226 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 7, 1895. 
ordinary varieties, all of very healthy and robust 
appearance. Yet another house is devoted to Ivies. 
Hedera madeirensis variegata, one of the sorts raised 
by the late Mr. Robert Osborne, of Fulham, is 
considered to be the best by a long way as a 
decorative Ivy. In this house we also see thousands 
of Begonias at rest for the season, and the seed crop 
of this class of plants has this year been an excellent 
one. 
Following the houses in consecutive order we find 
Latania borbonica, Phoenix rupicola and Eucharis, 
with the foliage wonderfully rich, and in colour 
excellent. The next house contains seedling Amaryllis 
with the parent stock at rest. Grown in moderate 
heat there is usually splendid material here which 
Messrs. Laird customarily draw upon largely for 
the spring show in the Waverley Market. Here 
also we find Palms in embryo. Another house is 
devoted to a separate branch of the Palm family, 
the variety more largely grown being Seaforthia 
elegans. Outside there are extensive frames utilised 
for Alpine and herbaceous plants grown in their 
thousands, whilst in the houses beyond we find an 
excellent collection of stage Auriculas — named 
varieties—a collection such as one rarely meets with 
except perhaps at Slough Close by we have a 
house of the Rose Niphetos and wonderfully flowering 
zonal Pelargoniums which form a considerable item 
in the cut flower department ; and in the same house 
we find huge quantities of the pot roots of Dahlias 
in readiness for spring delivery, many growers pre¬ 
ferring these to the roots lifted from the ground, and 
sent out somewhat later in the season. 
Outdoors there is a handsome brake of seedling 
Larch ; although the forest tree department is con¬ 
fined mainly to the nursery of Beechwood Mains, 
some few varieties are always grown here in this 
sheltered spot as a reserve stock in case of failure 
from the frost, or otherwise, of the big plantations 
away in the valley. Dahlias for exhibition purposes 
are largely grown in season, and there is also an 
extensive assortment of Conifers. In the older 
portion of the nursery are situated the bothie^; and 
an interesting relic of the past is the “ auld hoose 
at hame ” with its old associations and interesting 
history. 
Having thus pretty well exhausted our survey of 
the Pinkhill Nursery pert, we proceed across the way 
to the handsome modern additions which have been 
erected and which now make the Pinkhill Nursery 
one of the best developed and fully equipped 
establishments in the kingdom. This has largely 
come about owing to the encroachments of the 
builder in the Haymarket district of Edinburgh, 
where the winter garden was formerly situated. 
The main portion of the glass previously there has 
been removed to Pinkhill, and, with considerable 
additions, now forms an imposing range of glass on 
the south side of the main road, having'a frontage of 
over 200ft Coming from the direction of Edinburgh 
we reach the commercial offices of the firm, now in 
course of reconstruction in the old baronial style of 
architecture. Some few months ago the office was 
destroyed by fire, but fortunately the disaster was 
confined to the building itself and did not appreciably 
affect the glass-houses adjoining. 
The new erection, when complete, will be a very 
handsome and excellently-fitted department, indica¬ 
tive of the high standard which this firm has 
Attained in the ^history of the world’s commercial 
successes. Issuing from the offices through French 
windows, w» enter a moderately warm house, con¬ 
taining principally decorative plants. On the right 
is a fine block of Bamboos (Bambusa falcatavar), 
denoting the popularity of the Bamboo, the graceful 
character of which makes it one of the most desir¬ 
able novelties in house decoration. Coloured 
Dracaenas in great variety, and Ficus elastica 
variegata in handsome forms are also very well 
done. Aralia Sieboldii variegata is a very beautiful 
specimen of its kind. The same may be said of 
Aspidistra lurida variegata. The Ophiopogon is 
well known in the London trade as being amongst 
the hardiest and most useful of decorative plants. 
Here we notice a form not often met with, O.spicata, 
which is dwarfer in growth and has rather more of 
the silvery character than the familiar golden 
foliage. 
Proceeding, we enter the main house, which is a 
show conservatory of very handsome proportions, 
with lantern roof and gabled entrance. Of ample 
dimensions (30 ft. by 50 ft.), it fronts the main road 
leading from Edinburgh to Glasgow. On either side 
of the doorway are graceful Palms, and the stages 
are replete with all that is choice and in season in 
the way of flowering plants, such as Ericas and 
Solanums, beautifully berried. Salvia splendens, of 
petite and chaste appearance, provides a really 
beautiful scarlet, and being of such easy growth it 
seems surprising that it is not more frequently met 
with. The familiar Lilium Harrisii is here, and 
Camellias are again in evidence in the centre of the 
house, banked up with Chrysanthemums, Dracaenas, 
and Sweet Bays, the effect produced being one of 
striking character, and the whole forming a flower 
show on its own account. Mention should be made 
of a very choice subject in Juniperus bermudiensis, 
which to all appearance has the making of a useful 
hardy decorative plant, graceful in character, with a 
wealth of green foliage, and, judging from the stock 
which Messrs. Laird are propagating, they intend 
that it should take a prominent place. 
The house is conveniently furnished with garden 
seats, andon theoccasion of our visit formed a rendez¬ 
vous of many eminent horticulturists,both from a dis¬ 
tance and from the immediate neighbourhood. 
Noticeable also on one of the side stages was a 
collection of Cannas, which, although the season is 
so far advanced, were still flowering, and thoroughly 
deserved all that has been said and written about 
this class in recent times. Some of the best sorts 
of winter flowering Carnations are grouped 
around the door which leads us to the third building, 
named the " New Holland House.” In the present 
day this section of nursery work is neglected more 
often than not. It is seldom any nurseryman pretends 
to keep a few—far less a collection. Here we have 
them in variety, and this house particularly is not 
the least interesting one of those we have already ia- 
spected and that still remain to be visited. 
Beneath the flooring of the range of houses just 
mentioned—the floor being constructed of hung 
concrete—are situated the stabling and some of fehe 
packing rooms, of which more may be said pre¬ 
sently. Descending by a flight of steps to a lower 
level we enter upon an inspection of another eight 
houses, of which we have only room to make brief 
mention. The first is the Pelargonium house, partly 
tenanted by Indian Azaleas at the moment of our 
visit. Next we come to an elevated, span-roofed 
Palm house, possessing all the essentials of a beau- 
ideal home for these graceful and handsome speci¬ 
mens. Heat, shade, and moisture—-these are three 
essential conditions necessary in Palm cultivation, 
and from the really magnificent appearance of the 
specimens before us the house fully carries out the 
intention of the designer. 
Palms are grown in several of the other houses, but 
here is the parent collection, suitably grouped for 
public inspection, the house measuring45 ft. by 60ft., 
and it is here that we see the why and wherefore of 
many of the rare and beautiful Palms already viewed 
at shows in the Waverley Market. Indeed, we imagine 
that so familiar must the plants have become to the 
venue of the Edinburgh shows that in case of necessity 
they might almost be trusted to find the way there 
themselves. 
Again we arrive at a range of 50 ft. houses, six in 
number, the first of which is the propagating pit, 
where we see in their babyhood a collection of the 
various plants already mentioned. Number two is 
an intermediate house. In passing, we notice a very 
useful variety of bedding plants likely to be in re¬ 
quest. Abutilon Souvenir de Bonn is a beautiful 
decorative variety of rapid growth with charmingly 
variegated foliage, and a broad margin of white to 
the leaves. The third house is a general stove. 
Here are Crotons in variety, looking grand ; and a 
nice batch of the recentlj'-introduced Golden Ring 
is an exquisite picture, the variety being probably 
one of the very best of the new ones. Amongst the 
Dracaenas, it is well known that Messrs Laird raised 
and distributed the best varieties of the narrow¬ 
leaved section. Mrs. D. P. Laird, Miss Glendinning 
and Princess May are the names of some of the 
choicest. For some years this department was 
under the care of a pupil of the late Mr. C. F. Bause, 
and the successful way in which he raised them is in 
evidence to-day. The same grower, en passant, is the 
raiser of the new Chrysanthemum Philadelphia. 
Some of the Palms in this house are scarce, and 
indeed rare, including Phoenix Roebellini, Kentia 
fosteriana and Ptychoraphis augusta. Another is 
Ceroxylon niveum, of peculiar appearance; but 
there is a strong character and elegance about them 
all that commands the admiration of even the most 
casual visitor. The next house is filled with green¬ 
house Ferns, comprising all the species that we could 
wish to see ; the upper part of the walls are lined 
with Booty’s Tiles—of Harrogate—clad with a 
mantle of green that is pretty as it is uncommon. 
It is a little surprising that more of these are not 
met with elsewhere, seeing that it is such a simple 
yet effective method of greenhouse decoration. 
House No. 5 is used as a Begonia house in summer, 
but is now filled with Cyclamen, Bouvardias, 
Cinerarias and Marguerites, all of a healthy 
appearance and in excellent order ; whilst in the 
sixth house we meet with an excellent collection of 
exotic Ferns. Here is a batch of Coelogyne cristata, 
a variety of considerable use wherever there is a de¬ 
mand for choice winter flowers. Adiantum 
cuneatum is in fine form. A pretty new one of 
bold character is Asplenium marginatum, with large, 
bold, yet delicately green foliage. Another large 
house, corresponding in size to the Palm house re¬ 
ferred to above, contains large specimen Azaleas, tree 
Ferns, greenhouse Rhododendrons, Lapagerias, and 
a large selection of greenhouse climbers in choice 
variety. 
In all there is a matter of sixty or seventy acres of 
these nurseries with a large staff of men regularly 
occupied. Beyond the houses is the ground devoted 
to the fruit tree department; and still further beyond 
can be discerned in the fast-fading light the big plan¬ 
tation of forest trees which really deserve a chapter 
to themselves. However, space and time forbid. 
Beneath the main range of the houses fronting the 
roadway are situated the joiner’s shops and some of 
the packing rooms, replete with all the con¬ 
veniences for carrying out and dispatching the daily 
orders. There are also additional packing sheds on 
the other side of the nursery with loading banks of 
special construction, whilst cut flowers and bouquet 
rooms offer a delightful and refreshing sight. 
Stables, cart-sheds, cottages for the workmen and so 
forth, all indicate the development which Messrs. 
Laird have reached in their business, and when we 
say that we are strongly impressed that at Pink¬ 
hill we have one of the best equipped and one 
of the best furnished establishments we remember 
to have seen, we shall be doing but simple 
justice to the firm, whose continued success 
is a matter which is fully assured whilst the direction 
remains in the hands of the present proprietors. We 
have to thank Mr. David P. Laird and Mr. Robert 
Laird for their extreme courtesy, and any of our 
readers who may be visiting Scotland will be assured 
of a very hearty welcome at Pinkhill, in sight of the 
Pentlands. 
-—J-- 
HYBRID BEGONIAS. 
My traducer, p. 194, is evidently very angry with me, 
but offers no excuse for his anonymous criticism, 
save and except his canting boast of meretri¬ 
cious modesty: Pshaw ! Self praise is never any 
recommendation. Personally I am fond of fireworks, 
and a few fiery scintillations now and again serve to 
amuse your readers ; it is, however, hardly wise of 
him to exhibit so much spleen, as in consequence 
some of my friends already consider his guns are 
only pop-guns after all, and that his taunts on 
monetary matters do not display good breeding; 
another said that his wit is somewhat laboured, and 
his English not of the best; "Well,” saidhe, "youknow 
the sort of English that 1 mean.” Another, more face¬ 
tious than the last, informed me that once upon a time 
a man believed himself to be the pluralis majesticus — 
judge and jury combined, and wrote of himself, " We 
are many.” When very soon the world said : “ This 
man is mad " ; whereupon I capped this story, by 
saying : “ It is written that all men are mad, it is 
only a question of degree. Ha ! ha ! ha! ” No one 
but an anonymous critic, ashamed of his proper 
name, would twist my statements as this professed 
" Lover of the Begonia ” has done, and, with a view 
of saving your valuable space, I would refer the 
reader to my previous notes at p. 126 and 180. 
So far, very-good ; now for a rattling broadside, and 
let the cannons roar, along the distant shore. The 
oldest catalogue I have is dated 1847, “of new, 
rare, and choice plants cultivated and sold by 
Lucombe, Pince & Co.," and in it several sorts of 
Begonias are offered ; the next is dated 1S59, and in 
it more Begonias are offered ; and the next, which I 
herewith beg to hand you, is not dated, but so far 
