344 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 26, 1895. 
A RAMBLE THROUGH 
SNOWDONIA. 
In pursuance of a request that I should continue my 
observations on ” A Holiday Trip to North Wales, 
I venture, with some diffidence, to meet that intima¬ 
tion in the present paper. As, however, Snowdon 
itself has already been “ done,” and described more 
or less particularly in a former issue; I will now 
merely take up the thread of comment where the 
silken cord was snapped, and endeavour, as it were, 
to re-unite it, and to weave together the delicate 
mesh until, so far as this ramble is concerned, the 
whole is properly presented. 
Well, then, on the morning of Saturday, the 15th 
September, I bade au rcvoir to the snug little 
hostelry at Rhyd-ddu, in the vicinity of the great 
mountain, where I had passed the night somewhat 
restlessly, after the fatigue of the day before. The 
cause of this restlessness, however, was due princi¬ 
pally to the fact that the soft, sweet, silvery queen 
of the night was all aglow with splendour; and in 
consequence thereof small, but noisy parties of 
admirers kept calling up to an early hour. But 
neither the “ queen of the night," nor the lady of the 
inn, were the sole objects of these nocturnal visits— 
it was the prospect of a climb up Snowdon with a 
view to see the sun rise. 
The effect of a moonlight night is always grand, 
but in the mountains and valleys it is exquisitely fine: 
“When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, 
And not a cloud o’ercasts the solemn scene.” 
So these parties who were so full of excitement and 
clamour at last got away, and by the aid of the" full 
orbed moon " ascended the mountain in quest of 
Phoebus andhis “watery steeds.’’ After noting the 
situation of this interesting alpine hamlet and its exten¬ 
sive views, I started offinthe direction of Beddgelert, 
down the beautiful vale of Colwyn. As I proceeded, 
the morning mists became less and less apparent; 
the sun shone forth with renewed vigour, the sibilant 
stream added so largely to its volume that it ceased 
to produce that peculiar sound like the pronuncia¬ 
tion of the letter s; the dewdrops sparkled like 
pearls, taking on irridescent hues " that blushed and 
glowed like angel’s wings.” 
In a word, all nature seemed to rejoice, and the 
"great cathedrals of the earth, with their gates of 
rock, choirs of stream and stone,” invited inspection 
and produced delight. But to the flora. Here, 
growing by the roadsides, were Ferns in abundance, 
and in variety; Mosses also found a place, while 
flowers were represented by Foxgloves, Yarrows, 
Hardheads, Scabious, St. John’s Worts, Heaths, 
Gorse, etc., and a thousand others not in bloom. 
Here is a bit of wild nature—mountains on either 
side—and there a picturesque old wall furnished with 
F'erns, mostly the common Polypody, the Wall-rue, 
and the Hard Fern. A little further, the gnarled 
roots of Ash and Beech are likewise clad ; while 
higher up the mountain sides the Heather still 
glows bright with beauty. 
Here one is brought face to face with Nature, 
which is so wondrous that, if it were transferred to 
canvas in all its colour and detail, the uninitiated 
would retort “ preposterous.” 
Now we have come to Beddgelert, i.e., the grave 
of Gelert, the last of the Welsh kings. We linger 
on the bridge awhile and let our fancy free ; then we 
go towards the rocky pass of Aberglaslyn, which, for 
its bold outline and scenic effects, is said to be almost 
unequalled in Wales. 
After this has been appropriated we return to 
Beddgelert, thence passing along the outskirts of the 
village we enter the Vale of Gwynant, and thus 
come into touch with more scenery and more 
splendour. 
Ere we leave the bee-hives of the people, we 
notice the plants in the windows and the climbers on 
the walls. Primula obconica, Zonal Pelargoniums, 
Myrtles, Fuchsias, native Ferns, and such like 
things seem to thrive and look happy ; while here 
and there the crimson tints of Veitch's Virginian 
Creeper produce such a glow of colour, that the 
glamour thereby begotten produces such an effect on 
the sight that the eyes see other things fairer than 
they really are. 
Although the conditions here are very favourable 
to gardening, that inevitable source of relaxation and 
relief from cankerous care, the art does not seem to 
be very much in vogue, as, doubtless, the majority of 
the inhabitants are otherwise engaged, and the mines 
and the quarries absorb an undue share of their 
time and attention. 
A rise in the road now brings one suddenly in 
view of Llyn Ddinas, a beautiful lake, situated in the 
midst of the most charming surroundings. Here, 
upon its placid waters, some fishermen are pursuing 
the peaceful pastime of the piscatorial art. Peace¬ 
ful it may be to the man of the rod, but peaceful it 
can hardly be to the victims at the other end. 
Birds, bees, butterflies, etc., disport themselves in 
the sunshine and the air, while the fish that are not 
taken, and the waterfowl no less enjoy themselves in 
the denser element. The Meadow Sweet is still in 
bloom, and the Ferns do most luxuriate. 
Athyrium filix-foemina attains grand proportions, 
and Blechnum Spicant, with its two distinct fronds, 
calls forth exclamation. The fertile fronds attain a 
height of some 3 ft., while the barren ones spread 
out their drooping arms in admirable array. The 
size and deep glossy green colour of the male fronds 
is very noticeable, and the contrast between these 
specimens and those of 2,000 ft. elevation is very 
marked. Nature seems to delight to confuse subtle 
distinctions, for between these two extremes every 
variation may be found. At this season the reverse 
of the fronds is also interesting, as they are covered 
with indusia, which contain the spores, which con¬ 
stitute the fruit, the germ, and future plant. Their 
russet and golden tints supply the place of flowers, 
and, judging by the number and freedom with which 
these spore cases are produced, they are, at least in 
this neighbourhood, likely long to survive the depre¬ 
dations of their worst enemies—excursionists. These 
spores or seeds were, in former times, supposed to 
possess supernatural virtues or powers, and to be 
capable of rendering persons invisible. It is to this 
peculiarity that Ben Jonson refers when he makes 
one of his characters in the New Inn say : 
“ I had 
No medicine, sir, to go invisible, 
No Fern seed in my pocket.” 
As these spores are microscopical, and therefore 
invisible to the naked eye, it is only a quaint conceit 
to push the illusion sufficiently far, so as to embrace 
the professor himself. 
Above, the bright blue dome of the firmament 
may be compared to a huge Campanula rotundifolia, 
which canopies over all. The limits of our vision— 
the horizon—corresponds to the corolla, and although 
the contents within this charmed circle represent but 
an infinitesimal area of the earth’s magic, yet these 
things constitute a microcosm—a little world, full of 
sights and sounds which the eye can only dimly see 
and the ear can only feebly hear.—C. B. G., 
Acton, IF. 
(To be coninued). 
--*•- 
PALMETTO ASPARAGUS. 
My attention has been directed to a paragraph in 
your issue of the 12th inst. regarding a “New American 
Asparagus,” and for the information of Mr. Hamilton 
and others whom the subject may interest, I beg to 
state that I bad the Palmetto Asparagus sent to me 
by Messrs. Peter Henderson & Co., Seedsmen, of 
New York, in both plants and seeds. It is certainly 
the finest variety I ever saw, growing up to 10 ft. 
high, and thick in proportion. It has been admired 
by everyone who has seen it growing here, and I 
should advise all who require Asparagus to give it a 
trial, as I am confident it will please them.— J. Clark, 
Wemyss Castle Gardens, Fijeshire. 
[Our correspondent sends a specimen of the 
Palmetto Asparagus, consisting of a portion of the 
base of the stem, cut apparently during the season or 
possibly when the stems were cut down in autumn. 
After being partly dried and shrunk it still measures 
i£ in. in diameter one way and over | in. the other, 
being slightly compressed. If the quality of this 
giant Asparagus is as good as the old varieties we 
have been cultivating, it must become immensely 
popular in a few years, because it will give a good 
return with the smallest amount of trouble in culti¬ 
vation. Being a vigorous grower, respectably-sized 
stems will be produced without any special care or 
treatment. The good cultivator would nevertheless 
be specially rewarded.— Ed-] 
Vines and Vine Culture. —The best book on Grapes. By 
Archibald F. Barron, Superintendent of the Rcyal Horticultural 
Society's Gadens, Chiswick; Secretary of the Fruit Com- 
mitee. Demy 8vo., JHandsomely bound in Cloth. Price, 5s., 
post free, 5s. 3d. Publisher, Gardening World, i, Clements 
Inn, Strand, W.C. 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned subjects were exhibited at 
the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on 
the 15th inst., and received awards according to 
merit:— 
Primula Giant Rosy Queen. —This beautiful 
variety of the Chinese Primula belongs to the fern¬ 
leaved type, but the leaves are shorter and more 
compact than the usual run of that group. The 
flowers are of large size, and of a soft rosy-pink with 
a very large five-aDgled, orange eye. The variety is 
very distinct in general character from most of the 
Other giant varieties, and is a decided acquisition to 
winter flowering plants. Award of Merit. Exhibited 
by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading. 
Cyclamen Salmon Queen. —The flowers of this 
beautiful new strain are of a bright salmon intensify¬ 
ing to a chocolate or crimson hue at the mouth. The 
variety is new to cultivation, and, therefore, a great 
acquisition to the ordinary C. persicum type and to 
horticulture. The foliage is also beautifully netted 
and good, and the constitution of the plant is as good 
as that of any other variety. Award of Merit. Exhi¬ 
bited by Messrs. Sutton & Sons. 
Rose Mrs. Pierpont Morgan.— The flowers of 
this variety when in perfection are very double and 
measure 4J in. in diameter. The central petals are 
arranged in the form of a cone, giving a beautiful 
bud-like appearance, while the outer petals (which 
are broad), become beautifully revolute at the edges. 
This was the case with cut flowers brought directly 
from America and exhibited in public after having 
been in full bloom for twenty days. It is a sport 
from Madame Cusin, and in every respect superior 
to that variety in vigour and in the beauty of the 
flowers, which are of an intensely bright cerise. 
Dean Hole says it is the finest and most perfect 
Tea Rose he has ever seen. Its form, fragrance, 
and colour, will recommend it to all rosarians. The 
foliage is said to be more massive and the plant more 
prolific than its parent. Certificates have been 
granted it in America, and on this occasion it 
received an Award of Merit. Exhibited by Mr. J. 
N. May, Rose grower, Summit, New Jersey, U.S.A. 
Chrysanthemum L Canning. —The strong re¬ 
commendation which this variety possesses is that 
the flowers are pure white and useful at least for cut 
flowers in mid-winter and the early part of the year. 
It is a Japanese variety with long spreading florets, 
quilled at the base, broad and flat or revolute at their 
edges above the middle. The stems are 3 ft. to 3^ft. 
high, and bear an abundance of blossom at the top. 
Award of 'Merit. Exhibited by Mr. Owen Thomas, 
The Royal Gardens, Frogmore, Windsor. 
Chrysanthemum Jeanette Sheaham.— This is a 
sport from Princess Blanche, a Japanese variety, 
and when in its prime is of a bright yellow with 
more or less interlacing or twisted florets. It is 
useful for late work, and though it has been in bloom 
for some time will remain in bloom and in a useful 
condition for a month yet. The stems are 2i ft. to 
3 ft. high, and bloom freely on the top. Award of 
Merit. Exhibited by Mr. D. Sheaham, Hartfield 
Road, Wimbledon. 
Lachenalia quadricolor maculata. — Only 
flowers of this beautiful variety were exhibited by 
F. W. Moore, Esq., Royal Botanic Gardens, Glas- 
neven ; but from the name we should imagine that 
the stems or foliage, or both, are unusually spotted 
or blotched with purple. The usual name given to 
the variety (judging from flowers alone) is Lachenalia 
tricolor quadricolor. The flowers are greenish- 
yellow, and the short outer segments are tipped with 
green, while the much broader and expanded tips of 
the inner segments are deep purple, and give to the 
variety a distinctive and characteristic beauty which 
cannot be overlooked nor mistaken. First-class 
Certificate. 
Rhododendron ponticum foliis purpureis —As 
a matter of course the large bush of this variety 
shown was only in leaf, as might be expected at this 
season of the year. Whatever the flowers may be 
like, the leaves are of a dark bronzy-purple above, 
rather shining and slightly tinted with purple on a 
pale green ground beneath. This is the characteristic 
of the plant, at least, in winter. First-class Certifi¬ 
cate. Exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son, Waltham 
Cross. 
