September 5, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
5 
For myself, I am not prepared to admit that the 
Tomato is a fruit in the general acceptance for 
dessert purposes, or for tarts or puddings or using 
with sweets and pastry, any more than the Cucum¬ 
ber. The Melon is a fruit, as it is not of any value 
whatever excepting when ripe, and only then for 
dessert. I think that whilst we have a large number 
of varieties of fruits to select from, we should dis¬ 
courage the use of Tomatos in collections of Fruits ; 
and if general custom was to sanction their use, well 
then I think they should carry very little weight. I 
should like to see through your columns a large 
expression of opinion on this subject, because the 
sooner the matter is settled the better, and an opin¬ 
ion by postcard even to the Editor may be tabulated 
for publication .—An Old Judge. 
A PRIVATE GARDEN IN 
MASSACHUSETTS. 
While on a visit to Boston recently, I chanced to 
meet one of the assistants at Oakley Hall, Watertown, 
a fine old place owned by a Mr. Pratt. We boarded 
an electric car, which soon carried us out of the city, 
through the small town of Cambridge, past Mount 
Auburn, with its magnificent cemetery, and onwards 
between fields of Sweet Corn and Tomatos, until we 
are set down within a few minutes’ walk of our desti¬ 
nation. Proceeding along a well-kept carriage drive 
through the extensive park, thickly studded with 
shady trees, we soon arrived at the glass structures, 
and I was immediately ushered into a long lean-to 
house containing a wealth of Asparagus plumosa 
growing up a trellis on the back wall, a large collec¬ 
tion of Dendrobium nobile, perhaps the finest in the 
country, and some fine plants 'of various species of 
Cypripedium. 
The next house also contained Dendrobiums, 
amongst which D. Wardianum was most conspicuous, 
and a newly-imported batch was lying patiently wait¬ 
ing for treatment. Then came a cool house containing 
Masdevallias, and fine young healthy plants of 
Odontoglossum Alexandras and O. vexillarium. The 
latter, I was told, were gorgeous during the spring 
months, and a few stray blooms with their rosy lilac 
sepals and petals and large spreading lip of deep 
rose pronounced them to be worthy of extensive 
cultivation for decorative purposes. A large span- 
roof house held several hundred plants of that noblest 
of Maidenhair Ferns, Adiantum Farleyense, and their 
fine fronds showed skilful management. They are 
potted in equal parts of half-decayed leaves and 
loam, and they seem to delight in this compost. 
When it is desired to raise a large quantity they cut 
up several old crowns into small pieces, and place 
them in a bed of sand with bottom heat, taking care 
to cover the cut part. In a short time an abundance 
of young plants is ready for growing on. Here, also, 
I observed Nepenthes ampullacea andN. distillatoria, 
bearing any quantity of their curious pitchers. On a 
side stage, too, were some fine specimens of Cattleya 
Mossiae. We next entered the vineries. The 
Hamburgh house contained many fairly well finished 
bunches, and many had been cut from it previous to 
my visit. The Muscat house was carrying a heavy 
crop, but shanking was making havoc amongst them. 
The two late houses were also good, containing such 
well-known sorts as Black Alicante, Lady Downes, 
and Alnwick seedling. Looking over the frames, my 
attention was drawn to a batch of over one thousand 
Cyclamen persicum, fine young stuff; also a similar 
quantity of Gloxinias, planted out in a compost of 
rough leaves and turf, and which were growing 
away in good style. A lot of Begonias were treated 
in like manner. In the flower garden I was much 
struck with some beds of showy Cannas, a very 
popular sub-tropical bedder in this country. One 
in particular, Star of ’91, a new variety, with bright 
green foliage and terminal clusters of bright scarlet 
flowers, had a decided advantage over older varieties 
in size and colour. The Cannas are a most useful 
class of plants for massing in large beds or planting in 
borders, their foliage and flowers being exceedingly 
ornamental. They are easily propagated from seed, 
better still by division of the root stock, and can be 
stored over winter in moist sand. I observed, also, 
two beds of the almost stemless Yucca filamentosa, 
with spikes, five feet high, of tulip-shaped creamy- 
white flowers. A line of Sweet Peas, Blanche 
Fairy, a dwarf variety, ran the entire length of the 
garden, and was one mass of pin}? jind white blossom, 
In the vegetable patch, Melons, Cucumbers, and 
Tomatos were growing luxuriantly. The Celery, but 
recently sown, was showing itself above ground. 
Mr. Allan, the head gardener, a clever all-round 
practitioner and a keen orchidist, hails from Banff¬ 
shire, and his assistants also belong to the north of 
Scotland. — Jas. S. Reid, No. Cohasset, Mass., Aug. 13. 
FLto^icUimJRE. 
Mule Pinks. 
Mr. John Forbes, Buccleugh Nursery, Hawick, has 
just sent me a collection of flowers of pretty varieties 
of Mule Pinks, with their bold trusses of small, well¬ 
sized blooms quite double, and freely produced. If 
they were only fragrant ! but then many Carnations 
do not possess this desirable property, the grand 
yellow self, Germania, among them; and, after all, I 
dare say Nature is pretty right in so forming some 
flowers that they are scentless. If all were fragrant we 
should be overcome with the weight of perfume, and 
die of highly-scented asphyxia. 
Foremost among the batch sent are Napoleon III., 
with its rich bright scarlet-crimson flowers ; Abbots¬ 
ford, laced, intense rosy pink, fully double; Miss 
Paterson, rosy purple ; Marie Parc, pure white; and 
a small-flowered form, probably an unnamed 
seedling ; a very useful batch. 
The Mule Pinks are grouped under the head of 
Dianthus hybridus, but how or where it originated 
I cannot say. It is given as a native of Britain, and 
it is generally supposed the first form originated 
from a cross between the Carnation and the Sweet 
William. They make excellent border plants. 
They are very free and remain for a long time 
in bloom; and, perhaps, of all the members of 
the tribe they render the best floral service to many, 
because the period of blooming extends over a con¬ 
siderable period. It would not, perhaps, be difficult 
to make up a list of a dozen or so varieties, and 
additions are occasionally made by fresh introduc¬ 
tions from the Continent, but the two most grown 
are Napoleon III. and Marie Parc. Unfortunately, 
like the Carnation, generally a severe winter, like 
that of 1890-91, is injurious to the plants, but they 
appear to stand as well the rigours of an ordinary 
winter as do the Carnation. 
The foliage of the plants resembles that of the 
Carnation; the leaves are narrow and grass like; 
when planted out in the open border they form a 
dense tuft of compact dark green herbage, attaining 
to some six or eight inches in height from the surface 
of the ground, but some varieties grow stronger than 
others. From this herbage is produced numerous 
flower stems, which reach to the height of a foot or 
more ; they are sturdy and freely branched. They 
are produced successionally, and so form pretty and 
welcome subjects. 
These Mule Pinks can be readily propagated by 
means of cuttings, which can be formed of the grass 
thrown up by the plants. The shoots can be taken 
off in July and August, put into pots in a light 
sandy soil firmly pressed down, and rooted under a 
hand glass or in a cold frame; or when the plants 
have gone out of flower they can be lifted, divided, 
and planted out, placing a little sand or cocoa fibre 
about them to induce them to root; and I cannot 
see why these Mule Pinks should not be potted 
up and brought into bloom for decoration in early 
summer. I think it will be useless to attempt to 
force them ; they should be brought on slowly in a 
cold frame or greenhouse, keeping them clean and 
robust and well tied out so as to make handsome 
specimens. I am quite sure they are worth a trial. 
I may add that at Ascott Park Mr. John Jennings 
grows Napoleon III. very largely for border and pot 
work for cutting, and finds it exceedingly useful.— 
R. D. 
Chrysanthemums. 
Those who intend layering a portion of their Chry¬ 
santhemums should commence the operation now. 
Make little mounds of light soil around but at some 
distance from the plant to be layered. Then strip off' 
a few of the leaves of the stems to be layered, at apoint 
a little below where the laterals branch away. The 
stems should then be tongued in the same manner as is 
done with Carnations, making the cuts, however, 
about two or three times as long. Peg down the 
shoots and cover them with about 6 in. of soil. 
Keep the soil moist by watering, and in the course 
of a few weeks a sufficient number of roots will 
be formed to warrant the separation of the ’young 
plants from the parent sto'ol arid potting' tjiem tip. 
SCOTTISH NOTES. 
Rosehaugh, Inverness. — There are few places more 
worthy of a visit than the lovely seat of J. D. 
Fletcher, Esq., as not only are the grounds brimful 
of interest to the lover of gardening, but at every turn 
new scenes open up to view, developing the grandeur 
of the situation. When standing in front of the 
mansion with Mr. Mackie, who is the gardener in 
charge of this magnificent place, and looking east¬ 
ward, grand views of Fort George and the Moray 
Firth are seen ; on the south and west, is some fine 
agricultural land, surrounded by numerous hedge¬ 
rows, studded with trees, varying in shade, and 
making a landscape that baffles description Turning 
northwards, new objects of great interest come into 
view. A huge mountain skirts the rear of the man¬ 
sion, covered with trees of various shades,— a grand 
subject for a skilful artist. The flower and kitchen- 
gardens at the time of my visit were full of great 
promise, and reflected much credit upon Mr. Mackie 
for his skilful management. 
A move is made towards the houses, the first 
visited being the Fernery, a large structure 50 ft. 
long, and 20 ft. wide; the rock-work in which is 
composed of the old red sandstone manipulated with 
great taste and ability. In the centre of the Fernery 
there is a serpentine lake, and on each side there are 
some grand Dicksonias with a splendid spread of 
fronds. The rock-work with its numerous pockets 
of interesting objects, its waterfalls and cascades, is 
full of never-ending interest. A long time might 
be spent here with profit to the admirer of all that 
is beautiful in a Fernery. We next enter the Palm 
house, an immense structure, with a spiral staircase 
and balcony, from which an excellent view of the 
gigantic Seaforthias, Latanias and Kentias can be 
obtained. Many of them tower away 30 ft. high and 
have a spread of 20 ft. Pushing onwards, the Or¬ 
chard houses are reached, in which there are nume¬ 
rous Pear, Apple, Plum, Cherry and Peach trees 
bearing immense crops of splendid fruit, which is in 
great demand during the London season. 
The next house in order is the cool Orchid house, 
with numerous occupants in bloom, viz : Odonto¬ 
glossum Alexandras, many fine plants, O. Pescatorei, 
O. maculatum, Epidendrum vitellinum, etc. The 
Todea house follows, and here are many grand 
specimens of various species, all so. delicate that 
they will on no account endure the rays of the sun. 
In this house there is a sensible contrivance for 
moistening the inmates ; a perforated pipe runs along 
the roof, and by merely turning a tap a gentle spray 
of moisture pervades the entire atmosphere. 
Adjoining is the Phalaenopsis house, a fine modern 
structure (built specially for Phalamopsis), contain¬ 
ing some fine pieces of P. Schilleriana, P. amabilis, 
P. Stuartiana, P. Sanderiana, etc. In successional 
order comes the Fig house, in which the varieties 
grown are Brown Turkey, Negro Largo, and White 
Ischia. Then come the Peach houses, early and late. 
The early crop was gathered in the second week in 
June. The sorts grown are Early Alexander and 
Barrington Peaches and the Elruge Nectarine. 
Passing from the Peach house, a spacious greenhouse 
is entered, which is well filled with numerous choice 
plants. Another step brings us to the early Vinery. 
Each vine carries nine bunches averaging four pounds 
each—not a bad weight—and the Grapes are well 
finished in every respect. They are not only fitted 
for the dinner-table, but would stand high in 
the exhibition tent. In close proximity to the early 
Vinery are the two late Vineries, and the Muscat 
house, the crops in each being similar to the early 
one, for quantity and quality. A few steps further, 
and I am in the Vanda house, admiring the grand 
specimens of V. tricolor, V. suavis, V. Parishii, etc. 
From here I was conducted into the intermediate 
house, thence to the Cattleya house, the inmates in 
which are too numerous to mention individually, 
suffice it to say that it could be seen at a glance that 
the same master hand guided all gardening opera¬ 
tions. Making another move forward the forc¬ 
ing pits and stoves are reached. This range is 
indispensable where the demand for fruit, flowers, 
and vegetables is made at all seasons of the year. 
— J. McNab. 
Galtonia candicans. —The hardiness and showy 
nature of this plant should be an incentive for every 
lover of hardy plants to possess it. At a distance the 
tall scapes and white flowers remind one of the 
Tuberose, but the drooping, bell-shaped perianth is 
much more graceful and attractive. The flowers 
undoubtedly attain the largest size and purest colour 
in the southern counties, but their beauty even in the 
north is sufficient to warrant the cultivation of this 
ornamental bulbous plant. 
