266 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 25, 189?. 
hurricanes of wind in spring. The wind often makes 
protection a very difficult matter. Royal Sovereign 
and Garibaldi are the favourite varieties grown, but 
particularly the latter 
The electric light is laid on all over the establish¬ 
ment, the electrieity being produced by a powerful 
engine placed under the charge of Mr. Macbar. 
The accompanying illustration (p. 265), paradoxical 
as it may seem, represents an ideal Christmas scene, 
yet in reality an occasional phenomenon of spring at 
this northern residence. It is in fact a view of the 
approach to Corona on a snowy and frosty April 
morning when evergreen trees and bushes were well 
coated with newly fallen snow and the deciduous 
ones had a rimy appearance. The gardener who 
has to put up with this sort of thing would be 
perfectly happy did it occur at Christmas, but the 
photograph was taken on the 16th April, when 
gardeners are to be excused if they seem in a fidget 
about their fruit trees, bedding plants, and things in 
general. We ourselves have experienced 4 in. to 6 in. 
of snow on the 21st of April, but much farther 
north than Broughty Ferry. 
-- 
TRINITY ROAD NURSERIES, WANDS¬ 
WORTH. 
From the beginning of November until March is 
usually a busy time with gardeners in establishments 
where the love for hardy trees is indulged in, for not 
only is there a good deal to do in the way of regu¬ 
lating the arrangement of shrubberies, but there are 
also gaps to be filled up, and various improvements 
and additions to be made. To tell the honest truth 
we are too much inclined to plant too many of one or 
two favourite things, regardless of the fact that 
there are other not less beautiful subjects which 
have a claim to consideration. It behoves us, there¬ 
fore, at this time of the year, when we are practic¬ 
ally in the middle of the planting season, to con¬ 
sider best how we may add to the variety of the 
effects produced by our numerous hardy trees and 
shrubs. There is nothing more likely to interest 
and instruct a gardener than a peep round one of the 
nurseries from whence the country draws its annual 
supplies of ornamental and useful material. 
We recently paid a visit to the Trinity Road 
Nurseries, Wandsworth, where Mr. Robert Neal has 
for many years carried on with advantage to him¬ 
self, as well as to the beautifying alike of the stately 
country mansion, and the villas, streets, and squares 
of our large towns, a large and flourishing business. 
As the metropolis year by year spreads its gigantic 
shade over what was once the outlying country, and 
the smoke screen becomes thereby proportionately 
enlarged, an increasing difficulty is experienced in 
getting many of the more susceptible plants to 
flourish as they used to do. This is particularly the 
case with many of the more tender Coniferae, such as 
Cryptomeria elegans, and C. japonica. 
To Londoners, then, Mr. Neal’s extensive nur¬ 
series are like a vast trial ground wherein the smoke- 
resisting qualities of the various subjects are demon¬ 
strated. 
Conifers.— In all winter effects in the garden 
Conifers play a very important part,- so much so 
indeed that in some cases they are overdone. Law¬ 
son’s Cypress (Cupressus lawsoniana) is one of the 
most popular of all evergreens, by reason of its 
beauty and hardiness, in either town or country. 
The Cedars are among the handsomest of cur trees, 
although they prefer country air. We were de¬ 
lighted with a grand break of Cedrus atlantica. The 
plants were six or seven years old, and varied in 
height from five to seven feet. C. Deodara, the 
most graceful of all the Cedars, was also represented 
by plenty of stock. 
The Irish Yew (Taxus baccata fastigiata) is a 
great favourite by reason of its distinct columnar or 
pyramidal habit, so different from that of the ordin¬ 
ary Yew. Small plants of it are very suitable for 
window-boxes, or for pot plants in flower beds or 
ornamental vases during the winter months, and in 
such positions are characterised by great elegance 
and beauty. 
Whilst speaking of plants suitable for winter 
decoration of villa gardens we must not forget to 
mention the Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macro- 
carpa). When the plants are young they are exceed¬ 
ingly graceful in habit, and the red stems show up 
to great advantage against the bright green of the 
foliage. Of course, in its later stages, the plant 
assumes the porportion of a large tree, and it is of 
fairly rapid growth. Cupressus goveniana, often¬ 
times met with under the names of C. californica 
and C. Hartwegii, is another exceedingly useful 
subject for winter decoration. In the small state 
the foliage presents two shades a deeper green than 
does C. macrocarpa. 
The Retinosporas, although they cannot be 
described as good town plants,are wondrously pretty. 
R. plumosa is well named, for it has a feathery habit 
that is at once distinct and pleasing. The golden 
variety R. p. aurea is another handsome ptaffi in 
which the young shoots and foliage are of a bright 
golden hue, becoxing green as they pass into the 
mature stages. It is a great pity that the Retinos¬ 
poras are not better town plants. With Mr. Neal 
they do very well during the summer, but the sul¬ 
phurous fogs of November and December cause 
them to assume a brown, burnt appearance, which, 
apart from its unsightliness, well nigh cripples the 
plants. 
Miscellaneous Evergreens. —We noticed very 
many useful and beautiful subjects in this section, 
which admirably supplements the Conifers for 
winter effects in the garden. The Handsworth Box, 
Buxus handsworthiana, is one of the handsomest and 
most useful of all the plain green Boxes, and is sold 
in its thousands every year. 
The genus Ligustrum, again, is a heavy contribu¬ 
tor. L. ovalifolium is well-known as a good hedge 
plant for town planting, whilst L. sinense is almost 
as great a favourite. We observed a fine break of 
vigorous, beautiful leaved plants of the latter 
species. They have been raised from seed by Mr. 
Neal, and are in capital condition for planting. 
There is also a moderate demand for L. lucidum. 
Euonymus japonicus latifolius aureus is in great 
request; indeed, our guide informed us that they 
could never get enough of it, and this, despite the 
fact that from 12,coo to 14,000 cuttings were put in 
each year, most of which rooted and made plants. 
E. radicans, and its varieties E. r. sempervirens, and 
E. r. variegata are handsome plants for rockwork, 
where their long trailing branches can be seen to 
advantage As an edging to carriage drives or other 
walks in partial shade they also do well, and indeed 
succeed in places where more tender stuff would not 
grow. 
Aucuba japonica is propagated in its thousands 
both from seed and layers, and we observed some 
exceedingly healthy fine plants obtained from last 
year's layers. After another year has been allowed 
them to form plenty of roots as well as *• tops ” they 
will constitute magnificent material. 
We must not forget to mention a fine batch of the 
Strawberry Tree, Arbutus Unedo, which was 
accomodated in frames. Although hardy in its older 
stages this plant is found to be rather tender at 
Wandsworth in the earlier part of its life. Certainly 
the plants which we saw could not possibly have 
looked better under any circumstances. As they 
were all growing in six-inch pots, they were quite 
ready at any time for removal to any part of the 
kingdom. 
Choisya ternata is a pretty flowering shrub that, 
while not exactly hardy, will yet succeed very well in 
the southern counties if given the protection of a 
wall to which, if desired, it may be trained. 
Escallonia floribunda and E. macrantha are two 
other plants that will succeed with a similar amount 
of shelter. They resist the effects of the smoke very 
well and are distinct and handsome. 
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs.— Our walk round 
the nursery revealed to us magnificent stocks of a 
wealth of deciduous material. The value of and 
demand for the London Plane for town planting is 
still as great as ever. We were informed that 
upwards of 15,000 cuttings are put in at Wands¬ 
worth each year, representing nearly as many plants. 
These take about ten years before they are of a 
sufficient size for planting in the streets or squares 
of the metropolis and its suburbs. Mr. Neal does a 
great deal ia this direction, several of the largest 
London squares being permanently under his care. 
Nothing could be more promising than the various 
breaks of sturdy Planes in all stages from the cutting 
up to the fine young tree 10 or 12 ft. in height, bear¬ 
ing a symmetrical and well-balanced head upon a 
stout and clean stem. Horse Chestnuts, Elms, 
Maples, and Oaks in variety, including the Scarlet 
Oak, together with many members of the genera 
Piunus, Crataegus, and the handsome Ailantus 
glandulosa were represented in great profusion and 
in first-class condition, all giving evidence of the 
kind of stuff grown and supjplied by Mr. Neal to his 
numerous customers. 
Climbers.— Here, too, there was plenty of variety 
and all that is wanted to furnish and ornament our 
walls or other bare places is a judicious selection 
of the material offered Roses are grown in quantity, 
all the best climbing varieties receiving special 
attention. Tne same may be said of Clematises, of 
which no fewer than fifty-six of the finest named 
forms are catalogued. C. Jackmannii would seem to 
be the general favourite. 
Kerria japonica, although not exactly a climber by 
nature may yet be turned to good account as a wall 
subject. Crataegus Pyracantha, too, must not be 
lost sight of. C. P. Lelandi is distinct from the type 
by reason of the differently coloured fruits, and by 
reason that the young plants fruit sooner than do 
those of the species. Both are valuable plants. 
Ampelopsis hederacea, and A. Veitchii are both 
too well known as climbing plants to need further 
praise. A. sempervirens, so called, is a comparative 
stranger, however, but withal a pretty and useful 
plant wiih small green persistent leaves. It will 
probably be known to some of our readers under its 
correct name Vitis striata. 
Ivies are largely grown at the Trinity Road 
Nurseries, the collection comprising over forty 
distinct species and varieties. A fine batch of the 
pretty Hedera madeiriensis in pots arrested our 
attention, for we have never seen this handsome 
variety in better conlition. H. caenwoodiana, H. 
Helix argentea, H. H. donerailensis, and H. H. 
Silver Queen are some of the finest of the other 
forms. 
Fruit Trees —In addition to ornamental trees 
and shrubs of all kinds, Mr. Neal does a big trade in 
fruit trees of all descriptions. We were most 
favourably impressed with the general appearance of 
these. Large breadths of Apples on the Paradise 
stock were showing well for fruit even when barely 
a couple of feet high. Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Apricots we have never seen in better fettle, the 
wood being clean and healthy, and the heads having 
well balanced foundations that only need careful 
pruning and training for a year or two to develope 
into splendid trees. 
-- 
THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES 
OF A GARDENER.* 
His Qualifications. 
What are these necessary qualifications ? That they 
are numerous all of you will admit, and I shall 
endeavour to place before you what my views are 
respecting them. In the first place, I do not think I 
can do better than take our elementary schools as an 
example. The little boy when he first goes to school 
is placed in the lowest class or standard, whichever 
it may be, and is here taught the first rudiments of 
education. Unless he should prove a very dull 
scholar he is, after a year or so, removed into a 
higher class, and this promotion continues year after 
year until he has passed the number of standards 
required by the education department. And so it 
should be with gardening. 
I have always understood gardening to be a 
profession and to take rank not far behind that of 
surgeons ; for while they are doctors of men, are not 
we doctors of plants ? Yes ; and we labour at a dis¬ 
advantage compared wiih a physician, as none of our 
patients have the power of speech, and, therefore, 
cannot say what ails them. 
I say, again, when a youth starts to learn garden¬ 
ing, he should begin at the bottom ; and my idea is 
that this should be in the kitchen garden. I have 
various applications made to me (and for certain 
some of you head gardeners have also), by youths 
wishing to learn our profession ; but the majority of 
them want to start under glass—a very erroneous 
idea. If they do this, what are the consequences ? 
It is this. They do not care to go back and work in 
the kitchen garden after being in the houses a year 
or two, so they know next to nothing about this 
very important branch. 
The youth should make a beginning at weeding 
and he should have the weeds pointed out to him, 
’A paper read by Mr. J. Mayne, gardener to the Hon. Mark 
Rolle, Bicton.at a meeting of the Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ 
Association, on the 13th October. 
