March 12, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
441 
Two year-old Cucnmber Seed— E. T. L.: If the 
seed has been kept in a fairly dry and cool place it 
should not have lost much of its germinating power, 
and yon may use it without much fear of a failure. 
It will be well, however, to sow double the quantity 
that you would of one-year-old seed. 
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SAVOY SUTTON’S PERFECTION. 
The Savoys constitute a pleasant variation from the 
ordinary Cabbage, both in appearance and flavour, 
making a useful vegetable during the first half of 
winter, and being greatly improved in tenderness 
after a touch or two of frost. Amongst Savoys 
Sutton’s Perfection comes in after the earliest 
varieties. The dwarf and compact habit of the 
plants enables them to be grown pretty closely 
together, so that a few rows in a vegetable break 
afford space for a considerable number of useful¬ 
sized heads for the table. The dark green leaves 
and their finely rugose or wrinkled character give 
the variety a refined and even highly-ornamental 
character, and should render the variety highly 
popular after it becomes known amongst the fra¬ 
ternity. It also combines the good qualities of 
several of the better known forms of garden Savoys, 
which is another recommendation for extended 
culture in the vegetable garden. The accompanying 
illustration, lent us by Messrs. Sutton & Sons, 
Reading, shows how beautifully compact and firm 
the heads are. 
ile, Silene pendula, and Tulips of indescribable 
colour, providing March and April are not too dry¬ 
ing. If those months should be dry, the plants 
suffer considerably in our light sandy soil, and the 
display is cut very short. 
I must apologise for my lengthened notes, but 
would like to say a word or two anent the Rhodo¬ 
dendrons and Camellias, and how well they are 
flowering. The former have been in bloom more or 
less ever since last October. Of R. nobleanum and 
its many varieties one or two slight frosts have 
marred a few heads that were fully out, but plenty 
more were open in about a week’s time. This con¬ 
tinuous flowering is an advantage, as I find them 
very useful just now for large vases. The Camellias 
have been quite a show, red, white, and pink varie¬ 
ties all in bloom up to Monday, the 7th February, 
when we registered 4 0 of frost, which, of course, dis¬ 
figured all the blooms that were open. Frost and 
strong winds play havoc with these when once ex¬ 
panded. Primroses are in abundance, and have 
been ever since Christmas.— Devonian. 
-> » 1 . 
ORCHIDS AT WILLIAMS WOOD, NEAR 
GLASGOW. 
A place of interest in the neighbourhood of Glasgow 
is Williamswood, the residence of Wm. Campbell, 
Esq. It is only a few years since Mr. Campbell put 
up a range of glass specially for Orchids. It is in 
collection are frequently seen on the exhibition table, 
and occupy an honourable position, much to the 
satisfaction of the genial gardener, Mr. Harry Reid. 
— Visitor. 
-- 
SANDHURST LODGE, NEAR 
WOKINGHAM. 
In the Reading district there are some good gardens, 
and much interest is exhibited in gardening. This 
is shown by the interesting meetings of the Gar¬ 
deners’ Mutual Improvement Society. 
Although Sandhurst Lodge, the residence of Sir 
W. J. Farrer, is not close to this town, being about 
ten miles distant, it is situated in a well wooded and 
pleasant part of Sandhurst, and near Wellington 
College, which is so well known, and within ten 
minutes walk of Wellington College Station. The 
mansion is approached by a drive which comes close 
to the railway station. 
This drive is well kept and ornamented by many 
fine trees and shrubs, showing at a glance that there 
is a lover of really ornamental gardening who 
supports the place. The mansion is mostly sur¬ 
rounded by trees and shrubs. The character of the 
mansion I do not intend to deal with, as this is not 
of so much importance from a gardening point of 
view ; and there are so many things of interest in 
this place, that to give a detailed account would 
take more space than the Editor may care to give 
Savoy Sutton’s Perfection. 
THE HERBACEOUS BORDER. 
Even in the month of February we have several 
flowering bulbs or tubers that tend to brighten our 
garden at a season when outdoor flowers are at a 
minimum. The first to claim attention is the beauti¬ 
ful purple-blue Iris reticulata, with yellow and white 
stripes, spotted with black, and sweetly scented. A 
large clump of this must have a charming effect. With 
gentle forcing it can be had in bloom by Christmas, 
I am told, but have not tried this myself. Then 
there are some of the single Anemones, flowering ex¬ 
ceptionally early this year, partly owing to the mild 
weather, no doubt, and notable among these stands 
out the brilliant crimson, A. fulgens, so useful for 
cutting; and the Caen Anemones give us a great 
variety of colours. The Winter Aconite (Eranthis 
hyemalis) is past its best; but the paper-white and 
double Polyanthus Narcissus, such as Grand Mon- 
arque, Queen of the Netherlands, etc., are fast open¬ 
ing their flowers. These were forced about two 
years ago, and afterwards planted in the borders. 
The many coloured Crocuses, too, help to brighten 
our beds, borders, and sunny banks wherever 
planted on the turf. All of those just enumerated, 
if dotted about in clumps, enliven our otherwise 
flowerless beds or borders. Some plant Polyanthus, 
Daisies, and such-like spring flowers, but we keep 
those to the flower garden proper ; and a bit later on 
we will be rewarded with glowing beds of the latter, 
together with Wallflowers, Myosotis, Alyssum saxat- 
three divisions, and admirably adapted for Orchid 
culture. 
The first division is entirely devoted to the Odon- 
toglossum. The plants are in the pink of condition, 
their growth no doubt being to a certain extent 
accountable for their vigorous and healthy look. A 
large amount of interest attaches to imported plants, 
as we always expect some particular treasure to turn 
up. A very fine O. Pescatorei has already been 
named after the owner, and no doubt other good 
things will yet appear. 
The second division contains a mixed lot of all the 
useful kinds ; while the third has mostly been filled 
with Laelia purpurata in variety, full of flowering 
sheaths, and in splendid health. Cattleyas and seed¬ 
ling Cypripediums were plentiful. 
Another house standing by itself was filled with 
splendid plants of Dendrobes. D. devonianum had 
growths, 5 ft. long, and correspondingly thick. D. 
nobile was bristling with flower buds. A plant of 
D.nobile h ere has got so far out of the beaten track as 
to bloom in November, and has not yet made much 
progress with the growths that should have been 
made last summer. It will be interesting to watch 
how this plant behaves in future. So far it has got 
the same treatment as the others, and it is probable 
that it is something inherent in this particular plant, 
that is the cause of so great a divergence. Many fine 
plants of D. wardianum are just showing for bloom, 
and others are promising well. Specimens of this 
me. Consequently I shall only mention a few of 
the most important features that came to my notice 
in a hurried look round the place during the past 
summer. 
Some ten or twelve years ago I used to go and see 
the place, residing as I did then in the neighbour¬ 
hood, and Mr. Townshend being an old acquaintance. 
I well remember the changes that were then taking 
place. Some few years previous to that time Sir 
William Farrer had come to reside here. As I 
entered the grounds I could see great changes had 
taken place, and much that formerly had little to 
attract was made most interesting. 
It was early summer when I visited it, and many 
lovely hardy shrubs and trees were in bloom, many 
of which were planted to produce a good effect. As 
an instance of this I may name a large vigorous tree 
of the Red Chestnut, backed by deep Coniferous 
trees; and to see the sun shining on this in full 
bloom is a glorious sight. 
The ground is much broken, the house standing 
on high ground overlooking the slopes and well kept 
green sward. On the turf are some fine trees such 
as the Douglas Fir, Abies Pinsapo, Cupressus of 
sorts, Cryptomeria, etc. Some of these stand 
adjoining shrubbery borders, the trees standing on 
the .turf in a half circle, with fine masses of Ghent 
and other Azaleas, some of the best Rhododendrons, 
Weigelas, and other flowering shrubs. 
One of the most pleasant changes and improve- 
