556 
rHE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 1, 1897. 
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BUSH HILL PARK NURSERIES. 
Besides the vast numbers of hard-wooded plants 
accommodated by these nurseries, to which we re¬ 
ferred in a recent issue, there is a great deal more 
to be seen. The propagating department in itself is 
replete with interest, for just as the young of all 
animals are interesting, no matter how devoid of 
interest the mature animal may be, just so with 
plants. The wants of a large general nursery are 
many, aye, and diversified, too, and in this miniature 
cosmos may be observed much that is suggestive of 
the greater cosmos without. 
Ferns of themselves take up a good deal of room, 
thereby giving us one more demonstration, if such 
were needed, of the firm hold they have upon the 
affections of the public. Pteris tremula was repre¬ 
sented in its thousands, and the variegated form, P. 
t. argyraea, is also done well. Pteris Wimsettii is 
equally well grown, and it was most interesting 
to see how in the large batches of it on view much 
diversity of cutting of the fronds was shown. In 
some cases it approached dangerously near to P. 
cretica. P. serrulata cristata is a well known form 
of the type that is likewise very valuable. Messrs. 
Low possess the finest crested form of it that has 
yet come before our notice. The crests at the tips 
of the pinnae have developed into huge tassels that 
by their very weight draw the fronds into a subpen¬ 
dant position. As a basket Fern it is exceedingly 
elegant, and as it appears to have as sound a consti¬ 
tution as the type there is no doubt that it has a 
future before it once it becomes more widely known, 
and can be propagated with sufficient rapidity to 
supply the demand. Such Adiantums as A. cunea- 
tum, A. Williamsii, A. gracillimum, and A. Legrandii 
are also grown in great force, and the familiar Poly¬ 
podium (Phlebodium aureum) was not lacking. 
Onychium japonicum is a greenhouse Fern that 
should be more generally known. It is easy to grow, 
and the delicate light green of the fronds shows up 
very conspicuously amongst a mixed collection. 
Bunches of Davallia elegans just as they had been 
imported were a unique feature in this department. 
These were tied up in round bundles, the rhizomes 
being packed in very coarse fibrous peat. When 
suspended from the roof of a stove or other warm 
house, and regularly syringed, these rhizomes are 
not long in breaking out into growth, when they form 
very elegant hanging baskets. The bulk of peat 
affords plenty of lodgement for moisture, and suits 
the plants well. 
Another house was filled with as fine a batch of 
Statice profusa as one could wish to see. Fatsia 
japonica variegata is not so common as the ordinary 
green one, but it sells well, and as it is a pretty and 
good tempered plant it deserves all it gets. Cannas 
are grown in great numbers. Bearing in mind the 
promise of this noble flower the Messrs. Low have 
got together a fine collection comprising most of the 
leading varieties, and including the two fine forms, 
Italia and Austria, the former of which we figured 
last year by kind permission of Messrs. Damann & 
Co. At the time of our visit the rhizomes had been 
divided up for purposes of propagation. These 
divisions were laid in in cocoanut fibre refuse on 
stages in warm houses, and the greater part of them 
were just starting strongly into growth. 
Carnations are passed through hands in large 
numbers. The collection includes a small collection 
of the best American varieties, which have recently 
been sent from the states for comparison with our 
English varieties. From the samples on view it 
would appear that however well these varieties may 
behave across the herring pond they are scarcely up 
to our best standard. Nicholson, bright rose ; 
Hector, deep crimson ; and C. F. Hill, bright crim¬ 
son with fimbriated edges like a Marguerite Carna¬ 
tion, were three of the best. The colours were ex¬ 
cellent, but in most cases the flower lacked substance. 
Madame Therese Franco, better knowD, perhaps, 
as Mrs. L. de Rothschild, came out to advantage by 
the side of the “ Yanks.” With few exceptions, 
such as Wm. Robinson and Winter Cheer, which 
seem to be ever in bloom, the rest of the plants were 
out of flower, although judging from the strength 
and vigour of the grass and flower stems, the winter 
months have not been devoid of beauty. 
Show, regal, and decorative Pelargoniums are 
grown in great numbers, no fewer than seven large 
and roomy houses being devoted to them. If the 
realisation of flower is anything like equal to the 
promise, of which we saw unequivocal signs on all 
hands, these plants will be no mean spectacle in the 
near future. 
Messrs. Low have a great name and fame for 
Cyclamen, and a visit to the Bush Hill Nurseries will 
soon convince the visitor that both name and fame 
are deserved. Those who have had the pleasure of 
seeing the various exhibits of Cyclamen made by 
them in various parts of the country will be able to 
imagine the sight when house after house is filled 
with the same material. The purity of the white 
forms, the delicacy of the pink, and the depth and 
vividness of the rose and purple are magnificent. 
Besides obtaining a strain of flower with very wide 
segments a crest or feathering has been developed 
upon the centre towards the top of each segment, 
the effect being very fine. This departure was first 
made evident in the white (Pioneer) form, but the 
crest has also been added to the rose and red 
varieties, so that the whole of the colour sections 
have now armorial bearings. Having regard to the 
vigour of the plants as well as their great floriferous- 
ness it is scarcely a prophecy requiring much fore¬ 
sight to predict a great future for them. 
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Hardening IIiscellany. 
MEDINILLA MAGNIFICA. 
Amongst the many novelties and grand example of 
cultivation in the garden at Nonsuch Park, Cheam, 
is a grand specimen of the above, over 6 ft. through, 
throwing enormous tresses of its beautiful deep rose- 
coloured flowers. As seen here it is a noble plant 
and well worthy a place in every collection of stove 
plants, especially when there is plenty of room. The 
plant referred to is the grandest specimen I have 
ever met with. This place for many years past has 
been noted for its collection of Azaleas, the enormous 
specimens of which are wonders for their age. They 
were potted last year and have greatly benefited by 
it, flowering very freely and making splendid growth. 
Another noticeable feature is Clerodendron Balfourii, 
which is well-represented by specimen plants well- 
flowered, as is the old Franciscea calycina major, not 
so often seen as it ought to be.— Rvsticus. 
PORTUGAL LAUREL DISEASED. 
In a recent issue the peculiar whitish appearance 
of the leaves of some Portugal Laurels, shown by 
Mr. Wilks was commented upoD, the assumed cause 
being deficient nutrition. From a prolonged ac¬ 
quaintance with plants similarly affected I quite 
agree with that conclusion, so far as it relates to 
individual branches ; but as they may at times be 
found on plants which are in some of their parts 
making healthy growth, it cannot be from the poor¬ 
ness of the soil in which they are growing. I have 
always found upon examination that the evil has its 
source in the main stems of the tree, which will at 
the juncture of the diseased branch be found in a 
decaying condition. What I believe to be the same 
thing may be found at times among Plum trees, and 
I always thought it to be a kiud of canker. With 
respect to Portugal Laurels I take it that upon en¬ 
quiry it will be found to have arisen among plants 
which have at some time been subjected to a very 
drastic kind of pruning.- W.B.G. 
VANDA TERES AT GUNNERSBURY PARK. 
Amongst the many grand examples of cultivation 
at Gunnersbury Park, Acton, is the above. This 
plant was at one time considered very difficult to 
flower; but as seen here under the cultivation it 
receives by Mr. George Reynolds, the latter has 
evidently found out the treatment suitable to make 
it flower freely, for here there are upwards of 200 
spikes, showing some with six flowers in a spike. 
The plants are very dwarf, being from 2 ft. to 5 ft. 
high, and are grown in pots plunged in sphagnum 
moss in a warm sunny position in one of the stoves 
here near the glass. It delights in an abundance of 
water when making its growth ; but when at rest 
only a limited quantity is necessary. It lasts a long 
time in flower, and coming in at this season of the 
year is most valuable. It was introduced many 
years ago from Sylhet. There is a pure white 
variety also, which is very rare, and quite distinct 
from this, the rosy and magenta-veined one.— 
Rusticus. 
SOCIETIES 
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL .—April 2 7 th. 
There were no additional shows at the Drill Hall on 
Tuesday last, so that the several benches were not so 
crowded. Nevertheless, the exhibits were very 
numerous, spring flowers being much in evidence. 
Orchids occupied a considerable amount of space. 
Daffodils, Tulips, Primulas (including Auriculas), 
Roses, and stove and greenhouse subjects were 
abundantly represented. 
R. Brooman White, Esq., Ardarroch, Gareloch- 
head, exhibited a group of Odontoglossums inter¬ 
spersed with Maidenhair Ferns and Palms, and were 
bright on account of the quantity and variety of the 
flowers. Varieties of O. crispum and O. andersonia- 
num were the most numerous and conspicuous. He 
also had two plants of Cattleya Laure-Mossiae, the 
parentage being indicated by the name. (Silver 
Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, exhibited a 
group of Orchids, amongst which several richly- 
coloured varieties of Miltonia vexillaria were 
conspicuous as well as the dwarfer M. Phalaenopsis. 
Other noticeable subjects were Brassia Lewisii, 
Masdevallia mundyana, Coelogyne tomentosa, 
Sobralia alba nana, Cattleya Docteur Vonga, 
Dendrobium Phalaenopsis schroderianun, Phalaem- 
opsis amabilis, Vanda Bensoni, and Miltonia 
vexillaria leucoglossum. Oncidium marshallianum 
and O. fuscatum were also showy. (Silver Banksian 
Medal.) 
Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., Upper Clapton, also 
exhibited a mixed collection of Orchids, including 
richly-coloured varieties such as Odontoglossum 
excellens Lowae, O. cirrhosum, Cattleya Mendelii, 
C. Mossiae, C. lawrenceana, Oncidium sarcodes, O. 
Papilio, the singular looking Coelogyne pandurata, 
and several bold Cypripediums including C. grande 
atratum. (Silver Banksian Medal.) 
Messrs. B. S. Williams & Son, Upper Holloway, 
exhibited a group of Orchids in which Cattleya 
Mendelii, C. lawrenceana, Dendrobium devonianum, 
D. thyrsiflorum, D. crystallinum, Odontoglossum 
prionopetalum, O. luteo-purpureum, and O. l.-p. 
sceptrum were conspicuous. Pretty also were 
Eulophiella Elizabethae, TrichoceDtrum tigrinum, 
Ada aurantiaca, and Miltonia spectabilis. (Silver 
Banksian Medal.) 
M. S. Cook, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. Buckell), 
Kingston Hill, exhibited a richly coloured variety of 
Miltonia vexillaria, and beautiful varieties of Odonto¬ 
glossum luteo-purpureum, O. crispum, O. triumphans, 
and O. ruckerianum. (Bronze Banksian Medal.) 
A mixed and varied group of Orchids was set up 
by Welbore, S. Ellis, Esq. (gardener, Mr. Barrel!), 
Hazlebourne, Dorking. Varieties of Odontoglossum 
crispum, O. citrosmum, O. andersonianum, O. 
ruckerianum, O. Pescatorei, and others were very 
conspicuous and showy. Many of the varieties were 
of excellent quality. A fine piece of Cattleya citrina 
on a raft bore nine flowers. (Silver Flora Medal.) 
A Cultural Commendation was awarded to a mag¬ 
nificent plant of Dendrobium thyrsiflorum bearing 
thirty spikes of bloom, and exhibited by the Marquis 
of Camden (gardener, Mr. A. Methven), Bayham 
Abbey, Lamberhurst, Kent. A similar award was 
accorded to a well-flowered piece of Dendrobium 
infundibulum, exhibited by Wm. White Palmer, 
Esq., Rutland Lodge, Kent. A splendid piece of 
Ludemannia Lehmanni was exhibited by Major 
Joicey (gardener, Mr. F. J. Thorne), Sunningdale 
Park, Berks. The spike bore seventy-four flowers, 
and the plant has never been seen in finer condition 
(Cultural Commendation). F. W. Martin, Esq. 
(gardener, Mr. P. Bradley), Lake House, Byfleet, 
Surrey, staged a well grown piece of Laelia 
purpurata. 
Messrs. John Peed & Sons, Roupell Park 
Nurseries, Norwood Road, S.E., received a Silver 
Banksian Medal for a neat little group of Ericas, 
Clivias, and stove foliage plants. 
Messrs. Wm. Cutbush & Son, Highgate, N., made 
a brave show with a collection of varieties of 
Azalea mollis. The plants were full of flower, and 
backed as they were by Palms and the variegated 
Acer Negundo, with a frontage of Adiantum 
cuneatum and Isolepis gracilis they made a gay 
picture. (Bronze Flora Medal.) 
Hardy flowers in considerable quantity, and in 
great variety were forthcoming from Mr. T. S. 
