August 5 , 1899. 
778 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
The horticulturists, in and about New York, 
have been discussing the relation ot birds to horti¬ 
culture and agriculture. 
The Urban District Council, as recently pointed out 
in our advertisement columns, are offering two very 
large prizes for the first and second best designs 
suitable to work from iu laying out some thirty-two 
acres of land as a public park at Ilford. The point 
we wish to draw attention to is the date of sending 
in the said designs, namely, Monday, August 21st, not 
Monday, August 7th, as previously announced. 
CONFERENCE ON HYBRIDISATION. 
Chiswick, July iith. 
Subjoined is the list of awards made by the Council 
of the Royal Horticultural Society on the report of 
a committee of experts :— 
Gold Flora Medal. —To Messrs. James Veitch & 
Sons, Ltd., of Chelsea. 
Gold Medal —To Monsieur Duval, of Versailles ; 
to Monsieur Maron, of Brunoy; to Sir Trevor 
Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge ; to Leopold de 
Rothschild, Esq,, Gnnnersbury House; to Mr. H. 
B. May, of Edmonton. 
Silver Gilt Flora Medal.—To Monsieur 
Morel, of Lyons; to Messrs. Jackman, of Woking. 
Silver Gilt Banksian Medal. —To C. T. 
Druery, V.M.H., Acton. 
Silver Banksian Medal. — To Professor 
Macfarlane, of Philadelphia ; to Herr Van TubergeD, 
of Haarlem ; to Dr. Wilson, of St. Andrew's; to Sir 
Frederick Wigan; Bart., East Sheen; to De Barry 
Crawshay, Esq., of Sevenoaks ; to Messrs. Wallace, 
of Colchester; to Messrs. Paul & Son, Cheshunt. 
Veitch Memorial Medal.—To Monsieur Duval, 
of Versailles (Class No. 6). 
Williams Memorial Medal. —To Leopold de 
Rothschild, Esq. (Class No. 9). 
Other Awards. — First-class Certificate to 
Kalanchoe flammea; Silver Gilt Flora Medal to 
group of Kalanchoe flammea. 
— - 
DAYBROOK VALE, NOTTINGHAM. 
This is a lovely secluded spot some four miles from 
the busy town of Nottingham, and is beautifully 
situated, being well sheltered all round. The 
entrance is by a lodge. The drive is well planted 
on either side with choice hardy trees, shrubs, 
Coniferae, &c. On the right is a lake, with 
islands, where graceful swans, ducks, and water 
hens are quite at home, and are seen gracefully 
swimming about. Bet ween the lake and the dwelling 
house is a lawn. Dotted here and there are choice 
Coniferae. Under the shady trees are beds of 
Fuchsias in perfection. This as seen here is a 
grand plant for such purposes. At given points are 
planted such fine foliage trees as Acer Negundo 
variegatum, Prunus Pissardi, and Golden Elder, 
which give a very pleasing effect. 
The mansion is covered with Ampelopsis, Roses, 
Jasminums, and a picture is the house. Comfort in 
every degree is found everywhere. From the 
dining room one looks into the conservatory, which 
contains good specimen Palms, Tree Ferns, 
Bambusas, Phormium, and a grand specimen of the 
well-known Anthurium scherzerianum.with some two 
dozen bright spathes, stands out prominently and 
conspicuously from the room. Mr. Mee, the 
owner, has done much to improve the place since 
he came into possession. He carries on a very ex¬ 
tensive business in the fruit and florist and nursery 
line; and is well known throughout the Midlands as 
an extensive and very successful exhibitor. The 
splendid groups of plants exhibited by him at 
various shows often secure the premier position. 
To grow plants for this purpose alone one must 
have an extensive and miscellaneous collection. 
Such is found in the houses at Daybrook ; and 
houses they are well adapted for the purpose. 
Houses of Crotons. Dracaenas, Acalyphas, Marantas, 
Anthuriums, Alocasias, Caladiums, and a host of 
other plants are grown to perfection. Every plant 
having plenty of room they are seen to advantage. 
The splendid colours of the various foliage plants, 
also the Ferns, Palms, &c., show they receive 
proper attention. Many Orchids, suitable for 
cutting purposes and for grouping, are grown. 
Some good Cattleyas, Oncidiums, Cypripediums, 
Odontoglossums, &c., are being kept for some future 
purpose it is evident. Houses of Ferns, all the best 
leading sorts, are grown extensively. Such plants 
as Asparagus and its varieties, and many Aralias 
are here by the dozens. Thriving stove and green¬ 
house plants, Allamandas, Ixoras, &c., do well; and 
many odds and ends which come out with telling 
effect in groups, when properly placed, are a special 
feature. 
Tomatos are extensively grown; good crops are 
now in perfection. The vineries carry a fine crop 
of fruit, not sensational bunches, but those more 
suitable for table use. Peaches in pots are 
well done; magnificent fruits fit for any exhibition 
table are numerous. 
The large Palm house contains noble specimens of 
Kentia, Cocos, Phoenix, Seaforthias, Latanias, &c., 
many 20-ft. high, in the pink of perfection, from 
large size to the seedling just potted. 
The grounds are well planted, the many borders 
being planted with subjects suitable for cutting pur¬ 
poses, which are cut as required and sent to the town 
shop, a splendid new building situated in the back 
part of the Long Row. It is here where an exten¬ 
sive trade is done in fruit and cut flowers. These 
new premises have every modern convenience, every¬ 
where lit up with electric light. Cellar accom¬ 
modation is grand—large and commodious—as are 
also the offices and making-up rooms. This part of 
the business is superintended by Mrs. Mee and her 
daughter, assisted by several young ladies. All were 
very busy—the former engaged in making up bridal 
bouquets; and splendid examples of floral artistic 
work they were. The many and various floral de¬ 
signs on view were models of horticultural skill. 
The stock of plants, fruit, and flowers, was a good 
representative one, for nothing but the best possible 
procurable is kept. 
In addition to these extensive premises Mr. Mee 
holds one of the largest stalls in the market, where a 
very extensive trade is done in flowers, fruit, and 
vegetables, the whole of which is well managed by 
Mr. C. J. Mee, the fortunate owner, who is ably 
assisted by his son.— Rusticus. 
DUTHIE PARK, ABERDEEN. 
This beautiful park of forty-four acres was pre¬ 
sented to the city by Elizabeth Crombie Duthie, and 
opened by Princess Beatrice, September 27th, 1883. 
The flowering shrubs do remarkably well, and 
flower with great freedom, Deutzia scabra and 
Spiraea ariaefolia carrying fine sprays of their 
beautiful trusses. Herbaceous plants are well 
cared for, Delphiniums, Alstroemerias, Gaillardias, 
P> rethrums standing out to good advantage on the 
borders with a background of greenery. Roses 
near the lodge are carrying good blooms, Gloire de 
Dijon looking quite at home, with clean strong 
growth, which does remarkably well during the 
autumn. 
The base has been laid of a new oblong house or 
winter garden, this base being of Aberdeen granite, 
the upper portion, the centre or dome rising to a 
height of 46 ft. to be of iron, the outer portions of 
wood. In addition to the increased interest that 
this must give, it will also form a desirable shelter 
to its visitors who have a rather long journey from 
the centre of the city. The bedding and general 
arrangements reflect considerable credit upon the 
able superintendent. 
• «■* - —— 
BEGONIAS AT RYECROFT. 
The tuberous Begonia is one of a clique of plants 
whose qualities has through the skill and thought 
and work of its cultivators since thirty years ago, 
been evolved and established. Just about thirty-five 
years ago we had no fine tuberous Begonias. To-day 
they are the pride of every garden and our leading 
florist-nurserymen give to the Begonia a share of 
energy, time and patience not surpassed by any other 
plant and perhaps only shared by the Cyclamen, 
Primula, Chrysanthemum, Carnation, and one or two 
other special subjects of popular appreciation. One 
of our oldest established firms, which still forges 
ahead, began in 1864 to hybridise with the old B. 
boliviensis, and some species then introduced such 
as B. Veitchii, B. Pearcei, B. rosaeflora, &c. So 
successful were their efforts that numerous other 
contemporary nurserymen followed in the trail, and 
while one improved the colour, another secured a 
better habit to his plants, or improved their form 
and floriferousness and so on. A double form 
appeared in a public garden at Lyons in France, and 
this being perpetuated gave the enthusiasts a big 
lift. We need not specialise the introducers and 
workers in this very interesting and no doubt re¬ 
munerative field, further than to say that develop¬ 
ments have gone so far that at present cross-breeders 
are confining their efforts to special selections of this 
plant which they more or less mark as their own. 
This prologue has led us now to a more intimate 
review of the work being done by Mr. H. J. Jones, 
of Ryecroft Nursery, Hither Green, Lewisham, S.E. 
While he by no means confines his labours, he has 
yet resolved specially to develop the lovely types 
of picotee edged double forms and the flaked singles. 
It is a late date to be discussing the qualities of 
blooms and plants under glass, especially of such 
superb collections as at Ryecroft, where a blaze of 
colour was flourishing in early May and has continued 
unabated till the present. 
The main show house is a literal sheet of scarlet 
and pink, orange, cerise, crimson, and blood-red; 
indeed, every hue except the blue tones. And yet, 
after so long a strain upon them the plants are not 
at all jaded, not lanky or unshapely as so many 
plants are seen to be at the season’s end. The aims 
which the Ryecroft master endeavours for is to so 
cultivate that a vigorous, free-flowering, shapely 
stock of plants, with good habit and constitution 
and appearance will evolve. Practising for these 
ends, and, of course, always conjoining quality and 
size of blooms with quantity, it is the easier to com¬ 
prehend why the Ryecroft strain should prove so 
satisfactory to those who are supplied from it. 
Among others of Mr. Jones’ new double named 
seedlings of greater note attention may be drawn to 
a lovely flowered dcuble Picotee variety named 
Major Cardell. Combining the best qualities of 
habit, growth, and form of leaf and stem structure, 
with the very highest quality of blooms, this Major 
Cardell, we venture to predict, will make its mark 
in this section of the tuberous Begonias The large, 
full, yet graceful and well-formed flower is of a soft 
yellow, shaded with pale salmon, and distinctly 
edged with a clear pink edge. With moderate sized 
flowers one could furnish very handsome buttonholes 
from a plant of this variety. H. J. Jones was sent 
out last, and has been very well taken to. The 
glowing orange-scarlet blooms are borne erectly and 
with dignified beauty, a quality which shows off to 
the best the large Camellia-like flowers. Cameo, 
too, for an enormous bloom, with a rich colour, to 
wit, deep salmon-rose, a good shape and dwarf 
habit, is a variety ^which Begonia lovers will 
admire. 
Eclair is a rich pink, with a very large Camellia¬ 
shaped flower, also of good habit, and has deep 
green, gracefully arranged foliage. 
Enterprise shows what is a new departure in 
Begonias, more often seen in the single forms, that 
is, flaking. It has a rich salmon grounding, over 
and streaking which are lighter tones of the same 
shade. The combination of the light and darker 
hues, seen under varying lights, is exquisitely beauti¬ 
ful, and rather too much for words. 
Mabel Rowbotham is very sweet, affording one a 
splendid rosy-salmon variety with an excellent style 
of growth. Pink Perfection should, we think, be 
acceptable to all tastes. It is ODe of the bright 
pinks, clear and brilliant. The flower are well-nigh 
perfect, and well shown forth, It is a good plant. 
Though great size is seldom to be found among the 
double whites, there is yet a vigour and floriferous¬ 
ness connected with them that makes up for the 
larger blooms of the others. Puiity, as one of Mr. 
Jones' recent seedlings, is as white as snow, very 
free flowering, and bearing medium blooms in a 
showy way. 
Ryecroft Gem gives us a deep rosy-red, Camellia¬ 
shaped bloom, of very free habit. This latter 
qual'ty is specially pronounced. There are 
numerous others of the newer double varieties, and 
each has some distinctive peculiar quality which 
makes their presence most desirable and recommend- 
able for lovers of these beautiful flowering plants. 
The older varieties, such as Beauty of Belgrove (with 
charming, silvery-pink, Rose-like flowers), Bexley 
Gem, Empress, Henry Irving, W. Hunt, Mrs. 
Hudson, La France, Mrs, Phil Rider, Mrs. G. 
