November 7 , 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
145 
BERRIED PLANTS. 
At some of our autumn shows prizes are offered for 
these winter decorative plants, and very pleasing 
variations in the too common form of table and other 
plants result. Of course the Solanums figure most 
strongly and invariably are the best berried, espe¬ 
cially that as of plants of this description, suitable for 
pot culture, we have so few. If we could induce 
the ordinary free berrying varieties of the Pyracantha 
to berry as small pot plants, they would be very 
effective especially if trained in the form of stan¬ 
dards, with rather drooping heads. Rosa Rugosa is 
in the bush form a very beautiful berried plant, 
although, as is the case with Capsicums, the fruits 
are hardly to be classed as berries. 
The Prince of Wales Capsicum, which assumes 
naturally such a pleasing standard or umbrella form, 
makes exceedingly pretty plants, the rich yellow 
fruits when ripe hanging down in great profusion. 
Charming as these are, however, they will not endure 
through the winter, as Solanums, the which are at 
once harder-wooded and capable of resisting much 
cold, will endure. The Solanums seen at these 
autumn exhibitions are too much of one type. The 
schedule usually asks for six berried plants in pots, 
without in any way indi¬ 
cating variety or anything 
else. It is therefore very 
common to see all' the six 
plants bush Solanums of 
the same form andvariety, 
and in that respect far 
from being so attractive 
as is desirable. A couple 
of Solanums, a couple of 
standard Capsicums, and 
a couple of the Coral Red 
Chilis make a very pretty 
selection. 
It -is hardly fair in con¬ 
nection with a class of this 
sort that exhibitors should 
be allowed to set up just 
the easiest grown varie¬ 
ties,and especially of Sola¬ 
nums only. Of course, so 
long as judges go for the 
best berried only, irre¬ 
spective of variety.there is 
little chance that exhibi¬ 
tors will vary their exhi¬ 
bits. If, however, those 
who arrangescheduleswill 
insist upon greater variety 
being introduced into the 
class, the gain will be con¬ 
siderable. I have often 
wished to see a class for 
six Celosias at these late 
shows, for they are often 
seen in beautiful form so 
late as Christmas if kept in gentlewarmth. Naturally the 
shows are chiefly for Chrysanthemums, but all other 
late'decorative plants should be encouraged.— A. D. 
LEICESTER FRITH, 
The seat of Thomas Swift Taylor, Esq., stands on 
elevated ground about three miles distant from the 
centre of the town of Leicester. The gardens 
attached are varied and extensive, and, under the 
able management of Mr. H. Woolley, can now very 
favourably compete with any in the Midlands, and 
at all times will well repay a visit from any ho'rti- 
cuituralist. At the present time, when the subject 
of hardy fruit culture is absorbing so much attention 
in our islands, and having for several years had 
many opportunities of visiting the Frith Gardens, 
and observing the magnificent crops—of Pears 
especially—grown there, I venture to submit to you 
a list of such, with a few remarks as to position, &c. 
The situation is a cold one, and the natural sub¬ 
soil an impervious clay, which has been very much 
modified by incorporating burnt ballast which seems 
to encourage fibrous roots. In pruning the strong 
shoots are left at full length and thinly disposed. 
This induces a more tardy circulation of sap, and 
the result is the formation of fruit spurs. Root 
pruning is carefully attended to, and also surface 
dressing. The following is a list of Pears grown, 
which are treated as Pyramids, Bush and Cordons ;— 
Cordons. —Rivers’ Seedlings, Dr. Hogg-, Beacon, 
and Princess, a handsome Pear, a seedling from the 
Louise Bonne of Jersey; Clapp's Favourite, Madame 
Treyve, Conseilier de la Cour, Pitmaston Duchess, 
and Gregoire Bourdillon. 
Pyramids .—Doyenne d’Ete, Jargonelle, Williams' 
Bon Chretien, Beurre d'Amanlis, Souvenir de Con- 
gres, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Glou 
Morceau, Doyenne du Comice, Duchesse d'Angou- 
leme, Hacon’s Incomparable, Beurre Diel, Beurre 
Bachelier, Beurre d’Aremberg. Winter Nelis, 
Josephine de Malines, Bergamotte d’Esperen, Easter 
Beurre, and Beurre Ranee. 
Hardy bush fruits do well, and bear most abun¬ 
dantly each year, despite climatic influences, which 
is the more remarkable considering the exposed 
position. . Mr. Woolley confines himself to very few 
varieties, viz., Gooseberries, Whitesmith and Crown 
Bob ; Red Currants, Raby Castle and La Versaillaise; 
Black Currant, Black Naples ; Strawberries, Sir 
Joseph Paxton, Elton Pine, Keans’s Seedling, and 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. 
The fruit and plant houses are well stocked, and 
are extensive. There is a fine range of span-roofed 
vineries, divided into three sections. No. i house is 
entirely filled with Black Hamburghs. No. 2 con¬ 
tains Muscat of Alexandria, which on the 6th of 
October (the time of my last visit) were bearing a 
splendid crop of amber-coloured fruit. No. 3 is 
planted with Lady Downe's Seedling, Black Alicante, 
Gros Colmar, and Alnwick Seedling, and a finer and 
better coloured house of late Grapes I have never 
beheld. 
The orchard house (a lean-to 100 ft. by 14 ft.) is 
filled with a splendid collection of Plums, including 
Green Gage, July Green Gage, Reine Claude de 
Bavay, Coe’s Golden Drop, and Transparent Gage. 
A span-roofed range of Peach houses for forcing, is 
planted with the following varieties, which are in 
good bearing condition :—Hale's Early, Royal 
George, and Noblesse ; Nectarines, Early Rivers’, 
Rivers’ Orange, Elruge, and Lord Napier. 
The large stove, which is also span-roofed, is filled 
with decorative and flowering plants, including a 
magnificent collection of medium-sized Crotons, 
Dracaenas, Alocasias, Anthuriums, &c., and the roof 
is covered with Alamandas, Stephanotis, Bougan- 
villias, and Aristolochia elegans. One of the most 
useful houses on the place is devoted to Tea Poses, 
a lean-to 60 ft. by 12 ft., and planted with the follow¬ 
ing Marechal Niel, Gloire de Dijon, W. A. 
Richardson, Climbing Niphetos, a grand Rose for 
indoor work, and a robust grower, Madame Falcot, 
Catherine Mermot, Devoniensis, and Reve d'Or. 
The larger conservatory, which is entered from the 
mansion, is 120 ft. by 30 ft., the roof being covered 
with Tacsonias, Van Volxemii, and Exoniensis; 
some splendid specimens of Palms, standard plants of 
Cassia corymbosa, the latter bearing myriads of 
beautiful orange-yellow flowers; a grand display of 
early flowering Chrysanthemums, including Madame 
Desgranges, G. Wermig, White George Wermig, 
Mrs. Hawkins, L'lsle desPlaisers, Roi des Precoces, 
&c.; Lobelia Cardinalis (var. Victoria), a most useful 
plant for decorative work. The walls at the extreme 
end are covered with virgin cork, and planted with 
Maidenhair Fern and Lycopodiums, thus giving a 
pleasing effect to the whole. 
1 he flower garden and pleasure grounds are in 
excellent keeping, and reflect the greatest credit on 
the estimable gardener, Mr. H. Woolley.— J. B. 
-- 
A NEW BLACK STRAW¬ 
BERRY. 
Under the name of Souvenir de Madame Struelens, 
M. Ed. Pynaert-Van Geert is sending out a new 
Strawberry which is remarkable for its intensely 
black colour. It is described as without doubt the 
darkest of all the Strawberries, including Negress 
of Soupert and Notting, which was rejected from cul¬ 
tivation twenty years ago. 
on account of its poor qua¬ 
lity, also Negress of Tirle- 
mont, which is equally a 
reddish black, superior in 
quality but tender, as the 
greater part of it disap¬ 
peared from Continental 
gardens during the severe 
weather of last winter. 
The fiuitsof Souvenir 
de Madame Struelens are 
ordinarily large, but some¬ 
times very large, of re¬ 
gular form, generally 
roundly conical, the 
largest ones being trian¬ 
gular, flattened, or like 
a cockscomb. The colour 
is very dark, and in this 
respect quite different 
from that of any other 
known Strawberry. The 
carpels (generally termed 
seeds) are numerous, pro¬ 
minent, and yellow. The 
flesh is copious, rose in 
the centre, and deeply 
coloured towards the cir¬ 
cumference, possessing a 
juice comparable to that 
of a Mulberry, the flavour 
of which it also recalls to 
some extent, very melting, 
buttery, extremely sugary, 
and perfumed. 
The plant is very vigorous, and extremely fertile. 
By its vigour, fertility, and hardiness it is claimed to 
be worthy of cultivation in all collections, and to 
rank among the best dessert Strawberries. Amongst 
the most beautiful of them it will show by its dark co¬ 
lour, which one is not accustomed to see in the genus. 
At the same time it will add to the perfume which it 
gives off from its fruits, an odour which it possesses 
almost to the degree of the Hautboy Strawberry, 
which ought, without doubt, to constitute a part of 
its recommendations. We are indebted to M. Ed. 
Pynasrt-Van Geert, for an opportunity of figur¬ 
ing it. 
----- 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
SWANLEY. 
Succeeding years show fresh developments to meet 
the requirements of those who cater for the public 
love of Chrysanthemums. A large, roomy, and well 
lighted house has just been built by Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent, to accommodate a 
collection of Chrysanthemums grown solely for 
decorative and cut flower purposes, as distinguished 
from those grown for exhibition. The two objects 
must be kept in view unless the cultivator goes in 
for one or the other. 
The flowers that are grown to exhibition size are 
accommodated as usual in the long and narrow span- 
roofed houses with which every one who has visited 
Swanley is well acquainted. One of these houses 
