330 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 20, 1900. 
dozen 2 ft. 6 in. fronds, which are not only like huge 
feathers, but the colour —enhanced, perhaps, by the 
playful sunbeams—is a pale golden-green. Its 
name is P ang. plumosum, and was found in Devon¬ 
shire by the late Mr. Wollaston. Another fine soft 
Shield Fern, is Pearson's decomposition, pale green 
colour, with soft, loose, much-divided, drooping 
fronds. The variety called proliferum is more 
common, but most useful, and is likewise one of the 
best of British Ferns for hanging baskets. The 
creams, however, of this section when seen in proper 
form are the divisilobums, the leafy parts of which 
are enormously developed, giving to the plants a 
rich, luxuriant, and moss-like appearance. The 
sole representative here rejoices in a choice combina¬ 
tion of fitting adjectives, not one of which I would 
willingly waste, because they are so expressively 
characteristic, viz., Polystichum angulare plumosum 
divisilobum laxum. 
Of the Hard Shield section (P. aculeatum) cristato- 
gracile is slender and pretty ; rotundatum is also a 
narrow form ; while P. cristatum possesses in 
addition to its rounded pinnules pretty crests. But 
the variety of this division of Ferns is, I think, 
pulcherrimum, a name which exactly accords with 
its slender, stately, silky appearance. 
The Lastreas or Male Ferns are sure to be in 
evidence, but the “ King” of these is, perhaps, the 
old but well-attested L. pseudo-mas cristata. Quite a 
different Fern to this, although a seedling of it, is the 
narrow-fronded, pinnaecongested, apex-crested 
form known as angustata — an excellent little Fern 
for Christmas decorations. The polydactylous forms 
in this group also excel, Wills’ variety being especially 
fine. The crested and foliose Buckler Ferns form 
good foliage plants at this season ; so do the serrated, 
ramose, or crested Blechnums, but for general 
effectiveness, for variety of colour, and for adapt¬ 
ability to all classes of decoration the Hart’s-tongue 
must take a leading place. The species (Scolopen- 
drium vulgare) is quite unique in itself — it cannot 
possibly be mistaken or ignored, but when we pass 
from parents to progeny the result and divergencies 
are very confused. Normally, strap-shaped or 
fancifully like the tongue of a beast, the developments 
have so increased and accumulated that we have 
horns and files as well as tongues; we have also in 
addition to crests, clefts, claws, prickles,arrow-heads, 
pockets, frills, scollops, and a dozen other curious 
appendage-like extensions, some with Parsley-like 
divisions, Endiveleaved fronds, corymb-bearing 
tips, &c., &c., and one with a broad head, 9 in. 
across. Not much like Hart’s-tongues these, nor 
very suitable for lingual purposes. For cold green¬ 
house work or room culture, however, they can 
hardly be surpassed, but if I were requested to cut 
down this mixed medley to a single plant, I should 
unhesitatingly go for one of the crispums, say S. v. 
crispum (Wills). But having regard to time and 
space, and without going further into detail, I hope I 
have made it sufficiently clear that British Ferns (of 
which there are about 2,000 varieties) are particu¬ 
larly suitable for amateur handling for town and 
suburban culture, and for prominent participation in 
the foliage effects of the Yule-tide season.— C. B. G., 
Acton, IV. 
FORCED VEGETABLES. 
For the sake of those who may desire but have 
never quite attempted to force an extra early supply 
of dwarf Beans, Potatos, Carrots, Turnips, and 
saladings, the following hints are offered as a 
quickening. The interest in the garden by employers 
cannot but be increased by every fresh venture 
which a skilful and energetic gardener may attempt. 
Likewise, the status of those gardeners who put their 
shoulders to the wheel and mount over obstacles 
along the path is raised in proportions to the diffi¬ 
culties conquered. A very common remark, one 
which is too common and also untruthful, is that 
“ the more one does the less they are thought of." 
There are those who would even present the phrase 
in the sense that “ the less one does the more they 
are esteemed.” As a matter of fact when I come to 
think of it, I recall an instance where a head-gar¬ 
dener “ got the sack,” because he did do too much. 
His employers wished to have “ a big, braw 
chiel,” with a tall hat and kid-gloved hand, instead 
of which their man was a chap for hard work. So 
Adam had to go. 
However, “ ye’ll each hae your ain ken.” In 
such an uncertain land as ours is, I deem it very 
proper to make certain of an early supply, and this 
can only be done by means of hotbeds, frames, and 
houses. A few gentle and lasting hotbeds are of 
immense assistance. By collecting fresh stable 
manure and mixing at least an equal portion of 
rough leaves from the year's rakings, the perma¬ 
nency of the fermentation is secured, and its degree 
of strength greatly tempered. When the mass has 
become hot through and through, it is well to get it 
placed within the frames at once. Tread it very 
firmly, for the closer it is pressed the more persistent 
and regular will the after-heat be. Deeply built 
brick or cement work frames and pits are by far the 
better for the conservation of the heat. Shallow 
wooden frames do not contain body enough of the 
dung. To rake up a bed and place a frame on the 
top of it is a regular practice,but it is a necessary evil; 
for it requires almost a double quantity of dung and 
labour in preparations. Place the requisite depth of 
soil over the surface of the fermenting material, so 
that it may be warmed by the time the bed has 
sunk. The soil should be within an inch or two 
from the glass at first, the surface, of course, being 
lowered when all the bed has become completely 
firm. Thus we shall have a frame ready for Car¬ 
rot or Turnip sowing, or Radishes it may be. 
Potatos, too, may be planted, or they may be grown 
in pots, as we have perforce to grow Kidney Beans 
and Peas. 
Once in, the after-treatment resolves itself into 
carefully giving ventilation, thinning, stirring the 
soil, and watering. Potatos in pots are a simple 
commodity. One grave point is to prevent too 
etiolated growth. Bottom-heat also is requisite. 
Culinary Peas may be treated much as Kidney 
Beans, only that before they fully expand their 
blooms it is well to shift them to a cooler house than 
that in which they previously grew—one with a tem¬ 
perature not to exceed 55 0 . When a number of pods 
have set they can again be treated to a warmer tem¬ 
perature. Choose dwarf varieties, such as The 
Daisy, William Hurst, American Wonder, &c. 
Roots of herbs, such as Tarragon, Mint, &c., and a 
constant supply of Seakale crowns may be placed 
regularly into heat.— N. Howe. 
———- 
THE HISTORY OF GARDENS. 
(Continued from p. 315.) 
Our report of Mr. Sieveking’s lecture concluded 
three weeks ago with a reference to the Hanging 
Gardens of Babylon. The lecturer then brought to 
his audience a consideration of the gardens of 
mediaeval times. The finest descriptions of the 
English garden of the middle ages are found in the 
writings of famous old Chaucer, Lydgate, and the 
poem of James I. of Scotland, the " King's Quhair,” 
written from his prison in Windsor Castle. But 
good as they are, these descriptions only add the 
addition of " wands ” or railings around the flower¬ 
beds as a novelty not found in previous references to 
earlier gardens. Sanded alleys, and perhaps a little 
more of the brightening element, not in the form of 
flowers, however, but from stones, tiles, and coloured 
earths, may be added as characteristics of the early 
English gardens. 
The audience had the benefit of seeing a print of 
the earliest sample of Flemish engraving, represent- 
ting what was termed the “ Garden of Love,” a 
pleasure-garden wherein was portrayed everything 
wonderful and unearthly, so grotesque were the 
characters. This plate dated back 450 years. 
Grottos have always played a conspicuous part in 
the composition of gardens from the earliest times 
downward. There were wonderful examples of 
grotto construction in the French gardens planned 
for Henry II. These were laid out in a series of 
terraces, beneath which were the grottos, shell-work 
and figures in water ; the whole being so sumptu¬ 
ously arranged that the gardens were regarded as 
one of the marvels of the age. The most dis¬ 
tinguished Tudor gardens in the reign of Henry VIII. 
were those of Nonsuch, near Ewell, in Surrey ; and 
greatest of all, those at Hampton Court. The 
peculiar points in garden designs and compositions 
at that time was the lavish introduction of dials, 
“ mounts” at the corners, columns and pyramids of 
marble, topiary work, fish ponds, moats and walls. 
Vines, and Vine culture, about which we periodically 
burst forth to sermonise upon in these latter days, as 
a profitable enough crop to handle, were common 
in the Tudor gardens. 
The gardens of Hampton Court at that time 
covered 2,000 acres! This area was divided into 
sections, part of which was known as the Mount 
Garden, the King's New Garden (now called the 
Privy Garden), and the Pond-yard, or garden which 
alone now remains, and of which an illustration was 
shown. Visitors to this Pond Garden will have 
some idea of the Tudor style—the low walls covered 
with creepers, at the corners of which may be ob¬ 
served what were the bases of stone piers, that sup¬ 
ported the "heraldic beasts” bearing the King’s 
arms and badges. 
It is regretable that an insight to the plants used, 
or contained in these early gardens, was not given by 
Mr. Sieveking. This, of course, would have added 
too much to the length of the lecture, besides being 
beyond the purpose. 
Coming down to a later period, that of Queen 
Elizabeth, it was necessary to go back to the 
mediaeval Italian style of design. The Italian 
gardens were founded upon the Roman villas, men¬ 
tioned earlier in the lecture. The Library of the 
Vatican (the Pope’s Palace) occupies the site of one 
of the oldest of the mediaeval Italian gardens, that 
known as the Vatican Garden of Bramante. Very 
interesting was the lantern illustration of a garden of 
this special period and country, which also was laid 
out by Bramante. It was that of the Villa d'Este at 
Tivoli, wherein were to be observed Cypresses which 
were planted by the renowned sculptor Michael 
Angelo. This represented a massive straight-lined 
mansion with a pagoda-like tower rising from it, 
situated centrally on high rising ground all round. 
Sloping, and from it, were the terrace gardens, each 
walled, or hedged in, the walls being in many parfs 
bedecked on the top along their whole length with 
vases. Long flights of steps, bordered on either side 
with rows of guard-like statuary or architectural 
carving, were conspicuous features. Elaborate 
fountains, and sunk geometrical gardens, with here 
and there tall dark Cypresses towering up like great 
flames, were also included in the composition. 
Olives, Vines, and Myrtles, were recorded in the list 
of trees and climbers. 
The elegant Italian gardens were summarised as 
being " a happy fusion of the early Tudor garden 
with the styles of Italy and France, borrowing from 
the former its terraces and fountains, and from the 
latter its parterres, alleys and labyrinths.” 
And now to the Elizabethan garden proper. The 
mighty Francis Bacon wrote an essay on the gardens 
of his time (sixteenth century), which is one of his 
best productions, and is understood to be the " crown 
and flower of garden literature.” 
One typical Elizabethan garden was specially 
cited, that of Theobalds, belonging to Lord Trea¬ 
surer Burleigh, and of which there is a plan by 
Thorpe in the Sloane Museum. It was square in 
form, the walls being dressed with Phillyrea, and 
throughout the garden the usual little fountains, 
topiary specimens, statuary and so on. 
Hatfield, Holland House, in Kensington, which 
retains much of its old character ; Wilton Garden, 
which was shown through the lantern as representing 
its style about 1640 when designed by Isaac de 
Claus, are others of this period. The description of 
the original Wilton was given, but this need not be 
repeated here. 
About this period we have the first mention of 
Physic Gardens which were attached to such colleges 
as Oxford ; others belonging to private individuals, 
such as Turner, Gerard, and others known by repute 
in our literature. (We favour the view of those who 
believe that Physic Gardens of a sort, and gardens 
for purely utilitarian purposes were in our own land 
at an early date, even before the Roman invasion— 
at least in the southern part. Ornamental gardens 
doubtless evolved from acquired taste for beautiful 
plants and flowers, even though they had no domes¬ 
tic or other usefulness). The title page of Gerarde's 
" Herball," first edition, published in 1597, was 
shown and proved interesting. References were 
made to records of well-appointed Physic Gardens, 
said to have existed on the Continent as early as 
1316, 1334, and other periods of that century. 
(To be concluded.) 
- . 1 --- 
Cutting Prices.—An American weekly paper says, 
in commenting on florists there, “People are willing 
to pay a good price for well-grown stock, but, of 
course, some folks seem to live only to cut prices, and 
we have to stoop to recognise their acts once in a 
while.” 
