619 
April 14,1894. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
flowers, sulphur segments, and large golden crown. 
The segments of Goliath are white, tinted with 
sulphur at the base, and the crown golden ; it is not 
much inferior in size to Sir Watkin. Another 
massive bloom is Gloria Mundi, the crown of which 
is large, very wide, and bright orange for two-thirds 
of its length. Cynosure has long, creamy-white 
segments, and a golden crown. A beautiful and 
choice variety is Mrs. Langtry, the segments of 
which are broad, white, and imbricate, while the 
crown is of the palest lemon, with a narrow, yellow, 
Picotee-like margin. Another flower of great size is 
Gwyther, having bright sulphur segments, and a 
large golden crown. John Bain, like Mrs. Langtry, 
is a flower of moderate size, and produced with 
great freedom ; the segments are broad and white, 
and the cup is clear yellow and short. Beauty is a 
large flowered sort, with sulphur segments, and a 
golden crown, edged with orange. 
Chaste and beautiful is that named Mabel Cowan, 
with broad white segments, and a small golden cup 
with an orange margin. It is late in coming into 
bloom, as is James Bateman, which has segments 
almost like those of N. poeticus and a golden cup. 
The various types of the hybrid Leedsii section are 
notable for their delicate colours and chaste appear¬ 
ance. The very small ones that used to be seen in 
collections have been weeded out, so that only the 
choicest remain, and they certainly deserve a place 
in every collection that makes any pretentions to 
being representative. Minnie Hume has large, pure 
white segments, and a pale lemon crown, ultimately 
almost pure white. M. M. de Graaff holds the same 
position amongst the Leedsii type as Princess Mary 
does amongst the N. incomparabilis section. The 
segments are almost like those of N. poeticus, but 
the crown is pale yellow, very widely expanded and 
pretty. Grand Duchess has narrow white segments, 
and a wide, pale yellow crown, becoming white. 
Duchess of Westminster differs by having a long, 
tubular pale lemon crown. Some cultivators do not 
much care about it, but the flowers are certainly 
distinct. A very early variety is Madge Matthew, 
with white segments and a large, bell-shaped crown. 
Beatrice is another type, with narrow segments and a 
palest lemon crown, ultimately white. 
The hybrid Barrii race are very conspicuous, 
mostly very free flowering, and most effective as 
decorative plants. The finest of all is B. conspicuus, 
of which there are sixteen and a half long beds, 
forming a most effective display. The broad, 
imbricate, clear yellow segments, and the deep 
lemon crown with an orange rim, are all very attrac¬ 
tive, especially when seen in a mass. Another very 
choice variety is B. albus Flora Wilson, with broad, 
white segments and a yellow crown with a broad, 
bright orange margin. B. albidus Maurice Vilmorin 
has broad sulphur segments, ultimately white, and 
a golden crown with an orange rim. The whole 
plant is very dwarf and freely flowered. B. albus 
Sensation has broad, white segments, and a deep 
yellow cup with a dark orange rim, which serves 
largely to mark out this variety as a fine thing owing 
to the clear contrast of colours. B. albus Crown 
Prince has white segments and a deep lemon crown 
with a wide orange brim. All of this section are 
very choice and conspicuous, owing to fhe size of 
their flowers and the width of their segments. 
Double varieties are grown to some extent so as 
to keep up the representative character of the 
collection. The various forms, such as Telamonius 
plenus, Codlins and Cream, and the allied kinds, 
have been flowering for some time. Single varieties 
are, however, the most popular with cultivators 
generally. N. odorus and the Campernelle (N. o. 
rugilobus) furnish quite a distinct type with their 
clusters of fragrant flowers, and are very useful in 
their way. The Nelsoni types are naturally very 
late, and were just showing their buds on the occa¬ 
sion of our visit, including Nelsoni Wm. Back¬ 
house and Mrs. C. J. Backhouse. All of this race 
are dwarf and pleasing Daffodils of great decorative 
value. Several of the leading types of the Polyan¬ 
thus Narcissi or varieties of Narcissus Tazetta are 
cultivated in fair quantity. Jaune Supreme is the 
best of the old yellow varieties, with pale yellow 
segments and an orange crown. Fine also is Grand 
Monarque, with its broad, imbricate, pure white 
segments and clear yellow crown. Of the numerous 
varieties of the Narcissus Corbularia section we 
must speak later on ; sufiice to say they are very 
attractive and engaging at present. A notable 
feature of the whole field was the fact that the 
flowers all looked towards the west. This was 
owing probably to the long-continued prevalence of 
east winds during the time the foliage and flowers 
were developing. 
- ^ - 
FINSBURY PARK. 
The new conservatory at P'insbury Park was 
accessible to the public last autumn during the 
Chrysanthemum season, but arrangements have now 
been made for keeping up a permanent display and 
keeping it open to the public all the year round. 
We are surprised, however, that no extra houses have 
been built purposely for supplying the conservatory 
with plants in bloom. Furthermore, a greater 
amount of labour must be entailed on the keeping of 
the place, and Mr. John Melville, the energetic 
superintendent, must find his resources in the way 
of young men considerably taxed to keep all things 
in good working order and abreast of the times, 
unless the staff is augmented. 
At present, the house is filled with a miscellaneous 
assortment of spring flowering plants, suitable for a 
temperature of 45° to 50° as the minimum night 
temperature in winter. Forcing houses will be 
necessary, however, to bring plants into bloom, 
particularly during the earlier months of the year. 
The display consists of flowering trees and shrubs as 
well as bulbous plants. Numerous young trees of 
Pyrus floribunda were in bloom on the occasion of 
our visit; but the flowers were brighter when half 
expanded, as is the case with most of the species of 
Pyrus of the Apple kind. P. spectabilis with its 
semi-double flowers is also a showy subject. Mixed 
amongst them were numerous plants of Prunus 
triloba, P. sinensis flore-pleno, Prunus Pissardi, 
Waterer's Cherry and the Double Cherry, the latter 
being only in bud. The flowers of Magnolia Lennei 
are rosy purple externally and white internally. 
Useful and floriferous adjuncts are Forsythia viri- 
dissima, with its bright yellow flowers, and the rich 
and varied Ghent Azaleas of dwarf stature. Rhodo¬ 
dendrons in variety, including R. myrtifolium, are 
still in bud, but Deutzia gracilis and Azalea amoena 
are at their best. Large specimens of the hardier 
Dracaenas and Palms mixed amongst the other sub¬ 
jects form a contrast to the more familiar leafage of 
the deciduous trees of temperate climates. The 
velvety-brown and yellow flowers of Cytisus scopa- 
rius Andreanus will by-and-by show the visitors that 
the Broom of our heaths, commons and banks is 
not always yellow. 
Well grown Hyacinths and Tulips brighten up the 
front rows. Conspicuous amongst the first named 
was Lord Derby, with large spikes of a soft porcelain 
blue, and which has been prominent at the spring 
shows. In like manner Tulip Keizer Kroon shows up 
very prominently. Polyanthus Narcissi are fine, 
particularly Grand Monarque, with its massive pure 
white flowers and pale lemon crown. The African 
Lily (Agapanthus umbellatus) is already in bloom. 
Many climbers have been obtained for draping the 
roof when time allows of their being planted. 
Amongst others we noted Passiflora Lawsoniana, 
Tacsonia van Volxemii, and Myrsiphyllum aspara- 
goides. Nine large baskets of plants have been 
suspended from the roof, and will add much to the 
general effect when they get into full growth. A 
door at each end of the house facilitates the ingress 
and egress of the public, and a wide path offers 
every convenience for perambulating the house and 
inspecting the plants that may be in bloom for the 
time being. 
The spring bedding out of doors is now gay with a 
varied assortment of plants, both in beds and upon 
the grass. Daffodils, Squills, Glory of the Snow, 
and the common Primrose in great quantity under 
trees and in the open render the place very interest¬ 
ing. The old bulbs of Hyacinths were retained 
besides the fresh supply obtained, and it was curious 
to note on the last day of March how much earlier 
the old bulbs were compared with the new ones. 
The difference would be ten to fourteen days. A 
deep blue one amongst the newer supply was very 
fine. Queen Victoria, a white variety, was very 
little above the surface of the soil. 
The surprise garden must be an interesting place 
when the vast quantities of Tulips come into bloom. 
This is only the second time that' bulbs have been 
planted in this position, and a large number of new 
varieties, that is, sorts not previously grown in the 
park, has been obtained and planted, including such 
fine things as Van de Neer, rosy-purple, Proserpine 
Thos. Moor, apricot, 'White Pottebakker, Silver 
Standard, Coleur Cardinal, scarlet, La Belle Alliance, 
and Keizer Kroon. A few of them were in bloom 
on the occasion of our visit. They are mixed with 
dwarf German Wallflowers in yellow and crimson 
colpurs. Primroses in variety, and Polyanthus. 
Only the dwarf AVallflowers can be expected to 
survive the winter in this elevated and exposed park, 
and this time they have been completely successful. 
The new rockery is brightened up with many 
spring flowers of an interesting character, including 
Erythronium Dens-canis album, Hepaticas, Prim¬ 
ula viscosa nivalis with its snowy flowers, P. rosea, 
and P. vulgaris, or the common Primrose, in great 
quantity. The deep blue Scilla sibirica vies with 
Chionodoxa Luciliae for attention, and on the 
northern aspect. Crocuses were still at their best. 
Double Daffodils and Tulipa Gesneriana were 
flowering side by side in numbers. Several trees 
and shrubs are flowering while others are pushing 
up their buds. Erica carnea is very fine and Pyrus 
japonica Maulei is opening its bright orange flowers. 
Clumps of Yucca filamentosa and Y. flaccida have 
stood the winter well ; the latter flowers even more 
grandly than the former. 
An interesting feature is the improvements being 
effected by Mr. Melville in an old, overgrown and 
exhausted shrubbery. Many of the Portugal 
Laurels have been dying for the last few years, and 
have been rooted out. By the removal and re¬ 
arrangement of other subjects, winding recesses, and 
glades have been formed. These are turfed down, 
and the margins planted with many interesting sub¬ 
jects, including Daffodils, Primroses, Roses, and 
Clematis. The latter are to be allowed to ramble 
over the larger shrubs or trees of no value, and must 
constitute a feature of great value when they become 
established. Although only carried out during the 
past winter, these intricate and receding recesses 
add a freshness to the old shrubbery, and are likely 
to be extended. Primroses were first planted in this 
park amongst a clump of trees near the lodge, and 
the place is spoken of as the Beaconsfield corner. 
Various bulbous plants have also been planted here, 
but the Primroses are so far established that they 
ripen seeds which sow themselves, germinate and 
grow into plants. 
-- 
Small Seeds. 
The strong sunshine, together with the parching 
winds, has so dried the surface of the soil gener¬ 
ally that small seeds have some difficulty in 
finding sufficient moisture to cause them to germi¬ 
nate ; especially is this so on ground that has been 
recently dug. Should the weather continue dry, 
as it did last season, all seeds sown on such will 
remain for some considerable time before they start 
into growth. If the ground be trod firm it will 
prevent the too rapid evaporation of moisture ; the 
drills ought also to be drawn deeper in dry weather, 
as by so doing there will be less fear of the plants 
suffering when they have made a start. Such seeds 
as Carrots, Beet, Parsnips and Lettuce, not being of a 
pulpy nature, require more moisture to cause them 
to germinate, and after they have started, till 
sufficient roots are formed to supply nourishment. 
For all such seeds it is far preferable that the 
ground be dug in the autumn or early winter, and 
dressed down before it becomes too dry in spring, 
as this would prevent a too rapid evaporation after¬ 
wards. It is doubtless a good plan to lork over 
ground where it is intended to sow seeds v:ry early, 
as this helps to dry the surface and therefore make 
it work more freely. But where seed is sown after 
the surface has become very dry, the ground should 
be trod so as to press the soil together in order that 
the moisture may be retained in it. The reason 
that the seed of so many crops fail to make a start 
in dry seasons is because the soil has been worked 
about and turned over so many times as to allow 
almost every particle of moisture to escape. Could 
more of the ground be prepared in autumn and 
winter there would be less fear of crops failing to 
make a start. 
We have often seen farmers work the ground 
previous to sowing Mangolds and Turnips to such 
