May 26, 190ft 
THB GARDENING WORLD. eii> 
& Son. Very often thtir Temple Show exhibit has 
been unique, and only occasionally rivalled there by 
an exhibit from a private establishment. Many of 
the London public have little opportunity except at 
the above two important sh,ws for seeing Peaches, 
Nectarines, Plums, Cherries, &c., hanging ripe on 
the trees which produced them. 
Mr. Henry Cannell, Jun. —Many will no doubt 
recognise the features of Mr. Henry Cannell, Jun., 
the eldest son of the head of the firm of Messrs 
H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, Kent. Though most 
often to be found attending to his duties at Swanley, 
we have, nevertheless, met Mr. H. Cannell, Junr , 
in various parts of the country between Kent and 
Aberdeen. The zonal Pelargoniums are perennially 
in blossom at Swanley, and the public is both 
surprised and pleased at the fine masses of bright 
colours now infused into this common, popular 
and useful class of greenhouse plants which make 
their appearance at all the principal and many of 
the smaller shows held throughout the country. At 
the Temple Show, however, space is limited, so 
that Messrs. H. Cannell & Sons on that occasion 
usually bring in something fresh in the way of 
tuberous Begonias, Cannas and Gloxinias of which 
they make up tasteful and bright groups that serve 
to enliven the various parts and corners of the 
tents in the Temple Gardens Into which they may 
be placed. The above plants constitute some, but 
by no means all, of the specialities to which they 
give marked attention and with considerable 
success, 
Mr. D. T. Russell. —Mr. John Russell carried 
on a general nursery, florist, bulb, and seed business 
at the Old Nurseries, Brentwood, Essex. The 
business is now greatly extended and carried on 
under the same title by the three sons, of whom Mr. 
D. T. Russell is one. The portrait which appears 
on our supplementary sheet will introduce this 
member of the firm who has charge of the Old 
Nurseries and Essex Nurseries at Brentwood, 
Essex. Other branches are the Devonshire 
Nurseries, Haverstock Hill, London, N.W.; Rich¬ 
mond Nurseries, Richmond, Surrey; American 
Nurseries, Milford, Surrey; and another branch 
more recently acquired at Isleworth, Middlesex. 
Hardy trees and shrubs, including Azaleas, 
Japanese Maples, Ivies, and Roses are grown in 
great quantities at the above respective places, and 
make their appearance in public at exhibitions in 
various parts of the country as well as at the Temple 
Show and Drill Hall meetings. Our reports of the 
latter indicate the great resources of the firm in the 
above classes of plants. The firm has been very 
prominently represented at these shows in recent 
years, but it has been established at Brentwood 
since 1802, and now exhibits great energy in the 
increase of hardy ornamental subjects. 
Mr. Frank Cant, F.R.H.S.,—There are very few 
gardeners in the land, who grow Roses, but are 
familiar with the names of several eminent Rose 
growers from Colchester, we presume. Mr. Frank 
Cant is at the head of the firm of Messrs Frank 
Cant & Co., Braiswick Nursery, Colchester; and 
we have often been admirers of his first prize or 
Trophy exhibit at the National Rose Society's 
Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, and elsewhere. 
The accompanying portrait will recall well-known 
features to many Rose growers, and serve as an 
introduction to others. It may here be pertinent to 
the subject to remember that the National Rose 
Society conducted some analyses of soils last year 
in order to ascertain the cause of the unparelleled 
success of the Roses grown at Colchester, in order 
to compare the natural soil with that procured 
elsewhere. The results seemed to indicate that the 
great success in Rose cultivation at Colchester was 
largely due to the skill of the growers themselves. 
Cut flowers of Roses grown in the open are sent to 
exhibitions in various parts of the country by Messrs. 
Frank Cant & Co, but they also show forced 
Roses and Roses grown in pots very successfully 
at the Drill Hall Meetings and the Temple Show 
of the R.H.S. 
Mr. Robert W. Wallace, F.R.H.S.—Visitors 
to the Drill Hall meetings and to the Temple Show 
for years past could hardly have failed to notice the 
beautiful and attractive exhibits of Lilies, Calochorti, 
Irises, and bulbous plants of almost every descrip¬ 
tion, put up by Messrs. R. Wallace & Co., Kilnfield 
Gardens, Colchester. More recently they have 
taken to growing and exhibiting Daffodils. Whether 
the soil at Colchester is specially favourable to 
Lilies or not we are certain that Messrs. R. Wallace 
& Co. are successful cultivators of a great variety of 
bulbous plants. We remember also that Dr. 
Wallace, the founder of the firm, wrote the book, 
“ Notes on Lilies and their Culture,” which has 
recently gone into a third edition. The book is 
replete with information about Lilies. Mr. Robert 
W. Wallace is comparatively a young man, but is 
thoroughly at home and in love with bulb culture as 
the rich and varied exhibits from Kilnfield Gardens, 
Colchester, amply testify. New and rare plants 
frequently turn up in the exhibits, and greatly add 
to the variety and interest of the colleciion as a 
whole ; so that amateurs and collectors have ample 
opportunity of enriching their gardens. Mr. R. W. 
Wallace’ is frequently present at shows, and the 
accompanying portrait will serve as an introduction. 
Mr. John Alexander Laing, F.R.H.S.—To 
the firm of Messrs. John Laing & Sons, Forest Hill, 
London, S.E., there is little necessity for an intro¬ 
duction, as readers over the length and breadth of 
the land have long been familiar with the name and 
with their exhibits at flower shows everywhere. A 
group of Caladiums was exhibited by them at the 
first Temple Show, and at almost every one since 
then. The same may be said of tuberous Begonias, 
which have been a speciality of the house for many 
years, the development of the race having practically 
taken definite shape at Forest Hill. Gloxinias and 
Streptocarpi have also been noticeable exhibits at 
the Temple Show from this same firm. Mr. John 
Alexander Laing is the elder of the two sons of the 
eminent Mr. John Laing, the head of the firm ; but as 
bis duties keep him much at home in the seed and 
bulb shop, visitors to the various exhibitions have 
less opportunity of meeting him, than they have of 
seeing his father or brother. The portrait on our 
supplement will serve as an introduction. He has 
entire charge of the financial and business depart¬ 
ments; and is well known in horticultural circles. 
Mr. J. A. Laing is also a member of the Local Vestry, 
Lewisham Board of Works ; parochial trustee for 
Forest Hill; governor of Lewisham Grammar 
School; a member of various horticultural societies ; 
and a fellow of the Society of Arts. 
Mr. George Cuthbert, F.R.H.S., is the head of 
the firm of Messrs. R and G. Cuthbert, Southgate, 
London, N., and is a familiar figure at the Drill 
Hall meetings, Temple Show and other exhibitions 
about London. He has not been present at the 
Temple Show on this occasion, unfortunately ; for 
we regret to learn that he has been very ill and con¬ 
fined to bed for the past three weeks. We hope, 
however, that he will soon be able to resume his 
former activity. The firm cultivates a considerable 
variety of plants; but all the members of it are most 
ardent in their love for Azaleas of all classes, but 
particularly of A. mollis with its many lovely varie¬ 
ties, as well as A. sinensis, together with numerous 
hybrids produced between the two. Many of them 
have been honoured with Awards of Msrit from time 
to time as the new varieties reached the proper 
stage for exhibition. There is no question but that 
the strains above mentioned are amongst the loveliest 
of hardy flowering shrubs; and the firm has been 
most energetic in bringing them before the public at 
various shows and meetings. A son of Mr. George 
Cuthbert, whom we now have the pleasure of 
introducing, namely Mr. George H. Cuthbert, is 
always in attendance with the Azaleas. 
Mr. T. Jannoch, F.R.H.S.—There is one 
speciality for which Mr. T. Jannoch, Dersingham, 
King's Lynn, Norfolk, is noted all over the country, 
and that is Lily of the Valley. Gardeners are 
familiar with the fact that Lily of the Valley blooms 
naturally during May and June, but may be had 
during winter and spring by forcing. Mr. Jannoch 
can flower it all the year round, and many have been 
surprised and delighted to see it in prime condition 
at various exhibitions, about midsummer and even 
later. Now, to have it in bloom about that time 
means that it must be retarded much beyond its 
usual time of flowering, because the current year’s 
growth must be completed and rested before it can 
be expected to bloom even by forcing. To retard 
the old plants means placing the crowns in an ice¬ 
house or refrigerator, so as to keep the flowers and 
leaves quiescent until required to bloom by being put 
under suitable treatment. Evidently, the Lily of the 
Valley is the chief favourite with Mr. Jannoch, 
whose admirable exhibits we have seen at the Ciystd 
Palace, Regent’s Park, and the Temple Show, in 
season and out of season, yet as fresh as if this sweet 
scented flower bloomed perennially. We mostly 
always meet Mr. Jannoch in company with his 
exhibits, often grown in fanciful arrangements, but 
always unique of their kind in the show. 
Mr. J. E. Hill, F.R.H.S.—Mr. J. Hill was the 
founder of the business of Messrs. J Hill & Sod, 
Barrowfield Nursery, Lower EdmontoD, but he is 
nearly eighty years of age, and, of course, no longer 
able to take an active share of duty in carrying on 
the work of the firm. His sod, Mr. J. E. Hill, has 
been at the head of affairs in the management of the 
business almost ever since the firm has devoted its 
energies to the raising, collecting together, and 
cultivating choice Ferns, of which we have seen 
many splendid groups for some years past both at 
the Drill Hall meetings and the Temple Show,'held 
under the auspices of the R.H.S. Readers at a 
distance who have only known Messrs. J. Hill & 
Son by reputation as a result of the splendid groups 
of choice Ferns they have staged at exhibitions, may 
now make a closer acquaintance with the younger 
and managing partner of the firm by a study of his 
portrait which we now reproduce. The imposing 
group of choice Ferns again put up by the firm at 
the Temple Show is a striking indication of the 
thorough grasp they have of the cultivation of Ferns 
of all the more useful kinds, but chiefly exotic. 
Mr Frank W. Ashton, F.R.H.S.—Mr. Ashton 
is a member of the firm of Messrs. Stanley, Ashton 
& Co., Southgate, London, N., Orchid importers and 
growers. Mr. Ashton's favourite flowers are Orchids, 
with which he has now been associated for about 
twenty years to our knowledge. He had charge of 
the Orchids when at Kew, and has been a cultivator 
of them ever since in various parts of England. He 
has been with the Southgate firm for a number of 
years, and visitors to the Temple Show would hardly 
ever fail to find him in company with the splendid 
exhibit of Orchids from Southgate. His knowledge 
of this popular class of plants is wide and intimate, 
yet he is ever ready to impart information upon the 
subject to those who are genuinely interested in 
Orchids, or who may happen to be cultivators. Al¬ 
though this class of plants has monopolised his 
attention for so many years, he commenced his 
career in general all-round gardening. 
Mr. George Wythes, V.M.H., F R.H.S.—For 
many years past a fine exhibit of Orchids has been 
put up at the Temple Show by Mr. George Wythes, 
gardener to the Duke of Northumberland, at Syon 
House. More recently, that is, since the death of the 
late Duke, Mr. Wythes has also been appointed to the 
charge of the garden of the same employer at Alnwick 
Castle, Northumberland, so that his hands are now 
quite full. The Orchids put up at the Temple Show 
are generally characterised by the quantity of certain 
showy and useful subjects, such as might be grown 
at a private establishment for decorative purposes, 
rather than where specialists collect rare, unique, or 
choice varieties and species. All the same these 
useful subjects are well grown, and admittedly 
effective when tastefully staged in masses, for few 
classes of plants are capable of producing more 
gorgeous effects than when the larger and showier 
kinds are employed in quantity. A few Palms or 
similarly elegant plants for greenery, so as to break 
up but not hide the more solid masses of colour, are 
finishing touches to such exhibits, which those who 
are conversant with the floral art know well how to 
employ. His group of Nepenthes on this occasion is 
grand. 
Mr. Henry James Chapman, F.R.H.S., is gar¬ 
dener to R. I. Measures, Esq., Cambridge Lodge, 
Flodden Road, Camberwell. An extensive and very 
valuable collection of Orchids is grown here, as 
every Orchid grower and collector well knows. 
Though groups from Cambridge Lodge are set 
up occasionally at the Drill Hall meetings, only new 
varieties and hybrids, as a rule, are staged at the 
Temple Show. The exhibit last year was unique in 
its way in being the only exhibit of Insectivorous 
plants in the show. On this occasion Mr. Measures 
again shows a collection of this interesting class of 
subjects. He is an enthusiastic lover of plants of all 
kinds, though Orchids are the chief favourites. His 
gardener is equally enthus'astic, and his success as a 
cultivator, so near to the heart of the smoky meiro- 
polis, shows what British gardeners can do when 
they have got their heart in their work The 
portrait in our supplement shows the man. He was 
judging On hids at the show. 
