitchen garden, passing on the way a 
waterfall charmingly surrounded by trees and shrubs, 
and through a churchyard, which with its pretty 
church and neatly-kept surroundings, shows that the 
owner of Bridehead, at all events, is in sympathy with 
those who would make God’s acre beautiful. 
The first thing to attract my attention in the 
kitchen garden was a long border filled with herbaceous 
plants, bulbs, &c., many of which thrive here in a 
most remarkable way, such as Perennial Candytuft, 
Montbretias, Veronicas, Monarda didyma, Narcissus, 
Tulips, &c. From this boder Mr. Birkenshaw told me 
he could cut an abundance of flowers until frost came. 
Vegetable culture is specially well done here, the 
demand being a large one, and some three or four 
acres are under cultivation on the side of a hill facing 
the south. Here were large breadths of Brussels 
Sprouts, Cabbages of all sorts, various kinds of Kale, 
a good strain of Green Curled Borecole, Broccoli, Ac. 
Cauliflowers being over, Broccoli was in abundance ; 
and I could see by the remains of a large patch of 
Snow’s Winter White, that the stock (Veitch’s) was 
a good one. This is truly a grand Broccoli when it 
can be got true to name — a difficult thing very 
often. Penzance Early White was the sort then 
in use, and very fine heads they were. This will 
be succeeded by Cooling’s Matchless, Veitch’s Spring 
White Leamington, and for the last crop Veitch’s 
Model, which is very highly spoken of, as it keeps up 
the supply until the early Cauliflowers come im With 
reference to the latter I may notice that the old plan 
of keeping a portion of the stock in small pots through 
the winter, is adhered to as being the best for getting 
early heads. The Celery crop was a splendid one, and 
only three sorts are grown. A strain of Major Clarke’s 
Solid Red, of which Mr. Birkenshaw obtained a little 
seed from a gardener in Norfolk, who grows no other 
kind, and has kept his stock pure, surpasses any kind 
grown at Bridehead for the last fifteen years. So much 
for careful selection to keep stocks true. Beet and 
Onions are also good crops here, and I noted a fine lot 
of Sea Kale coming in under pots in the open quarter, 
covered with protecting material. 
Fruit culture, both hardy and under glass, is also 
admirably carried out. The walls are covered with 
well-trained trees in splendid health, and a Plum wall 
with a south aspect is one of the finest I have seen. 
The trees from top to bottom are covered with close-set 
spurs, the result of very careful close pinching in 
summer. Pears do not do so well here as Plums, 
although there are some good trees of recent planting. 
Bush trees of many kinds of Pears are worthless, but 
many Plums do well as bushes, and so also do Apples. 
I noticed on one of the Apple trees a large bunch of 
Mistleto, which Mr. Birkenshaw got to grow by 
inserting some berries in a slit in the bark some four 
years ago. The bunch was most abundantly berried, 
although there is no other example in the garden. It may 
be worth while here to ask if the sexes are on different 
plants, or whether both grow on the same plant ? 
[They are usually diaecious, that is to say, the sexes 
are borne by different plants, but a case was recorded 
nearly twenty years ago, of both sexes being found on 
the same bush ; and this may be a more common 
occurrence than is generally supposed.—E d.] Peaches 
are not now grown on the open walls, having been 
given up some years ago in favour of their cultivation 
under glass. 
The glass accommodation is not extensive, though of 
a useful character. A long Peach-house in two divi¬ 
sions, erected five years ago, is now filled with some of 
the best trees of all the leading kinds it has been my 
good fortune to see. Amsden June is the earliest, and 
well thought of, and other favourites are Hale’s Early, 
Sea Eagle, and Noblesse ; and among Nectarines, Lord 
Napier and Pine Apple. There are two early vineries, 
one of which was closed preparatory to forcing at the 
beginning of the month ; and two late ones, in one of 
which some extra fine Muscats were still hanging, 
good in berry and colour and first-rate in flavour. The 
roots are in a raised outside border, close up to the 
surface, and protected only by a little long stable 
litter. The plant houses are three in number, one 
being a stove containing some good Poinsettias, and 
the usual assortment of fine-foliaged and flowering 
plants; the second, a greenhouse with some good 
plants of Reinwardtia (Linum) trigynum, Cyclamens, 
Epacrises, and a good batch of Tea Roses just breaking 
into growth ; and the third a small house for growing 
Ferns for cutting, &e. The pit accommodation is 
more ample, and in this department I noticed good 
batches of Eucharis, Pancratiums, bedding plants, 
Cinerarias, &c., also Asparagus, Carrots, &c., to be 
followed by Melons and Cucumbers—of the former 
High Cross Hybrid and the old Golden Perfection are 
