September 28, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
61 
hedges, and gave a tropical effect. A bed of bronzy- 
purple leaved Cannas, close by, is also conspicuous 
and handsome, standing out as it does so prominently 
from the closely shaven turf. 
A bit of neat work consists of an oval bed laid out 
in circles of dwarf plants, edged purple, yellow, and 
gray-leaved subjects. The greater portion of the 
carpeting between these circles consists of Coprosma 
Baueriana variegata. Small Palms and Dracaenas, 
studded over the bed, give it a graceful and light¬ 
some appearance. The bronzy and sea-green leaves 
of Castor Oils in a bed behind this are brightened 
up with the Phloxes and Pentstemons in front of 
them. Tall Wigandias on a setting of gray-leaved 
Pelargoniums and Amaranthus melancholicus 
tricolor arrest the attention a little further on upon 
the opposite side. 
Between the latter and the Alocasias is a neat 
bit of carpet-bedding forming a circular table on the 
grass. A raised mass of Coleus occupies the centre 
and surrounds the base of an Ailanthus about io ft. 
high. There are six patches of coloured plants, 
each shaped like the ace of spades. Three of them 
are centred with Gnaphalium lanatum sur¬ 
rounded by a triple line consisting of Alternantheras 
and variegated Mesembryanthemum. The other 
might mean. The dwarf and tall, spiry subjects 
intermingling, and covered with flowers of various 
hues, certainly exhibit or present a charm of their 
own that regular and systematic arrangements do 
not always possess. Hers and there through the 
park, bright flowering bushes of the Tamarisk and 
Syrian Hibiscus, or the old Althea frutez in a variety 
of colours, serve to give the greenery of vegetation a 
bright and lively effect in the summer sun. Near 
the south east corner of the park is an oblong piece 
of ground between two walks, and which has been 
very gay for a long time. When writing these 
notes, the principal flowers were Phloxes in various 
colours, Stocks, Gladioli, and white Japanese 
Anemones, the fioriferous character of which was 
notable after the recent downpours of rain. In the 
cool of the twilight hours a delicate, but perceptible 
fragrance emanated from Phloxes and Stocks alike, 
and the numbers of people promenading at such 
times to enjoy them is simply marvellous to those 
unaccustomed to a populous neighbourhood .—Fiat 
lux. 
1t ■» 
A PRETTY RAILWAY STATION. 
The accompanying illustration was prepared from a 
photograph of a portion of the Brough Railway 
companies do encourage the wholesome ornamenta¬ 
tion of their stations in this way by offering prizes to 
be competed for by the employees at the various 
places on their lines. For instance, the North 
British Railway Company has just made the awards 
for this season; and next year the amount is to be 
increased. There will be 20 first prizes of £5 ; 30 
second class of £■$ ; 40 third class of £2. ; and 50 
fourth class awards, making 140 in all. The sum of 
£ 3 20 is to be distributed in this way, and cannot 
fail to have an ameliorating effect, and give the 
stations something more than a mere utilitarian 
appearance. 
-» 1 > 
A USE FOR CHISWICK. 
It is much to be regretted that Mr. Barron’s name 
should have lately become the general conversation 
and the council so much censured for what may yet 
meet with the approval of all well-wishers of horti¬ 
culture and those apparently interested in the Royal 
Horticultural Society. Why all this warmth has 
been manifested is not quite clear to me. It should 
be borne in mind that the present council have 
enjoyed universal confidence and brought the society to 
a much better position, both publicly and financially, 
Brough Railway Station. 
three have centres of Alternanthera versicolor with 
a triple line of Golden Feather and Altercanthera 
magnifica. Alternating with these six are four 
triangular patches of Echeveria Peacocki and two at 
the farther side, consisting of crustaceous-leaved 
Saxifragas. The intervening spaces are covered 
with the dark green Herniaria; and the neat, triple 
edging bounding the whole bed consists of Kleinia 
repens, brightly coloured Alternathera, and Mesem¬ 
bryanthemum. The bed attracts a considerable 
amount of attention, owing partly, perhaps, to its 
being the only one of the kind here. Two large 
beds of scroll-work in another situation by the side of 
the lake are equally neatly kept as the bed I have 
described, and the colours, moreover, are bright and 
well contrasted. Between these two is a large 
circular bed of Coleus in which are planted six large 
specimens of Dasylirion gracile on patches of green, 
and surrounded by Pelargonium Cloth of Gold. The 
bed has a solid and massive-looking appearance. 
The old alpine rockery is covered with a gay 
assemblageof Chimney Bell-flowers, Lilium auratum, 
Stocks, Heliotrope, Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums, Violas, 
and other attractive and popular flowers. Some of 
the lady visitors in passing described this place as 
pretty and just like a ** fancy garden ” whatever that 
Station on the Hull and Selby line, a branch of the 
North Eastern Railway. As an instance of its 
unique character it may here be stated that 
it was awarded the first prize in the Tit Bits 
competition, in 1893, as the prettiest railway 
station in the kingdom. Every piece of spare 
ground has been utilised and planted with some¬ 
thing to produce the general effect. The walls 
are draped with greenery, worthy of the more 
southern portions of England, particularly the 
suburbs of London, concerning which a Scotchman 
once said that “ the people had their gardens on the 
front of their houses.” The climbers in this par¬ 
ticular case are so plentiful and free in growth as to 
be suggestive of coolness and repose. The borders 
by the side of the platform are utilised for the culti¬ 
vation of a large quantity of showy and decorative 
plants, and the Hollyhocks stand prominently above 
the dwarfer vegetation, suggestive of sentinels on 
guard. 
The decoration of railway stations in this manner 
is a feature to be encouraged, as it ministers not 
only to the delight of the thousands now spending 
their brief annual holidays, bnt also of those whose 
occupation is almost constant travelling, not for¬ 
getting the railway men on the trains. Some railway 
than at any time previously, and for which I am 
grateful and think others should be likewise. I have 
been connected with every one, either in committee 
or else in some business capacity ; I therefore rest 
with all confidence that when the prop'er time arrives 
for them to give an account of their stewardship they 
may show how wrong it is to question their integrity; 
and, before a general condemnation is passed, I think 
it is only right we should wait patiently for an ex¬ 
planation of their parting with their superintendent, 
for in all probability that which is so bitterly com¬ 
plained of may have made the contemplated altera¬ 
tions absolutely necessary, and ultimately prove of 
great advantage to horticulture generally. 
I am not in possession of any cabinet secrets, 
neither do I desire to shield the guilty of any wrong 
actions whatever, but it must be plain to all, looking 
at the useful and important work being done and the 
amount money expended by the County Councils 
and several colleges in various parts of the country, 
that our young men emanating from Chiswick and 
Kew are in great danger of losing prestige and 
positions in the eyes of ladies and gentlemen requiring 
skilled gardeners. In my opinion Chiswick should 
be without delay made a college of for the highest 
attainments in horticulture, not only where youths 
