August 11, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
786 
proximity to the iron, for till close on the middle of 
the last century iron ores were smelted entirely with 
wood charcoal, hence the name "the Furnace 
Wood.’’ It is claimed that the iron railings round 
St. Paul’s were made here, though I have heard 
that other localities claim the same distinction. 
There were heaps of charcoal still lying about which 
no doubt had been made years and years ago, 
though the trade of charcoal burning still exists in 
the neighbourhood, the product being used chiefly 
for chemical purposes. Around the old mill dam, 
too, the path was partly made of pieces of iron slag. 
In the wood we searched for the Sweet Gale, 
which is stated to grow here, but I am’ sorry to say 
without success. In the rides underneath the trees 
we found one of the smallest of our wild flowers, the 
very pretty little Flax-seed or All-seed, with its 
thousand grains, growing with its stems constantly 
branching at right angles ; and the pond itself was 
redolent with the scent of Meadow Sweet, which 
was growing in the greatest profusion. On our way 
to another large pond we gathered Gipsywort, the 
dye of which is even more efficacious and lasting 
than that of the Walnut juice; and in a hedge the 
Orpine was growing abundantly, though not yet in 
full flower. An old name of this was Live Long, 
given to it by reason of its great tenacity of life, and 
this was afterwards lengthened into Live Long Love 
Long, owing to an old custom indulged in by 
betrothed maidens, who gathered plants on Mid¬ 
summer’s eve and placed them in a trencher, 
estimating their lovers’ constancy by the continued 
flourishing, or the reverse, of one or the other plant. 
We crossed the road from East Grinstead to 
Three Bridges, and soon approached the Hedge 
Court Pond, a large sheet of water of about sixty 
acres, and found the Zigzag Clover in a field border¬ 
ing the pond, and in the water itself, a somewhat 
uncommon plant, the Water Dropwort, grows up 
through the water and lines the bank with its leaves, 
which later on turn to a bright red colour. Here 
too was the Shore Wort, which often forms a turf 
on the sides of lakes, and growing on the margin 
was the Yellow Loosestrife, just coming into bloom 
with its roots flourishing in the water to the length 
of 6 ft. This plant used to be attached to the pole 
between the oxen, which was supposed to keep them 
quiet and ruly. In the pond was also growing the 
Anacharis, irreverently, called Damnosa Babbing- 
toniana, which I won’t translate, the specific name 
being derived from Mr. Babbington, who, it is said, 
introduced the plant from Canada to this country, 
where it has spread to the extent of becoming a 
perfect curse, and very large sums have been spent 
by canal companies for its extermination, so greatly 
was traflfic hindered and even stopped by it. I 
understand that the female plant alone is to be found 
in this country, and that it has been spread by wild 
fowl carrying it from water to water ; for the least 
piece of it grows. What would have happened if 
the male plant had also been introduced is a problem 
I hope may never come within practical" botanies.” 
There were a good many swans on the Edge Court 
pool, and they eagerly devour the plant as food, so 
keeping it within bounds. 
The Meadow Plume Thistle was in full bloom in 
the marshy spots around—a charming flower on a 
solitary stalk, which one need not be afraid to gather 
as the stem is soft and downy and the leaves, too, 
have no offensive prickles. We again took to the 
fields gathering the Field Scabious and the Toad 
Flax as we went, and then came on the third of the 
pools containing, I should say, some thirty acres. 
This is now named the Wire Mill pool, but was 
formerly known as the Woodcock pool, evidently 
from the neighbouring woods being a favourite place 
of resort for these birds. The direct road from 
London to Lewes runs at the foot of this pool, and 
the sight of the Water Lilies, (some six acres of 
them) from the top of the coach must have been a 
lovely sight. It was to us from the margin of the 
pond. Here we found the Buckbean or Marsh Tre¬ 
foil growing in the greatest abundance. I should 
certainly say there must have'been a patch of them at 
least three acres in extent; and this and the Bulrushes 
form an excellent breeding place for the waterfowl, 
which I am told are here very numerous and of 
many kinds. In fact, from the kindly forethought 
of the owner (Mr. Gatty) in not allowing them to 
be disturbed, many birds breed here which are 
scarcely to be found breeding elsewhere in England. 
We did not see any of the Reed Mace growing here. 
the Rushes being the the true Bull or Pool Rush, 
from which baskets and the bottoms of chairs are 
made. In the standing water by the side of the pool 
we found the Water Purslane, with its little green 
flowers, and to make up for our disappointment in 
not finding the Sweet Gale, we were rewarded by the 
discovery of the Greater Bladderwort, a most curious 
and interesting plant. The bladders are attached to 
the leaves and shoots and are filled with water until 
the time for flowering comes on, when the water 
escapes and air takes the place of the water, thus buoy¬ 
ing the leaves and stems above the water to enable 
the flower to be fully developed. After the plant 
has flowered, the bladders become again full of 
water and weigh the plant down so that it may ripen 
its seeds. The bladders have an elastic valve open¬ 
ing inwards, through which the water animalculae 
make their way into the interior of the bladder until 
it becomes full up, but whether or no the Bladder- 
wort has a digesting power such as is known to exist 
in the Sundews I am unable to state. 
The Miller, who has a charming farmhouse at the 
end of the lake, was kind enough to extend his hospi¬ 
tality to us, so refreshed and set up we found our 
walk home of two miles and a half most pleasant, 
J. C. Stogdon, Inglenook, Bellaggio. 
-- 
VENTILATING GEAR. 
When recently visiting Mr. J. Lowe’s nursery and 
market growing establishment at Uxbridge, where 
Chrysanthemums, Roses, Carnations, Tomatos, etc., 
are grown so extensively, we were much interested in 
an improved form of mechanical gear for opening 
and regulating the top and side ventilators of the 
houses, the invention of Messrs. Morgan and Lowe, 
Melrose Villa, Uxbridge, and which they rightly 
claim as "the gear work of the future," for it is at 
once the simplest, most efficient, and cheapest that 
has yet come under our notice. 
Many of Mr. Lowe’s houses are ventilated on 
what is called the Guernsey system, in which the 
lifters or openers are attached to a wooden rod, 
running the whole length of the houses, which 
is moved backwards and forwards for opening 
and closing the lights by means of a wheel and 
ratchet arrangement at one end. The objection 
to this and other systems of a somewhat similar 
kind is that the lifters, in order to open lights 
sufficiently wide, must be fixed very flat, i.e., less 
than the angle of 45°. This, of course, requires a 
great strain when commencing to open the lights, 
as the tendency is rather to rack than to lift 
them. All this is now completely overcome by 
adopting radial motion instead of direct action. 
In the older systems the opening lifters are attached 
directly to the running gear, and the lights opened 
by diagonal pressure ; in the new system of Messrs. 
Morgan and Lowe, direct action is substituted by 
attaching the opener and the rod to a half circular 
piece of iron, pivoted on the wall plate, as shown in 
the accompanying illustration. The advantages of 
the system are obvious, for it prevents any strain 
whatever; no counter-balances of any kind are 
required ; the lights are all opened exactly the same 
distance, are rigidly held in positioa, and shut up close; 
while the power required throughout the gear when 
opening is equally distributed throughout the whole 
length, as proved by a spring balance. The patentees 
also claim that one set of gear will open side or 
top ventilators for the length of 500 ft. In Mr. 
Lowe’s houses the gear is worked by means of a 
lever placed just inside the house, but it can be 
done equally as well outside by means of a wheel 
and ratchet at a slight additional cost. The 
improvement will undoubtedly be a great boon to 
the trade. 
SOUTHAMPTON FLORAL FETE. 
This great annual exhibition was held in the West- 
wood Park last Saturday and Monday, and turned 
out a great success as far as the quality and quantity 
of exhibits went. We do not wonder at this when 
perusing the liberal prize schedule. Thirty-nine 
pounds for two classes of stove and greenhouse 
.plants and considerably over twenty pounds 
for two classes of groups with other prizes in pro¬ 
portion is certain to command good competition. 
Throughout the show the exhibits were of high 
merit, especially the plants, groups and collections 
of nursery stock. 
For ten stove or greenhouse plants Mr. J. Cypher, 
Queen’s Road Nurseries, Cheltenham, was first. In 
this collection Crotons, Chelsoni and Sunset were 
grand. We also noted splendid examples of Kentia 
Fosteriana and K. australis ; a very clean and well 
grown Latania borbonica of Immense size and a 
beautifully flowered Phoenocoma prolifera Barnesii. 
Mr. T. Wilkins, gardener to Lady Guest, Henstridge, 
Blandford, well deserved second, and had grand 
plants of Kalosanthe coccinea major with a well 
grown Ixora Williamsii. An equally good third 
was found in Mr. F. C. Jennings, gardener to W. 
Garton, Esq., Roselands, Woolston. Mr. Cypher 
was also first for six stove and greenhouse plants. 
Mr. Jennings being in front of Mr. Wilkins in this 
class. In a collection for six miscellaneous plants 
Mr. N. Blandford, gardener to Mrs. Haslefoot, 
Moorhill, West End, was successful. Grand plants 
of Cycas circinalis and Croton Mortii were notice¬ 
able here. Mr. Peel, gardener to Miss Todd, 
Shirley, and Mr. Hall, gardener to Sir S. Montagu, 
Bart , were second and third. Mr. Cypher won with 
a grand Erica Austiniana in the class for a specimen 
plant in bloom; Mr. Jennings being second here 
and first for six stove or greenhouse F'erns. The 
first prize for a specimen foliage plant went to Mr. 
Evans, gardener to Lady Louisa Ashburton for a 
magnificent Cycas revoluta ; Mr. Jennings following. 
Groups of miscellaneous plants were among the 
best I have seen, Mr. E. Carr, gardener to W. A. 
Gillett, Esq., Fair Oak Lodge, Bishopstone, being 
first in the premier class with a charming and taste¬ 
ful arrangement; Mr. Wills, nurseryman, Shirley, 
and Mr. T. Wilkins, gardener to Lady T. Guest, 
following rather closely. Mr. Peel, gardener to 
Miss Todd, was in front of Mr. Hall, gardener to 
Sir S. Montagu, Bart., in the next class for a 
smaller group. The first prizes for the following 
subjects went as placed :—Six Begonias, Mr. E. 
Wills, nurseryman, Shirley ; four double ditto, Mr. 
J. Huges, gardener to W. Baring, Esq., Norman 
Court, Dean ; four double Pelargoniums, Mr. G. 
Windebank, Bevois Mount Nursery ; while for four 
Zonal Pelargoniums, Mr. J. Stratton, nurseryman, 
Shirley, was first. Mr. Hall was first for six Coleus 
and six Coxcombs. A collection of Orchids found 
Mr. E. Carr and Mr. N. Blandford closely together, 
the award going as placed. Mr. Carr was also first 
for a single specimen. One of the chief features 
was the groups of miscellaneous plants from nursery¬ 
men, Mr. E. Wills, Shirley, being first, and Mr. 
Bealing, Sholing, a close second. Mr. Webster, 
gardener to E. J. Preston, Esq., beat Mr. Peel for 
six table plants. 
Cut Flowers and Table Decorations.— In this 
division Miss K. Golding, of Portswood Nursery, 
was most successful, and deservedly so, fer we have 
seldom seen such tasteful arrangements. She was 
first for table decorations, for the most tastefully- 
arranged basket, and also a vase. Messrs. Perkins 
& Sons, of Coventry, also made a good show in this 
division, being well in front for twenty-four cut 
Roses (grand), the best ball-room bouquet, bridal 
ditto, and six buttonholes. Messrs. Keynes & Co. 
were second for Roses and first in both open classes 
for Dahlias. Mr. W. Neville, gardener to F. W. 
Flight, Esq., Twyford, was in front in the chief class 
for amateurs’ Roses. In Mr. Ladham’s winning 
collection of herbaceous flowers the most notable 
was the new hardy Gladiolus, La Fayette. For 
twelve bunches of cut flowers Mr. Evans was first. 
Mr. W. Baring, Norman Court, beat Mr. £. Carr, 
for twelve Carnations. 
Fruit was both good and plentiful, the chief prizes 
being for six dishes, in which Mr. H. W. Ward, 
gardener to the Earl of Radnor, Salisbury, was in 
front of Mr. Evans. Mr. Mitchell, gardener to J. 
W. Fleming, Esq., Chillworth Manor, beat Mr. 
Ward for three bunches of black Grapes, and Mr. J. 
