December ?, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
225 
good basket plant; but it will also climb as well as 
ramble; and, as a pot plant trained over a trellis, 
was so exhibited at the late Richmond Summer 
Show, 
The occasion of this note, however, is due to Mr. 
Cox, The Gardens, The Haven, Ealing, who brought 
some foliage and fruits of this curious plant to a 
recent meeting of the Ealing Gardeners' Society.— 
C.B.G., Acton, IV. 
--*>- 
IN VIEW OF THE PENTLANDS. 
One of the very oldest-established nurseries in 
Scotland, dating back to 1848 is that of Messrs. R. 
B. Laird & Sons. In the year mentioned the firm 
was founded by the late Mr. Downie and Mr. R. B. 
Laird whose decease was only recently chronicled. 
The firm afterwards developed to a threefold title, 
and the historic business became that of Messrs. 
scientific drainage, has been reclaimed and brought 
into successful cultivation on similar lines as in the 
Fen district of the eastern English counties. The 
old parish records of Corstorphine to this day contain 
particulars of the line of lights which at one time 
existed across the morass to guide the benighted 
traveller to a firmer footing on the hills. 
On the site of the old nursery there is an extensive 
range of twelve greenhouses, devoted principally to 
Palms (which are a big item with the firm), Chry¬ 
santhemums, pot vines, and, in their proper season, 
Dahlias are propagated in their thousands; whilst 
Callas, Roses, and florist's flowers generally, are culti¬ 
vated on a very large scale. Roses are grown largely 
for private trade purposes. There is a fine house of 
Clivias flowering in spring—a great Continental 
plant, which may often be seen in use very 
largely at the Continental flower shows. There are 
all the best named varieties here, in addition to 
shaped glass case constructed inside the house itself. 
Cuttings are there encased and struck, afterwards 
being potted off, and the same plan, with the simple 
expedient referred to, has been in use in the same 
way for a matter of forty years. 
Here, also, we have an extensive house devoted to 
Chrysanthemums. The collection is one of a general 
character, containing all up-to-date varieties. We 
confess to some feeling of relief, and certainly it is 
rather refreshing to know that here, at least, we have 
no unnamed seedlings to struggle with—Messrs. 
Laird contenting themselves with the varieties of 
the best raisers—and the good form in which the 
"’Mums" are shown is sufficient evidence that 
Messrs. Laird are capable of producing some 
excellent things in the way of specimen blooms, and 
also in decorative varieties. The latter are located 
in another house of more recent construction, 120 ft. 
long by 30 ft., devoted principally to the decorative 
Downie, Laird and Laing. It was not until 1882 
that the present proprietorship assumed complete 
control—the late Mr. Laird remaining in the 
business and associating with himself his two sons, 
Mr. D. P. Laird and Mr. R. Laird, whose photos are 
already familiar to our readers. 
Formerly the nursery grounds were divided into 
three sections—namely, Pinkhill, Beechwood Mains 
and Meadow Bank; but in view of the very large 
development that has taken place in the parent 
nurseries, the whole of the extensive grounds 
are now grouped under the one comprehen¬ 
sive title of Pinkhill. The original nurseries lie to 
the north of the Glasgow main road, on a gentle 
incline with a southerly aspect, sheltered by Corstor¬ 
phine Hill, and looking away to the Pentland Hills, 
and the open country in the west—across thousands 
of acres of the finest arable land in Scotland. 
Originally the valley was a morass which, with 
which Messrs. Laird have raised several batches 01 
seedlings, and a special feature has been made by 
them of Clivias at Edinburgh spring show. The fine 
leathery foliage gives the plant an appearance of 
healthy substance, while as a house plant it is 
distinctly good. 
A house of Stephanotis, giving promise of 
thousands of trusses, is an interesting section. 
Palms are strongly in evidence in the next house, 
and the visitor is struck with the extensive character 
of the nursery in regard to this species of plant life. 
Specially worthy of mention is Areca sapida, the 
New Zealand Kentia, believed to be the only Palm 
imported from that colony. In habit it is said not to 
be a rapid grower into marketable condition, but 
although of comparatively slow growth it is a useful 
importation. In another house there is ample 
accommodation for the propagation of Dahlias, and 
here we find a relic of the old days in the curiously- 
sorts, including a huge regiment of Elaine. Soeur 
Melanie is a sort not often met with. As an old variety 
“ it has done the State some service,” but it is still with 
us as a good little decorative variety. Then we have 
for late work Blonde Beauty, very useful in its way, 
whilst the centre section of the house is flanked with 
large batches of the yellow Lady Selborne. 
Here also we have some large, specimen green¬ 
house Rhododendrons and Camellias, and Messrs. 
Laird are evidently in the belief that the latter flower 
will again some day regain its popularity. They are 
retaining their old stock, some of the specimens 
being exceptionally large, and when history repeats 
itself and the demand for Camellias once more recurs, 
our friends will be in an excellent position to cater 
for the desires of an ever-changing public. Over¬ 
head we have Roses, all of lovely appearance, so that 
every available inch of space is made use of. 
The next house is relegated to Kentias of the 
