November 4, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
155 
what plants are in flower in beds and borders in the 
open during each month of the year. A commence¬ 
ment is made in February, which in the south and 
west of England at least may be regarded as the 
opening or spring of the floral year. Bed No. i is to 
be planted with Saxifraga crassifolia in the centre, 
followed by a line or band of Blue Hepatica, then by 
a row of the large double pink Primrose, and the 
whole edged with double white Daisy. Polyanthuses, 
Wallflowers and Snowdrops are also mentioned for 
use in various combinations during the same month. 
As the year advances flowers become more and more 
plentiful so that many more combinations of them 
for beds and borders are given. The pamphlet is 
intended for the benefit of amateurs, so that easily 
obtainable flowers are tabulated in the many lists, 
which can be scanned at a glance on the successive 
pages of the brochure. The second half of the latter 
gives examples of ornamentation to last from June 
till autumn ; also beautiful beds for summer. 
- — 
RUSSELL’S BRENTWOOD NURSERY. 
When one reads or hears of " The Stately Homes 
of England,” there arises in the mind the picture of 
a mighty mansion, noble in its conjoined propor¬ 
tions, serenely beautiful and with a mystic, everlast¬ 
ing dignity. Yet a house alone, however beautiful 
architecturally and with any range of history it 
could sum up, would scarcely impress itself upon 
our British conception that it was a stately home if 
it lacked handsome environs. It would simply be a 
stately house, not a stately home. The grand old 
Oaks, Elms, Pines, and Conifers must be furnished 
over the surrounding lands as furniture for the home 
without, and then, no one gainsays that the estate 
comprises a stately home of England. The aristo¬ 
cracy are one and all lovers of handsome grounds 
and lands around their mansions which form the 
centre piece. Knowing the taste and demand in this 
respect, the requirement for ornamental trees, or 
trees for the landscape, to guard against the too 
boisterous winds which very often play upon our 
islands, or for mere adornment, many nurserymen 
have made it their business to propagate and grow 
acres and acres of all manner of flowering trees and 
shrubs, not excepting all the finest of evergreen and 
deciduous forest trees. 
A firm which almost entirely devotes its energies 
to this business is that of Mr. John Russell, of 
Brentwood, Essex, and Richmond Nurseries, 
Surrey. Of late years the prosperity of this firm has 
been evidenced in the great extensions which have 
been and are still being made to the nursery lands. 
At Brentwood, a rural district in one of the finest 
parts of Essex, the Messrs. Russell (for though the 
original name has been maintained the firm is now 
comprised and worked by three sons of the late Mr. 
John Russeli) have their hardy plants, and general 
coniferous and forest tree sections. Here, indeed, 
are trees and shrubs of every sort. The Brentwood 
nursery extends to ninety-six acres off and od, and is 
bounded by Lord Headley’s extensive woods on the 
west side, and partly surrounded by those of Lord 
Petre on the south. On the north side of the nur¬ 
sery the ground is high, and here the wild Bramble 
luxuriated until a few years ago. At the outset it 
may be stated that the nursery has only been planted 
and tenanted for three years, the grounds having 
previously been further south on Lord Petre's land. 
Yet though the work of layiog out has been so 
recently completed, unless one was emphatically told 
so by those in charge of the work, the writer would 
lay big odds on the probability of scepticism at the 
statements from anyone less than very experienced 
practitioners. 
Scarcely a siDgle plant, bush, or tree in the whole 
ninety-six acres showed the faintest sign of dis¬ 
turbance. The few exceptions were older plants of 
the Holly, which is a subject difficult to handle at 
any time. The great secret of such universal sue 
cess on these extensive transplantings lies in the fact 
that the shrubs and trees at all times are well 
treated, are regularly shifted, pruned according to 
the requirements of the species, and in planting the 
ground is thoroughly prepared, and the plants are 
put in thinly. The thin dispersal of the plants was 
a feature of standing note throughout, and the 
results fully rewarded the liberal treatment. Indeed, 
so strongly apparent was the result of this freedom 
in planting, that the phrase, " false economy,” came 
to mind in the mental pictures of some overcrowded 
nurseries from which emanate weakened plants. 
One feels a heartiness in writing from conviction, 
and the state of things at Brentwood forces us to say 
that such stock as is to be seen there would be 
proudly accepted by the most fastidious or critical, 
and will succeed and flourish anywhere. The fore¬ 
man here is a Mr. Smith, a hale and hearty man of 
very wide experience—indeed, over fifty years— 
among the class of stock he yet attends. It was 
under his supervision that the Brentwood nursery 
was planned and planted, and so long as Mr. Russell 
has so able a " right hand,” his property we feel 
sure will not decline from its present high level. 
Well, then referring to the statement made that 
the north side was good Bramble land, this area has 
been (converted for the use of Ghent Azaleas, Rho¬ 
dodendrons, and other plants for so-called " Ameri¬ 
can gardens.” The Rhododendrons were splendid 
bushes, all of them being bushy, clean, stout, and 
studded over with fine buds. The Azaleas too, had 
every shoot set. Skimmias, Osmanthus Aqui- 
folium, and healthy Retinosporas in the varieties 
squarrosa, pisifera, p. aurea, occupied succeeding 
breadths of land, and the appearance of each sample 
proved them to be in congenial stations. Cupressus 
lawsoniana argentea, and other varieties which fur¬ 
nish the south lying undulations of the north side ter¬ 
ritory, were models of their kind. The same can be 
said of other varieties and species of Cupressus, 
Retinospora, Biota and the various other orna¬ 
mental Coniferae of a like kind which receive dis¬ 
tinctive names in nurseries. Plants of Retinospora 
erecta-viridis in long straight lines were simply mar¬ 
vels of healthy, symmetrical and well-developed 
growth. That bright and handsome non-deciduous 
shrub, Aucuba japonica, is grown at Brentwood in 
thousands, and from careful treatment from the pro¬ 
pagating stage upward they, too, are all that can be 
desired. Another plant which seems to find much 
favour with buyers, judging from the quantities that 
are grown, is the Euonymus japonicus latifolius- 
aureus, and other varieties of E. japonicus; E. ovata 
picta, &c. 
In passing through the “ stool ground ” we noted 
the usual nursery stock for propagating purposes. 
Rhododendrons, Laurels, and other plants which 
layer readily, were fixed down for the increase of 
young plants. 
At present the Mr. John Russell firm have a lease 
at Islewortb, Middlesex, where the major portion of 
their glass is, but in time, both from need and for 
convenience, they hope to erect a range of pits and 
propagating frames at Brentwood, for which pur¬ 
pose they have reserved land at their Essex 
nursery. 
Mr. Smith, who was our guide throughout, then 
showed a fine brake of Pinus sylvestris (Scotch Pine 
or Fir), and upon further perambulation we found 
him able to supply Pine trees almost in as great 
variety and quantity as the more cosmopolitan Cu¬ 
pressus and Aucubas. Pinus austriaca was seemingly 
at home, and such sturdy plants would make capital 
stuff for shelter purposes. They are grown in thou¬ 
sands, all standing thinly on clean, well kept land, 
Laurel or Common Bay for screening or covert 
planting, also amounted to thousands. The oval 
and round leaved varieties were there, and the whole 
stock was exceptionally fine, ranging in height from 
2 tt. to 8 ft. Then the ever popular Mahonia Aqui- 
folium or Berberis Aquifolium, as botanists call it, 
made a stretch of very pleasing colour, for in the 
Brentwood soil the leaves assume a bright but deep 
sealing-wax-red colour. Some of the foliage is more 
intense than the rest, but looking at the break of 
plants the red tone shimmered over the whole sur¬ 
face of the mass of plants. . For the making of 
wreaths, not long festoons or foliage ropes, but cir¬ 
cular wreaths with a diameter of about 16 in., these 
rosy and ruddy leaves are unique, and most beauti¬ 
ful in the finished effect. For an ornamental 
shrub we have often advocated a far more liberal 
use of the Mahonia. Grown either as a small 
specimen alone, and kept small, or in clumps and 
allowed to spread; grown for its beautiful dark 
and shining foliage or for the colours which evolve 
within these leaves ; grown for the brilliant though 
small yellow flowers which produce nectar for the 
bees in early summer; or grown for the loads of 
berries, grey-blue or blue smoke colour, and 
resembling miniature bunches of Grapes, what 
have we more useful, ornamental or simpler to 
cultivate than the Mahonia Aquifolium ? 
Herbaceous plants enjoy a considerable space all 
to themselves. Tritomas, Michaelmas Daisies, and 
Irises were largely represented, while in their own 
good time all the multifarious members of our 
hardy plant classes may likewise be viewed. 
(To be continued.) 
PLANTS RECENTLY CERTIFICATED. 
The undermentioned awards were made by the 
Royal Horticultural Society on the 24th ult. :— 
Orchid Committee. 
Laeliocattleya Duchess of York. —The pro¬ 
genitors of this fine bigeneric hybrid were Laelia 
crispa (female) and Cattleya gaskelliana (male). The 
sepals and petals are of the faintest tint of blush. 
The lamina of the lip is rich crimson-purple, giving 
place to a paler and clearer purple in the throat. 
The side lobes are pale lilac. The hybrid may be 
regarded as a pleasing and attractive form, inter¬ 
mediate between the parents. (Award of Merit.) 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd., Chelsea. 
Cattleya Princess. — The flowers of this 
hybrid are of great size, particularly the petals, 
which are oval and lilac, the sepals being of the 
same hue. The bifid lamina of the lip is of great 
size, crisped at the edges, and carmine-purple, 
slightly marbled. The eye spots on the sides of 
the throat are small and yellow. These fine propor¬ 
tions have been derived from C. luddemanniana 
(female) and C. Trianaei (male). (Award of Merit.) 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Laelia Mrs. M. Gratrix. — A very strange 
combination, indeed, is presented by this hybrid, de¬ 
rived from Laelia cinnabarina (female) crossed with 
the pollen of L. digbyana, with its huge fringed lip. 
The sepals and wider petals are buff-orange. The 
tube of the lip is apricot, the interior and the throat 
yellow ; but the deeply jagged and toothed lamina is 
of an old gold hue, and strikingly distinct. The 
fringe of the lip is derived from the male parent. 
(Award of Merit.) Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Floral Committee. 
Adiantum Burnii. —The fronds of this garden form 
are very slender, drooping, 2J ft. to 3 ft. long, and of 
a light green. It has the appearance of being an 
evolved form from A. cuneatum, or may be the 
result of a cross with some closely allied form. 
Basket work is the most useful purpose for which 
this can serve. 
Chrysanthemum Florence Molyneux. —The 
bloom of this incurved Japanese variety is about 
7 in. in diameter, and massively built. The florets 
are broad, pure white, aDd slightly bristly at the 
tips. It is certainly a handsome variety. (Award 
of Merit.) J. C. Gamier, Esq. (gardener, Mr. N. 
Molyneux), Rookesbury, Wickham, Fareham, 
Hants. 
Chrysanthemum Miss E. Pilkington.— -This, 
in gardener’s phrase, would be a full Jap., the huge 
blooms, of a clear and bright yellow, having spread¬ 
ing and recurved florets, beautifully curled at the 
tips. The bloom would measure 7 in. to 8 in. across 
(Award of Merit.) J. C. Gamier, Esq. 
R. Hooper Pearson. —All are agreed that this 
is a splendid new Japanese variety, with massive 
blooms of a rich golden yellow, with a softer yellow 
reverse. The florets are somewhat incurved at the 
tips. (Award of Merit.) Messrs. W. Wells & Co. 
Earlswood Nurseries, Redhill, Surrey. 
Chrysanthemum Le Grand Dragon.— Here we 
have another grand Japanese variety, which though 
golden yellow, is densely built up and distinct in 
form from other yellows. The florets are of moder¬ 
ate width, but of great length, distinctly dropping, 
and refined in appearance. The bloom measures 
7 in. to 8 in. across. (Award of Merit) Mr. W. J. 
Godfrey, Exmouth, Devon. 
Chrysanthemum Miss Alice Byron. —The pure 
white and the massive build of this variety impress 
one in its favour on first seeing it. It is an incurved 
Japanese variety of great refinement, and will 
certainly be popular if its cultivation offers no serious 
difficulty. (Award of Merit.) Mr. H. Weeks, gar¬ 
dener to Lady Byron, Thrumpton Hall, Derby. 
Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 
Apple Parroquet. —The history of this variety is 
rather peculiar. The mother of it was a chance 
seedling, that was thrown away because its fruits 
were cracked. Seeds were saved, however, 
and two out of a batch of five trees bore yellow 
