August 24, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
825 
the associations in connection therewith may well be 
let alone in the face of so much sylvan and aquatic 
beauty,which more concerns us in our present mood. 
We, therefore, again give our attention to the flora 
of the river, and notice at once a plant which might 
be expected to occupy a different site to this, namely, 
Linaria vulgaris, the Common Toad Flax. There is 
a fine little group of these Snapdragon-looking 
yellow flowers, with deep orange-tinted palates, and 
curious basal spurs. One expects to find their gaping 
mouths at higher elevations than a river's bank ; but 
some plants are very easily accommodated and this 
is one. Another subject which gave us more 
trouble to define was Nasturtium sylvestre, a pretty 
little Cruciferous plant with yellow petals. We 
secured a " specimen, ” and my friend has since 
written that, after some little trouble {re identifi¬ 
cation) I am persuaded that ours was N. sylvestre. 
What a misnomer! As the specific term is indicative 
While we are taking stock of the Willows, the 
Alders, and the Poplars, we have travelled as far as 
Hambledon Lock and Weirs, over which we cross, 
thus passing out of Bucks into Berks once more. 
Whilst passing one of the aforesaid weirs, we came 
across the Water Speedwell (Veronica Beccabunga), 
a plant which we had not hitherto seen, but whose 
glossy leaves and blue flowers are common enough 
in certain places. 
Continuing our route once more on the right bank 
of the river, we soon come to Greenlands, the summer 
residence of the Viscountess Hambledon, the widow 
of the late Right Hon. W. H. Smith. The term 
"Greenlands” is in excellent accord with the 
surroundings ; for although the past season has been 
one of the exceptional dryness, the gardens and 
water-meadows about here remind one of the 
Emerald Isle. The bedding-out at Greenlands is 
very fine and bright, but this is toned down to some 
of these celebrated annual gatherings. In the days 
of Horace Walpole there were planted here a row of 
Lombardy Poplars ; they, like that notable 
character, have long since departed. But in the 
place, thereof, some fifteen or sixteen years ago 
the Black Poplar was substituted. These have now 
grown into fine specimens ; and although they may 
not be so elegant, from an artistic point of view, as 
their predecessors they produce a fine effect from 
the handsome bridge, on which we have at last 
arrived. Here we take a last fond look at the 
charming views, both up and down that lovely river 
of which old " Peter Petersham " is reported to have 
said in answer to a statement that there were finer 
rivers, "show ’mi." Thus webring to a close a most 
agreeable ramble of about twelve miles; the notifi¬ 
cation of a few wild flowers ; the acquisition of a bit 
more philosophy ; and the record of a reminiscence 
which will never be forgotten.— C.B.G., Acton, IV. 
Aquilegias in Kent. 
of “woods” one would hardly expect to find it 
growing in the water, especially as there is a 
similarly habited species (N. palustre) which affects 
wet places. However, the nomenclature of plants is 
admittedly difficult, and the more one goes into the 
matter the more one becomes aware of it. So, as 
perfection seems impossible, we will accept the 
inevitable, and make the best of our blunders. But 
there is always much to admire about the fathers of 
botany, they were so earnest. 
There were several other water " weeds ” we 
commented on, such as Galium palustre, Thalic- 
trum flavum, Polygonum amphibium, Carduus 
palustris, Rumex Hydrolapatlium, Sparganium 
ramosum, etc., etc. ; but time and space forbid 
particulars. The lovely Blue Geranium (G.pratense), 
however, ought not to be omitted; for its bright 
flowers, Crane’s-bill fruits, and laciniated leaves, 
stamp it as a subject fit for garden culture; hence 
one of the party bagged a bit for that purpose. 
extent by the sombre hues of the Cedars, whose 
spreading branches lend an air of grandeur to the 
scene. So we come to Temple, or Regatta Island, 
from which there is a fine, broad, straight bit of old 
father Thames right up to Henley Bridge. 
We were, however, reminded long before we came 
to this point that something unusual had recently 
occurred ; for in the recesses of the river and among 
the water-weeds, champagne bottles—empty, of 
course—bits of paper, swollen corks, &c., told a 
merry tale. But how uncivilised it seems to throw 
all this unsightly debris upon the fair bosom of the 
Queen (King ?) of the island rivers ! 
Yes, it is all due to the Regatta ; where others 
besides those who may justly be termed the rank 
and fashion assemble on these occasions to parti¬ 
cipate in the pleasures of the hour. It is, however, 
a delightful bit of water, this Henley mile; and 
doubtless many a fair damoiselle has experienced 
the promptings of love for the first time during one 
AQUILEGIAS IN KENT. 
Away back about the end of June it was our pleasure 
and good fortune to see a large breadth of Columbines 
or Aquilegias grown on the seed farm of Messrs. H. 
Canned & Sons, at Eynsford, Kent. Whether our 
native Columbine, which grows wild there, suggested 
the idea to Mr. Cannell we cannot say ; but the idea 
that a chalky soil would suit Aquilegias was cer¬ 
tainly a happy one, as the issue proved. We have 
never seen them grown in greater quantity (about 
half an acre) nor more floriferous. The statement 
that you “ cut and come again ” is hardly expressive 
enough to convey an impression of the enormous 
quantity of bloom that might have been used in 
various ways for decorative purposes. Few hardy 
flowers are more graceful in their way, and seeing 
that they can be had in thousands from seed, none 
are more easily managed. We can offer no plainer 
suggestion than that these Aquilegias, which consist 
chiefly of A. chrysantha, more or less intermingled 
