706 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 4,1896. 
men gardeners and apprentices, as these would 
constitute the head gardeners of the immediate 
future. Mr. Heaton then proceeded to give short 
accounts of the life-work of eminent gardeners of the 
past. Previous to the time of the Roman Conquest 
but little attention was given to higher horticulture, 
and from that period to the seventeenth century, but 
little progress was made. Thomas Hill was one of 
the earliest, if not the earliest, writers of whom we 
have an authentic account. The manuscript of his 
work is dated a.d. 1440. A perusal of this would 
lead us to suppose that he was more theoretical 
than practical. John Gerarde, who died a.d. 1607, 
was one of the very best and most notable gardeners 
of his time. He occupied the position of gardener to 
Lord Burleigh for many years, and wrote a good deal 
of the habits and characteristics of the plants under 
his charge. George London was another ancient 
horticulturalist of note who was superintendent of 
all the Royal gardens. He had a very skilful 
assistant in Wise. Stephen Switzer, who served under 
London and Wise for some years, afterwards be¬ 
came famous himself. He it was who laid out 
Blenheim in a.d. 1706. Switzer had a great aversion 
to Scotch gardeners, and declares that they, by 
virtue of a little learning and a vast amount of im¬ 
pudence, pretend to know more after one year's 
experience than an honest hard-working Englishman 
will after seven. 
Coming down to nineteenth century gardeners, Mr. 
Heaton spoke of such well-known men as John 
Claudius Loudon, Sir Joseph Paxton, and Shirley 
Hibberd. These were grand examples for the rising 
generation of gardeners to emulate. 
The lecturer was of opinion that a manifest im¬ 
provement had taken place of late years. 
Horticultural exhibitions had become very numerous, 
and there were comparatively few towns or villages 
of any note which had not an annual show of some 
kind. Examinations in horticulture had also become 
very popular, and these would greatly tend to pro¬ 
duce a higher and better informed class of gardeners 
and cottagers. Still, in spite of all that had been 
done, and all that was being done, it was lamentable 
that there were yet some gardeners who could neither 
read nor write. It was an imperative necessity that 
such ignorance should be abolished if we were to hold 
our own against foreign produce. 
Speaking of present day gardeners, Mr. Heaton 
declared that in his opinion an efficient gardener was 
one of England’s noblest sons. He then drew the 
attention of his audience to the many qualifications 
of which a gardener in a large place must be 
possessed. His character, first of all, must bear the 
strictest investigation ; his general appearance must 
be commanding and attractive ; he must be 
thoroughly practical, and thus capable of directing 
others, and he must be well educated so as to be well 
able to converse properly with his employers, and his 
social superiors. 
Passing on to the consideration of women 
gardeners, there were three important questions re¬ 
garding them needing serious consideration. First 
of all, what would be the effect upon the male 
journeymen gardeners? Secondly, would their physical 
-strength stand the strain that it would be called upon 
to bear ? And, thirdly, were their ultimate prospects 
sufficiently good to make it worth their while to 
adopt gardening as a profession ? 
The education of the gardener of to-day, continued 
Mr. Heaton, must be threefold, viz., of head, of hand, 
and of heart ; for the head must be trained to think, 
the hands to work, and the moral character of the 
individual would require training as well. He had 
no patience with young men who frittered away their 
time at the gin-shop when they might be improving 
themselves. Two hours each day at least should be 
spent in the study of botany, geology, meteorology, 
chemistry, pathology, physiology, and languages. 
The hindrances to gardeners acquiring a good 
knowledge of these were—deficiency of elementary 
education, long hours of work, isolation, and untoward 
domestic circumstances. Here Mr. Heaton harped 
upon the good old string of gardeners not being 
allowed to possess children. In his opinion early 
marriages were an especial evil in their bearing upon 
the after-life of a gardener, for the money that should 
be employed in the purchase of the necessary books 
had to go towards the maintenance of a family. Two 
years in an establishment like Kew or Chiswick 
would prove a great advantage to all young men. 
Mr, Heaton concluded by suggesting that some of 
the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural Society should 
travel through the provinces and give lectures, and 
hold examinations at some of the most important 
centres. He believed that such a course would do 
much to popularise horticulture, and would insure 
the success of the society. 
- -i- - 
FRUIT TREES AND ROSES AT BUSH 
HILL PARK. 
After examining the fine display of Cattleyas and 
other hothouse subjects in the nurseries of Messrs. 
Hugh Low Sc Co., at Bush Hill Park, Enfield, 
recently, during a burning hot day, we varied our 
work by enjoying a walk through the Roses and 
fruit trees in the open air. The slight breeze in the 
open air made it pleasant after the heat of the sun 
under glass, and the scent of the Roses borne along 
on the breeze made the walk highly enjoyable. 
The area of ground devoted to fruit trees and Roses 
extends to 60 acres, and the nursery is divided into 
two unequal portions by the railway. It was too 
early to see the Roses at their best, and the flowers, 
being in great demand were being cut in large 
quantities daily. 
We first passed through a plantation of maiden 
Roses amongst which La France and Mrs. John 
Laing were prominent. Grown upon the bush 
system La France was only 18 in. to 2 ft. high; but 
the other popular variety was 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. 
Crimson Rambler was making excellent growth, the 
strong young shoots being 3 ft. to 3J ft. high, and 
regularly staked to provide for stems 6 ft. to 7 ft. 
high. There were 5,000 of this sort. Next to this 
came a splendid plantation of some 15,000 maidens 
of Gloire de Dijon, the bronzy young foliage of 
which was a notable feature. From here we went 
on to other extensive plantations of hybrid perpetual 
Roses of which 55,000 to 60,000 are budded annually, 
The mildness of the past winter has made amends 
for the severity of the previous one, judging by the 
regularity of the young plantations, all of which were 
maidens in this portion of the grounds. Amongst 
them we noted Ulrich Brunner, Merville de LyoD, 
A. K. Williams, Prince Camille de Rohan, Marie 
Baumann, Duke of Edinburgh, Boule de Neige, and 
other popular favourites. Enumeration of varieties 
is needless, for all the best varieties are grown here in 
quantity, and flowering with greater or less freedom 
as the drought will permit. 
There are large plantations of Apple trees in the 
form of cordons, pyramids, and standards, the latter 
being on the crab stock, the rest on the English 
Paradise. Altogether 50,000 of these trees are 
budded every year. Of standard Apples alone there 
are 30,000 of all the leading kinds. Many of the 
trees, but particularly the pyramids were heavily 
laden with fruit about the size of pigeons’ eggs. 
Most of these pyramids are three and four years old. 
Pears are grown in great quantities of various forms 
and ages. The plantations of trees that were budded 
last autumn are a treat to look at, for the lines of 
each sort are so regular, vigorous, and healthy that 
they seem like close hedges of dwarf stature as the 
visitor looks from one end towards the other. The 
buds put in last season have therefore taken 
remarkably well. 
We also passed through several plantations of dwarf 
trained trees of Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, 
and Pears, all making a healthy, vigorous growth, 
and shapely trees that will soon cover a considerable 
area of wall space. The Pears may also be grown as 
espaliers. There are something like 8,000 dwarf 
trained Plums, and cleaner, healthier growth could 
not be desired. The popular varieties of Plums, 
Damsons, and Cherries for market work are largely 
grown. Amongst the first named we may only 
mention Victoria, Czar, Monarch, and Rivers Early 
to indicate the varieties most in favour. Others are 
also extensively grown, but those named are grown 
by the thousand. Farleigh Prolific, and King 
Damson are amongst the best of their class. 
Towards the far end of the nursery we came upon 
extensive plantations of stocks for different trees. 
When it is stated that there are some 125,000 stocks 
all or mostly all of which are to be budded this year i 
it will give some idea of the vast amount of this kind 
of work which has to be accomplished annually in 
this nursery. The Grifferae stock for Roses is also 
grown in quantity ; and we may here state that it is 
used for Polyantha and similarly rampant, strong 
growing, climbing Roses, for which it has been 
proved highly suitable. Lord Penzance’s hybrid 
Sweet Briers have also found their way here, at least 
the whole set of them that has up to this time been 
put into commerce. A large stock of these will be 
worked up presently, for they are fast becoming 
popular, as the latest and sweetest additions to 
garden Roses. 
-- I — - 
CABBAGE. 
To have regular supplies of Cabbage it is a mistake 
to trust to one or even two sorts. This is, I think, 
the best Cabbage season we ever had, and prepara¬ 
tions were made to supply all wants to the end of the 
season. Our simple plan is to get a selection of 
earliest mid-season, and late varieties in order to 
have one lot forming hearts, while earlier sorts are 
being used up. Sowing twice in July and early in 
August gives succession. Those planted in Septem¬ 
ber, thickly —and every other plant cut out when 
large enough for greens—come in well late in 
May, just as Rosette Colewort is being finished (the 
latter is sown in June and planted on ground free 
from rank manure in July after early Potatos are 
removed). The small Cabbage plants, not large 
enough for autumn planting, are pricked out in a 
sheltered position, and planted in good ground late 
in March, and form capital successions. 
Veitch’s Earliest of All has few outside leaves, is of 
handsome form, is the first ready for use, and the 
quality is first rate. Ellam's Early, Cocoanut, 
and McEwan’s come in due course. We plant in 
drills, and free use of the hoes afterwards is all the 
earthing-up they get.—il/. Temple, Carron, N.B. 
-- 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
That this society's grand show is of genuine interest 
to gardeners and horticulturists generally was 
amply evidenced by the number of friends we met 
at the Leicester gathering last week. The stands of 
the various seedsmen were crowded all through each 
day, and the many assistants for each firm were kept 
very busy indeed. Messrs. Sutton & Sons’ Royal 
Stand was made extra attractive by a charming 
group of Gloxinias, plants full of flower with hand¬ 
some foliage and blooms of large size, rich and varied 
in colour. A popular feature of this stand was a 
Seed Germinator in operation. 
Messrs. James Carter and Co., of High Holborn, 
very tastefully interspersed with the somewhat 
sombre looking farm products, various groups of 
brilliantly coloured flowers from their gardens at St. 
Osyth, also dishes of their Duke of York Tomato, 
and growing specimens of Lightning and Daisy 
Peas. 
Messrs. Dicksons, Chester, again brought forward 
samples of their well-known collection of Conifers 
and Grasses, and prettily arranged groups of 
Gloxinias, Irises and Spiraes about the stand. 
Messrs. Little and Ballantyne, also staged a 
collection of choice ornamental coniferous trees and 
shrubs, with samples of vegetable and flower seeds 
from their unsurpassed strains. 
From Manchester, the Messrs. Dickson and 
Robinson sent samples of pure seeds, and a collection 
of the leading varieties of Potatos. 
Messrs. Dickson, Brown and Tait, of Corporation 
Street, Manchester, staged a fine collection of 
growing Lilies in front of their agricultural seeds. 
Messrs. Webb & Sons, of Wordsley, also catered 
for the flower lovers by some very fine specimen 
plants grown with their seeds of Imperial Canterbury 
Bells, the large white flowers of which are claimed as 
being due to the use of the firm's special Compound 
Manure. 
We quite expected to see the Messrs. HarrisoD, 
well in evidence, and Leicester people have reason to 
be satisfied with the exhibition made by their 
townsmen. The boxes of Grasses in full growth, the 
specimen dried grasses, vegetables, &c., were 
brightened up with a choice variety of flowers. 
Next to the seedsmens’ stands was a neatly 
arranged exhibit of lawn mowers sent by Messrs 
Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, from Ipswich. The 
plan recently adopted by this world-renowned 
engineering firm of supplying mowers through all 
respectable ironmongers has brought this department 
into popularity, and even those of us who do not 
profess to be ardent supporters of home industries 
only would hardly find a foreign made machine to 
equal Messrs. Ransomes’ "Lion" in price, and. 
decidedly not in quality^ 
