December 30, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
EF 283 
the presence of some carved bacilli observed by 
Abell, Guignard, and Cbarrin in bouillon cultures, 
mixed -with boric acid and other antiseptics. The 
colour of pyocyanine appeared with its fine 
peculiar tint and its chemical reactions which I 
several times controlled. 
The presence of pathogenic bacteria in flowers 
constitutes a new fact capable of throwing a new 
light on certain questions of vegetable and animal 
pathology. 
Flowers can in particular retain numerous germs, 
which may ultimately finish their evolution in more 
suitable animal or vegetable mediums. We go 
further, and we consider that there may exist be¬ 
tween the coloration of flowers and microbial pig¬ 
ments of microbes sheltering in them some hidden 
relations. The very light pink tint of the Rothschild 
Rose, mentioned above, resembles that of plate cul¬ 
tures of the Leptothrix orchracea before becoming 
brick-red. Likewise the egg-yolk colour of the 
colonies of the Micrococcus cruciformis is similar 
in tint to that of the colouring matter covering the 
anthers of the Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis. A continua¬ 
tion of our researches even seemed to demonstrate 
that several species of microbes, which we shall call 
" osmogenic," reproduce similar odours to those 
exhaled by the essences of the flowers where they 
live .—Domingos Freire, in “ Cosmos,” of May 13 th, 
1899. 
--- 
BUCKLEBURY COMMON. 
November is not an ideal month, even from a rural 
point of view, to visit the country ; it is certainly 
far from being the highest and best conceivable 
from the standpoint of the dweller or worker in the 
“ great city." To the lover of Nature, however, the 
country is always beautiful. What wonder then, 
that an invitation to come and see Bucklebury 
Common was gratefully accepted ! To get away 
from town or "silly suburb” for a "breath of 
unadulterate," even in the thir d week in November, 
is a wholesome change ; for though the trees are 
leafless, or nearly so, the grass is a tender green ; 
the Holly, perchance, is alive with its crimson fruits, 
the Pine will be sure to darken the landscape, the 
Junipers and Yew are sure to rejoice in their sombre 
coverings, while the Furze bush on the common, or 
hillside, will doubtless light up, as with a lantern, the 
other portions of the province over which Dame 
Nature presides. If the deciduous trees have 
become defoliated, the same species, notably the 
Beech in the hedge-rows, still retain their russet- 
brown leaves. 
The woods and coppices are still gay with late 
autumnal tints, while the rustling of those leaves 
which have already fallen, the start led cry of the 
blackbird, the whirring of the pheasant, or the 
thousand and one other sounds, which go to make 
up the totality of rural life—all these will add zest to 
the nature-loving citizen, and ‘^brace his languid 
frame." Moreover, the newly-turned earth in the 
fields is redolent of freshness and of the harvest yet 
to come. The lights and shadows, too, especially if 
the day be fine, play about the undulating ground 
and emphasise the valleys and the hills. 
Enough. Let un to Bucklebury Common where 
the Pine trees flourish and the yellow Gorse is still 
afire with a pyramid of bloom ; where the Ling and the 
Heather, bronzed though they be with age, yet form 
fine cover to a multitude of birds and small beasts 
of the rodent order. Bucklebury Common, then, is 
situated on the Berkshire hills beyond Reading. It 
is an elevated plateau of large extent, and probably 
averages between 600 ft. and 700 ft. above sea level. 
It possesses, not only a variety of soils, and con¬ 
sequently a variety of vegetation, but also a charm¬ 
ing diversity of views. Its elevation renders it con¬ 
spicuous for miles around, in fact, it occupies a 
sulubrious site about mid-way between the vales of 
the Thames and the Kennet. It is, therefore, excep¬ 
tionally well favoured in having on the one hand 
" The crystal Thamis wont to glide 
In silver channel, down along the lee ; ” 
and on the other 
“ The Kennet swift, for silver eels renowned.” 
From one elevation, as a general rule, other 
elevations do appear, until, as in this instance, the 
sight line terminates in the loftier range 
of the celebrated South Downs. It is on such 
a site and in such a spot that the handsome, fine 
fronted Elizabethan mansion, known as Bucklebury 
Place, has been erected. This beautifully situated 
and electrically lighted residence is in the possession 
of A. W. Sutton, Esq., one of the partners of the 
well known horticultural firm of Sutton & Sons. The 
slopes, the coppices, the plantations, and other 
natural features, by which it is surrounded, all tend 
to make it an ideal residence ; while for sulubrity and 
rural scenery it cannot well be surpassed. Mr. A. 
Wright, late of Falkland Park, presides over the 
gardens here, and presides with so much effective¬ 
ness that the arboreal character of certain parts of 
the grounds is already undergoing a transformation. 
It is not, however, in my province just now to write 
of gardens—they can wsll await subsequent descrip¬ 
tion. I will just say, however, that the gardens are 
in good condition, that Bucklebury Place is in 
" right " hands, that Bucklebury village is a mile 
and a half away, and that a glorious stretch of the 
common lies between. 
(To be continued.) 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT THE N.C.S. 
DECEMBER SHOW. 
The varieties mentioned below may be taken as in¬ 
dicative of the best for late exhibition use, or of 
late decorative value. Chrysanthemums on the 
whole have been quite up to the standard of merit 
reached in previous years ; but beyond that we have 
not seen evidence which pointed to any great ad¬ 
vance. In some of the newer varieties, however, 
there certainly is a betterance. Until this year, R. 
Hooper Pearson was not seen. Emily Towers is 
new ; so is Florence Molyneux and others. The 
three varieties named, when seen at that state of 
perfection to which they can be developed under the 
right conditions, seem to stand out clearly as an ad¬ 
vance on anything which we hn.ve had in the im¬ 
mediate past. Then to the list of large flowered 
singles, and the decorative varieties which are grown 
as bush plants, very marked improvements have cer¬ 
tainly been attained. The two latter sections will 
always be in prime favour with the flower-loving and 
flower-buying public; and it seems to us a wise 
course for those who are concentrating time and care 
upon the evolution of these sections, to take and to 
establish themselves in. 
Another point upon which we can claim to have 
advanced, and in the proper direction too, is in the 
manner of staging, of exhibiting the best of exhibi¬ 
tion-grown blooms to have the best possible effect. 
Two of the leaders in Chrysanthemum cultivation, 
for the pains they took ia the improved manner 
of staging, received the highest awards. In these 
progressive days, if growers, who have to make their 
living and their reputation largely or entirely from 
what Chrysanthemum growing and selling brings, 
do not see fit to follow a laudable lead then— 
who's at fault ? Blooms, we hold, can be better shown 
in a free artistic fashion than they ever were or ever 
can be, when stuccoed out in the circumscribed di¬ 
mensions of an exhibition board. There are years 
and years of study, experiment and improvement yet 
required before Chrysanthemums, Chrysanthemum 
staging, and Chrysanthemum shows are perfected or 
played out. 
But now for a summary of the blooms which were 
seen in really good condition. These are rough¬ 
ly classified into distinct shades of colour. 
Japanese Reds. —Etoile de Lyon, still a good old 
late variety, seen at the Aquarium in beautiful form ; 
Mdme. Lawrence Zede, Cbatswortb, Mrs. Barkley, 
Silver King, Emily Towers, and Mary Molyneux. 
Japanese Whites. —Mdme. R. Cadbury,which re¬ 
ceived an Award of Merit from the R. H. S., on 
December 5th; Henry Perkins, Little Nell, and 
Western King. 
Japanese Yellows.— R. Hooper Pearson, G. J. 
Warren, Wattleblossom, Oceana, Mrs. G. Pitcher, 
C. W. Richardson. 
Japanese Bronze —Charles Davis, Robt. OweD, 
Mons. Fatzer, General Roberts, Mrs. H. Kloss, 
Mrs. G. W. Palmer, and Julia Scaramanga. 
Incurved Whites . — Ma Perfection, and 
Triomphe d’Eve. 
Incurved Yellows. —Bonnie Dundee, King of 
Orange, Miss Phylis Fowler, Mr. J. Gardiner, M. 
P. Maitignac, 
Incurved Pink. —Mrs. W. Kingston, and Duchess 
of Fife. 
Incurved Reds. —The Egyptian and C. B. 
Whitnall. 
Spidery varieties. —Sam. Caswell, pinky mauve ; 
Mrs. Filkins, yellow; Maggie Matthews, bronze ; 
and Mrs. Butters, a nice white variety. For singles, 
we must refer those interested to the exhibition 
reports.— J. H. D. 
-- I — ■ . - 
MEADOWBANK NURSERY, ROTHESAY. 
September is not the best time to visit the collec¬ 
tions of florists’ flowers of Messrs. Alexander Lister 
and Son, Meadowbank Nursery, Rothesay, N.B.; yet 
many fine flowers still remain in the mild climate of 
the West even till the end of that month. 
Three houses were devoted to a new and very 
prolific variety of Tomato ramed Lister’s Prolific, 
whose history has already been given in our pages, so 
that we need not revert to it. All were planted out, 
and had been carrying ripe fruits from the middle of 
July last. The bunches were of great length, much 
branched, and the round fruits of moderate size, of 
good flavour, tender, and produced in great abund¬ 
ance. Those who have seen the variety at its best 
think very highly of it on account of its prolific 
character. Excelsior Improved Leek branches well, 
and is notable for the great length of its neck. 
Border Carnations are grown in considerable 
quantity, five long beds of them being at their best 
in July and August, but still carrying many flowers 
in September. The grass was vigorous and plentiful. 
A large number of them were unnamed seedlings, 
having been raised from Messrs. Lister’s own strain, 
which has been created by intercrossing during the 
past six or seven years. White ground Picotees were 
also plentiful, that named C. H. Johnston beiDg a 
light rose-edged variety, and very pretty. Mrs. W. 
Brown, a purple, wire-edged variety, was also very 
choice. J. Fraser was a purple wire-edged sort of a 
large size, with smooth margins, and the ground, 
being pure white, also enhanced its value. The 
calyi being good is not liable to split. The seedlings 
of yellow ground Picotees were also plentiful. Some 
of them had received names, including General 
Campbell. A seedling with a scarlet edge on a buff- 
salmon ground might be described as a fancy 
belonging to the same class. Col. Buchanan was a 
very choice and showy deep salmon-rose self 
Carnation. Close by was a strain of seedling 
Pentstemons in full bloom, and raised here. They 
are very useful autumn flowers. 
Dahlias —A large brake was planted with all the 
leading show, fancy, and pompon Dahlias, with 
some of the Cactus race, including a dark, salmon- 
red seedling, with long, pointed florets after the 
build of Viscountess Sherbrooke. The plants in all 
cases were very vigorous with flowers of large size, 
the result, no doubt, of good cultivation. The soil 
here is very heavy, but has been greatly improved. 
Amongst the fancy varieties may be noted Polly 
Sandell, old gold, and tipped with white; Mrs. 
Saunders, still one of the best lemon-yellows, and 
white tip ; Sailor Prince, lilac, with crimson stripe ; 
Rev. J. B. M. Camm, a fancy light yellow, striped 
with crimson; John Scott, closely striped with 
crimson on a yellow ground, and a fine, big flower to 
boot; Prince Henry, lilac, striped with crimson; 
Mabel, pink and mottled and striped crimson ; and 
John Cooper, one of the best of the fancy race, 
frequently striped and mottled with purple on a 
white ground, but with crimson as well, when in its 
best form. 
Show Dahlias are even better represented, for 
Messrs. Lister & Son are keen and successful exhibi¬ 
tors at many of the shows where florists’flowers are 
encouraged. Prince Bismarck is crimson-purple; 
Majestic, a huge bloom of a soft lilac with a white 
centre; Nugget, buff gold, but rather wide open in 
the florets, though otherwise a good show bloom ; 
John Hickling, large, clear yellow, and close in the 
petal ; John Walker, the best and most reliable 
white; J. T. West, buff yellow, and tipped light 
crimson; James Cocker, one of the finest purples; 
Mrs. Gladstone, the best pink ; Colonist, bronze and 
buff; Chieftain, one of the finest dark purple-rose 
varieties; William Powell, clear yellow and of fine 
compact build ; Daniel Cornish, dark red; and many 
others of different hues. 
The Cactus Dahlias have been so much before the 
public lately that description is hardly necessary. 
Among the finest we noted here were Charles Wood- 
bridge, Laverstock Beauty, Britannia, Eileen Palis- 
ser, clear yellow ; and Captain Broad, a soft scarlet 
variety in the way of Gloriosa in build. 
