May 4, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
571 
base of the upper lobes. They are produced in 
clusters of one to three at the tips of the shoots, are 
handsome, bold, most effective, and somewhat 
fragrant. Botanical Certificate, Royal Botanic 
Society, April 24th, to Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons. 
Rose Bridesmaid.— In this we have a Tea Rose 
of beautiful form and soft pleasing colour. The 
outer petals are spreading, but the inner are more 
erect, forming a compact, sub-conical mass of a soft 
rosy-pink. The foliage is of a rich dark green. 
Award of Merit, R.H.S., April 23rd; Floricultural 
Certificate, Royal Botanic Society, April 24th, to 
Messrs. Paul & Son. 
Rose Marchioness of Londonderry.— The flower 
of this hybrid perpetual variety are of large size and 
milk white. The outer petals of a flower at its best 
are spreading and strongly revolute at the edges. 
All the others forming the more compact centre are 
also rolled back at the edges, though to a smaller 
extent. Award of Merit, R.H.S., April 23rd, to 
Messrs. Paul & Son. 
Saintpaulia ionanthe. —The roundly heart- 
shaped hairy leaves of this pretty stove plant are 
produced in neat rosettes covering the soil in which 
the plants are grown. The scapes rise only a few 
inches above the leaves, bearing deep blue flowers 
not unlike those of a Violet Botanical Certificate, 
Royal Botanic Society, April 24th, to Messrs. J. 
Laing & Sons, Forest Hill. 
Tropaeolum Coolgardie.— The stems of this 
variety are erect and throw out side branches very 
freely till they form dense bushy specimens that 
require a single stake as they increase in size when 
grown in pots. The leaves are small, dark green, 
and the flowers are large and of a uniform golden- 
yellow, as the name of one of the celebrated gold¬ 
fields of Australia (Coolgardie) given to it is meant 
to impl). It will prove very useful for decorative 
work. Award of Merit, R.H.S., April 23rd, to 
Mr. H. B. May. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. 
Tomato All the Year Round. —The fruits of this 
new variety are shortly oblong in the style of King 
Humbert, but shorter, nearly globular, smooth, and 
of a deep crimson-red. It appears to be very 
prolific, and must prove useful, since ripe fruit may 
be had in quantity at this season of the year. 
First-class Certificate, R.H.S., April 23rd, to Mr. 
Farr, gardener, Spring Grove House, Isleworth. 
Sutton's Earliest Frame Radish. —The roots of 
this variety are oblong, suddenly narrowed to the 
slender radicle, of a rich bright red, and ij in. to 
3 in. long. It is very tender and crisp, rapidly 
attaining perfection, and a welcome change from 
the globular or turnip-rooted sorts, which are 
generally used for forcing purposes. Award of 
Merit, R.H.S., April 23rd, to Messrs. Sutton & 
Sons. 
Sutton’s Improved Hearting Kale.— This is 
one of the curled Kales, but it also combines that 
with the character of a Cabbage. The outer leaves 
are very much curled, so as to appear of great depth, 
and the smaller ones in the centre are compacted, 
forming a small heart of tender eating, and 
delicate agreeable flavour. The fact that it survived 
the severity of the past winter and is now in excellent 
condition and fit for the table, speaks plainly enough 
of its hardiness and value at this season of the year. 
Award of Merit, R.H.S., April 23rd, to Messrs. 
Sutton & Sons. 
- -fl- - 
BALMEDIE, ABERDEEN. 
The collection of Orchids, formed by W. H. Lums- 
den, Esq., at Balmedie, is one of the best in Scot¬ 
land, not only in point of size, but in variety and 
high class cultivation. Mr. Lumsden is a thorough 
enthusiast, and he spends a considerable amount of 
time amongst his plants, watching and studying their 
development, along with his able and intelligent 
gardener, Mr. Hutchinson, who is an Orchidist of 
high repute and not unknown to fame as a very 
powerful exhibitor in the north. 
After entering the stove I looked towards the roof 
and saw such a sight as I shall not foiget in a hurry, 
for here were Dendrobium Phalaenopsis Schroderi- 
anum suspended from the roof by the dozen, with 
young growths much longer and thicker than the 
imported bulbs had ever been. On the side and 
middle stages were the numerous occupants of the 
stove. In the centre bed were two splendid plants 
of Musa Cavendishii in prime health. 
From the stove I passed into the Cattleya 
house, which presented a very gay appearance with 
some fine forms of Cattleya Schroderae, C. Mendelii, 
C.Trianaei, C. Lawrenceana, and a fine healthy plant 
of C. Skinneri alba ; interspersed were numerous 
fine forms of Dendrobes all flowering with excep¬ 
tional freedom. I also noted some fine Cymbidium 
eburneum and C. Lowianum with enormous spikes 
arranged in a commanding position, which gave a 
pleasing effect to the whole ; intermixed were some 
fine Cvpripediums, whose foliage and flowers blended 
in harmony with the gorgeous Cattleyas and Den¬ 
drobes. 
Passing through the Cypripedium house, I felt 
that I must make a note of some of the occupants. 
C. Rothschildianum was growing and flowering with 
great freedom, likewise were C. Niobe, C. grande, 
C. Morganiae, C. miniatum, C. Schroderae, &c., &c., 
all in the pink of health. In the cool house I noticed 
several fine forms of Odontoglossum Alexandrae, O. 
Pescatorei, O. triumphans, and an extraordinary fine 
form of Ada Aurantiaca. Not only are the orchids well 
done, but everything else is on a par with them. The 
Vines are carrying enormous crops, so are the Peach 
and Nectarine trees; and early and late forcing is 
carried on at all seasons of the year with great success. 
—J. McNab. 
-- 
THE BEDDING AT KEW. 
While it may be said in a general sense that to the 
lover of flowers all, even the most lowly and insignifi¬ 
cant, are beautiful and interesting, it is also certain 
that some plants lend themselves much more readily 
than do others to the providing of grand floral effects 
that at once appeal to the taste and captivate the 
eyes of those who are able to understand true floral 
beauty, and are capable of appreciating the efforts 
of the skilled master-hand who manipulates and 
turns to the best advantage the several qualities 
possessed by each flower, both as to the habit of 
growth, season of blooming, colour of flower, etc.; 
the result being a magnificent combination of colours 
that would cause anyone whether interested or not 
in the planting of flowers for effect to pause and say, 
“ this is beautiful.” The interest, however, attaching 
to a fine floral picture, which in its skilful and care¬ 
ful working out betrays a grasp of detail and a 
faculty for taking note of small things or compara¬ 
tive trifles in the minds of those who conceived it, 
(for, in the words of Michael Angelo, “ trifles make 
perfection ”) is very much greater to those who 
possess a knowledge, even though it may be rudi¬ 
mentary, of the trouble and pains which are necessary 
to produce such an effect, than it is to the careless 
passer-by, who is, however, forced to pause and 
admire. 
Such a picture is at present spread out imme¬ 
diately in front of the Palm House at Kew, a sight 
that is well worth travelling a hundred miles to see, 
and which, were it necessary for the general public 
to pay an admittance fee before they were permitted 
to feast their eyes upon it, would doubtless draw 
crowds of sightseers. Tulips and Narcissi, the latter 
in comparatively small quantities, are responsible 
for this grand display. Much has been written, and 
a great deal more said about the loveliness of spring 
flowers, but it is very seldom that we see them used 
to such an extent as they are at Kew. There is, 
however, nothing of the striving “ to blush unseen” 
qualification about our friend the Tulip. It delights 
to hold its head erect, to gaze upon the sun, and to 
flaunt its brilliant colours in the face of the passer¬ 
by. No undue modesty is here ; but instead a self- 
consciousness of beauty, and a desire to exhibit 
that beauty to the eyes of all beholders who desire 
to gaze upon it. 
Numerous are the varieties of Tulips employed, 
from deepest crimson to purest white and richest 
yellow, not forgetting the wonderfully striped and 
many hued flowers. Some of the smaller beds are 
filled with one variety only ; others contain two ; 
the different colours in each being judiciously 
blended or agreeably contrasted, the one with the 
other and with the occupants of the beds imme¬ 
diately surrounding them; the whole presenting a 
superb panorama of dazzling colour that needless to 
say calls forth sundry and various tributes of admira¬ 
tion from all sorts and conditions of men, women, 
and children. Thus, even during the few minutes in 
which I was feasting my eyes upon the gay scene, I 
overheard many expressions of appreciation from 
delighted onlookers, from the " ain’t so dusty, 
Charlie,” of the member of the coster persuasion, to 
the " transcendently beautiful ” of a “Johnny” who 
evidently wished to make an impression upon the 
susceptible mind of the fair companion who journeyed 
by his side as to his sesquipedalian abilities. 
In the circular bed at the end of the Broad Walk 
a fine display will also soon be forthcoming, and 
even now the Tulips which stand out here and there 
and thus help to relieve the flatness of the dwarfer 
material are now in full flower. Aubrietias, 
Auriculas, and the pretty and valuable little Phlox 
amoena are here employed with exceedingly satis¬ 
factory results. In the beds that are to be seen on 
either side of the Broad Walk throughout its whole 
length Narcissi of various sorts are to be seen, a 
blaze of gold. Such well known varieties as Empress, 
Emperor, Sir Watkin, incomparabilis, Stella, and 
Barri Conspicuus are well represented, and indeed 
are at the present time the admiration of all 
beholders. 
Hyacinths are not present in very great force. A 
number of beds opposite the Turkey Oak are, how¬ 
ever, filled with them, blues predominating; but 
whether they suffer from contrast with the gorgeous 
Tulip and the rich Narcissus or no, they do not 
appear particularly attractive. It would, indeed, be 
a hard-headed and highly unimpressionable individual 
who, after a visit to Kew, would not admit the use¬ 
fulness and suitability of Tulips and Narcissi as 
bedding subjects for planting in bold and conspicuous 
masses for the decoration of the flower garden 
during the spring months, their glowing colour being 
thrown into such effective relief by the rich green of 
the freshly growing grass, coupled with the softer 
tints of the young verdure of the earlier trees and 
shrubs. 
-- 
AN EAST LONDON 
FLOWER SHOW. 
Recently I was invited to act as judge at a Child¬ 
ren's Flower Show at Whitechapel. It was the 
occasion of the spring show of the St. Mary’s Flori¬ 
cultural Society, in connection with St. Mary’s 
Church, in the Whitechapel Road, the very praise¬ 
worthy object of this society being “ To encourage 
and promote interest in the care and growth of 
plants among the boys and girls attending the Day 
and Sunday Schools.” I have an old map of London 
and its environs, published in 1806, and at that time 
the road from Aldgate down to Mile End Corner had 
streets and houses running out at right angles, but 
beyond Mile End Corner and right away to Strat¬ 
ford it must have been open country with green 
fields, flowering hedgerows, singing birds and all 
other evidences of country life. To-day there are 
miles upon miles of houses thickly set down on either 
side of narrow streets. It is the centre of a huge 
industrial population ; gardens are few, very cir¬ 
cumscribed and unfitted for the culture of plants, 
and what is done in the way of growing plants must 
be in the windows of living rooms, and with diffi¬ 
culty, but it is being done, thanks to the St. Mary’s 
and other societies. Some sweetness and light is 
thereby brought into homes which would perhaps 
not otherwise appear there. 
In the summer of last year I was invited to an 
exhibition of plants and flowers held in the church¬ 
yard of St. Mary’s, now a pleasant little breathing 
place; and the show taking place in the open, it was 
well the evening was fine. Many plants were staged 
for competition—Fuchsias, Geraniums, Ferns, 
Lobelias, Creeping Jennies, Begonias, Petunias, and 
others—the condition of the plants testifying to the 
great care bestowed upon them. It was a very in¬ 
teresting exhibition, and what pleased me was a 
table whereon could be seen flower pots of different 
sizes; different soils, such as loam, leaf mould, 
manures, Cocoa-nut fibre, sand, broken charcoal, 
&c. ; and object lessons were being given showing 
the children how to mix soils, and their proportions 
to suit certain plants ; how to crock and pot, and 
such like. I gave a short address on the manage¬ 
ment of various plants, making my points as clear as 
possible, and in the simplest language. In the 
autumn I paid the society another visit, and 
found various bulbs on sale in one of the school¬ 
rooms—Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Crocus, Scilla, 
Lily, &c.; also pots and soil, and a further lesson in 
how to pot bulbs. Then I talked to the little people 
about the management of these bulbs in pots of soil 
