758 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 31, 1897. 
recently been acquired for the purpose. The old 
kitchen garden is gradually being monopolised by 
fruit trees. 
The Plant Houses. 
A varied assortment of flowers and fruit is grown in 
* the houses, which are rapidly being restored to 
beauty and utility by Mr. David Gibson, who was 
placed in charge less than a year ago, but who by 
unwearied diligence has already affected many 
changes for the better. Previous to his appoint¬ 
ment the plants had been allowed to get into a 
ruinous condition, the hard-wooded plants and 
Orchids fast following the soft-wooded. 
The first greenhouse we entered used to be empty, 
but now contains Azaleas, Lilium Harrisii, Coleus 
and Gloxinias. Some very fine varieti s may be 
noted amongst the latter, including Her Majesty, 
Duke of York, Empress of India, Azurea, and 
various other well-known and first-class sorts. A 
span-roofed house close by is devoted to Orchids, 
including many Cattleyas and Laelias, chiefly L. 
purpurata. Amongst subjects in flower or making 
for that stage we noted the Butterfly Oncid, Cypri- 
pedium barbatum and C. callosum. A large flower 
of the latter bore two lips, but was otherwise per¬ 
fect. Many pans of Coelogyne cristata, which had 
recently been made up, are now making vigorous 
growth. The same may be said of Dendrobium 
fimbriatum oculatum and D. nobile. The whole 
material consisted entirely of peat in very bad con¬ 
dition ; but Mr. Gibson is rapidly applying the 
proper remedy. 
A Melon house next entered was occupied with 
the second crop of fruits for this season, and now 
about half grown. The most advanced consisted of 
Sutton’s Ai; but a younger batch is furnished by 
Sutton's Scarlet. A large batch of seedling 
Gloxinias are now in bloom or rapidly approaching 
that stage. Here also is a fine batch of Sutton's 
Giant Cyclamen, the seed of which was sown in 
October last. The plants are nowin sixty-size pots, 
with plenty of foliage and already showing their 
flower buds. A Tomato house is occupied with 
Sutton's Eclipse, Perfection, Sutton’s Earliest of All, 
and Chiswick Red, bearing heavy crops of fruit, 
particularly the latter variety. 
The conservatory is rendered gay with a great 
variety of subjects, including finely-coloured Coleus, 
Lilium Harrisii, L. auratum, and L. speciosum. 
Free use is made of zonal Pelargoniums, which 
have already grown into good-sized bushes bearing 
numerous trusses of bloom of great size. The semi¬ 
double, intense scarlet flowers of Raspail and 
Raspail Improved, but particularly the latter, are 
very conspicuous. Very fine also are the huge, 
brilliant scarlet flowers of Sunray. The orange, 
white, and scarlet flowers of Souvenir de Mirande 
are pretty, and strikingly distinct. The double red 
flowers of Athea never drop, but dry up with age 
upon the stalks. The huge salmon-pink trusses of 
James Vick are also double. An Ivy-leaved variety, 
with semi-donble, rose and pink flowers is also very 
handsome. Celosia pyramidalis is also grown in 
some quantity. Several large plants of Roses con¬ 
stitute a feature of the conservatory owing to the 
profusion of flowers they produce. In this respect 
we may mention L’ldeal and Celine Forestier, the 
latter having pale yellow flowers, those of the former 
being heavily tinted with salmon-red. 
One stove is furnished with a fine plant of Stephan- 
otis on the roof, while the body of the house is occu¬ 
pied with Palms, Ferns, Asparagus, Caladiums, 
Crotons, and Allamanda Hendersonii, the latter 
making its way for the roof. Gloriosa superba, 
Anthurium scherzerianum, Palms, and Ferns fill 
another. A collection of Carnations including the 
new and named Malmaison varieties raised by 
Martin R. Smith, Esq., is being got together. 
Young Fuchsias are teiog grown on as single¬ 
stemmed plants to be trained to the rafters of the 
conservatory. 
Fruit Houses. 
The Banana house is occupied with a fine bed of 
Musa Cavendishii which has made enormous growth 
since April last when strong suckers were planted. 
The back wall is covered with well-established Figs 
bearing an enormous crop of fruit. A Vinery near 
here contains well coloured Black Hamburgh and 
Foster s Seedling grapes, the bunches in many cases 
being of grand proportions Another house contains 
Black Hamburgh, the vines of which are to 
be removed next spring, and the border renovated 
for replanting. The latest house of Peaches 
and Nectarines carries a good crop. A similar and 
succession house likewise contains a heavy crop. 
The grapes in the late vinery are just commencing to 
colour, the varieties grown beiDg Gros. Colman, 
Alicante, and Alnwick Seedling. 
A house about 140 ft. in length and in four divisions 
is filled with young trees of the Barrington Peach 
and others, as well as Nectarines, Apricots, and 
Cherries recently planted. Some of the trees already 
bear a crop. Tomatos are planted between the trees 
to utilise the space till the trees grow. The varieties 
grown are Perfection, Pear-shaped, Chiswick Red, 
&c. Tomatos are also grown, trained under the roof 
of several low, span-roofed houses, Sutton’s Eclipse 
and Perfection being the favourites. Early Marrows 
also find a place here. Tuberoses and Primula 
obconica are grown on the benches. Other houses 
are occupied with Melons and Cucumbers in various 
stages of growth, a second crop in one house being 
now well advanced. Cucumbers have been very 
prolific, 408 fruits having been cut from four plants. 
Cutting was commenced on the 1st April and the plants 
are still in bearing. The early Peach house contains 
trees of Royal George from which the fruit has been 
picked. Muscat of Alexandria is now taking on a 
fine colour, the berries in this house being of a beauti¬ 
ful amber yellow last year. The bunches are large 
and the crop heavy. One small Peach house is 
entirely filled with a tree of Barrington, which 
hitherto has been barren, but now carries a splendid 
crop of large and luscious fruits now being gathered. 
Mr. Gibson keeps the border well watered all the 
time the fruits are ripening so that they are juicy and 
excellent. 
Outdoor Gardening. 
In passing round the garden and through its numer¬ 
ous walks, Chrysanthemums in pots confront the 
visitor at every turn. They are grown in exhibition 
form, and as there are 1,000 plants, we shall probably 
hear of them again, for Mr. Gibson has already had 
a successful tussle with the competitors at local 
exhibitions. Sweet Pea hedges are now in their 
glory, and with Iceland Poppies, Clarkias, Centaurea 
Cyanus and other subjects give a pleasing brightness 
to the more utilitarian subjects. 
The soil here is light and gravelly, being in fact 
what the geologists term old valley gravel belonging 
to the Rffihmond Park and Wimbledon Common type, 
and generally very poor, though some trees thrive 
well upon it. Long continued applications of farm¬ 
yard manure, however, give it holding power, render¬ 
ing it rich for vegetable crops. We had evidence of 
this in a fine crop of Onions sown under glass and 
planted out. They are now very vigorous, many of 
the bulbs measuring 12 in. to 14 in. in circumference. 
Pyramidal and cordon Apple trees have been 
planted over the old kitchen garden, so that the 
vegetables are gradually being ousted. A feature of 
this garden is a pathway covered with Apple trees 
on one side and Pear trees on the other. The 
original trees were trained to arched iron rods, and 
any branches that grow to the inside are pruned 
away, while the shoots to the outside and over the 
top are allowed to grow freely. Hence at a distance 
the outer face of this arch looks like a plantation of 
fruit trees. Mostly all of them are bearing a good 
crop for this year of bad setting. The standards 
close by are not well set, with exception of a few, in¬ 
cluding Uvedale's St.Germain Pear, which is loaded. 
On the wall of the young gardeners' bothy is a fine 
Vine of the purple leaved Vitis Coignetiae which 
becomes blood red in autumn. 
Near the front of the dwelling house a new herba¬ 
ceous border has been made and planted At one 
end is a splendid mass of Spiraea Lindleyana, about 
10 ft. high and now in full bloom. An arch covered 
with Roses is also very fine A large plant of Aimee 
Vibert, a Noisette Rose, on a wall has been a mass 
of white blossom for some time past. A fine effect 
is produced by flowers on the top of a corridor out¬ 
side. 
The Flower Garden. 
Of this we had only a rapid survey as gloaming 
was falling heavily. An attempt is being made to 
get away from flat beds, and carpet bedding finds no 
favour. One bed is planted with Cannas and yellow 
Calceolarias, edged with Pelargonium Flower of 
Spring and blue Lobelia. Fuchsias and variegated 
Maize, on a groundwork oi fine varieties of Mimulus, 
fill another pair of beds ; for the principal design 
consists of beds matched in pairs though at some dis¬ 
tance from one another. Duchess of York and 
Crimson Gem are fibrous-rooted Begonias with 
bronzy-crimson foliage, the former being the more 
vigorous and taller grower. They are very conspicu¬ 
ous in two beds, the centres of which are filled with 
Calceolaria amplexicaulis and night-scented Tobacco. 
The centres of two other beds are filled with Coleus 
Verscbaffelti; and five plants of Abutilon Souvenir de 
Bonn, with variegated foliage, distributed through 
the beds, have done remarkably well. These are 
edged with Lobelia Northumbria having a large 
white eye. Various other beds have recently been 
made and the plants are making good growth. 
The Rosery is surrounded by a hedge of Rosa 
rugosaalba in full bloom, the hedge being meant for 
shelter. A bed of Tea Roses occupies the centre, 
and other beds ranged round it are planted with 
hybrid perpetual Roses. A bower of Roses is also 
very gay for the climbing varieties used are very 
floriferous. A fine pyramidal tree of Thuya plicata 
on the side of the Rosery stands 40 ft. high. There 
is much work to be done on the place in spite of 
what has been done, but Mr. D. Gibson is an 
enthusiastic gardener, and we believe he will effect a 
transformation in the course of the next few years. 
-——- 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
Hortus Boissierianus. Enumeration of plants 
cultivated in 1885 at Valleyres (Vaud), and at 
Pierriere (Chambesy, near Geneva). By Eugene 
Autran, Keeper of the Herbarium Boissier at 
Chambesy, and Theophile Durand, Keeper of 
the Botanic Garden of the State of Brussels. 
Preface by M. F. CrepiD, Director of the 
Botanic Garden of Brussels. Geneve et Bale: 
Georg & Cie, Libraire-Editeurs. Paris : J. B. 
Bailliere & Fils, 19, Rue Hautefeuille. Berlin : 
R. Friedlaender & Sohn, 11, Carlstrasse. 1896. 
This is a bulky catalogue or enumeration of the 
plants grown in the famous gardens of the renowned 
botanist, Edmond Boissier, who was born in 1810 
and died as recently as 1885. He is the illustrious 
author of the Flora Orientalis, a work consulted by 
all botanists. During his lifetime Boissier made 
journeys in the East, in Italy, in Spain and numerous 
excursions in the Alps in search of his favourites. 
He had two establishments, one of which, Valleyres, 
was situated at the foot of the Jura. At this place 
he had a magnificent collection of Alpine plants in 
an Alpine garden of varied and peculiar construction ; 
for an upright wall specially built for the purpose 
was covered with tufts and patches of plants requir¬ 
ing that sort of treatment. His lifelong experience 
enabled him to cultivate in a marvellous manner the 
more difficult of the inhabitants of high altitudes. 
Visitors to this establishment were astonished with 
the rocks, walls, ramparts and squares filled to 
repletion with a crowd of species, coming originally 
not only from the Alps of Europe, but from the moun¬ 
tains of Asia and America. Altogether there were 
about 3,500 species and varieties at Valleyres. A 
large number of these he collected himself, but 
spared no expense in procuring specimens collected 
by others in various parts of the world. None of 
the plants were common, but rare or comparatively 
s», and often difficult to cultivate. 
During winter, Boissier descended from his Alpine 
habitation to Rivage, on the shores of Lake LemaD, 
where he had another fine establishment, and like¬ 
wise a grand collection of plants of an entirely 
different nature from those above-mentioned. He 
established a vast arboretum in which he planted 
many exotic trees, chiefly Conifers, which have now 
assumed a rare beauty, and are rendered additionally 
valuable on account of their rarity. At the death of 
Boissier in 1885 both of the above collections, or 
such as could be moved were transferred to Pierriere, 
the residence of his son-in-law, M. William Barbey, 
who is likewise a botanist. 
From that time until quite recently the authors of 
the Hortus Boissierianus have been elaborating the 
splendid list of plants cultivated by Boissier and 
existing at the time of his death. The completed 
list exceeds 5,000 species and varieties, being 
sufficiently numerous to stock a botanical garden of 
■quite respectable size. Of Dicotyledons he cultivated 
582 genera, 2,524 species, and 162 varieties. Mono¬ 
cotyledons were represented by 365 genera, 1,748 
species, and 141 varieties. Of Gymnosperms he had 
twenty-six genera, seventy-seven species, and twenty- 
five varieties. Vascular Cryptogams included forty- 
