254 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 21, 1895. 
SUTTON’S AMATEUR S GUIDE. 
We were greatly surprised last year at the excellence 
to which the art of photography had attained in re¬ 
presenting horticultural produce of all kinds. That 
excellence has again been surpassed by the numerous 
illustrations of fruits, flowers, and vegetables which 
brighten the pages of Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ 
" Amateur’s Guide in Horticulture ” for 1896 already 
to hand. A comparison between this and the 
Guide for the year about to close will show that 
many of the illustrations have been vastly improved 
in the clearness with which they have been brought 
out. The adoption of photographic illustrations 
last year in lieu of the usual coloured plates was 
compulsory, as the result of an accident through 
fire. “ It's an ill wind that blaws naebody guid,” 
and in this instance the accident in question resulted 
in showing, in an evident and forcible manner, the 
admirable way (we will not say the extent, for that 
always remains to be proved) in which horticulture 
can be aided and benefited by the art of photo¬ 
graphy. 
We cordially invite our readers to compare the 
Guides for 1895 and 1896 to determine the truth of 
what is here stated. V getables always take a lead¬ 
ing place here, and we first of all call attention to 
them. Facing p. 4 and 5 are duplicate representa¬ 
tions of the seeds of a new Dwarf Bean, Sutton’s 
Magnum Bonum, exactly natural size. We have 
seen nothing neater or more like reality than these 
representations, for we can imagine we see the depth 
of the seeds whether lying on their sides or their 
edges. The characters and markings of the pods of 
Climbing or Runner Beans are brought out with 
equal fidelity, as in the case of Peas, as mentioned 
by us in the early part of the year. Sutton’s Scarlet 
and Tender and True may be specially mentioned in 
this respect. The illustrations of Peas are well to 
the fore, there being numerous, well-executed repre¬ 
sentations of some of the finest garden Peas in 
cultivation. They should be specially valuable to 
the exhibitor in making selections of those best 
suited for the special object he has in view, so that 
here is another instance of the value of photography 
to a gardener. Potatos are more admirably brought 
out than they were last year. The dark background 
of the half-tone illustrations of last year has been 
left out, greatly to the advantage of the pictures of 
the several varieties of this most important class of 
vegetables. Ten illustrations represent as many of 
the most popular and useful varieties of Potatos 
sent out by the Reading firm. Every wrinkle and 
spot on the skin as well as the shape of the tubers 
are most admirably and clearly brought out. With 
such illustrations any description, except history and 
pedigree of the several varieties, would be super¬ 
fluous. 
Flowers also receive due consideration. Artists, 
as a rule, complain about heavy and massive 
flowers not lending themselves to artistic treatment, 
but the photographer cannot come forward with the 
plea that he is unable to deal with them after 
accomplishing such clear representations of China 
Asters as those shown on pp. 100-103 inclusive. 
The vase of Sutton’s single and double tuberous- 
rooted Begonias is a picture in itself (see previous 
page), and needs no recommendation of ours to prove 
what progress has been made by photography as an 
aid to gardening in various respects. Carnations 
are also admirably brought out, and on the other 
hand show what can be effected by the cultivator. 
The same applies to Cyclamens, so well grown at 
Reading. The photographic reproduction of Digitalis 
monstrosa will interest many gardeners and 
amateurs who are interested in Foxgloves, especially 
in connection with the bell-shaped, terminal flower. 
Gloxinias, Mignonette, Chinese Primulas, Cinerarias j 
Stocks, Sweet Peas, and other flowers are all hand¬ 
somely represented in the same way. 
-- 
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. 
Implanted deeply in the breasts of most Britons is 
a love, almost amounting to veneration, for the fair 
children of flora that, like friends, come to cheer us 
with their beauteous faces, and yet, unlike some 
friends, never get a fit of the sulks, but remain 
bright and happy till the end. Poets innumerable 
have sung of the days when we, as children, 
wandered among the fields plucking the brightly- 
hued Buttercups and Daisies, thusevincing a fondness 
for flowers as scon as we were able to show a liking 
for anything. How curious it is that this penchant 
should so cliDg to us through all our later years, and 
no matter how blase or world-worn we may become, 
we proudly fill our button-holes with the more 
delicate forms of exotics which the skilled horticul¬ 
turist has coaxed into existence. This close associ- 
tion with flowers is a marked feature of our social 
system ; for just as they are an important part of the 
programme in summer galas, junketings, and merry¬ 
makings, so in the joyous revelry of Yule Tide are 
they indispensable likewise. The immense strides 
that horticulture as a science has made of late years, 
combined with the comparative cheapness of glass 
and the efficiency of heating arrangements, has now 
made flowers as plentiful in mid-winter as they 
formerly were in mid-summer. It is enough that 
public opinion states that it is necessary to have 
plenty of flowers at this time of year; scores of 
growers throughout the country fly to obey the 
behest, and to reap their reward in coin of the 
realm. 
The name of Covent Garden is one 01 world-wide 
celebrity, for within its precincts are to be obtained 
at all seasons floral treasures without number. 
Always busy, always bustling, the excitement and 
the bustle almost reach to fever heat during the few 
days that precede the festival of the year. With a 
view to ascertaining the particular subjects most in 
demand we recently paid a visit to the market, and 
found preparations for Christmas very much in evi¬ 
dence. Bunches of Mistletoe suspended here and 
there brought to our mind pictures of many a blushing 
maiden upon whose ruby lips the ardent swain would 
press a chaste salute beneath the sanction of the 
mystic bough within the next few days. 
“ And at each pause they kiss ; was never seen such 
rule 
In any place but here, at bonfire or at Yule.” 
If the old custom is to be rigidly adhered to, and 
a berry plucked from the branch at each separate act 
of labial osculation, then should these branches be 
very valuable, for they bear a goodly sprinkling of 
berries. 
But as we pass on into the Central Avenue the 
quantities of wreaths and crosses that are there dis¬ 
played tell, alas, of friends who leave us to pass into 
the Great Unknown, even amidst the joyous revelry 
of Christmas, and whose last resting-places we 
embellish with flowers as expressive of our sympathy 
and regret. Needless to say the devices are almost 
endless, and great taste and skill have been involved 
in their elaboration. In some of the larger wreaths 
and crosses, Richardias looked exceedingly well, 
supported by waxy Camellias, Azaleas, Cyclamen, 
Tuberoses, and sprays of Lilac, whilst deftly twisted 
amongst them appeared the graceful sprays of 
Asparagus plumosus nanus, a far superior subject 
for this work than even the much-lauded Maiden-hair 
Fern. 
In many of the florists’ windows appeared models 
in an endless variety, composed of artificial flowers, 
shielded by glass cases, with a notice to the effect 
that wreaths, etc., composed of real flowers, would 
be made up at the shortest notice in any of the styles 
exhibited. Some of the “ artificials,” such as Roses 
and Primulas, were wonderfully like their real 
counterparts, but others would puzzle even 
Linnaeus himself to recognise, so unlike anything in 
heaven or earth were they. Many of the brilliantly- 
coloured varieties of Helichrysum bracteatum called 
by the French Immortelles are largely used in the 
making of floral devices of a more lasting character 
than those composed of ordinary flowers. Ever¬ 
greens, also, of various kinds, are employed in a 
like manner, for they defy frost and snow, and last 
a long lime in condition. We noticed a very pretty 
one made cf sprays of Holly, in which the red 
berries shone up bravely against the sombre hue of 
the foliage ; but, tell it not in Gath, these berries, on 
closer inspection, turned out to be nothing more nor 
less than the “ hips ” of the wild Rose. 
The cut flower trade has been fairly brisk up to 
the present, and one is astonished at the immense 
variety forthcoming. Of course, some of it is furnished 
by Continental growers, as for instance, bunches of 
Violets, both single and double, which can never be 
obtained in sufficient quantities in the gardens of our 
foggy little island during the earlier days of winter ; 
but by far the greater portion is home grown, a 
standing tribute to the skill of our numerous 
nurserymen and market growers. In addition to the 
subjects that have been mentioned, we noticed large 
quantities of the beautiful Eucharis amazonica, ever 
a favourite with all classes, but ‘ a bob a bloom” 
must be paid before they leave ihe flower-seller’s 
hands. Grand samples of the popular Lilium 
Harrisii were very conspicuous, and Bouvardias were 
everywhere. Alfred Neuner, President Garfield, 
Priory Beauty, and Jasminoides appear to be in the 
greatest demand. Lilies of the Valley, paper-white 
Narcissi, Roman Hyacinths, Roses, and Pancra- 
tiums are all to be had in abundance. Orchids, on the 
other hand, are rather scarce, and were only repre¬ 
sented by a few blooms of Cypripedium insigne, 
Cattleya labiata, Calanthe Veitchii, C. vestita, 
Odontoglossum crispum, and Dendrobium nobile. 
Mignonette, too, was only represented by a miserable- 
looking little bunch that looked as if it were scrry 
that it had put in an appearance at all. Carnations 
Miss Joliffe and Winter Cheer are real gems, and are 
to be observed in quantities everywhere; indeed, 
blooms of the former variety were being retailed for 
buttonholes at sixpence each. Chrysanthemums 
last out bravely, L. Canning being one of the very 
best late market varieties. 
Dried grasses of various species, notably Brizas 
and Agrostis nebulosa, are largely speculated in. 
The last-named subject is treated with some 
chemical or other which leaves it a bright rose 
colour that is supposed to enhance its beauty ; but 
we must confess to a sneaking preference for the 
original, without its war-paint. Gynerium, the 
Pampas Grass, is also a great favourite, although the 
longer panicles of G. saccharoides are more highly 
esteemed than the rather shorter ones of G. 
argenteum. The fron ds of Cycas revoluta, when 
dried and curled, also form very graceful and lasting 
decorative material. 
Pot Plants. 
It may be taken for granted that anything that has 
ever grown or ever will grow in a pot, finds its way 
to Covent Garden. Just now the numbers fall off 
somewhat it is true, although the demand becomes 
much brisker again a few days before Christmas. 
The hardy element, naturally', is affected but little 
by the cold weather, and Thujas, Junipers, Retino- 
sporas, Cupressus, and Box in all sizes are to 
hand, some of them just suitable for filling window 
boxes, whilst others are of considerable dimensions. 
Ferns both semi-hardy and exotic are present in 
profusion. Here, perhaps, we see batches of many 
hundreds of Pteris serrulata, P. s. nobilis, P. cretica, 
and P. c. cristata in small thumb pots, whilst there 
we come across numbers of the taller-growing Pteris 
tremula and P. argyraea. That pretty-berried 
plant, Solanum capsicastrum, is represented in its 
thousands, and perhaps nothing during the winter 
season is thought more highly of. It will readily be 
understood that the cold w eather seriously curtails the 
trade in foliage plants that need a stove temperature, 
although a few Kentias, Pandanads, etc., might be 
caught sight of in various odd corners. Aspidistras, 
however, are hardy enough to stand any ordinary 
weather with impunity ; hence their great popularity. 
It is generally admitted that hard-wooded plants in 
general and Heaths in particular, are not nearly so 
much thought of as they once were, but judging 
from the huge numbers of Erica hyemalis that are 
exposed for sale within the precincts of the market, 
there are a great many people still who are fond of 
them. As may be expected, only the best plants find 
a way to Covent Garden, for it is only just possiole 
to make well-grown plants pay, and it is an absolute 
certainty that badly-grown ones are of no use. 
E. gracilis, although not cultivated to the same 
extent as E. hyemalis is yet a very pretty plant and 
large numbers pass through the salesmen's hands 
annually. 
Potsful of forced flowers are, as may be expected, 
a prime feature of the market. Hyacinths Lilies of 
the Valley, Tulips, Crocuses, and Narcissi are all 
grown extensively, and can be obtained at a remark¬ 
ably cheap rate. Upon a large batch of plants 
of Poinsettia pulcherima, not more than 15 in in 
height, we bestowed a glance of warm admiration, 
for the brilliant scarlet bracts adorning the flower 
heads w'ere of great size and substance, and 
thoroughly convinced us that, whoever was in charge 
of the establishment that turned them out, he was at 
least well up in the treatment of this cbarmiDg 
winter Bower. 
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