September 30, 1893. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
65 
NEW WATER LILIES. 
For many years past M. B. Latour-Marliac has been 
busily engaged in the cross-breeding and hybridiza¬ 
tion of Nymphaeas, or Water Lilies, from time to 
time they have been finding their way to England as 
well as Ireland. Some of the latest acquisitions 
have been causing quite a furore amongst lovers of 
Water Lilies. Mr. F. W. Burbidge, Trinity 
College, Botanic Gardens, Dublin, tells us that the 
finest things they have had there this season have 
been Marliac’s new hybrid Nymphasas. They are 
simply superb in the cold water pond, and all the 
numerous visitors there have admired them very 
much. Several cultivators in this country are going 
in for their culture very strongly. Mr. Burbidge 
also says that the past has been the finest, hottest, 
sunniest, most fertile and fruitful season he ever 
remembers in Ireland. 
One of the finest of all M. Latour-Marliac’s seed¬ 
lings is Nymphsea Laydekeri rosea, a remarkable 
hybrid, with very lively rose-carmine flowers and a 
great cluster or mass of orange stamens in the 
centre. M. Marliac says that it flowers from the 
end of April to the end of October. That would, 
of course, apply to the climate of Temple-sur-Lot, 
France, where the raising of the Lilies in question is 
being effected ; but whether that would apply to any 
part of Britain remains to be seen. N. marliacea 
chromatella is another splendid hybrid with large 
canary-yellow flowers. The foliage is elegantly 
marbled with red and brown. N. marliacea rosea, 
with rose flowers, completes the trio of varieties that 
must be admitted to the first rank. N. alba rosea 
used to be the only hardy Water Lily in this 
country, with flowers of any other colour than 
white, but the petals are only of a pale rosy pink. 
There are several of second-rate value to the 
above, but still very choice in their way. Of these 
N. marliacea carnea is a hybrid with beautiful flesh- 
coloured flowers of the first size and agreeably per¬ 
fumed. N. ordorata exquisita is the darkest red of 
this type, and is also described as a hybrid. The 
flowers are of a rosy-carmine and delicious scent. 
The reverse of the leaves is of an intense red. N. o. 
rosacea has delicate rose flowers, and very agreeably 
perfumed. The Cape Cod Water Lily (N. o. rubra 
or the N. o. rosea of the Americans) has flowers of a 
lively rose, and delectable odour. N. pygmaea 
Helvola is described as a hybrid with small yellow 
flowers and very coquettish, and the leaves are 
blotched with reddish brown. It is as floriferous as 
N. p. alba. All of the above have been raised in 
M. Marliac’s establishment with the exception of N. 
odorata rubra, and mark a great era in the improve¬ 
ment of Water Lilies. 
- .i. - 
NOTES FROM AYRSHIRE. 
Situated in a strikingly picturesque landscape in 
the uplands of this county, is the busy little town of 
Old Cumnock, not the least important of its 
industries being the manufacture of flower pots. 
The district has an historical distinction attached to 
it, which is rendered sacred by the noble principles 
and heroic valour of the Scottish Covenanters, as 
a memento of which there was some, twelve months 
ago, a fine monument unveiled of the renowned John 
Pedem, who was a leading spirit in that illustrious 
band. Passing this interesting landmark, which 
occupies a commanding site in the cemetery, and 
within a few yards of the main thoroughfare leading 
from the railway station to the town—Hillside, the 
property and summer residence of H. Crichton, 
Esq., was reached, a view of the gardens there being 
the object of my visit to the district. 
On entering the grounds a fair example is soon 
afterwards seen of the ideal standard of high keeping 
set forth by the leading gardening authorities. The 
most prominent feature of the place is the flower 
gardening department. The extent of grounds 
devoted to this branch of horticulture is consider¬ 
able, and together with the ranges of glass structures, 
occupies most of the surroundings in the vicinity of 
the mansion. This garden, owing to the configura¬ 
tion of the ground, does not present a formal design 
which can be taken in at a glance, but consists of a 
series of groups of beds distributed in prominent 
and available spaces on the grass. The beds in 
these groups are intersected by narrow paths, their 
surfaces being gravelled with small white granite. 
This idea, although possibly not meeting the 
approbation of some, produces a telling effect in. 
conjunction with the contrasting colours of bedding 
plants. 
The plants employed comprised most of the 
popular varieties in ordinary use. Pelargoniums 
being used freely. Those of the flowering section, as 
you remarked in a recent issue of The Gardening 
World, seemed to have regained their reputation 
this season. The variety Robert Fish, which 
occupied small corner beds, we were informed, 
had flowered most profusely, but heavy showers 
having recently fallen had somewhat marred their 
previously brilliant effect. A compact dwarf assort¬ 
ment of blue and white Lobelias, Ajuga reptans, 
and Harrison’s Musk were some of the edging plants 
in most requisition, all producing a trim and pleasing 
effect. The latter being clipped occasionally, renders 
it more useful for edgings. 
On looking through the plant houses, my attention 
was first attracted to a fine collection of the newer 
zonal Pelargoniums, which, although rather past 
their best, were yet throwing up their trusses freely. 
Prominent amongst these and other soft-wooded 
flowering plants, which filled two low span-roofed 
houses, were interspered an extra fine strain of 
Celosias. Unfortunately I could not get the exact 
name of these, but judging from the price paid for 
the seed, the stock seems to be limited. The plants, 
which were of an unusually dwarf habit, were 
furnished to nearly the base of their stems with very 
showy racemes of infloresence, and are probably a 
good selection of C. plumosa nana. A specimen of 
Lapageria alba, trained on the side of one of the 
plant houses is worthy of note. It occupies close 
upon 100 square feet of space, and was well 
furnished with blooms. Another plant of L. rosea 
on the opposite or northern side of the structure was 
not thriving so well, owing evidently to the less 
favourable aspect to which it is exposed. A fine 
free-flowering specimen of Mrs. Rundle Fuchsia 
adorns the back wall of this house, for which pur¬ 
pose it is well adapted. 
A considerable extent of glass is occupied with 
stove plants comprising many fine Palms in various 
sizes ; also Crotons, Dracaenas, Pandanus Veitchii, 
Eucharis, Ficus elastica, F. e. variegata and other 
subjects. The raising of seedling Begonias of the 
tuberous section seems to be a speciality, a good 
extent of space in pits being reserved for this pur¬ 
pose, where they are planted out and amongst which 
some promising varieties were noticeable. Those 
who may be halting between two opinions respecting 
the practicability of adopting the use of glazed pots 
wholly or partially for plant growing should, if 
they are within reasonable distance of the place, visit 
Hillside and satisfy themselves as to results. For a 
number of years past, with the exception of such as 
are planted out in pits or other positions under glass, 
every plant occupies glazed pots. 
Melon and Grape growing, although, to a lesser 
extent than plant culture, are also represented. In 
one of the Vineries, which has recently been re¬ 
planted, the young canes had made free growth, 
while in another house the crop had been mostly cut 
with the exception of a few rods of Lady Downes 
Seedling. The kitchen .garden is not larger, but, in 
common with the other departments, was found to 
be in a thoroughly clean, well-cropped and orderly 
condition. Peas, as in many places, had been afford¬ 
ing but short supplies of fresh green pods, resulting 
from the intense heat and drought. Some long lines 
of late sorts were, however, looking well at the mid¬ 
dle of August, including a sowing of Duchess of 
Albany. This variety is of medium height, sturdy 
habit, and was bearing a good crop of pods in prime 
order for use. The Vegetable Marrow named Pen-y- 
byd growing on a good exposure, was yielding its 
small but handsome fruits freely. This variety is 
certainly worthy of extensive cultivation. 
Along with other numerous proofs of the tropical 
character of the season, Tomatos trained on a low 
wall had already begun to colour, which fact can but 
seldom be chronicled North of the Tweed so early in 
August. A notable variety grown under glass is 
Thomson’s Excelsior, which is a massive and other¬ 
wise fine looking fruit when properly developed. In 
bringing these abridged notes to a close, it may not 
be inopportune to remark that the horticultural en¬ 
thusiasm of Mr. Crichton and his capable and indus¬ 
trious head gardener are worthy of emulation, as 
such a stimulus, together with well-directed 
energy and the necessary means of up-keep, form a 
joint agency which is indispensable to successful 
gardening.— M., Ayrshire. 
DULWICH PARK. 
Comparatively little of the usual type of summer 
flower bedding is attempted in this park, the leading 
feature being the rockeries, the herbaceous plants, 
and the shrubbery, which is very rich in all the more 
popular of the ornamental trees and shrubs that 
find favour at the present day. The American gar¬ 
den with its Azaleas and Rhododendrons is also a 
feature in the spring and early summer months, when 
aught else here is verdant, flowery and most inter¬ 
esting. The summer and sub-tropical flower 
bedding is confined to the areas near the two princi¬ 
pal entrances, that lead to the public carriage drive 
through the park. 
Bedding. 
Near the College Gate the view from the entrance 
is attractive and inviting. On either side the back¬ 
ground is hedged in by trees and shrubbery, so that 
the eye is more concentrated on the beds adorning the 
grass. The larger beds are oblong, and others are 
of various outline. Abutilon Thompsoni with leaves 
of handsome size is the feature of one bed and is 
mixed with a dark Fuchsia named Marinka, edged 
with Cuphea platycentra and Cannell’s Dwarf Ager- 
atum. A similar bed filled with variegated Maize 
and scarlet Begonias on a groundwork of Viola Pil- 
rig Park, edged with Iresine Lindeni and white 
Lobelias has also been very noticable owing to the 
heavy variegation assumed by the Maize. A bed of 
Pelargonium Henry Jacoby has been most floriferous 
like all other Pelargoniums this year. One of the 
prettiest combinations was that of a narrow bed run¬ 
ning out into three equal wings. The taller plants 
consist of Abutilon Thompsoni with half-a-dozen 
plants of Grevillea robusta equally distributed 
amongst them. Begonia semperflorens atropurpurea 
put out about the end of May has been flowering 
ever since. The flowers are crimson and the foliage 
of a deep metallic red. The contrast is well marked 
between the Abutilons and the Begonias, the two 
principal features of the bed at present. In the 
early part of the season there was a groundwork of 
Violas, which kept up a good display till they were 
overpowered. A bed of Lye’s Own Fuchsia and 
Lilium speciosum on a ground of Harrison’s Musk 
has grown and flowered well. More showy at present 
is a floriferous bed of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums and 
Petunias, which have been striving with one another 
for the space all the summer and are still in full 
bloom. They are edged with Fuchsia Golden Fleece 
and blue Lobelias. A bed of a pink Pelargonium 
named Mrs. Holden is still very gay, and is edged 
with Queen of Queens, a variety with a purer white 
variegation than Flower of Spring. A mixed bed of 
variegated Maize, Ricinus Gibsoni, Acacia lophantha. 
Petunias, Abutilon Thompsoni, edged with Cuphea 
platycentra. Cineraria maritima and Chamaepeuce 
Casabonae, has been effective from the time it was 
planted out till now. A very useful Pelargonium for 
an edging is a bicolor named Madame Sellery as it 
is close, bushy, and requires no stopping. 
Near the centre of the park are two carpet beds, 
the only ones of the kind attempted, and both are 
neatly designed, planted and kept in good trim. The 
larger of the two has a plant of Acacia lophantha in 
the centre, on a groundwork of Herniaria glabra, 
with dot plants of Echeveria metallica. Ficus 
elastica, and Kleinia repens. Towards each side of 
the bed are four figures shaped like a point of 
interrogation, consisting of Alternanthera versicolor. 
At either end is a smaller one of Alternanthera 
paronychioides and A. p. aurea major. Outside of 
these again are two smaller patches of Alternanthera 
nana compacta. On either side is an arc of Anten- 
aria tomentosa. The whole of these patches and 
figures are on a groundwork of Mesembryanthemum 
cordifolium variegatum. Then comes a triple 
edging of Alternanthera paronychioides. Golden 
Feather and Echeveria secunda glauca. Numerous 
dot plants are set over the bed, consisting of Semper- 
vivums, Pachyphytum roseum, Portulacariapulveru- 
lenta and Chlorophytum elatum vaiiegatum. Some 
of the small plots are edged with Echeveria amoena, 
a neat and very much smaller species than E. 
secunda glauca. The other carpet bed is an imitation 
of the coat of arms of Dulwich College. The central 
shield consists of Antennaria tomentosa with an 
imitation on it of three flowers consisting of Alter¬ 
nanthera amoena. Diverging or radiating from the 
shield are five stars of Herniaria, in the larger of 
which is a heart of Alternanthera amoena. There 
are also several small patches of Mesembryanthemum 
