March 7th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
423 
give them is one where the sun would not fall upon 
them until eleven or twelve o’clock. I can well 
remember, when, forty-nine years ago, my father, 
who was very fond of his Pieonies, used to syringe the 
the flowers of a morning before the sun fell upon 
them; and, as a matter of course not until danger of 
the water freezing on the flowers had passed. 
The following is a good selection of choice named 
varieties: — Adelaide de Lache, rosy purple; 
Alba - plenissima, pure white; Alice Julvicourt, 
blush, centre white ; Amabilis, satin rose ; Ambrose 
Verschaffelt, rich purple, sweet scented; Bossuet, 
magenta rose ; Carnea, delicate flesh colour; 
Charles Binder, rich magenta rose ; Dakrica plena, 
purple ; Formosa, black ; Gloriosa, purple crimson ; 
Leonic, blush white ; Madame Furtado, magenta and 
salmon rose; Madame Lebon, rich purple rose; 
Officinalis rubra plena, rich crimson, very large; 
Purpurea-superba, rich glowing purple; Sir Stafford 
Northcote, rose, changing to pink; The Queen, blush 
rose, very large and fine ; and Versicolor, deep rose 
All the foregoing are double-flowered varieties. There 
are a number of single-flowered varieties also, but, 
charming as they are, they do not take the same rank 
as decorative agents as do the double forms; their 
culture is in all respects the same as that recommended 
for the latter. 
I remember that Mr. W. Bobinson once suggested 
beds of Pamnies, associated with Lilies and Gladioli, 
and edged with Plantain Lilies (Funkias); and of the 
latter he mentions such fine varieties as subcordata 
grandiflora, for light green; Sieboldiana, for a blue 
green ; and ovata for a dark green foliage; and of the 
variegated leaved kinds, viridis marginata, silver 
edged; and aureo-maculata, golden variegated foliage. 
Really fine combinations might be worked out by the 
employment of such agents.-— Quo. 
— s~ — -± S-*£> C_l- - " c — 
NOTES FROM GARDENS. 
Harefield Grove Gardens.— In visiting Hare- 
field a few days since we found that very considerable 
additions have been made since our last visit, about 
two years ago, and that a large staff of men are at 
the present time engaged in building several new 
fruit and plant-growing houses, some of them of 
great size. When these are completed, and this will 
shortly be the case, there will be 102 hot-houses, 
greenhouses, vineries, and other glass structures. To 
give some idea of the rapid growth of this establish¬ 
ment, it may be stated that the following glass-houses 
have been erected, or are in course of erection, since 
May last:—Twenty-eight houses, respectively for 
Odontoglossums (Orchids), 30 ft. by 11 ft.; Cyclamens 
only, 103 ft. by 9 ft.; propagating-house, 40 ft. by 
18 ft.; Eucharis only, 52 ft. by 18 ft.; Gardenias 
(Cape Jasmines) only, 132 ft. by 18 ft.; Bouvardias 
only, 90 ft. by 12 ft.; Camellia-house, 30 ft. by 
18 ft.; a seed-house, 36 ft. by 11 ft.; three Cucumber- 
houses, one 331 ft. by 15 ft., and two each 150 ft. by 
11 ft.; a house for Melons only, 331 ft. by 9 ft.; a 
Lapageria-house, 50 ft. by 12 ft. ; three houses for 
Peaches only, respectively 250 ft. by 13 ft., 250 ft. 
by 9 ft., and 150 ft. by 11 ft.; a house for specimen 
plants, 40 ft. by 19 ft.; a vinery for Gros Colmar 
Grape only, 68 ft. by 17 ft.; two vineries for Gros 
Maroc Grape only, respectively 68 ft. by 14 ft. and 
65 ft. by 20 ft.; two other vineries for Gros Colmar 
Grape only, one 74 ft. by 17 ft., the other 103 ft. by 
;! 29 ft.; two vineries for Black Alicante Grape only, 
one 70 ft. by 18 ft., the other 103 ft. by 31 ft.; a 
house for Cherries only, 70 ft. by 10 ft.; two houses 
for Tomatos only, one 130 ft. by 9 ft., the other 
130 ft. by 15 ft.; also a range of forcing-pits, 200 ft. 
long and 6 ft. wide; and in this lot of glass-houses 
there are over 36,000 ft. in length of glass structures, 
all fully heated by hot water. 
There are 21 acres of orchards, in which 12,000 
fruit-trees, 50,000 Gooseberry and Currant-trees, and 
20,000 Strawberry-plants are planted; 4,000 Boses 
are planted out in the gardens, and 20,000 Rose-trees 
are cultivated under glass ; 12,000 Strawberry plants 
are grown in pots for early forcing under glass; and 
eight houses, ranging in length from 80 ft. to 330 ft., 
are devoted to Cucumbers, 800 plants being planted 
out in the larger house; 1,250 Cucumber plants 
are already planted out for early forcing, and 750 
have yet to be planted for later crops. Melons are 
most extensively grown here, several houses being 
devoted to their culture, and requiring 1,500 plants 
to stock them. There are twenty houses used as 
vineries, some of them of great size, one now in 
course of erection being 210 ft. long by 30 ft. wide, in 
which 150 plants of that very fine late Grape, Black 
Alicante, will be planted; 350 vines are now in 
fruiting condition, and 300 more will be planted this 
spring. 
Eleven houses, ranging from 34 ft. in length to 
200 ft., are devoted entirely to Peaches and Necta¬ 
rines, the trees showing an enormous crop of blossoms. 
Forced French or dwarf Kidney Beans find a ready 
sale in Covent Garden, and are grown on a most 
extensive scale here, with an anticipated almost 
certain crop of 400,000 pods between March 1st and 
May 1st. Tomatos, another crop for which there is 
a great demand in London, are cultivated here on the 
same equally extensive scale as Cucumbers, about 
2,000 plants being planted out annually. Mushrooms, 
another article for which there is a great demand in 
London, are largely grown here, one Mushroom-house 
being 78 ft. long and 17 ft. wide, with two shelves and 
the ground floor devoted to their culture. This house 
produced lately 1,200 lbs. of Mushrooms, averaging 
Is. 3d. per lb. in Covent Garden. 
After supplying the wants of the proprietor’s family, 
the surplus stock finds ready markets in Covent Garden, 
Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, and other places. 
Flowers for the cut-flower demand are grown on a 
very extensive scale, and, notwithstanding the enor¬ 
mous amount of glass devoted to flowers, Mr. Gough 
is unable at present to keep up a sufficient supply. 
London is the great outlet for these, and very big 
prices are sometimes obtained, especially at Christmas. 
Gardenias, for instance, fetch good prices, their lovely 
fragrant flowers being especially in request for wedding 
bouquets, and command from 12s. to 50s. per dozen 
blooms. A new house, 130 ft. long and 18 ft. wide, is 
now in course of erection purposely for these plants, 
and, as they require considerable heat, an abundant 
supply of hot-water pipes is being laid down. Arum 
Lilies are grown in great quantities, and 18,000 Lily 
of the Valley plants have been flowered already this 
winter. The Tuberose flowers find a very ready 
market, as the flowers are so beautiful and fragrant, 
and are wanted for all purposes; 2,000 of these are 
grown annually. Bouvardias, another lovely class of 
flowers for all purposes, are grown here, no less than 
5,000 plants being flowered annually. 
For next winter’s supply, 30,000 Roman Hyacinths 
and 20,000 Paper White Narcissuses are already 
ordered. Of course, the Maiden-hair Fern is an 
indispensable article in the cut-flower trade, and 
20,000 plants are grown here, but these really fail to 
meet the incessant demand. There are many other 
plants, such as Azaleas, in large quantities ; Camellias, 
a great lot; Orchids, Tree Carnations, Primulas, some 
grand Cyclamens, and a host of other things, besides 
Palms, ornamental stove plants, greenhouse plants, 
&c., &c. The Eucharis amazoniea, a most beautiful 
ivory-white flower, in great request, especially for 
wreaths and crosses, will form a special feature here, 
as a large new house is in course of erection purposely 
for this plant, blooms being always in request, and at 
Christmas last were sought for at 15s. per dozen. The 
Banana in a high state of cultivation is rarely met 
with in this country. At Harefield, a house is devoted 
to its culture, and its luxuriant health is remarkable. 
These were planted out last March, and are now of 
considerable size, all of them with magnificent umbra¬ 
geous foliage, and some bearing enormous clusters of 
fruit under home growth. Three large houses are 
devoted entirely to the cultivation of Pine-apples, 
English-grown fruit still maintaining a superiority 
over imported kinds, and realizing higher prices. 
These, however, are grown for private use only. Vast 
as the glass structures and the fruit and vegetable 
gardens are in extent, the pleasure grounds are 
not the least interesting feature of the place. The 
mansion is situated in beautifully undulated and 
well planted grounds, with rich-wooded surround¬ 
ings. The summer floral display is always good, 
and on a big scale ; for instance, 30,000 Gladioli alone 
will be planted this year. Close to'the mansion, an 
immense croquet and lawn tennis ground, one of the 
largest and handsomest in the country, has just been 
made and planted, and altogether Harefield Grove 
must now be placed in the foremost rank of our great 
English gardens, thanks to the generous spirit of its 
owner, George Webster, Esq., and the clever gardening 
ability of Mr. John Gough.— Walsall Observer. 
—— 
NEW GARDENING PATENTS. 
[ Compiled by Messrs. Lulman <£ Co , 8, Essex Street, 
Strand, W.C.] 
2,109. Folding and Adjustable (Garden) Chair.— 
The side-bars of the chair have several notches on 
the upper sides ; a cross-bar stretching between the 
parts of the frame fit in these notches, and is pre¬ 
vented from coming out by brackets. By putting the 
cross-bar into different holes the height of the chair 
and the inclination of the back may be adjusted. 
4,389. Vine-rod Fastener (E. Delataste). — This 
consists of a piece of galvanized iron pressed into the 
shape of a double gutter for attaching the vine-rods to 
the wires of glass-houses. 
6,510. Storing and Preserving Grasses, &c., 
Ensilage (T. Marsh).—This is a portable silo tank. 
A short cover cylinder is placed over the top of the 
tank, and connected therewith by long screw-bolts. 
These being screwed up by spanner, gre.atly compress 
the fodder, &c., and short bolts fasten the tank or 
cylinder ready for cartage., &c. 
6,962. Babbit and Vermin Trap (McCormick & 
Thomson).—To the upper part of a flat iron bar, 
which serves as a base, the usual strong spring-blade 
is attached. This spring-blade has two slots or holes in 
it, one on each side of the platform for the bait, with 
two pillars secured below to the base, passing through 
them. Above the slots, when the trap is set, two 
bars, bent at right angles, are jointed to these pillars, 
one to each. The spring-blade is fastened down 
between the two halves of the platform by a catch, 
which is easily disengaged by an animal treading on 
either half of the platform. The animal is crushed 
between the spring-blade and die two bars which are 
bent at right angles. 
9,188. Garden Trowel or Planter (M. E. Rochfort). 
—The trowel consists of a taper cylinder (almost like 
a spade bent round to the cylindrical form of a flower¬ 
pot). This is provided with a long handle, in which is 
a step for pressure to be applied with the foot in the 
same way that a spade is pressed into the ground. 
9,483. Flower-Pot Saucer (J. Knight).—The saucer 
is made of the same material as ordinarily used. It 
differs only in shape. The centre of the saucer forms 
a platform raised slightly above the level of the edge, 
amd an annular channel is left all round. This may 
be filled with water, and prevents wood-lice, slugs, 
and other insects getting to the plant; it also serves 
to collect the superfluous water. Since the raised 
part, which is of the same diameter as the bottom 
of the flower-pot is above the level of the edge, the 
pot never stands in water. 
10,408. Garden Engines (E. Newton).—Relates to 
garden engines, water barrows, and other wheeled 
garden appliances, and the object is to cause garden 
engines, &c., to run more easily, and prevent them 
from cutting into the path or lawn. This is effected 
by substituting two rollers on the same axis, but 
turning separately, instead of the wheels ordinarily 
used. The bottom of the pail or barrow is curved 
to fit over the rollers. 
The Spade. —This is to horticulture what the plough 
is to agriculture, by far the most important implement 
in the garden. So much is this the case that, fur¬ 
nished with a good spade, the expert cultivator needs 
few other tools. It is most important that spades and 
their handles should be light and strong, and of such 
good quality that they not only last long, but improve by 
the wear and tear of frequent and constant use. Spades 
are made of different sizes, from 16 ins. deep and 
10 ins. broad to 9 ins. by 5 ins. A capital size for 
amateurs is 1 ft. deep by 8 ins. broad. The best 
spades mostly measures an inch or so less at the 
point or cutting surface than at the upper or treading 
part of the spade. All the best garden spades now are 
faced with steel, the back being iron; and this juxta¬ 
position of two metals of such unequal hardness 
results in the iron wearing away first and leaving the 
thin steel plate almost as sharp as a knife for cutting 
its way through the soil. The top of good spades is 
furnished with a plate, called the treader, which 
increases the power of the foot in thrusting it into 
the ground, and also protects the shoes in doing so.— 
Popular Gardening. 
