July 21, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
737 
I 
with its fine old square tower, and such enthusiasm 
as I had left, for I am unaccustomed to a rough 
country walk, was again lit up hy a talk with the 
genial station master at Oxted, and the superinten- 
dant at the hook-stall, who is a keen lover of flowers, 
for they informed me that the bee and the butterfly 
Orchis were to be had for the gathering, on the level 
ground of the railway and its slopes, betwixt the 
station and the southern mouth of the tunnel, so 
next year I hope to take the same walk in the oppo¬ 
site direction.— J. C. Stogdon, Inglenook, Bellaggio. 
-- 
FLOWER GARDENING AT 
OLYMPIA. 
It has been the aim of the Directors of Olympia to 
provide, in connection with their huge establishment 
at Kensington, one of the most beautiful and attrac¬ 
tive promenades to be found in London, and they 
have succeeded to an extent that could hardly have 
been anticipated a few months ago. The space 
utilised last year has been nearly doubled in extent, 
and the promenade now extends the whole length of 
the southern side of the building. Unfortunately 
for the Directors the space at command is much 
restricted, but this, it is hoped, will be got over at 
no distant date, for there is the will and means to 
extend the boundary wherever the land is available. 
Still, it is astonishing what has been done already, 
and how much the promenade is enjoyed, for a 
narrow roadway has been converted into a thing of 
beauty. A fine screen of Lombardy Poplars, 400 in 
number, has been planted round the boundary fence, 
backed up with Ivies and other climbers, and in 
front of this a serpentine border has been made the 
entire length, edged with turf and raised well above 
the pathway. A similar design is also carried out 
on the opposite, or'building side, with the addition 
of admirably executed bits of rockwork, waterfalls, 
and tanks for aquatics. The backs of both borders 
have been very tastefully planted with shrubs, ever¬ 
greens, and deciduous things of a bright and orna¬ 
mental character, while the immediate front is of 
course ablaze with bedding plants of all descriptions 
kept in exceedingly neat trim by the able gardener 
in charge, Mr. Dick. Here and there the walls of 
the buildings have been covered with virgin cork, 
with " pockets ” literally running over with floral 
beauty, and in picturesquely contrived grottoes the 
splashing of the waters makes refreshing music for 
the ears of the thousands of visitors daily flocking 
to the wonderful show. 
The illumination of the grounds has been carried 
out on a scale never before attempted in the United 
Kingdom. The whole is a perfect harmony of crys¬ 
tal devices thoroughly consistent with the Oriental 
nature of the exhibition, and is in itself a great 
attraction. A series of crystal arcades, illuminated 
by gas, converge to the centres, in which are flower¬ 
beds and fountains, surmounted by resplendent 
temples of crystal work, each, when illuminated, 
conveying the impression that it is a magnificent 
edifice, set with innumerable sparkling gems. The 
gorgeous structure at the eastern end, which affords 
protection as it were to a splendid bed of single 
Begonias, is a new and magnificent setting for these 
gems of the flower garden. Another large circular 
bed of double Begonias is also a grand feature, but 
the great attraction for the multitude is a circular 
carpet bed, 13 ft. in diameter, most neatly carried 
out in a design of Turkish crescents,and stars in the 
centre of which stands a gigantic floral Peacock, 
measuring 9 ft. 6 in. in length from its beak to the 
tip of its expansive tail, and as a bit of designing 
and artistic colouring, considering the nature of the 
plants e(nployed, it is surprisingly well done. We may, 
or we may not, care for such things, but we can 
admire the cleverness of the work, and certain it is 
that while it may not hit the taste of those who see 
the greatest beauty in a Turnip field, and find the 
great enjoyment of their lives in a bunch of weeds, 
it is an attraction for “ the general,” and a less 
harmful one than some others. The Peacock has, 
indeed, already “ caught on ” ; and rumour has it that 
it has already begun to lay, and may prove a 
veritable "oof-bird” to the establishment. The 
pendant crystals stirred by a gentle breeze give 
forth sounds that seem to fill the gardens with 
quaint and curious melody. At the western end will 
be found a series of magnificent Turkish arches in 
crystal work supported hy columns. On each 
column is a glittering device in crystal of a Turkish 
lantern surmounted with a copper capital, each 
reflecting the rays of light and producing a wondrous 
dazzling effect. The arches are connected on either 
side by means of gas rails, and from each are 
suspended ornamented crystal devices of crescent 
shape, and connected by means of chain of the same 
material, from which are suspended some 400 hang¬ 
ing baskets of plants, the whole creating an effect 
when illuminated at night which is singularly novel 
and pleasing. We should not omit to add that the 
work of constructing and planting the garden was 
intrusted by the directors to Messrs. John Laing & 
Sons, who have given them complete satisfaction ; 
and for Mr. Bick, the Company's gardener, it is but 
just we should add that high praise should be 
accorded to him for the exceeding neatness which 
he constantly maintains under circumstances which 
would try the temper of a horticultural saint. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
on the loth inst., the following subjects were certifi¬ 
cated according to merit:— 
Rubus japonica tricolor. —The variegation of 
this recent importation is well marked and beautiful 
when the plant is seen in good form. The leaves are 
small, and vary from ovate to cordate and three- 
lobed, with a heart-shaped base, and are variously 
variegated with white, or often wholly white with 
red petioles and ribs. At some distance the plant 
strongly resembles 'Vitis heterophylla variegata, and 
is very effective. First-class Certificate. Exhibited 
by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Lilium Thumbergianum Horsmani.— The habit of 
L. Thunbergianum is very dwarf, varying, as a rule, 
from 6 in. to 12 in., and bearing one to six or more 
flowers on the top. They are large and widely 
spread, and in this desirable new variety are dark 
crimson almost hiding the crimson spots. The 
correct name of this showy garden Lily should be 
Lilium elegans cruentum. First-class Certificate. 
Exhibited by Messrs. Wallace & Co., Colchester. 
SoNERiLLA Mrs. H. Walter. —This and several 
others were obtained by the crossing of S. orientalis 
with S. Henderson! elegans. The large leaves are 
ovate-elliptic, cordate at the base, olive-green, and 
thickly marked all over with oval or circular, grey 
spots. It is a showy plant, robust, and evidently 
easily grown. Award of Merit. Exhibited by Messrs. 
F. Sander & Co., St. Albans. 
Calochortus venustus Vesta. —The stems ot 
this strong-growing Mariposa Lily attain a height 
of 3 ft., producing large and showy flowers of a 
creamy-white, except the base of the segments, 
which are yellow with a large brown eye-like spot. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by G. F. Wilson, Esq., 
F.R.S., Weybridge Heath. 
Calochortus venustus purpurascsns.— -The 
three inner segments of most of the Calochorti are 
the largest and most conspicuous feature of the 
flower. In this case the outer face is of a deep 
purple, but the inner one is white, splashed with 
purple at the base, and having a large, brownish- 
crimson blotch belo V the middle. It is a bold and 
showy variety. Award of Merit. Exhibited by G. 
F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S. 
Bougainvillea glabra Coker Court var. —The 
Bougainvilleas owe their beauty to the three large 
bracts surrounding the small flowers. In this case the 
bracts are of a rich, dark majenta purple, uniform in 
tone, and make the ordinary form look pale hy com¬ 
parison. Award of Merit. Exhibited by W. R. Hall, 
Esq. (gardener. Air. S. Kidley), Coker Court, Yeovil. 
Carnation Winifred. —The flowers of this new 
border variety are of a rich shade of salmon with 
slightly incurved petals, the outer of which are the 
broadest. They are of a large size, bold, showy and 
suitable for border culture. Award of Merit. 
Exhibited by AI. R. Smith, Esq. (gardener. Mr. 
Blick), The Warren, Hayes. 
Clematis Lady Ashcombe. —The flowers of this 
beautiful variety are large and single, with six 
roundly rhomboid, much imbricate soft blue or 
mauve sepals. Award of Merit. Exhibited by 
Messrs. Ivery & Son, Dorking. 
Sweet Pea Salopian.— The standard of this 
variety is dark crimson and variously netted and 
shaded with a metallic blue colour that is difficult to 
describe. The wings are crimson-scarlet. Award of 
Alerit. Exhibited by Air. H. Eckford, Wem. 
Sweet Pea Countess of Powis. —The flowers of 
this sort are large and rich rose, prominently netted 
and fragrant. The standard is shaded with scarlet. 
Award of Merit. Exhibited by Air. FI. Eckford. 
Chrysanthemu.m maximum AIaurice Prichard. 
—In this we have a seedling from C. maximum with 
lanceolate, deep green leaves. The flowers are 
much larger than in the type with broader imbrica¬ 
ting white rays surrounding a bold, yellow disc. 
'Pentstemon Jean Mace.— The size of the 
flowers of this variety is a great feature in their 
favour. The tube and lamina on both surfaces are 
bright crimson-scarlet, the latter being very large. 
The conspicuous white throat is white with a few 
streaks of red. It is a bold and showy flower. 
Award of Alerit. Exhibited by Sir Trevor Law¬ 
rence, Bart, (gardener, Mr. W. Bain), Burford Lodge, 
Dorking. 
Begonia Lord Dunraven. —The blooms of this 
tuberous variety are large and double with very 
broad, crimson-scarlet, slightly wavy petals, 
arranged round a single centre. Award of Alerit. 
Exhibited by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons, Forest 
Hill. 
Neatness. —Here again the flowers are double 
but moderate in size, very neat, and rich scarlet 
with the wavy and crisped petals arranged in one 
rosette like a miniature Hollyhock. The leaves 
are a’so small and olive-green. Award of Alerit. 
Exhibited by Messrs. J. Laing & Sons. 
Begonia Laing's Fringed White.— The blooms 
in this instance are single, and of great size with 
broad, rounded, rather deeply fringed, pure white 
petals. The fringed character of the flowers consti¬ 
tutes a new type from which others of the same class 
may be bred. Award of Alerit. Exhibited by Alessrs. 
J. Laing & Sons. 
-- 
RAYLESS VIOLAS. 
Last week, a large boxful of rayless Violas, or tufted 
Pansies, as they are sometimes termed, was sent us 
by Dr. Stuart, Hillside, Chirnside, N:B. The range 
of variation in blue, yellow, and white varieties, 
is now extremely great and bewildering to those who, 
at a casual glance, would like to distinguish one from 
the other. Viola specialists, but particularly enthu¬ 
siasts, can readily distinguish forms with the slightest 
variation in a shade of colour, particularly if they see 
the plants growing, or have them under their care. 
Those who are less acquainted with them, and who 
desire to commence their cultivation would have 
difficulty in selecting the best, or what they would 
consider as such. Where all are so good, we cannot 
see that any particular one is the best; it is merely 
a matter of individual opinion, and for selection 
accordingly. If the would-be cultivator desires 
varieties of a particular shade of colour, he may 
either select them for himself or allow the raiser to 
do so. By commencing with a few varieties he can 
then go on from change to change, seeking greater 
advances along any given line, whether for size, habit, 
or colour. This he will be able to do as his acquaint¬ 
ance with this beautiful race of Violas grows. The 
purest white variety sent us was Vestal, a circular 
and very chaste flower indeed, and of medium size. 
In a bunch of seedling flowers of this year, we noted 
something very closely identical with Vestal. Some 
had a larger golden blotch at the eye, and others had 
a pale sulphur tint approaching that of Sylvia, 
Sylvia’s Rival, and others of that class. Virgo was 
a beautiful round flower, but with a sulphur tint com¬ 
pared with Vestal; yet it would be correctly classed 
amongst the Whites. Christiania was larger than 
the last with a golden blotch extending a short way 
down from the eye. A seedling of this year, and 
named Snowflake was in the way of Snowdrift, and 
owing to a faint blush of lavender on the back looked 
like very fine linen that had heen washed with indigo 
to bleach it. A miniature named Picotee is suitable 
for bouquets, and is now pretty well known. 
The yellow varieties sent were moderately numerous, 
A good one of this year had a golden lip and some¬ 
what paler upper petals. A paler one, named Leezie 
Lindsay, (1894) certainly handsome, but the 
gold on the lip formed a large blotch ; the rest was 
uniform clear yellow. Airs. Primrose was of a soft 
primrose with a large, almost orange blotch on the 
lip. Primrose Queen was of a uniform primrose, 
except the eye. The richest of the yellows was a 
miniature named Gold Crest (1894) and w’as nearly of 
a uniform golden yellow. 
The blue sorts were very numerous, the richest of 
the large types being simply named (1894). 
