818 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 27, 1892. 
St. Didier. Those of Hecla are warm rose, and the 
sepals arranged round a single centre. A charming 
Camellia formed flower is Miss Jeannie Fell, of a 
deep red and very neat. Princess May is similar in 
form, but the flowers are white and somewhat crimped. 
A very deep flower is Victory and bright scarlet. 
The huge flower named Triumph is deep red. A 
pleasing variety is Alba Magna, with one centre and 
broad crimped white petals. 
A choice and striking flower is Mrs. F. Fell, 
salmon-pink in the centre, fading to salmon. Picotee 
is pale pink with a rose edge, and long outer sepals. 
Charming also is Claribel, of medium size, and 
salmon with a white centre. In the same style 
is Viscountess Cranbrook, with rose flowers tinted 
with scarlet and a white centre. Baroda is bright 
salmon with nodding flowers. A bold bright scarlet 
is Henshaw Russell. Beauty of Belgrove is rose 
shaded with white.remindingusof the Rose La France. 
Triomphe de Nancy is pale sulphur with a primrose 
centre. Comtesse O'Gorman has a bright yellow 
centre. A distinct thing is Solferino, sulphur tinted 
vith salmon. Very floriferous and suitable for basket 
work is Miss Partridge, with soft yellow flowers on 
long, perfectly pendent stalks. A curious mixture 
of rose, salmon, and yellow, more or less striped, is 
Sericea. 
A huge deep rose flowered variety is Manora. 
Aurecole is soft salmon shaded with yellow; and 
Couronne is soft scarlet-rose. Alice Crousse is 
noticeable for its soft pink flowers, small centre and 
broad guards. Lafayette, with small brilliant scarlet 
freely produced flowers, is suitable for bedding. The 
nodding flowers of Procida are blush-white. There 
are several seedlings of great merit, but we were 
particularly taken with one of last year’s raising. It 
has Camellia formed flowers of a uniform pink, and 
all the sepals are regularly recurved around a 
common centre. Others have yellow bronzed flowers, 
scarlet with wavy sepals, and soft salmon with a 
white centre. All the plants are grown in 48,' 32, 
and 24-size pots, the last named being the largest. 
THE PORTLAND NUR¬ 
SERY, READING. 
Referring again to the visit I recently paid to 
Messrs. Sutton & Sons, at Reading, I cannot help 
saying that the outdoor grounds are as full of objects 
of interest as the glasshouses. There are no vacant 
j aces of ground, but if a crop is cleared away 
another at once takes its place. And there are no 
weeds to be seen ; the same order and neatness 
which prevails within doors is just as noticeable out¬ 
side ; good cultivation and close attention can be 
discerned on every hand. 
One feature which claimed attention waj a large 
batch of the new Nemesia Strumosa Suttoni with 
its distinct, striking and chameleon-hued flowers as 
various in tint as they are interesting to the sight. 
Of its extremely showy and unique character there 
can be no doubt, and if it proves of easy cultivation 
it is certain to become very popular.- 
In cold frames Calceolarias, and Primula sinensis 
from summer sown seeds are coming on remarkably 
well, and the plants will be seen to advantage in the 
late autumn and winter. From the seed pans or 
pots, the young plants are pricked off into boxes and 
tins, which rest upon inverted flower pots, and are 
thus raised above the ground level, and so prevent 
the ingress of vermin. 
Next came under notice a large bed of Carnations 
in full bloom, many of the plants quite dwarf, 
wonderfully free, and not given to hang down their 
heads, but holding them up fearlessly and erect. 
These are admirable qualities in border Carnations ; 
for to be effective the plants should be dwarf, stocky, 
free of bloom, and the individual flowers not too 
large. There is danger just now of the introduction 
of a race of tall growing Carnations of lanky growth, 
the flowers large but with a tendency to hang their 
heads as if suffering from a spinal complaint or 
some such affection, or perhaps from undue modesty 
at finding themselves in such exalted positions. 
Near these is a batch of strong growing Holly¬ 
hocks, seedlings obtained from seeds sown in 
February last, nearly every one of which will bloom 
this season. We used to sow Hollyhock seeds in 
May and June, and see the bloom in the May follow¬ 
ing. Now by sowing in a gentle heat in January or 
early in February, growing on the seedlings, harden¬ 
ing them off, and getting them out in the open as 
soon as possible, the grower is able to see something 
of their quality the same season. 
Turning from the contemplation of this bed of 
Hollyhocks, the eye was attracted by a patch of a 
very fine white Lobelia of the Erinus speciosa 
section that seemed to have first-rate properties and 
free from the slightest tint of blue. Near to this is a 
bed of varieties of the Marvel of Peru — Mirabilis 
Jalapa—and which received its common name, pro¬ 
bably, from having come in the first instance from 
America, as at that time everything brought from the 
New World was considered marvellous. In the 
light, sandy soil of the Portland Nursery this fine 
ornamental plant, now too much neglected, does 
remarkably well, forming charming bushes and 
blooming with great freedom. The roots should be 
lifted in the autumn, dried a little and kept through 
the winter in the same way as Dahlias. 
The Phlox Drummondii were very fine indeed, and 
here can be seen two distinct sections—the first 
what is known as the large-flowering or grandiflora 
type ; the other the dwarf compact. What delight¬ 
ful beds both make, and with what a prodigality of 
blossom the plants reward the cultivator. There 
has never yet been raised a Verbena which can touch 
P. D. splendens grandiflora as a bedding plant—the 
raiser of this deserved a peerage. The more I see of 
the beauty of Phlox Drummondii the more I admire 
it as an effective bedding plant. There are several 
bold and striking colours, such as white, crimson, 
rose, carmine, scarlet, purple, etc., and some striped 
varieties ; and the colours come pretty true from 
seed. A large bed of the grandiflora type, edged 
with the compact varieties, would be a floral sen¬ 
sation. I strongly recommend the compact types 
for small gardens, and the colours are delightful. 
And then, as free flowering hardy annuals to cut 
from, what can compare with the Indian Pinks, D. 
chinensis, and its fine variety Heddewigii. Compact 
in growth, marvellously free, and the strains here 
very fine, it seems impossible to wish for anything - 
better ; yet better will doubtless come some day. 
But Indian Pinks must be well grown : treat them 
generously, and they heap up their fine blossoms in 
happy plenteousness; starve them and they dis¬ 
appoint. Among the cut flowers shown at the co¬ 
operative flower show at the Crystal Palace on 
Saturday, were the Indian Pinks, and they formed 
delightful bunches. 
And then the Petunias and Verbenas. To get an 
idea of the value of a Petunia or a Verbena as floral 
objects, the plants should be seen as they appear at 
Reading—isolated, and standing two or three feet 
apart. Why, the possibilities of an individual are 
startling. We plant Petunias and Verbenas in beds 
thickly, but we can never in that way realise what 
an individual plant is capable of. But plant them 
out as is done at Reading, the rows a yard apart, and 
the plants two feet apart in the rows, and then they 
are seen at their best. While I like the smaller 
flowered striped Petunias best for bedding, and 
especially that section known as Sutton’s Dwarf, the 
larger flowered varieties, double and single, as seen 
here, are wonderfully good and striking in appear¬ 
ance. I had begun to lose an interest in the Verbena 
as a bedding plant, but the plants here with their 
striking heads of fine flower assured me that if only 
the Verbena be subjected to good cultivation, it is 
yet an admirable bedding plant, and this strain 
grown by Messrs. Sutton & Sons has been so welj 
selected that distinct colours—blue, white, mauve 
scarlet, striped, etc.—come quite true from seeds’ 
Going back to the Petunia, I may mention one of 
the most useful and effective bedders in the single 
carmine—dwarf, compact, and very free. 
A golden Composite, named Leptosyne maritima, a 
half-hardy annual producing large yellow flowers on 
a long stalk, is well worthy of a place in the garden 
for cutting purposes It grows to a height of 2^ ft. 
to 3 ft. Gaillardias were very fine indeed, and sin¬ 
gularly free. Here is the old Matricaria in- 
odora flore pleno in large bushes producing an 
abundance of pure white double flowers, from which 
hundreds might have been cut, the blossoms greatly 
resembling those of a miniature Pompon Chrysanthe¬ 
mum. The Alonsoas were very good also ; charming 
plants which have fallen sadly into neglect. 
Beds of tall and Tom Thumb Antirrhinums of 
excellent quality were admirable, the morning sun 
touching up their brilliant hues with great radiance. 
If anyone desires two charming half-hardy peren¬ 
nials, let them grow Anagallis Philiipsii, a grand 
shade of blue, and Garibaldi, scarlet, both very fine 
indeed. 
Stocks and Asters are late ; successional sowings 
had to be made, but there will be a great display 
early in September. Zinnias were very fine indeed, 
as exhibition flowers nothing could be finer. There 
are many beds of Pansies which will stand over as 
spring trials. The Portulaccas are getting brilliant 
under the summer sunshine, when their rich colours 
are seen to the best advantage. 
Finally, there is a remarkable trial of 3,000 plants 
of Tomatos, all doing very well. Such an out-door 
plantation has never before, perhaps, been attempted 
in this country, and what an opportunity it affords 
for comparison. 
In penning such a rapid sketch as the foregoing it 
is inevitable something worthy of notice should be 
passed over. I have simply endeavoured to indicate 
a few things that are of great value in the garden. I 
do not know what arrangements Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons make as to the admission of gardeners to their 
Portland Nursery ; but 1 am quite certain that a few 
hours spent here on a summer day would greatly en- 
arge the knowledge of gardeners, as well as afford 
them much pleasurable enjoyment.— R. D. 
-- 
HYDE PARK. 
The summer bedding in Hyde Park, mostly concen¬ 
trated along the side of Park Lane, may now be con¬ 
sidered at its best, although some of the Pelargoniums 
have suffered through the recent heavy rainfall. An 
interesting feature of it is the extent to which Fuch¬ 
sias are used, and likewise bedding Violas as 
edgings and groundwork. Carpet bedding is by no 
means extensive, but the few' beds are well executed 
and neatly kept. The plants on the grass in isolated 
specimens or groups remind us of what is more ex¬ 
tensively done in the parks at Paris, and is an 
interesting feature. 
To the west of the Grosvenor Gate the beds are in 
single file on one side of the path. Commencing at 
the west end and proceeding eastwards, a noticeable 
bed consists of Fuchsia Mrs. Rundell on a ground¬ 
work of Viola Beauty of Chipping Norton, a free 
flowering dark blue variety extensively used both in 
beds and on the borders. Near this is a bed of the 
tuberous Begonia Lady Stanhope, with soft red 
flowers produced in great profusion A crimson-red 
Chrysanthemum named Scarlet Gem is also very 
profusely in flower. Rev. F. Atkinson and Henry 
Jacoby are very floriferous Pelargoniums, each 
occupying an oblong bed ; the former is somew'hat 
lighter in colour than the latter, but otherwdse 
similar. A pretty combination is a circular bed of 
Fuchsia gracilis variegata and Acacia lophantha on 
a groundwork of Begonias and Alternantheras. On 
a similar plan is an oblong bed of Fuchsia gracilis 
variegata and Dracaena congesta on a groundw'ork 
of Viola Beauty of Chipping Norton. A bed of the 
magenta pink Pelargonium Lucy is also floriferous. 
Then come beds of Fuchsia Earl of Beaconsfield, 
Marinka and Dunrobin Castle, the latter being a 
graceful dwarf plant with a profusion of flowers. A 
circular bed of the bright yellow Chrysanthemum 
Precocite is also in prime condition. 
East of the Grosvenor Gate and leading from 
thence to the Stanhope gate the greater number of 
the beds are concentrated in double file on the right 
hand side and in a single row upon the left. On the 
right are two beds of Fuchsia Madame Corneilsson, 
about 3 ft. high, on a groundwork of Viola lilacina 
edged with Iresine Lindeni and Fuchsia Meteor, the 
latter being pegged down. Two beds on the left at 
distant intervals are filled with a mixture of subjects 
including Chrysanthemum Precocite, C. Scarlet Gem, 
Lilium speciosum ; Campanula pyramidalis, and its 
white variety ; Calceolaria amplexicaulis, &c. A 
circular bed of the blush Chrysanthemum La 
Nymphe is also at its best. A little farther on is a 
bold bed of scarlet seedling Begonias. 
Another mixture consists of Ivy-leaved Pelar¬ 
goniums 2 ft. high and Fuchsias 3 ft. to 3^ ft. high, 
having the lower part of their stems covered with 
Petunias. A bed of Fuchsias is planted between 
with African Marigolds and Viola Mrs. Turner, the 
latter being of a pale lavender and white, and in 
these respects differing from the newer and dark 
blue Viola Mrs. C. Turner. Two attractive beds 
consist of Heliotrope President Garfield, 3 ft. to 4 ft. 
high, mixed with the Night Scented Tobacco, Car¬ 
nations, Begonias, etc. The Crimson Red Begpnia 
