June 16, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
667 
DEATH OF MR. FRED. HORSMAN. 
With deep regret we have to record the deatli on 
the 2 nd inst., at his residence, Hollybrook, Col¬ 
chester, of Mr. Frederick James Serle Jlorsman, of 
the firm of Messrs. Fred Horsman & Co., the well- 
known orchid growers and importers of Marks Tey, 
at the comparatively early age of 51 years. Poor 
Horsman ! The honest, straightforward, and good- 
hearted fellow had not been looking well for a long 
time. He had suffered considerable shock to his 
system in the Manor Park railway acccident, and of 
late he suffered still more acutely from Bright’s 
disease. He was ill when at the Temple show, but 
was able to attend to his business until a few days 
before his death, when a sharp attack of Bright’s 
malady carried him off. 
A spare built, wiry looking man, and an active, 
hard working man to boot, Fred. Horsman was a 
well-known habitue of the orchid sale rooms for many 
years and there can be but few orchid growers to 
whom he was not known and respected, while the 
number of his friends was legion in the town of 
Colchester, where he took a great interest in 
Masonic, Conservative, and Church matters. He 
was for some years Vicar’s Churchwarden at St. 
Paul’s, Colchester; in 1889 he was Worshipful 
Master of the Angel Lodge of F reemasons, and a 
member of some other lodges, including the recently 
formed Hortus Lodge in London ; and not long ago 
Lord Brooke, now the Earl of Warwick, appointed 
him Assistant' Director of Ceremonies in the Pro¬ 
vincial Grand Lodge of Essex. He was born on 
January, 15 th, 1844 , at Southampton, where his 
father, who is still alive and residing at Lyndhurst, 
was a nurseryman, and in his father’s nursery he 
commenced his horticultural career. As a young 
man he spent some time in the old F'ulham 
Nurseries of the late brothers Thomas and William 
Osborn. From Fulham he went to the nursery of 
Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, at Chelsea, and was 
there during the interesting period in the history of 
that establishment when the valuable discoveries 
and introductions of the late Mr. John Gould Veitch 
in Japan and elsewhere were being propagated and 
sent out—an epoch making period, surely, in the 
history of British horticulture. On leaving 
Chelsea he joined Dr. Wallace, of Lily fame, in 
establishing the New Plant and Bulb Company of 
Colchester, and while with that firm made several 
journeys to South America in search of Orchids and 
other plants, in which adventurous work he was very 
successful. Subsequently, in conjunction with a 
friend, he established the well-known Orchid 
nursery at Marks Tey near Colchester, and it is no 
exaggeration to say that during his lengthened 
business career some hundreds of thousands of 
Orchids must have passed through his hands. 
The funeral, which took place on the 7 th, inst. was 
^ttended by a great number of his fellow townsmen, 
and as the body of the well tried and trusty friend^ 
followed by the mourners, entered the churchyard, 
passed between the Freemasons who lined the path¬ 
way, the processional hymn, •' Brief life is here our 
portion ” was sung. A large number of floral tributes 
were sent by relatives and friends including a 
beautiful wreath of roses from his father "To his 
good and beloved son ’’; a magnificent horse-shoe 
shaped device formed of Lilies from his family ; and 
a beautiful wreath kindly made by Miss Philbrick, 
sister of Mr. F. A. Philbrick, Q.C., the Recorder of 
Colchester, and sent " In loving remembrance of W. 
Bro. Fred Horsman P.M., P.P. A.G.D C., from the 
Brethren of his Lodge (Angel Lodge, No. 51 ). At 
the conclusion of the service at the grave the 
Freemasons, filed past, and each deposited a sprig of 
Acacia and a white Glove on the coffin. In our next 
issue we shall give a portrait of the deceased orchidist. 
-- 
THE VARIEGATED 
JACOB’S LADDER. 
POLEMONIUM CAERULEUM VARIEGATUM, a most 
beautiful hardy plant, has not for some time been 
cultivated to the extent its merits warrant. I believe 
it was more common twenty years ago than it is at 
the present time. In bedding arrangements it forms 
one of the most beautiful edgings it is possible to 
have, its featherydeaves, each pinnule of which is 
distinctly banded with a silvery-white variegation, giv¬ 
ing it an unique appearance, and when so used the 
effect is most pleasing. A stock of it is not so easily 
got up or maintained as is the case with so many things 
used for the same purpose. This should serve as an 
incentive to those who wish to get away from the 
ordinary rut of things to employ it for the purpose 
indicated. Like the green variety, it is quite hardy, 
and capable of withstanding the severest cold we ex¬ 
perience here. But at the same time it is impatient 
of damp during the winter months, so that if kept in 
a frame the lights should be removed on all favour¬ 
able occasions, and when raining have all the air 
which it is possible to give. Those who have light 
dry soils need not lift their plants in the autumn, for 
by drawing away some of the surface soil and then 
spreading fine ashes among the plants, pressing it 
well round their crowns, they will find this plant 
much easier dealt with, and not at all difficult to 
keep. When they make fresh growth in the spring 
divide and plant them where they are to remain. 
Over propagation, I believe, rendered this plant more 
delicate than it really is, and brought it somewhat 
into disfavour with many who would gladly have 
used it.— W. B. G. 
- rnfm - 
FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 
Diervilla grandiflora Van Houttei. —Rose and 
pink varieties of Diervilla, better known as Weige- 
lias, are very common, but a white variety is less so. 
That under notice has white and very chaste flowers, 
which can be appreciated at their due value when 
planted in conjunction with some of the other kinds 
forming clumps or beds. Both leaves and flowers 
are larger than those of D. rosea, the former even 
adding to the beauty of the plant. 
W^HiTE Spanish Broom. —The effect of a few 
large bushes of Cytisus albus in the pleasure grounds 
is very great during May and June, earlier or later 
according to the season. The flowers are white and 
considerably smaller than those of our native Broom, 
but they are produced in much greater profusion. 
As they both flower much about the same time, a 
beautiful contrast could be made by placing them in 
juxtaposition, either in groups or beds. The 
arrangement probably would not answer if they were 
planted in the same bed or even mixed, as they grow 
at an unequal rate. 
Kalmia latifolia. —As the flowers of the Calico 
Bush vary from rose to a pinkish-white when fully 
expanded, so the buds vary in intensity from red or 
crimson to pink. In this stage even the plants are 
ornamental, and decidedly so when in bloom. The 
widely open or almost saucer-shaped flowers develop 
very slowly, and for that reason keep up a display 
during great part of the summer when a number of 
bushes are grown. They are durable even in a cut 
state when cut with stalks. 
Vaccinium corymbosum amoenum. —The variety 
here named is far superior to the type in several 
respects, and from a garden point of view is the most 
deserving of cultivation. The flowers of the type 
are oblong, white, and rather sparingly produced 
in short racemes. In the case of the variety under 
notice, the drooping racemes are longer, and the 
foliage is of a beautiful bronzy hue, at least in the 
young state. The buds are deep red or crimson, and 
the calyx retains this hue when fully developed; the 
five-angled corolla on the other hand is pinkish- 
white. When seen side by side the difference is 
very marked. 
Rhododendron punctatum.— Amongst American 
Rhododendrons this comes nearest of any to the 
European type represented by R. ferrugineum and 
R. myrtifolium. Its elliptic leaves are usually i in. 
to in. in. length, and densely covered with small 
rusty spots beneath. The flowers are very abun¬ 
dantly produced in trusses terminating the shoots, 
and are pink in bud expanding to a pale blush, or 
they may even be white at first. In other cases they 
are rose and dotted internally, but they are probably 
in all cases furnished with some rusty spots at the 
base of the upper segment of the corolla. It is an 
easy grown species and is suitable for shrubberies. 
R. CINNABARINUM.— As a rule this is only con¬ 
sidered half hardy, and comes from the Sikkim 
Himalayas. The flowers are comparatively long for 
their width and somewhat funnel-shaped and deep red; 
sometimes the segments have yellow edges, and 
their interior is yellow with red veins, and flushed 
with red. They are not very freely produced in the 
open air, but may so be seen in the pleasure grounds 
at Kew at the present time. Their form and colour 
are very distinct, and for that reason the plant 
might be more frequently planted in the warmer 
districts of the south and west. 
Leiophyllum buxifolium. —The leaves of this 
American, peat-loving plant are oval, small, and, 
as the specific name implies, bear some resemblance 
to those of the Box. The plant is of close, bushy 
habit, not exceeding a foot in height, although more 
frequently under it. W^hen well established it pro¬ 
duces a great quantity of small white flowers in 
trusses terminating the small shoots. Altogether it 
is well adapted as an edging plant to large beds or 
clumps of Rhododendrons or other American 
or peat-loving plants. 
Kalmia angustifolia.— Individually the flowers 
of this species are small, but they are produced in 
profusion from the axils of the upper leaves, and 
appearing almost terminal, but the axis consists of a 
leafy bud, and continues elongating while the plants 
are in bloom. The flowers are pink with a line of 
red spots at the base, but those of the variety K. a. 
rubra are rosy-red with a line of darker spots. The 
plant seldom exceeds 18 in. or 2 ft. 
Viburnum plicatum. ^—The impression with a 
great many planters is that this handsome Japanese 
shrub is net sufficiently hardy for general planting. 
That idea is hardly tenable in view of the facts 
already known. When planted quite in the open it 
forms a low spreading bush, bearing a large quantity 
of white bloom in semi-globular trusses. Every 
bloom is enlarged like those of the Snowball Tree 
(V. Opulus sterilis), so that it is indeed a showy sub¬ 
ject. The leaves are wrinkled, plaited, and very 
distinct from the thin and three-lobed ones of the 
last named kind. Any ordinary garden soil, if well 
drained, will meet its requirements. 
-» » — ■ 
SUMMER BEDDING. 
At a recent meeting of the Hertford Horticultural 
Society, Mr. E. H. Caterer read a paper on this 
subject which he prefaced with the question. " Is 
summer bedding generally a success ? ’’ He was in¬ 
clined to think that it was not, for after a great deal 
of trouble in preparation, the beds lasted but a very 
brief time at their best. He contended that in most 
gardens a great deal too many beds were huddled 
together, creating the impression of a gaudy blaze of 
colour. After speaking of the havoc wrought by the 
heavy rains, he suggested that much taste was requir¬ 
ed in the arrangement of the colours, as when several 
bright hues were crowded together one colour killed 
the other, and the effect was thus spoilt. There 
were, however, several beautiful bedding plants, 
which were not much hurt by the rain, and he would 
mention, among these, the Begonias, which, in his 
opinion, were not highly enough prized. One grand 
thing about these flowers was that they required but 
little attention beyond keeping them frost-proof 
during the winter, while they were most valuable on 
account of the length of time during which they con¬ 
tinued in bloom. Wbat could be better, he sub¬ 
mitted, than the effect produced by white Begonias 
springing from a bed of blue Lobelias, or of scarlet 
Begonias on a groundwork of white Violas. The 
single and semi-double varieties were best, but care 
should be taken, in selecting the seed, to obtain it 
only from the erect flowering kinds. The cultivation 
of Violas was very easy, for by taking a stock of 
cuttings in the autumn, and dibbing them into a cold 
frame, or under hand-lights, plenty of good strong 
plants would be grown for bedding out in the summer. 
Of these attractive plants, he could personally 
recommend the Countess of Hopetoun and Pilrig 
Park (white), Ardwell Gem (yellow) and Bullion 
(yellow), Tory and Holyrood (blue), and for mis¬ 
cellaneous varieties. Skylark, Magpie and Goldfinch. 
Pelargoniums, more generally spoken of as Geran¬ 
iums, were the plants most largely used for bedding, 
but as they were very extensively damaged by heavy 
rains, they should be utilized as sparingly as possible. 
His experience told him that the old Vesuvius, 
West Brighton Gem, Master Christine, and Indian 
Yellow carried their trusses through the summer 
storms better than any other kinds. For massing 
in beds the Czar, Marechal Macmahon, Master¬ 
piece, and Mrs. Pollock were very good. Calceo¬ 
larias, where they succeeded, were a great help in 
the bedding, but they were rather uncertain, and it 
was very discouraging to have the work of weeks 
rendered of no avail by one foul stroke. In their 
place he had used one of the Marigolds, Tagetes 
signata primula, a fast-growing and freely-flowering 
