462 
THE GARDENING WORLD. March 21, ibm. 
_ 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
There are few of those who frequent the leading 
horticultural exhibitions of London but have met 
Mr, Joseph Cheal, of the firm of Messrs. J. Cheal 
and Sons, Crawley, Sussex. He is the elder of the 
two sons of the late Mr. John Cheal, who founded 
the Lowfield Nurseries, Crawley, in 1870, and died 
on the 18th of February last in his 96th year. The 
business of the firm has for many years past been 
entirely conducted and controlled by his sons, 
Messrs. Joseph and Alexander Cheal. The latter has 
Mr. Joseph Cheal. 
charge of over fifty employees, engaged in the nur¬ 
series, and is therefore fully occupied in looking after 
that part of the business, so that we seldom have the 
opportunity of meeting him, except when on a visit to 
Crawley. 
On the other hand, Mr. Joseph Cheal is frequently 
from home owing to the multifarious nature of his 
portion of the business. Landscape gardening is one 
of the leading branches of the establishment, and 
Mr. Joseph Cheal gives this his close personal super¬ 
vision. His son is also engaged in the business, and 
devotes himself very largely to the work of landscape 
gardening for which he has already shown great apti¬ 
tude. The department has, however, been largely 
developed through the zeal, industry, and skill of Mr. 
Joseph Cheal himself, both as a landscape architect 
and superintendent of the practical work of laying out 
parks and gardens, public and otherwise. The Low- 
field Nurseries extend to nearly a hundred acres, and 
considering that the site formerly consisted of the 
barren Lowfield Heath, they may now be said to 
blossom as the Rose. A large portion of this is 
devoted to the cultivation of Conifers as well as ever¬ 
green and deciduous ornamental trees, with which 
Mr. Cheal is able to carry out the landscape work 
from time to time entrusted to his care. An 
extensive collection of herbaceous and alpine 
plants furnishes him with the material so useful in 
filling in the details of the bolder features supplied 
by trees and shrubs. Many bold pieces of rockwork 
have been constructed under Mr. Cheal’s supervision 
A Gold Medal was awarded the firm at the Gardening 
and Forestry Exhibition, Earl’s Court, in 1893. Other 
triumphs of the firm, as a result of Mr. Cheal’s 
skill, were the premium for designs for laying out 
the Castle Gardens at Guildford ; the laying out and 
planting the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds ; 
also Broadstairs Public Gardens, Stratford Recrea¬ 
tion Grounds, Ramsgate Park, Acton Park and 
Recreation Ground, and many others. 
Mr. J. Cheal is the author of a work on "Fruit 
Culture” in Bell's Agricultural Series, and which 
has passed through more than one edition, thus 
testifying to its practical utility in these days of 
commercial enterprise. He is, and has been for 
some years, a member of the Fruit and Vegetable 
Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
attends to his duty in this respect in a commendable 
manner. He is likewise an expert of the Fruiterers' 
Company, and assisted in promoting the memorable 
show of home-grown fruit at the Guildhall in 1890 for 
which he received the honorary freedom of the city of 
London. The Brighton gardensrs have also tobe 
thankful for Mr. Cheal's services, for he is the vice- 
chairman of the Brighton and Sussex New Horticul¬ 
tural Society, in the formation of which he took an 
active part a few years ago, and which has turned out 
a great success, both financially in the holding of 
shows, and as a factor in the education of gardeners. 
As already indicated, Mr. Cheal is an expert in 
fruit culture, one of the specialities of the firm. 
Something like a quarter of a million of fruit 
trees are grown in the Lowfield Nurseries, of 
which about 10,000 are cordons. Mr. Cheal has 
great faith in this form of tree, which has much 
to recommend it, as anyone can determine who 
visits the nurseries during August, September, and 
October, when the trees are in fruit. We have our¬ 
selves been laid under obligation to Mr. Cheal for 
pointing out those varieties of Apples and Pears 
which succeed best under this method of training. 
He has often discussed at public meetings the special 
advantages which the cordon offers, whether trained 
horizontally, obliquely, or upright. As might be 
expected, Mr. Cheal frequents all the fruit shows of 
any importance in the neighbourhood of London, 
and is present at many others where hardy fruit 
forms a component part; and wherever he exhibits 
his collection is well worthy of inspection, whether 
for its extent, the number of varieties, their perfect 
preservation and high colour, from the time the 
early fruits make their appearance till the latest 
make their exit in May. During September again 
one may expect to meet Mr. Cheal when the Dahlias 
are gracing the showboards; for his firm take a 
leading place with single, pompon and Cactus 
varieties. On all these occasions our readers may 
meet Mr. Cheal to their advantage, for he is an 
experienced counsellor and a mine of good fellow¬ 
ship. 
-—- , g -, 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned awards were made by the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 10th inst.:— 
FLORAL COMMITTEE. 
Asparagus Sprengeri. —The stems of this species 
attain considerable length and may be trained in any 
form or allowed to hang gracefully from a basket. 
The primary ones give off numerous, slender, twiggy 
branches, and these again are furnished with half 
whorls of linear twiglets about an inch in length and 
of a shining dark green. The last-named are usually 
spoken of as leaves. The plant is of great beauty 
and cannot fail to be widely cultivated in the course 
of a few years. First-class Certificate. J. T. 
Bennett Poe, Esq., Holmwood, Cheshunt. 
Saxifraga Stracheyi. —A large plant of this upon 
the rockwork is a handsome object when in bloom in 
spring. The leathery leaves are ample, the flower 
stems and calyx are red, contrasting beautifully with 
the snow-white flowers. First-class Certificate. 
Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Pteris Boultonii. —The fronds of this beautifully 
distinct Fern are 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, bi-tri-pinnate, 
and produced in dense, gracefully-arching tufts. 
The pinnules are linear, long, dark green, and wavy, 
and in this latter character lies the great distinction 
which is seldom met with in any other Fern. Award 
of Merit. Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Lachenalia Causton Gem. —This is a form of 
L. tricolor with very large yellow flowers and green 
tips to the segments. The inner ones are edged with 
purple in their earlier stages. Award of Merit. C. 
G. Van Tubergen, Jun., Haarlem, Holland. 
Saxifraga oppositifolia major. —The rosy-purple 
flowers of this fine variety are twice as large as those 
of the type, and produced singly on short upright 
stalks. When well bloomed the flowers almost hide 
the foliage. Award of Merit. Messrs. Paul & Son, 
Cheshunt. 
CUPRESSUS LAWSONIANA FILIFERA. —The twigs of 
this very distinct variety of Lawson's Cypress are 
remarkably stout, and in form resemble whipcord of 
unusual thickness. These twigs often develop in 
great numbers at the end of the branches, from 
which they droop in spray-like tufts. Award of 
Merit. Messrs. Paul & Son. 
Amaryllis Lady Winifred Gore.— The flowers 
of this variety are of great size, wide spread, with a 
very short tube, and of a deep glossy crimson. The 
rays are very short and greenish. Award of Merit. 
Two flowers and one bud ready to expand were 
borne on the scape of the plant shown by the Hon. 
W. F. Smith, M.P. (gardener, Mr. H. Perkins), 
Henley-on-Thames. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COMMI1 TEE. 
Cucumber Marvel. —The fruits of this variety are 
cylindrical, dark green, and usually about 15 in. to 
16 in. long when ready for cutting. It is very fertile 
judging from the fact that plants in pots of moderate 
size bore about half a dozen fruits, each of full size. 
First-class Certificate. Mr. S. Mortimer, Swiss 
Nursery, Rowledge, Farnhatr, Surrey. 
Apple Goodwood Pippin. —The fruits of this 
variety are of large size, conical, rounded on the top, 
and altogether beautiful inform. The skin is yellow, 
suffused, and splashed with red on the sunny side. 
They are solid, of great weight for their size, and 
keep well. Award of Merit. Duke of Richmond 
and Gordon (gardener, Mr. Parker), Gordon Castle, 
Fochabers, N.B., and Goodwood, Chichester, 
Sussex. 
The undermentioned plants received First-class 
Certificates at the spring show held at the Crystal 
Palace on March 14th. 
Hyacinth Lady Clinton —This variety throws 
a flower spike of enormous size, which finishes well 
at the top and is of regular conical outline. The 
flowers are light flesh-pink in colour, large, and with 
segments of great substance. Exhibited by Mr. 
Robert Sydenham, New Tenby Street, Birmingham, 
and Mr. Jas. Douglas, gardener to Mrs. Whitbourn, 
Great Gearies, Ilford, Essex. 
Camellia Baras de Mogofores. —The flowers 
here are of medium size, very regular, and bright 
rose in colour, shading lighter towards the tips of the 
petals. Exhibited by Messrs. W. Paul & Son, 
Waltham Cross. 
Streptocarpus giganteu has large light blue 
flowers, heavily striped on the three lower segments 
with dark purple-maroon. The leaves are long and 
linear-lanceolate in shape. Exhibited by Messrs. 
John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, S.E. 
» t «- 
VEGETABLE CALENDAR. 
Sowing small seed.— March is one of the most 
important months for seed sowing, as the summer 
and autumn supply is usually had from plants raised 
then. A warm border, if it can be spared, should be 
selected for the first batch of seeds, as the seedlings 
make more rapid progress after having germinated, 
and also for the shelter thus afforded. I prefer to 
sow in lines 12 in. apart instead of the old method of 
sowing broadcast in beds, as the seedlings get more 
air and room and are not so liable to become drawn. 
The following should be sown now without delay :— 
Cauliflower Veitch’s Pearl, Autumn Mammoth and 
Autumn Giant; Brussels Sprouts, Dwarf Gem, and 
The Wroxton; Broccoli Veitch's Self-protectiDg; 
Savoy, Dwarf Perfection and Sutton’s Superb White, 
Cabbage All Heart and Winningstadt. 
Beet. — A small sowing of Sutton’s Globe Beet 
should be made in any warm position ; also Carrots 
of the horn type, of which Early Gem is the best. 
Turnips should also be so%vn in a sheltered position, 
Early Milan being best for the first crop. It is 
very important not to sow too many of any of these 
seeds at once at this date, lest they should be 
damaged or wholly destroyed by the weather; 
therefore, frequent sowing at short intervals is 
safest. 
Peas, —Another sowing of Peas should be made, 
and those of the marrow-fat section should be used 
with safety now. Those sown last month will now 
require staking, and also some protection from the 
sparrows. We find nothing more effectual than the 
old method of stretching three or four lines of cotton 
just clear of the growth. 
Young Cabbages, as soon as growing freely, may 
be assisted with advantage with a sprinkling of 
nitrate of soda between the rows. This will hasten 
maturity and increase the size of the head. The 
main crop of Celery should now be sown in boxes or 
in frames at a suitable temperature for germinating 
the seed. Sow very thinly, and this will facilitate 
the work when transplanting takes place. We rely 
on Standard Bearer, Sutton’s Solid White, and 
Early Rose as suitable and good. 
Tomatos for outside should now be sown, placing 
the seeds not closer than ij in. apart in the pans, 
as, usually, every seed grows. A sturdy growth is 
much to be preferred to anything approaching being 
drawn in heat, as this weakens the constitution of 
the plant at the start, and is a forerunner of disease. 
Should the weather prove unfavourable, 55 0 is a 
good heat to begin with, and by no means give them 
too close an atmosphere after they are through the 
soil .--James Gibscn, Devonhurst, Chiswick. 
