758 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 29, 1899, 
a plant which ought to flower in May, but by pinch¬ 
ing &c.; has been held over,—these and Roses, &c., 
help to brighten a large show greenhouse. The 
method adopted by Mr. Weeks in training Fuchsias 
to supports, up either side of a long span-house, is 
worthy of imitation. Only suitable climbiDg 
varieties like Phenomenal, Lampa, General Gran- 
field, and others can be employed, but if growers 
could see the beauty of Fuchsias hanging thus grace¬ 
fully over the gay stages of fancy and regal Pelar¬ 
goniums, many would become converts to the 
method. 
HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
Aquilegia canadensis (Canadian Columbine).— 
This is the type or species from which many of the 
scarlet-orange, yellow, and such like coloured varie¬ 
ties have originated. The flowers may not be so 
large as the Western American kinds, but are borne 
in very great profusion, and are exceedingly brilliant 
of hue. They are all easily raised from seeds, and 
either the rockery or herbaceous border will answer 
it as a site. 
Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) —This is one 
the best border plants which the Mediterranean 
region has furnished to us. It is remarkably fertile 
in blossom, carrying stout, erect panicles of red hued, 
small flowers, which continue to develop through¬ 
out the summer. As any soil and a free situation 
will suit it, and as its height is the convenient one of 
ij ft. to 2$ ft., with its other qualities, it is a plant 
for everybody's garden, rich in the nobleman’s 
borders or the workman's small patch. So regard¬ 
less is it to site that dry and rocky banks or gardens 
are often converted to glowing red sheets by this 
rampant, handsome, cheery Valerian. It is propa¬ 
gated by seeds, cuttings from the side shoots, or by 
division. 
.. . > 
BRITISH FERNS AT ACTON. 
Acton is one of the last places in the country the 
ordinary Fern collector would tbiok of searching for 
spoil, but readers of The Gardening World are 
aware that between Acton and British Ferns there is 
a connecting lick, and few will have any difficulty in 
forming the association. It is obvious that hardy Ferns 
to be found at Acton must be cultivated, and the 
many interesting and instructive notes that have 
appeared from time to time have revealed that in 
Mr. C. B. Green, ii. Myrtle Road, Acton, W , these 
interesting plants have an ardent admirer. But it 
was a revelation to me to find a few days since that 
there was also a most successful cultivator in Mr. 
Green. It was not the " G. W.” reporter who noted 
a first prize collection at Richmond Show from the 
above address a few weeks since, who revealed the 
fact in his report. No. I had long been aware of 
Mr. Green's reputation as a Fein authority, but I 
thought it was as a collector more than a cultivator ; 
so when a few days since I had the pleasure of seeing 
his collection of hardy British Ferns, my delight at 
what I saw was no less than my astonishment, for in 
a liny greenhouse, measuring something like 22 ft. 
by 11 ft , was the most interesting collection of 
plants I’ve ever seen in so small a compass. 
Collected from all parts of the country, with its 
varying climate and atmospheric condition, they 
were here growing and flourishing in the best 
possible health. Lady Ferns, male Ferns, Holly 
Ferns, Hart's-tongue Ferns, and Polypodies were all 
living happily together within a few miles of Charing 
Cress and it is only those who are suburban gar¬ 
deners wbo fully understand what that means to 
cultivators; for this is within the demcn-fcg area, 
where for half the year everything that is detri¬ 
mental to plant life, which adverse atmospheric con¬ 
dition can bring, exists in periodic visitation. 
As I said, I have long known Mr. Green to be a 
Fern enthusiast, studying and working scientifically, 
but I was not prepared for the surprise that awaited 
my visit. Here with very primitive contrivances, 
and in a very simple way, he is raising thousands of 
interesting sporelings, while his greenhouse is 
packed with hundreds of healthy, vigorous, beautiful 
Ferns in all stages, from the tiny protballus to the 
first prize specimen. A prettier group of plants in 
a greenhouse I think I never saw. 
Although there were not half a dozen flowering 
plants, and certainly not a bloom, there was in this 
collection of well-grown, happy looking Ferns a 
charming variety of form and colour, a most pleasing 
arrangement and effect, and a wealth of interesting 
detail in the examination of these beautiful forms 
and variations. The greater number are varietal 
forms of hardy Ferns. Typical forms are kept for 
comparison and study of this wonderful evolutionary 
process; but the greatest interest is felt in the work 
Mr. Green is doing' in raising new, curious, and 
interesting fo/ms. I said just now they were packed, 
and yet each plant has room. The wants of each 
individual plant is studied, the necessary moisture 
is secured by coal ashes on the stages. Top and 
bottom ventilation is afforded, and the requisite 
shade supplied by means of roller blinds, cleverly 
fixed, the whole design and arragement being carried 
out by Mr. Green himself. 
One fastidious individual I was shown which 
refuses to encourage the water companies, requiring 
an unfiltered free drink. For such a rain-tub is 
requisitioned to catch the precious liquid which falls 
from the roof. It must be a source of great pleasure 
to Mr. Green to watch the development of these 
plants growing and thriving under such artificial 
conditions and atmosphere, inseparable from the 
metropolitan area, contrasted with their native 
habitat; and it speaks volumes for his ingenuity and 
resourceful energy that he has produced such results 
with artificial aids and very limited time at his 
disposal. 
The first glance at this house of Ferns gives one 
the impression that here is the work of a skilled 
cultivator, combined with the taste of the artist. The 
occupants were happily disposed. Here, in a pro¬ 
minent posiiioD, elevated above its fellows—as 
befitting such grace—was a lovely Lady Fern, 
Athyrium Filix-foemina var. plumosum crispatum, 
elegant, graceful and of a charming pale green 
colour. Beyond in the background were some fine 
specimens showing at a glance their beauty and 
graceful proportions. Athyrium F. p. var. plumosum 
dissectum, a very finely cut form, together with 
another appropriately named “elegans” was very 
beautiful. A. F.-f. " pericristatum ” is crested 
throughout. These are all remarkable for the 
delicate green colouring of the fronds. 
Of a deeper green are the Scolopendriums, and 
beautifully varied in character; there are smooth 
fronds, rough fronds, crisped fronds, lacerated and 
plumose fronds, broad and narrow fronds. S. vulgare 
var. cristatum is a very fine plant; S. v. var. 
peraferens has pockets at the apex of the fronds ; S. 
v. var. laceratum is very deeply and irregularly cut. 
A very fine specimen of S. v. var. sub-pinnato- 
cristatum was noted, a mass of unequal branching 
and cresting. S. v. var. unguiceps has claw-like 
fronds, narrow and revolute. One labelled S. v. var. 
lobatum was found by Mr. Green in Momouthshire, 
and is prized on that account, occupying an honour¬ 
able position. 
Particularly interesting was a small but thriving 
plant of Polypodium vulgare var. elegantissimum. 
Polystichumangulare var.plumosum (Wollaston) is as 
i s name implies a plumose form and very fine; while 
P. a. divisilobum plumosum laxum merits all these 
descriptive names and more. These mentioned are 
ouly a few of the more prominent out of a houseful 
of good things. I was so exceedingly interested in 
these multitudinous and interesting variations of 
forms and characters that I had no time to make any 
notes, and there was so much of interest to see, that 
my short visit left me with a longing desire to renew 
acquaintance with these fascinating subjects. Some 
of the most curious and interesting of which, be it 
noted, are the result of Mr. Green's work in 
crossing, seeding and selecting—a work he is 
industriously pursuing; and I have no doubt from 
these interesting sporelings will proceed new, curious 
and beautiful forms. Some will say, surely a house¬ 
ful of Ferns must be uninteresting. I can only say 
I never felt greater interest in a houseful of flowering 
plants ; and it appears to me the work of Fern raising, 
crossing and selecting is—as Mr. Green proceeds— 
a most fascinating and absorbing one ; and gives as 
much variety and interest as the choicest selection of 
any kind of florist’s flowers. 
Apart from the scientific aspect of Fern culture, 
I could not but be struck with the deliciously cool, 
and delightfully restful appearance of these Ferns. 
The afternoon of my visit was a scorching hot one, 
and I cou'.d not help thinking what a relief and 
grateful change this scene affords a busy city man, 
weary with a day ’s toil in a breathless, stifling,tropical 
London. Even to me writing now, with the thermo¬ 
meter struggling for go 0 in the shade, and the flies 
buzzing, it is a welcome relief to think of Mr. Green’s 
Ferns.— A P. 
- 
A ROSE GARDEN. 
Melbourne Lodge, Queen's Walk, Ealing, W., the 
residence of Mrs. Moore, is like many another pretty 
villa in this neighbourhood, for it is aglow with 
Roses in the summer time. But, although the 
" queen " is justly popular with her numerous •• sub¬ 
jects,” it is not often one sees so much admiration 
bestowed upon her, if one may take the size of the 
garden into account and the number of "queens” 
that hold their court there. Mr. J. Baird, the gar¬ 
dener at Melbourne Lodge, has something like 800 
under his care, and to do these well demands a large 
share of his time and attention in such a season as 
we are passing through, for the Rose will not 
respond freely, or give satisfactory results, unless its 
requirements are attended to. 
The Rose is a fascinating flower, and notwith¬ 
standing its great antiquity, and sometimes its per¬ 
fume, it never seems to pall the aesthetic sense. The 
Greeks and the Romans alike, never tired in bestowing 
their praises upon it, while we moderns still sing of 
its colour, its fragrance, and its perfect form. The 
Rose is the child of summer [we have seen several 
varieties in fine form at Christmas.— Ed.] and the 
pride of the garden still, although we do not lavish 
so much love upon it as the ancients are said to have 
done, nor do we take our meals reclining on its 
floral leaves. We do, however, pay much homage 
to the flower, and one at least, of my enthusiastic 
Rose-growing acquaintances says it never looks so 
sweet and fresh as in the early morn. 
Just inside the gates of Melbourne Lodge there is 
a double semi-circle of standard Roses, mostly of the 
hybrid perpetual class—about sixty in all. These 
occupy the same number of circular beds cut out in 
the grass—a little formal,perhaps, but still very beauti¬ 
ful in many cases where the heads possess from twenty 
to fifty flowers. The best of these consisted of Mrs. 
John Laing, a large, well-formed, soft pink flower; 
Le Havre, less in size, but vermilion red; Prince 
Camille de Rohan, an old but very rich-coloured 
flower; Duke of Edinburgh, scarlet-crimson,; 
Captain Christy (a hybrid Tea), with delicate tints ; 
Gustave Piganeau, brilliant carmine ; Mrs. Reynolds 
Hole, deep maroon, large and full; Margaret Dick¬ 
son, and Merveille de Lyon, both blushing Roses ; 
Alfred Colomb, bright and free; Dr. Andry, rich 
crimson; Augustine Guinoisseau (hybrid Tea), 
white, delicately tinted; Jules Margottin, cherry- 
red ; and of course, La France (hybrid Tea), which is 
one of the sweetest and the best of modern flowers. 
At the rear of the Lodge Roses also prevail, in fact 
they are pre-eminent, the hybrid perpetuals 
being as useful and as ornamental as they are con¬ 
tinuous flowering. In addition to those already 
mentioned there are Baroness Rothschild, one of the 
most charming ; John Stuart Mill, a fine clear red; 
Mrs. Paul, a blush Rose with a grand head of eighty 
or ninety blooms; and General Jacqueminot, scarlet- 
crimson, and sweet withal; it is a mass of colour, 
and grown in quantity in bush form as well as 
standards. 
Teas andjhybrid Teas are also in much request, 
such as L’ldeal, coppery-yellow, very variable in 
colour, but perfect buds and flowers; Catherine 
Mermet, rosj-flesh, and most reliable; Rubens, 
creamy-rose, free and good ; Comtesse de Nadaillac, 
peach, shaded apricot; Bouquet d’Or, deep yellow, 
very vigorous; Viscountess Folkestone, orange, 
shaded salmon, a fine flower and a favourite, as is 
also Caroline Testout, a lovely salmon-pink in the 
way of La France ; Grace Darling, full, distinct and 
free; Her Majesty, and many others. Homer forms 
a huge bush, is pretty and variable and rosy as the 
morn, as indeed it should be, for Homer borrowed 
the brilliant tints of the Rose to paint the richness 
of the rising sun. 
On walls and trellises other sections and varieties 
do abound. Dundee Rambler flings its pink-white, 
semi-double flowers about in great profusion, while 
Crimson Rambler produces these in crimson 
pyramids, lighting up the garden with its wealth of 
colour and reminding one of the magnificence of 
eastern scenes. 
Aimee Vibert is also a good white climbing Rose, 
and almost evergreen ; W. A. Richardson is excellent 
in all respects; Marechal Niel possesses perfect 
