October 26, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
121 
Eynsford, Sir Roger and M. Henri Gallice. A 
Botanical Certificate was awarded to Messrs. E. H. 
Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, for Richardia Rehmanni 
violacea. 
NATIONAL TESTIMONIAL TO MR. A. F. 
BARRON. 
The retirement of Mr. A. F. Barron, of Chiswick, 
from the important position of superintendent of the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens and Exhibi¬ 
tions is regarded as a fitting occasion for presenting 
him with a testimonial. 
Known personally to a large number, and to a 
wider circle by reputation, his public work as super¬ 
intendent of the time-honoured Chiswick Gardens is 
valued by all who have had the opportunity of 
judging. His management of the gardens for the 
long period of thirty-five years, and the success with 
which he has carried out various important trials 
and experiments in plant and fruit culture have 
inspired confidence on every hand. 
His treatises on the Vine and the Apple are standard 
works of reference; his integrity and loyalty to the 
trust reposed in him, his amiability of disposition 
and readiness at all times to impart information have 
endeared him to the horticultural world generally; 
whilst his capacities for organising and carrying out 
to a successful issue numerous great exhibitions have 
secured for him general admiration. As the honorary 
secretary of the Royal Gardeners’ Orphan Fund 
from its beginning in 1887, he has largely contributed 
to the success of that valuable institution. 
The committee therefore confidently appeal for 
subscriptions towards a fund for presenting Mr. 
Barron with some tangible mark of gratitude and 
esteem. In so doing the committee earnestly desire 
that all gardeners and lovers of their gardens shall 
have an opportunity, according to their means, of 
participating in a suitable acknowledgment of the 
life-long public services of one of the most worthy 
and eminent of British gardeners. The committee 
request that all communications with reference to 
the testimonial be addressed to Mr. Wynne, 1, 
Danes Inn, Strand, W.C., by whom subscriptions 
will be received and acknowledged. 
-■ » - ■ ■ ■ 
MONTBRETIAS. 
For many years M. Pottsii and later M. crocosmiae- 
flora were about the only varieties of Montbretia to 
be met with in most gardens. Now, however, two 
dozen or more varieties can be had, some of them 
really fine acquisitions to this much-admired class of 
hardy bulbous plants. 
M. crocosmiaeflora, fl. pi., is the only double 
variety I know, and is quite as free and robust as 
the single form, and will soon find its way into every 
collection. Amongst singles the following varieties 
are very fine, namely : Auricula, dark yellow, with 
faint auricula eye; Aurora, orange-yellow, extra 
large; Drap d’Or, chrome-yellow ; Elegans, bright 
yellow; Etoile de Feu, vermilion, with yellow throat; 
Fiery Star, brilliant vermilion ; Meteor, blood-red, 
with yellow centre ; Pyramidalis, salmon-apricot, a 
charming variety ; Rosea, a lovely shade of rose, 
distinct and fine; and Soleil Couchant; the latter is 
a beautiful golden-yellow, free and fine form, and is 
also dwarf in habit. Transcendant, orange-ver¬ 
milion, with yellow throat, is also a very telling 
variety. Many more might be named, but those are 
the cream of the varieties that I have as yet seen. 
Many fine clumps were ruined last winter all over 
the country. Although in a sense hardy in most 
districts, they should have some slight protection in 
severe weather; and on no account should the 
withered foliage be cut off until spring. This is the 
protection nature meant for this, as for many another 
kindred plant; and if shorn of their locks on the 
plea of tidiness, we must not be surprised if they 
succumb, as in many instances they do, in the case 
of a protracted frost. 
I always make a practice of lifting a few good 
bulbs of each variety in the end of the present 
month, potting them as soon as lifted, and storing 
them under the stage of a cool house, or cold frame, 
until spring. Once they start in spring they are 
placed as near the glass as possible, with plenty of 
air on all favourable occasions. These make strong 
plants by the end of April, when they can be planted 
wherever wanted, and will come into flower a month 
earlier than those left in the ground all the winter. 
Some may ridicule all this trouble, but the Mont- 
bretias are most worthy of it ; and more especially 
are they seen to advantage when planted in beds 
with a groundwork of Violas or other dwarf bedding 
plants. Also are they valued in a cut state, standing 
as they do so fresh for a long time. For competition 
purposes they are hard to beat, and are generally 
found in all prize stands at the autumn shows. A 
good white variety would be a welcome addition, 
but I have no doubt that also will come in time.— 
Coila. 
-- 
MESSRS. W. CUTBUSH & SON, 
HIGHGATE NURSERIES. 
If living upon the top of a hill carries with it any 
special advantages of light and air, Messrs. W. 
Cutbush & Son enjoy those blessings to the full; 
for their nurseries at Highgate are situated on the 
very top of the famous hill of which so much has 
been said from time to time. A quaint old place is 
the nursery itself, being, in fact, a miniature topo¬ 
graphical reproduction of the surroundings, full of 
hilly paths and winding walks, and yet with not a 
corner or a square foot of ground uuoccupied and 
with the hum of business resounding from each and 
every part of it. A great deal of plant furnishing is 
done by the firm, and the greater part of the glass 
houses at the Highgate Nurseries are devoted to the 
accommodation of the necessary material. In the 
larger houses we find some very fine specimens of 
Palms in large pots and tubs, which are trotted out 
pretty frequently to adorn the festive scene at various 
social functions. Of smaller plants thousands are 
grown, and find a ready sale, especially the hardier 
constitutioned Kentias, such as K. australis, K. 
fosteriana, and K. belmoreana. Stove plants also 
receive a good deal of attention ; those ever-popular 
subjects, the Dracaenas, occupying a prominent 
position, several roomy houses being filled with 
strong young plants of D. terminalis, D. Frederickii, 
D. Cantrellii, D. pendula, and D. Lindeni. Orchids 
are grown in considerable quantities in order to meet 
the demands for cut flowers, and Odontoglossums, 
Coelogynes, etc., looked well and healthy when we 
saw them. 
In one low pit a splendid batch of shapely plants 
of Camellias of different varieties arrested our atten¬ 
tion. They were only young plants- in 5 and 6-in. 
pots, but they exhibited a vigour of growth and a 
symmetry of shape most praiseworthy. Ornamental 
as we found the dark green glossy leaves, however, 
the crop of flower buds borne by the plants adduced 
convincing evidence that by-and-bye they would be 
yet more showy and worthy of notice. Our guide 
informed us that although the list of varieties grown 
was a fairly long one, public opinion declared in 
favour of but a comparative few. Of these Alba 
Plena, Princess Clothilde, Alba Fimbriata, Auguste 
Delfosse, Donckelaarii, and Reine des Fleurs are a 
few of the most noteworthy. 
Passing through the houses into the nursery 
grounds we found on every hand trees and shrubs of 
all sorts and sizes, in the successful treatment of 
which Messrs. W. Cutbush & Son have acquired a 
great reputation. The collection of Ivies is in itself a 
most important feature, and as the period when their 
planting in suitable positions may be conducted is 
at hand, a few remarks upon what appeared to us to 
be particularly fine varieties may be of some service 
to those who want climbing plants of good constitu¬ 
tion that possess a presentable appearance during 
the whole of the year. Ivies of various kinds can 
be used for such a number of purposes, as for 
instance covering iron railings, training over arbours, 
clothing walls, etc., and thanks to our nurserymen 
we have now a wonderful amount of variation in 
the cutting of the leaves, whilst the coloured and 
variegated sorts are extremely pretty and useful, 
that the wonder is that they are not even greater 
favourites than they are. Messrs. Cutbush & Son find 
that Hedera Helix canariensis, H. H. dentata, and 
H. H. caenwoodiana command the readiest sale. 
The last-mentioned variety comes very close to H. 
H. digitata, and it is very difficult to distinguish 
between them, for the cutting of the leaves, as well 
as the habit of the plants, are well-nigh, if not quite, 
identical. H. H. dentata is indeed a noble plant, 
of robust constitution, quick growth, and large hand¬ 
some leaves, which are occasionally distinctly 
toothed. Mention must also he made of H. H. 
palmata aurea, which is, however, seen at its best 
when the growths are in an early stage, for then the 
golden patches of colouring which light up the 
sombre hue of the leaves are most apparent. As the 
tissues of the young leaves harden with age the 
colouring becomes less vivid and striking. Some of 
the smaller-growing variegated varieties form exceed- 
ingly pretty basket plants, whilst for window boxes 
they are especially suitable, and look wonderfully 
nice when allowed to droop over the edge of the box 
and grow as they please. H. H. donerailensis, H. 
H. marginata minor, H. H. lucida, and H.H. luteola 
may be cited as some of the best for the purpose. 
--f*- 
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM 
SOCIETY. 
We are informed that the National Chrysanthemum 
Society, which was founded in the year 1846 at 
Stoke Newington, will, in the autumn of the ensuing 
year, have completed the fiftieth year of its exist¬ 
ence, and that arrangements are now in course of 
preparation to celebrate its jubilee in the month of 
November, 1896. 
The jubilee celebration will take the form of— 
!•—An immense exhibition of Chrysanthemums in 
London in 1896, in which all types of the flower will 
be fully represented, and which will extend over 
four days, with an entire reconstruction of the exhibi¬ 
tion on the third day. 
2.—A grand opening ceremony and private view at 
noon on the first day. 
3 -—A. conference of Chrysanthemum growers and 
raisers from all parts of the world. 
4.—A jubilee banquet at the Hotel Metropole and 
other festive gatherings. 
5-—The striking of jubilee medals of value for 
competition, and for rewarding such persons as have 
rendered conspicuous services in promoting the 
advancement, cultivation, and improvement of the 
Chrysanthemum. 
6.—The preparation and publication of an exhaus¬ 
tive jubilee catalogue of Chrysanthemums with the 
most complete classification. 
1 » 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Peas.— In many gardens the old practice of sowing 
Peas in October and November with a view to an 
early crop still exists, but it is generally admitted 
that there is practically no gain resulting from it, and 
that a surer, and equally as early a crop can be 
obtained by sowing in spring. However, old 
systems die hard and this is one of them ; but where 
it is still carried out, a warm south border for pre¬ 
ference should be selected and one with a fairly dry 
subsoil. The border should be trenched if possible 
and well manured. The trenching will ensure dry¬ 
ness, which is one of the most important points to 
consider at this period, otherwise the seed may rot 
through an excess of moisture. The rows should be 
drawn in the usual manner abouf 3 in deep and the 
seed sown fairly thick, so as to allow for any failures 
and unless the natural soil is very light I would 
recommend the use of wood-ashes for covering the 
seed It will be further next to useless to sow any 
but the round-seeded varieties at'this date, as with¬ 
out doubt they stand the damp and cold best, and if 
asked to name the best variety I should unhesita¬ 
tingly say Sutton's Ringleader, although many 
others are close behind, including William I. 
Broad Beans.— It is perhaps more customary to 
sow Broad Beans in the autumn than Peas as they 
are more hardy, but many blanks are noticeable 
here also, even after a favourable winter. One of the 
best plans is to sow thickly now on a warm border, 
and transplant them into lines in the spring. They 
transplant easily, more especially if a little care be 
exercised in lifting them. The old Mazagan is one 
of the hardiest and earliest of all; but many others 
of the long-podded section are good. 
The trenching of all vacant spaces as time allows 
will now have to be considered, as at no other time 
can this operation be more serviceably performed, 
and it also allows a long season for the soil to 
become thoroughly pulverised. Before proceeding 
it will be well to take into consideration and fix on 
what crops are to follow, so as the proper nourish¬ 
ments, in the form of stable or cow or any other 
