238 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 14, 1895. 
sounding nams is one of the most popular. It is 
indeed a gem, and, with its golden-hued terminal 
branchlets contrasting with the dark green hue of 
the feathery lower ones, is exceedingly attractive. 
Some of the Junipers also do well for planting in 
towns, and we noticed some wonderfully symmetrical 
examples, about four feet in height, of J. virginiana. 
Breadths of Yews of all kinds, and silver and golden 
variegated Hollies likewise abounded, whilst of the 
golden Euonymuses there were large numbers of 
fine plants. 
Ivies may be classed amongst the most valuable 
of our hardy climbing subjects, and that they are 
great favourites with the general public is evidenced 
by the large stock of them that is to be seen at 
Wandsworth. Upwards of thirty distinct kinds are 
grown, amongst which may be found plants suitable 
for covering fences and walls, trailing over arbours 
or for planting underneath the shade of Elm and 
other trees where grass will not grow. Other 
climbers in which a large trade is carried on, are 
Ampelopsis hederacea and A. Veitchii, Clematises 
in great variety, and Passiflora caerulea. The last- 
mentioned plant passes through the winters very well 
in sheltered positions outside in the southern counties, 
and growing so quickly it soon covers a large space 
of wall with the rich dark hue of its foliage. 
Amongst deciduous trees there is, this season, an 
unprecedented run on Planes. In fact, although we 
were informed that Mr. Neal has fully 100,000 trees 
of various sizes in stock they were practically all of 
them sold, or they would be sold in the course of 
the next day in the execution of orders that were 
already in hand. As a smoke-resisting subject the 
Plane has very few equals, and certainly none that 
surpasses it in general suitability for town planting. 
We also noticed some fine batches of Thorns of 
various kinds, and were told that the variety known 
as Paul’s Double Scarlet found the readiest sale of 
any, especially for planting in shrubberies in small 
villa gardens. 
The Glass Houses. 
After a most interesting ramble among the trees and 
shrubs, we turned our attention towards the glass 
houses which lie in a sheltered part of the nursery 
close to the main road. These erections are of the 
character which experience has declared most suit¬ 
able for nurserymen’s and market growers’ require¬ 
ments— viz., span-roofed in shape, and in length about 
a hundred feet by some twelve in width. In the 
season a vast amount of bedding plants are turned 
out, fully 50,000 zonal Pelargoniums alone finding 
their way into various gentlemen’s gardens and 
public parks. A large proportion of the under-glass 
space is therefore occupied with these during the 
winter months. The plants are kept rather warmer 
than we usually find them, in order to get them to 
break into growth, for propagation has to be com¬ 
menced early, and, indeed, at the period of our visit 
the tops had been taken off a large number of the 
plants and inserted as cuttings. A little farther on 
we were struck with some grand samples of Erica 
hyemalis in large thirty-two pots. Mr. Best, the 
foreman in charge of the glass department is cele¬ 
brated for his skill as grower of Ericas and other 
hard-wooded plants. This was still further ex¬ 
emplified by the presence of a splendid little batch of 
the showy Cytisus (Genista) racemosus. Some of 
these in forty-eight pots, were dwarf little bushes 
just suitable for the window of the cottage or the 
villa, whilst others had been trimmed up to form 
almost spherical heads upon stout stems varying 
from a foot to eighteen inches in height. 
Stove plants possessing any market value are also 
done well, Dracaena congesta appearing a special 
favourite. Such Palms as Howea (Kentia) 
belmoreana, H. australis, Livistona chinensis 
(Latania borbonica), and Cocos weddeliana are sure 
to find a place in a market establishment, and this 
one is no exception to the rule. Ferns of many 
kinds are likewise accommodated, and we noticed 
Adiantum farleyense doing exceedingly well. 
Bouvardias are another special feature, and although 
many of the plants had been despoiled of their 
flower trusses, sufficient yet remained to give us an 
idea of their quality. Alfred Neuner, President 
Cleveland, Priory Beauty, and President Garfield 
are thought most highly of. 
We must not close our notes without due reference 
to the large number of pillar and climbing Roses 
sent out from these nurseries. Grafting has been 
vigorously conducted for some weeks'past, and the 
union between stock and scion is already com¬ 
mencing. The greatest demand is usually 
experienced for Gloire de Dijon, W. A. Richardson 
and Marechal Niel—in itself a sufficient testimony to 
the proud position these varieties hold in the lists of 
the Queen of Flowers. 
---> I«-- 
AT THE AQUARIUM. 
I went to see the curly Mums, 
All dressed in latest fashion; 
The “ bloomer ” section stuck on wheels, 
By Jove, was quite a caution ! 
The stately Japs, had ribboned caps 
And Piccadilly fringes; 
Their frizzly, crimplfed locks were stained 
In endless, nameless tinges. 
Here some were sleek as woman’s tongue, 
And some had need of shaving ; 
Full-bottomed periwigs like mops 
Just set the missus raving. 
“ Come, Jarge,” she said, “ and do the show 
Like some big-wigged official; 
I want this Jap.; that incurved there 
Is good as artificial. 
I’ll spell the names, you write them down.” 
At that she cut a caper, 
And nudged my ribs to help my head 
To put them all on paper.— Jarge. 
- 
NOTES ON PHLOXES. 
Amongst early Phloxes, Lady Napier still continues 
to hold its own as the best pure white variety that 
I have as yet come across. It is a pure white self 
of splendid form, and is also very fragrant, which is 
a special point in its favour. It is a variety that 
has been much sought after, and I fancy will be for 
many years to come. I do not know whether the 
early Phlox has fallen into disrepute or not, as our 
florist friends do not seem to give us so many new 
things in this line as they do in the later varieties. 
They are certainly not so robust in constitution as the 
latter, but being earlier in coming into flower, should 
count for something, prolonging, as it does, their 
season to a very considerable extent. 
Of whites, with rosy-pink, rosy-crimson, and lilac 
eyes, we have no end, many of them being much 
alike in flower, though slightly different in habit. 
Mrs. Hunter, pure white, with bright crimson eye, is 
an old, well-known variety, but still one of the best 
for all purposes. Mrs. Greenlees is white, with a 
well-defined lilac eye, and has a vigorous constitu¬ 
tion. Mrs. Calder is a delicate white, with lilac eye, 
and of dwarf habit. Mrs. Dr. Fraser, pure white, 
with large rosy-pink eye, is also a useful variety. 
Mrs. Lingard is a tall growing variety, not unlike a 
late Phlox in habit; it has white flowers, with neat 
lilac eye, thickly set on handsome pyramidal spikes ; 
it is very free and constant. Penge is aclear silvery- 
white, with rose-pink eye, of fine form, and is dis¬ 
tinct and attractive, and a good grower. Many more 
might be added, such as Miss Mima, Mrs. J. Hope, 
Mrs James Ross, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Brunton, 
Mrs. Watt, etc., all more or less in the same line 
as the foregoing, and pretty well distributed over the 
country. 
Of late varieties we have many good white seifs. 
In Amazon, a creamy-white, we have a variety of 
the first water ; it is semi-dwarf in habit, with evenly 
shaped pyramidal spikes of perfect flowers, which 
look well in a mass in beds on the lawn, in clumps 
in the mixed border, or as single specimens, in all of 
which positions it well maintains its high reputation. 
Diadem is pure white, with large flowers, thickly set, 
on compact, sturdy spikes. It is very dwarf in 
habit, and useful for bedding purposes. Sylphide is 
also a superior variety, with snow-white flowers of 
good size, and of finest form ; it is branching in 
habit, free, and of medium height, and when better 
known will be much in demand where white flowers 
are appreciated. Of older varieties, Jeanne d’Arc, 
Laura, Purete, and Purest of All are much about 
the same height and colour, though varying a little in 
style and formation. Their special feature is in being 
dwarf and free-flowering. Many are discarding 
their tall, lanky whites for those varieties that do not 
need stakes. To such I can confidently recommend 
the above-mentioned as being all that can be desired, 
and quite the cream of the present-day dwarf 
varieties, which are now justly becoming so 
popular. —Coila. 
PEOPLE I HAVE MET AT THE 
SMITHFIELD SHOW. 
From a horticultural standpoint the annual show of 
the Smithfield Club at Islington is not devoid of 
interest to the visitor on gardening bent, and the 
relationship between agriculture and horticulture is 
not so distant but that some effort might surely be 
made at some time or other to extend and develop a 
joint exhibition at this winter meeting of the Smith- 
field Club. 
Of special interest, of course, is Messrs. Sutton’s 
magnificent exhibit of roots, seeds, and grasses— 
notably Crimson Tankard, Golden Tankard, Inter¬ 
mediate and Mammoth Mangold. In the Swede 
section are Champion, Crimson King, and Magnum 
Bonum, whilst the Carrots are prodigious in 
specimens of Grant White, Belgian, and the new 
Red Intermediate, a favourite already at many of the 
horticultural shows. The collection fitly sustains 
the high reputation of the firm. At the extreme 
end of the Gallery is an exhibit of more than 
passing interest to the horticulturist, although 
equally so, nowadays, to the farmer; we refer to 
the comprehensive exhibit of Potatos shown by 
Mr. C. Fidler, of Reading. Over sixty varieties are 
staged, all of remarkably fine quality, while a large 
heap of specimens of Fidler’s Colossal fully deserve 
the name they bear. Messrs. Jarman & Co., Limited, 
of Chard, make an effective display of farm seeds, 
roots, and fruit trees ; their golden Chevalier Barley 
of wonderfully prolific type has a great field before it. 
An exhibit of flax worked for spinning by the agricul¬ 
tural labourer opens up an industry apparently not 
much worked in this island, though in Ireland it is 
one of the main crops. 
In the East Gallery, Messrs. Harrison & Sons, 
of the Royal Midland Seed Establishment, 
Leicester, make an extensive exhibit. Peas being a 
strong point, the large agricultural and market 
gardening demand for this particular branch beirg 
well looked after by Messrs. Harrison. The chief 
varieties are Harrison’s Glory, Ameer, Duke of 
Albany and Exhibition Marrow. In Potatos there 
are Satisfaction and The Drone (recommended as a 
good second early). St. Valery Carrot and 
Harrison’s Selected Intermediate are good types, 
and the Onion section is also a big department. A 
choice Beet is the variety Cheltenham Greenleaf, 
evidently a good and useful sort, with large shoulder, 
of a dark-red colour, and warranted not to bleed. 
This, with other specialities, W as exhibited by Mr 
Alex. Blatchford, of Coventry. Messrs. Carter, 
High Holborn, exhibit in their usual comprehensive 
form. Here again we saw Peas in variety, First 
crop, Fortyfold, and Carter's Lightning. The 
Snowdrop Potato and Holborn Abundance are 
good things in their department, whilst some 
giant specimens in Carter's Bruce Potato are 
also noticeable. In Swedes the now familiar 
Carter's Elephant is a promising centrepiece, some 
scores of well-finished specimens being shown. Kohl 
Rabi is also an interesting section. In Barleys 
Messrs. Carter also show a splendid sheaf between 
five and six feet high. Messrs. Kennedy & Co., 
Nurserymen and Seed Merchants, of Dumfries, 
exhibit roots, grasses, and some small Coniferae. 
Messrs. Webb & Sons, Stourbridge, have a choice 
and well-finished stand in the South Gallery, extensive 
and replete with the high-class seeds and roots for 
which they are famous. Their leading varieties are 
so well known as to scarcely need comment. Suffice 
it to say that their contribution to the show was 
fully on a par with the customary excellence of their 
exhibits. Mr. W. Horne, Perry Hill, Cliffe, 
Rochester, shows fruit trees and specimens dressed 
with his well-known specific for prevention of the 
ravages by moth. 
Messrs. Dickson, of Chester, Seed Growers, 
Nurserymen, &c., by special appointment to H.M. 
The Queen, and to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, 
have a neat interesting stand, No. 85 in the Gallery, 
This firm has long made the laying down of land 
to permanent pasture a special feature of their 
business, and have on their stand specimens of 
the various grasses best adapted for this purpose. 
Root crop seeds, such as Swede, Turnip and 
Mangold also engage their special attention. A 
prominent display is made on the outside of the 
stand of a collection of Apples gathered from young 
bearing trees in the fruit quarters of their nurseries, 
the extent of which is 450 acres. Their hardy forest 
