52 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 24, 1892. 
FLiORICUliTURE. 
Hollyhock Notes. 
•At the flower show at Alnwick on the 8th inst. 
there was a large turn out of Hollyhock blooms— 
larger than has been seen at this show for many a 
year, and proves that the cultivation of this favourite 
autumn flower is reviving in the north. The prize 
stand of twenty-four blooms, shown by Mr. 
A. G. Brown, of Whitburn, the champion Gladiolus 
grower in the north, was a splendid example of what 
can be done with the Hollyhock by good cultivation, 
and shows that Mr. Brown can grow Hollyhocks as 
well as Gladioli. The blooms were very large and of 
splendid quality. 
It was remarked by most of the growers here that 
there had been no appearance of disease this season, 
and it is to be hoped that in a year or two the 
Hollyhock will be as common in gardens as it was 
about twenty or thirty years ago. It is rather strange 
that the disease should have destroyed nearly all the 
plants in the South of England, while we in the 
North have enjoyed almost complete immunity from 
it this season. As we have had a rather cold, moist 
summer, perhaps the climate may have had some¬ 
thing to do with the propagation of the fungi. 
Like the Pansy the Hollyhock seems to delight in 
a rather cool atmosphere, and a dry, parching 
climate does not seem to be suited to its development. 
The Hollyhock also delights in good rich soil, and 
should be well supplied with liquid manure during 
the summer.— T. C. Steel, Crookliam, CornhiU-on- 
Tweed. 
Yellow Carnations. 
A grower som: few years ago observed in the course 
of conversation that " there was a scarcity of yellow 
Carnations.” My reply was “ wait, and they will be 
as plentiful as Blackberries.” I think now that 
we have evidence of this, as those raised subsequently 
are numerous, and in many instances of improved 
form both in size and colour. 
I send you one of my seedlings herewith ; it is not 
a large flower, but it appear to me to be one of the 
brightest and richest yellows that has come under 
my notice. It has been blooming with me all the 
summer, and is still flowering. You will observe 
that it is a compact and medium-sized flower, neat 
in its proportions, and moreover it has never been 
known for the calyx to split; it belongs to the tree or 
perpetual section, and is robust in growth .—George 
Fry, Lewisham. 
[A fine clear yellow of good form, and apparently 
very free.—E d.] 
AN AYRSHIRE FLOWER 
SHOW. 
The Kilmarnock and County of Ayr Horticultural 
Society, which is one of the oldest and most en¬ 
thusiastic in the west of Scotland, held their annual 
exhibition on Thursday, September 15th, in the 
Agricultural Hall. As usual the leading feature of 
the show was the groups of six stove or greenhouse 
plants, for which a silver cup or ^3 is offered for 
the most meritorious. There were a number of very 
creditable specimens of Heaths and fine foliaged 
plants staged, the 1st prize being awarded to Mr. 
Kitchen, gardener to Sir W. Houldsworth, Bart., of 
Coodham. 
In the fruit classes Grapes, which at a former 
period of the society's history were conspicuous for 
their excellence, were at this show considerably 
under the average standard as regards size of bunches 
and other points of merit. Apples, on the other hand, 
were extra good, those staged by Mr. Strathdee, gar¬ 
dener to Sheriff Paterson, Gadgirth, being very fine 
examples of Warner’s King, Beauty of Kent, Lord 
Grosvenor, Stirling Castle, and Eclinville Seedling. 
Mr. Gray, Newfield, exhibited a large collection of 
Apples not for competition, amongst them being 
some extraordinary large specimens of Peasgood's 
Nonsuch, which were also beautifully coloured. Mr. 
Gray also exhibited a seedling Red Currant of hand¬ 
some size and in good preservation named Come-at- 
last. Some fine Kirk’s Seedling Plums were also 
noticeable. 
The herbaceous and other cut flowers have seldom 
been equalled at this show, Dahlias and Gladioli 
being exceptionally attractive. Amongst the latter, 
Mr. M. Smith, Prestwick, who is now recognised as a 
veteran grower of this popular flower, repeated his 
successes at the metropolitan shows with twenty 
superb spikes divided between the gardeners' and 
amateurs' classes. Amongst nurseryman’s exhibits 
Messrs. W. & T. Samson, Kilmarnock, staged a 
splendid assortment of stove and greenhouse plants, 
which gave evidence of high cultivation. These in¬ 
cluded some fine Liliums, conspicuous among them 
being a grand pot of L. speciosum, album novum, 
Odontoglossum grande, and the beautiful foliaged 
Begonia named Arthur Mallet. There was also ex¬ 
hibited by this firm a superb lot of Cactus and Pom¬ 
pon Dahlias. Mr. Smith, Stranraer, staged a superb 
collection of Roses, for which he is so justly cele¬ 
brated. Mr. Mair, Prestwick, had also a choice col¬ 
lection of Gladioli for exhibition. 
Vegetables were a prominent feature of the show, 
Parsnips, Leeks, and Onions being most remarkable ; 
and the twelve bulbs of the latter, staged by Mr. Mac 
Fadzean, Troon, in the amateurs' class, were if any¬ 
thing only a trifle behind the best we saw in the 
Waverley Market Show, Edinburgh, recently. Cran¬ 
ston’s Excelsior, Ailsa Craig, and Rousham Park 
Hero are the varieties in general estimation among 
exhibitors in this district. 
Bouquets lent a graceful addition to the show, 
Lilyims, Allamandas, Roses, Lapagerias, and Chry¬ 
santhemums being turned to good account in the 
first prize exhibits.— Western. 
-—f—■- 
WORTH PARK, 
CRAWLEY. 
On Wednesday, the 14th inst., the Brighton New 
Horticultural Society enjoyed a pleasant day’s outing 
on the borders of Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. The 
members and their friends to the number of thirty- 
six assembled about half-past one o’clock in the 
afternoon at Three Bridges Station, and were driven 
in brakes first to Worth Park, the noble residence of 
Mrs. Montefiore, who kindly gave permission for the 
party to pass through the grounds and inspect the 
houses and gardens. The party afterwards proceeded 
by the same conveyances to the Lowfield Nurseries, 
Crawley, of Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons. 
Passing into the grounds at Worth Park, it soon 
became evident to the party that the place enjoyed a 
high style of keeping, and was moreover well 
furnished with the best of modern trees and shrubs 
that are necessary for the embellishment of a modern 
residence. The loads and walks everywhere in the 
avenue and over the place were clean, firm, and 
substantial, reflecting credit upon the owner and her 
gardener, Mr. Glen, who superintends the keeping of 
them. The gardens were soon reached, and Mr. 
Glen proceeded at once to conduct the party over 
the place. The Fern house, a model of neatness, 
was first inspected. The back wall was covered 
with Ferns, chiefly Adiantums, and the front bench 
was similarly occupied, including fine pieces of A. 
Farleyense in 32-size pots. 
Near this was a Melon house with the fruits about 
half grown, and attractive little bits of Caladium 
argyrites occupied the front of the bed. Orchids 
occupied another division, chiefly Cattleyas, and 
Miltonia Clowesii was in bloom. The cool end was 
filled with Caladiums and small Fuchsias. Alongside 
of this is the stove containing plenty of Palms, 
Dracaenas, and Anthuriums, and a large plant of the 
latter in the way of A. leodiense bore two albino 
leaves. Running parallel with this was another 
span-roofed house, one end of which was filled with 
Chrysanthemum Madame Desgranges and G. 
Wermig, Pelargoniums and fragrant Heliotrope. 
Tuberous Begonias and Fuchsias occupied the other 
end. 
Close by were the bothies, fruit room and other 
conveniences. Peaches, Pears, and Tomatos were the 
chief fruits stored. The walls of the bothies are 
draped with Cotoneaster microphylla, Vitis tricuspi- 
data (Ampelopsis Veitchi) and Aristolochia Sipho. 
Passing from thence to the kitchen garden a beauti¬ 
ful sight was noted in the shape of a long wall 
covered with Cordon Pears train obliquely with 
single stems. They have been planted for seven or 
eight years, and in this year of scarcity, as far as 
Pears are concerned, Louis Bonne of Jersey, Pit- 
maston Duchess, and many others are bearing large 
and tempting fruits. The vegetable crops generally 
are looking well, including Celery, Lily White and 
other Sea Kale, Brussel Sprouts, Beet, Onions, and 
Scarlet Runners, as well as late Peas. Some 700 to 
800 Chrysanthemums in pots line the walks here, 
forming long avenues. They look very promising, 
some of them having stems like walking sticks. A 
set of frames at one end of the garden was filled 
with Viola cuttings, seedlings of Tuberous Begonias, 
Malmaison Carnations, etc. Another set contained 
a fine lot of Poinsettias, Gardenias, and Caladiums, 
while Strawberries were ripening in another lot. 
The vineries present a fine sight at present 
particularly a house containing some moderately 
young and vigorous Vines of Alicante, Lady Downes, 
Gros Colman, Buckland’s Sweetwater, Raisin de 
Calabre, and Muscat of Alexandria. Many of the 
bunches of the three white kinds were notable for 
their size. Alicante and Muscat of Alexandria 
were also grown in plenty in a larger house. It was 
rather late to see the Peaches in perfection, as the 
bulk of them had been gathered ; what remained 
testified to the size of the fruits. One large Necta¬ 
rine tree occupied the whole of the back area of a 
large house, while two Peach trees occupied the 
front. Already the more forward of the Chrysanthe¬ 
mums have found their way into this house. In the 
next compartment younger Peach trees still cam- 
plenty of fruit. On open walls Morello Cherries and 
Pond’s Seedling Plum were very attractive, and 
Lord Derby, Warner’s King, and other Apples were 
fruiting finely on espaliers. The borders were gay 
with annuals and herbaceous perennials 
The principal part of the flower garden is located 
at one end of the mansion, and is very neatly kept. A 
long corridor surrounds it on one side, and the back 
waJJ of neat, red bricks is covered with a wire trellis 
to which Camellias are trained. The face next the 
garden is of glass, and just outside it Is a long border 
of Hypericum calycinum. Beds of blue Ageratum 
are still very gay. and likewise a series of beds 
of intermediate Stocks around a centre bed of 
Begonia Worthiana laden with bloom and edged 
with the golden Viola Bullion. Close by were beds 
of seedling tuberous Begonias. A low balustrade 
runs round the house enclosing a lawn on which are 
beds of Chrysanthemum Madame Desgranges, 
Cannas, Love Lies Bleeding, and tuberous Begonias, 
forming a groundwork to Chrysanthemums. The 
mansion faces this part of the grounds, and is a 
stately structure of modern design. 
Outside of the balustrade is a greater expanse of 
grass with large beds cut out here and there, and 
planted with various subjects such as Cactus and 
decorative Dahlias, Eulalia japonica zebrina, Golden 
Yews and Fuchsias. Pyramidal Golden Yews are 
also very conspicuous here and there on the grass, 
and around a large fountain. Viola Countess of 
Kintore in full bloom formed a fine edging to a 
border. A circular bed of Roses was edged with 
Viola Blue Bell still very gay. A fine lake or orna 
mental piece of w-ater bounded the prospect from the 
house, and although dry at present will soon be filled, 
and must be a fine adjunct to the landscape. In 
another direction w-ere fine masses of Prunus 
Pissardi, Golden Poplars (Populus Canadensis 
aurea), Golden Elders, and other fine subjects. 
-.-J-- 
LOWFIELD NURSERIES. 
Having completed the detour of the gardens, houses 
and grounds at Worth Park the party proceeded in 
the conveyances through wooded and rustic scenery 
to the nurseries of Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons. The 
numerous large standard trees in the cottage gardens 
by the way of the Sussex Forge Apple were a source 
of great attraction owing to the quantity of bright 
red fruits which they bore. Arrived at the nurseries 
the fruit room already well packed with early Apples 
was inspected. Conspicuous amongst them w-ere 
Worcester Pearmain, Duchess of Oldenburg, The 
Queen, Frogmore Prolific and many other fine 
kinds. 
At the Lowfield Nurseries, altogether there are So 
acres under fruit trees and shrubs. The whole is 
divided into square compartments by means of tall 
hedges w-hich afford ample protection to the subjects 
cultivated. Conifers are grown in large quantities, 
including such things as Thuyas, Cupressus, Retino- 
sporas, Scotch and Austrian Pines, Abies Norman- 
niana and other subjects useful for parks and pleasure 
grounds. Deciduous trees and shrubs are also grown 
largely together with Cherry and Portugal Laurels 
and other evergreen subjects too numerous to men¬ 
tion in detail. The glaucous foliage and pink flowers 
of Myricaria germanica were very striking, but too 
seldom seen even in seaside gardens in this country-. 
