262 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 23, 1899. 
trees in the enclosure, whose gnarled and aged 
trunks give proof of their great antiquity. They 
are, indeed, said to be the very ones under which 
Jesus knelt in spiritual anguish. This can hardly 
be the case, for the Romans are said to have cut 
down all the trees about Jerusalem. Nevertheless, 
since it is a fact that an Olive tree will spring re¬ 
peatedly from the same root, there is a possibility 
that these trees are descendants of those which 
sheltered the Man of sorrows. Round the garden 
are several shrines for prayer, and the actual places 
are pointed out where Jesus was arrested, where 
Judas gave to bis Master the final kiss, and where 
Peter, James, and John slept, while their Saviour 
prayed. The earliest account of this garden dates 
from the fourth century. There is no doubt that 
the situation corresponds closely to that which the 
nature of the ground makes confidently necessary, 
but whether it be the precise locality is questionable. 
The Greeks have their Garden of Gethsemane at a 
little distance from that which we have noted, and 
they maintain that theirs is the genuine garden. 
Certain it is, however, that somewhere in a very 
limited area here, the scenes of the agony, betrayal, 
and arrest must have been. 
--- 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
James Gibson. 
Mr. Gibson was born in Dundonald, Ayrshire, 
N.B., and at an early age acquired a love for 
gardening. In 1882 he began his apprenticeship at 
Sundrum, near Ayr, under Mr. Wilkie, and during 
a three years' stay there had an excellent opportunity 
of obtaining a thorough grounding in good garden¬ 
ing. It was while there that he early saw the 
necessity of becoming a first-class fruit and vegetable 
grower; and, as Mr. Wilkie combined science with 
practice in all gardening matters, and always taking 
a keen interest in the training and welfare of those 
under him, a profitable beginning was made, such as 
falls to the fortune of few. 
He then went to Bargany, now the residence of 
Major the Hon. North Dalrymple Hamilton, as 
journeyman, and in his first year there was pro¬ 
moted foreman. He remained for three years there, 
under the late Mr. Smith, and as Bargany was then, 
as it is now, famous for its Grapes, Peaches, and 
other fruits, an excellent insight was obtained there. 
After this he removed to Kilkerran, the seat of Sir 
James Fergusson, Bart., M.P , as foreman, and re¬ 
mained there two years under Mr. Gallaher, who is 
one of the most successful all-round gardeners in the 
West of Scotland. Much indoor decoration had to 
be done there, and Mr. Gallaher being quite an 
expert in this line, and especially in the arranging 
and grouping of flowers for artistic effect, Mr. 
Gibson learned much there that fitted him to com¬ 
pete very successlully with bouquets, &c., ia many a 
stiff contest with other under gardeners, where 
classes are liberally catered for at exhibitions in the 
West of Scotland. 
In 1889 he was offered and accepted the situation 
as head gardener to John McMaster, Esq., the Holt, 
Harbledown, Canterbury, where, for two years, he 
undertook the landscape alterations that were 
carried out there with great success. Although 
little time could be spared to grow large quantities of 
fruit and vegetables for exhibition, through the 
alterations going on, he nevertheless was enabled to 
win the Mayor of Canterbury’s Silver Cup offered 
for the finest collection of vegetables in the Canter¬ 
bury Society's exhibition; and that being his first 
exhibit he prizes the Cup still. Mr. Gibson has 
many happy recollections of the historical old city 
of Canterbury, and its Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Society, where he spent many a pleasant and 
instructive evening. 
He was next appointed to the Oaks, Carshalton, in 
Surrey, the residence of the late H. Berkeley James, 
Esq., where he remained until the owner died, when 
he bad reluctantly to sever his connection with the 
estate. The grounds and kitchen garden there were 
on the chalk and the top soil very shallow, but by 
carefully adapting himself to the requirements of 
these conditions fine produce was grown and enabled 
Mr. Gibson to win quite a collection of medals, cups, 
and other prizes, some of them at the International 
Exhibition at Earl's Court. 
His next move was to Devonhurst, Chiswick, the 
late residence of E. H. Watts, Esq., where he re¬ 
mained five years. The grounds there were not 
extensive nor yet the atmosphere of a very encour¬ 
aging nature ; but he soon set himself the task of 
trying to compete with those who had better oppor¬ 
tunities, and in this he was very successful. We 
have frequently seen magnificent crops of hardy fruits 
and vegetables there. Mr. Gibson renovated the 
Mr. James Gibson. 
glass department while there, devoting most of the 
space to fruit trees in pots, &c. ; and soon had the 
Vines, Peaches, &c., in fine condition. 
Those who know the neighbourhood of Chiswick 
at the present day will recognise the difficulty with 
which the gardener has to contend, who endeavours 
to grow first-class fruit, flowers and vegetables, 
under the adverse circumstances. The place is now 
closely invested with dwelling houses, and is practic¬ 
ally a populous suburb of London. Several very 
high buildings, constituting a paper manufactory, 
overshadow the glass houses and the northern part 
of the garden. Even at midsummer we have seen 
the glass, the shrubs, vegetables, and everything else 
covered with a dense coating of filth from the chim 
ney stalks. One can but admire the courage of a 
gardener who would attempt to take prizes with pro¬ 
duce grown under these conditions. Yet Mr. Gibson 
was able to take prizes at the Royal Aquarium for 
Chrysanthemums ; at Richmond for vegetables ; and 
at the Crystal Palace for bulbs. In 1897, he went to 
the September show of the Royal Caledonian Horti¬ 
cultural Society, and easily won the Victoria 
Diamond Jubilee prize fcr a collection of vegetables ; 
and at the same time the first prizes for a collection 
of Apples, and for eleven dishes of Apples in as many 
classes, or thirteen first prizes in all. The papers 
he read and the part he took in the discussions at 
the meetings of the Chiswick Gardeners’ Mutual 
Improvement Association were always much appre¬ 
ciated. 
On the 1st August, 1898, Mr. Gibson commenced: 
his duties as gardener to W. R. Hudson, Esq., 
Danesfield, Great Marlow, Bucks. He was the 
successful candidate out of some 300 to 400 
applicants for the situation. The estate has an 
ancient reputation, with Medmenham Abbey upon 
it, and runs to 3,000 acres. Vast improvements 
have already been effected all over the estate, in¬ 
cluding the garden, while others are in progress. 
The proprietor is a most enthusiastic gentlemen, and 
spares no expense in improving the place and mak¬ 
ing his men comfortable and happy on the farms 
and in the bothies. Mr. Gibson has accomplished 
much hard work, and at present is busy planting. 
Notwithstanding the short time he has been at 
Danesfield he has got the garden in good order, and 
found time to take prizes at Shrewsbury, Birming¬ 
ham, and the Royal Aquarium for vegetables. So 
close was the competition in an important class for a 
collection of vegetables at Birmingham on Nov¬ 
ember 7th last, that Mr. Gibson was awarded equal 
first prize with another gardener, as our pages 
show. 
So satisfactory has his work in the garden been to 
his employer, as well as his management of the men, 
that Mr. Hudson appointed him forester as well 
as gardener, in April last. There is much wood 
upon the place, and planting in that department is 
proceeding with great vigour. We wish him all 
success, and a long and prosperous career, which he 
well deserves. 
—B-- 
FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS. 
Quantities of these are expected for the festive 
season from those in charge of small, as well as that 
of larger places, but convenience, labour, and last, 
though not least, finance, has to be the ruling power 
in a good many establishments; but where it is 
ignored so long as plenty of flowers are available, 
and the other two things at command, there ought 
to be no lack of floral wealth at the date mentioned 
above. 
The bulk of ’Mums will have passed over, but 
some good whites and yellows will be still with us, 
such as Ethel, Niveus, Lady Canning, Boule de 
Neige, Gloire du Rocher (whites); W. H. Lincoln, 
Grandiflora, and W. H. Cannell (yellows), which help 
to swell the basket when cut flowers are required, or 
for conservatory work, as well as for trays, windows, 
&c., in the mansion. Azaleas Deutsche Perle and 
Narcissiflora are fast opening their buds now 
(December 7th), and will be just right for use in a 
fortnight’s time, and what useful varieties these two 
are for early work, requiring little or no forcing to 
bring them into flower in December after being 
forced a couple of years. They make grand vase 
plants, especially Deutsche Perle, the growth of this 
being much more symmetrical than the other named, 
and the flowers keep in good condition for such a 
length of time, and I consider it is one of, if not the 
most serviceable varieties we have. A few plants of 
this arranged with a like number of Poinsettia 
pulcherrima make a grand display wherever staged, 
and one cannot well have too many of the latter to 
brighten the two dull months of December and 
January, but I find these last better in a slightly 
warmer position than the greenhouse. Ours, or the 
majority of them, are placed with Ferns, Calanthes, 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine, and B. Gloire de Sceaux, 
two splendid varieties to flower during winter and 
spring, while the foliage of the latter is so pretty. 
But let us turn to the greenhouse where we shall 
find the greater bulk of flowering plants so service¬ 
able at this date. There should be many spathes of 
that noble Richardia africana, than which no flower 
is more valuable just now, either in a cut state or on 
the plant, whose deep green foliage is always ad¬ 
mired. Out of a batch of one hundred pots I counted 
to-day nine open spathes with twenty-four pushing 
up, and several already cut, part of which are just 
unfolding, and will be most acceptable. All these 
could by a little extra heat, say 65°, be quickly got 
into bloom. 
Then there is Cyclamen persicum of various 
colours, perhaps no: so useful for cutting as many 
other things, but which none despise as dot plants 
mixed alternately with that good old free-flowering 
double Chinese Primula (alba plena) or the singles, 
Primula sinensis and P. s. stellata, not forgetting P. 
obconica, a perpetual one, I might say, for it is 
certainly in flower with us every month of the 
year under glass, or outside in a warm, sunny 
corner. 
Then there are the Bouvardias, single and double, 
white, scarlet, and pink, all most serviceable for cut 
bloom, in small vases for buttonhole making, &c. 
The pure white, sweet-scented Roman Hyacinth 
and Paper White Narcissus should be in plenty by 
the third week in December, Spikes of Clivia 
miniata, and Amaryllis of sorts should be forth¬ 
coming at this date, mixing well with Ricbardias. 
Then there are the Christmas Roses easily brought 
forward, and so useful for church decoration at this 
time. So is the ever bright Poinsettia, of which a 
good batch should be saved. These are standing 
among Ferns in a house that falls to 45 0 on a cold 
night, taking no harm and far more lasting from 
here when cut than if from stove heat. Camellias, 
too, in various colours are to be had, but dislike 
much fire heat. These with us have a house to 
themselves, and up to now have had no fire heat, 
though we have cut many dozen flowers. 
Mention was made earlier in these notes of Calan¬ 
thes, and I cannot lay too much stress on them as 
being among the very best of flowerin plants for 
