August 6, 1898. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
shoots were cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Here 
Mr. Freeman-Mitford spoke of a recently discovered 
quality of the Bamboo, discovered by a British 
officer stationed in one of the driest parts of India, 
for by stabbing the internodes of the culms, clear 
limpid water could be obtained. The blowpipes of 
Malayans were obtained from the Bamboo, and 
shafts for assegais were supplied by the canes of 
Arundinaria tesselata. Five Indian species were 
largely used for fencing purposes, and the making of 
water pipes, fishing tackle, and house furniture. 
Phyllostachys mitis, which grew to a height of from 
60 ft. to 70 ft. in China was very useful for many 
purposes, for the walls of the culm, although thin, 
were light and tough. P. Quilioi was employed in 
the same way. P. nigra, and P. nigra punctata were 
largely used for the making of house furniture. 
Samples of the curiously twisted canes of P. hetero- 
cycla, the tortoiseshell Bamboo, were also shown. He 
thought the curious " side to side ” arrangement of the 
separating membranes was due to the plant growing 
in heavy compressed soil, for it was only the earlier 
formed nodes that showed the deformity, and it was 
not to be seen at all when the plant was growing in 
light soil. P. aurea showed the same peculiarity. 
This species could be easily distinguished from any 
other by the existence of swelling at the bases of the 
nodes, which were not found in any other form. He 
took P. heterocycla to be only a form of P. mitis, and 
P. castilionis to be a garden form of P. Quilioi. 
The canes of B. quadrangularis were much in 
favour for fancy work in Japan. The species was 
not indigenous to Japan, but had been introduced to 
that country through China. 
The lecturer thought that Bamboo growing for 
the canes would never become an important industry 
here, for, first of all, we lacked the steamy atmos¬ 
phere and high temperature necessary to the quick 
development of the plants, and secondly, there was 
not sufficient demand for the canes. According to 
the Chinese from seven to ten years elapsed from 
the time of planting till the plantations were re¬ 
munerative. He could find nothing reliable as to 
the costs and profits of the industry, but 8500 worth 
of canes had been sold annually from a plantation of 
two acres in area. He regretted that he could give 
no reliable information as to the importers' profits. 
He had applied to several large importers, but the 
accounts he received were variable and, in some 
cases, contradictory, one gentleman going so far as 
to say that Bamboos only came over here as ballast. 
Mr. Freeman-Mitford concluded his very able and 
interesting lecture by an allusion to the fine decora¬ 
tive qualities of the Bamboo. 
In the discussion which followed, the chairman 
strongly recommended all to visit the Bamboo Gar¬ 
den at Kew, which, he said, grew in grace and beauty 
year by year. He also urged each grower to experi¬ 
ment in his own garden with the different species 
and varieties. He had been agreeably surprised to 
see how well they adapted themselves to their 
changed conditions. 
D. Masters put in a good word for B. Metake, 
which he described as a first-class town plant, suit¬ 
able for planting in either South Kensington or 
Whitechapel. 
Mr. Harry J. Veitch said that he had found that 
Bambcos would flourish in almost any soil, and their 
ability to resist drought had been remarkably shown 
during a period when many shrubs were dying for 
lack of water. He advised a mulching of good 
manure in the autumn. 
In answer to a question Mr. Freeman-Mitford said 
that the most suitable Bamboos for planting for 
cover for pheasants were Arundinaria Veitchii, B. 
palmata, B. tesselata and A. metallica. The 
latter, which had been shown for the first time that 
day, in his own collection was more vigorous than 
either A. Veitchii or Bambusa Metake. It was 
needful, however, to protect it at first from rabbits, 
which were a great nuisance and very destructive. 
— • « -- 
Fagus sylvatica pendula, or the weeping Birch, is 
one of the most elegant trees of all those that the 
planter has at command. One of the finest speci¬ 
mens of it in existence is growing on the site of an 
old nursery at Flushing, N.Y., U.S.A. It is about 
forty years of age. is 48 ft. high, has a trunk girthing 
10 ft. at 3 ft. from the ground,?and the circle formed 
by the sweep of its branches is about 52 ft. in 
diameter. This fine tree was recently figured in 
Gardening (American), 
HORTICULTURE IN ROTHERHAM. 
Oakwood Grange. 
Situated in a rectangular direction to the Wood¬ 
lands, the subject of my previous notes, is the 
charming residence of G. Baker, Esq., horti- 
culturally presided over by his capable gardener, 
Mr. A. Woodward. In upper Moorgate on the way 
to Whiston stands in bold relief the picturesque 
mansion alluded to, towering majestically above the 
surrounding country, which in this neighbourhood is 
somewhat undulated, and so a fine view is com¬ 
manded of great rural beauty. Nor are the sulphur 
fumes so troublesome in this locality, consequently 
the kitchen garden department is worked with a 
large amount of success. A drive of about 150 yards 
from the Moorgate Road and the residence of Mr. 
Baker is open to view ; so aptly, however, is the in¬ 
troduction of shrubs and banks intervened that the 
house is hidden, when walking up the drive, and so 
the pleasing revelation of this sightly mansion 
comes as an exceedingly pleasant surprise. 
But away to the houses, six in number and of con¬ 
siderable dimensions, comprising large Peach house, 
vinery, greenhouse, Rose house, stove, &c., situ¬ 
ated in the rear of the house, and suitably enclosed 
with the orthodox garden walls. In the vinery 
department general health was evident, plenty of 
good wood and vigorous bunches judiciously thinned. 
Alicantes, Gros Colmar, Lady Downes and Ham¬ 
burgh are the varieties grown. Two Peach houses 
(the one 28 yds. by 8 yds., the other 14 yds. by 4 
yds.) showed a week ago a splendid crop; more 
really than they should have done, as Mr. Wood¬ 
ward said, to ensure a fair successive crop year by 
year. The varieties grown are Noblesse, Welbeck 
Seedling, Hale’s Early and Royal George, with two 
or three Pitmaston Orange Nectarines introduced- 
The plentiful crop seemed in no way to affect the 
size of the fruit, which was everything to be desired. 
In the stove were healthy Crotons in all the latest 
varieties, Marantas, Ficus variegata, Dracaenas of 
sorts, Cannas and choice Orchids, making grand 
breaks, and embracing such families as Dendrobes, 
Cattleyas, Masdevallias, and Cypripediums in many 
and choice varieties. The Exmouth variety of 
Stephanotis on the roof was in full bloom, and 
formed a glorious pendant. 
A cool house which acts as conservatory was 
bright with good zonal and show Pelargoniums, the 
former including such varieties as Amy Amphlett ( 
Plutarch, Mrs. Leavers, Raspail, Golden Wedding, 
&c. Odontoglossum Rossi majus, O. Pescatorei, and 
other species were identified, and apt dots of 
Celosias, Gloxinias, Calceolarias, Streptocarpus, and 
general foliage plants completed such a charm of 
culture and arrangement that could not, but please 
the most fastidious in horticulture. 
In an adjoining span-roof house, 17 yds. by 7 yds. 
was a centre bed of fine specimen Camellias, sur¬ 
mounted on the entire roof by such Roses as the 
charming varieties Anne Olivier (a grand Rose), 
Marechal Niel, Jean Ducher, Homere, W. A. 
Richardson, and Gloire de Dijon, all in perfect 
health and consequent vigour, and free from pests of 
any description. It was at this point that I found 
my wily chaperon (Mr. A. Woodward, the gardener), 
had by no means as yet shown me all the charming 
things at this establishment, for he had evidently 
kept till nearly the last what was undoubtedly one of 
the prettiest attempts at bedding I have as yet seen 
hereabouts. 
A lawn and small intervening belts of shrubs, with 
flower borders comprising in all about an acre, 
situated in front of the mansion, was the scene of this 
latest development alluded to. Standing on the well 
kept sward facing the house the general effect was 
delightful. Access to the lawn is gained from-the 
front entrance of the house either by a flight of steps 
or the slope of grass that prefaces, as it were, the 
entire front of Mr. Baker’s residence. At the foot of 
this slope are laid out flower beds, serpent and circu¬ 
lar shapes alternating. These are filled with Calceo¬ 
larias Golden Gem, Gold Cup, and Sultan; zonal 
Pelargoniums Harry Hieover, Flower of SpriDg, 
Princess Jacoby, and Crystal Palace Gem, and last 
but not least, that irreproachable Viola, The Tory. 
Around the borders generally in tbe pleasure 
grounds were some magnificent spikes of Stocks, 
charming Roses, mostly the hybrid perpetual, and 
in great variety, Syringas, Buxus, Ilex, the Golden 
Yew (Taxus), and the Irish Yew, Retinospora, 
Cupressus and other Conifers, Laurels, Aucubag, 
&c. 
To retrace our steps from this spot to the kitchen 
garden was an act of leaving the ornamental to 
observe the useful. Here were to be seen a magni¬ 
ficent lot of pink Celery (Upstone's Superb) that 
was absolutely fit for table if only earthed up and 
blanched. Following about four double rows of 
this were successive lines of Duke of Albany, 
Sharpe’s Queen and Prince of Wales Peas, the 
latter full, fit and hanging about as thickly as they 
pcssibly could, with the other varieties promising 
equally as well. Early Snowball Cauliflowers were 
heading, with successive varieties well in advance of 
anything I have seen in South Yorkshire; Beet, 
bulbing nicely ; Carrots of the Intermediate type, a 
fair size ; Parsnips with wonderful tops, and almost 
as good bottoms ; Chelsea Gem Peas with beautiful 
pods, and heavily laden (a grand stock); in fact, 
every nook and corner of this spacious kitchen gar¬ 
den was filled with grand examples of good culture, 
which undoubtedly will have much to owe to a 
copious supply of good manure, especially in such a 
dry season as we are experiencing. Thus is the 
moisture retained, and the season somewhat counter¬ 
acted .—Albert Upstone, 
MILLFIELD NURSERY, EDMONTON. 
Not only does Mr. H. B.May grow myriads of plants 
for market but he has taken up fruit culture to a con¬ 
siderable extent, and this branch of his business will 
probably largely increase in tbe course of the next 
few years. The Millfield Nursery, situated about a 
mile on the other side of Silver Street Station from 
that on which the Dyson’s Lane establishment lies, is 
the nucleus of the fruit culture branch. The 
surroundings are open and breezy, for the ground lies 
fairly high, and everything is apparently conducive 
to success. The houses are much larger than those 
at Dyson's Lane, and are very substantially built. 
Grapes and Tomatos are the chief subjects taken 
up, and under the capable management of Mr. 
Summers, excellent results are obtained. There are 
twelve established vineries each measuring about 
160 ft. in length by 28 ft. in width. The canes are 
stout, healthy, and in full bearing. This year they 
are carrying exceptionally heavy crops, and we were 
very favourably impressed with the fine substance 
and rich green of the foliage, as well as the size and 
regularity of the bunches. Gros. Colman and 
Muscat of Alexandria are the chief varieties, and 
they are found to command a first-class sale. Black 
Alicante is grown to some extent, but Canon Hall 
Muscat is not touched at all; “ it is too risky ” said 
Mr. Summers to us in reply to the query. 
In the early months of the year, up to and 
including May, the floor space in these vineries is 
utilised for the growing on of hordes of bedding 
plants, the zonal Pelargonium West Brighton Gem 
being an especial favourite both for flower beds and 
window boxes. Spiraeas and Ferns claim the space 
not occupied by the bedding plants and thus supple¬ 
ment to a very material degree the resources of the 
establishment at Dyson’s Lane. 
The two most recently constructed vineries are 
giants among their kind, for one measures 250 ft. in 
length by 26 ft. in width, and the other is 22 ft. 
longer. They are planted with Vines, and until these 
come into bearing the other part of the floor space 
is covered with Tomatos, Chemin Rouge being the 
favourite variety. When these two houses get into 
full swing they will indeed be magnificent vineries. 
In the houses devoted to plants we were delighted 
with the grand batches of Crimson Rambler Rose in 
48-sized pots. These plants were not only in 
vigorous health but were a mass of flower ; indeed 
it is a wonder how they can be induced to do so well 
with such limited root space. 
Clematises in 4-in. pots are another special feature 
during the spring months. They flower freely and 
make capital conservatory plants. Such varieties as 
Miss Bateman and Fair Rosamond take very kindly 
to this treatment. The white C. Jackmani also 
gives satisfaction thus, for although it is rather a 
weak grower it flowers freely and the flowers are of 
good size. 
In the numerous pits and smaller houses zonal 
Pelargoniums were to be seen in great numbers at 
the time of our visit, and the fine new pink variety 
Millfield Rival was in splendid condition. Tricolors 
