806 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 18, 1900 
planting when applied to rule is one and half times 
the depth of the bulb itself, and this is not far out. N. 
maximus likes to be deeply planted, say 5 in., the 
soil to be nicely damp. Most Narcissi like a free 
and open position. Bone meal or basic slag at the 
rate of i lb. per sq. yd., and wood ashes as a surface 
dressing is helpful to Narcissi. Always remember 
when buying that the best bulbs are the cheapest. The 
best varieties for planting in the grass, in the rock- 
garden, in beds, and for pots, were enumerated on 
p. 588 of The Gardening World, May 12th, 1900, 
of which copies may probably be had for i£d. 
Narcissi for potting should now be obtained.— D. 
-- 5 —- 
PROPAGATION OF BEGONIA GLOIRE 
DE LORRAINE.* 
There is really'no difficulty in propagating this 
pretty plant, so easy is it, indeed, that at present I 
could show anyone a tidy little plant which is the 
result of a small leaf dropping into a pan of 
Primula, and there taking root without any attention 
whatever. Propagation by leaf is by all means the 
best, as by this method much better results can be 
got than by any other. Choose a strong, healthy 
leaf; any time from November to January is the best; 
simply pull it clean off the stem and lay it, not too 
deep, in moderately moist, heated cocoanut fibre ; do 
not peg the leaf down ; this I think is where many 
growers fail through damping. It is not from the 
leaf, but from the base of the leaf-stalk that the 
young growth starts; lift up occasionally to prevent 
roots ramifying too much until breaks appear. As 
soon as these are seen pot up in thumb pots, and 
stand in a warm house,and shade from strong sun. At 
present I could show a large batch in 5-in. and 6-in. 
pots, 12 in. to 15 in. across, struck at various times 
since last November. This is the practice adopted 
by an expert with this plant, and whose success I 
can vouch for.— W. Dick, Rosehall. 
PEOPLE WE HAVE MET. 
Mr. James Findlay McLeod, F.R.H.S. 
Many of our readers will recognise the subject of 
this brief sketch from the accompanying portrait, 
and a greater number will recollect the name, Mr. J. 
F. McLeod, in connection with some splendid ex¬ 
hibits of Crotons, stove and greenhouse plants, Mal- 
maison Carnations, and other subjects at the meet¬ 
ings of the Royal Horticultural Society. Mr. 
James Findlay McLeod is steward to J. Pierpont 
Morgan, Esq, at Dover House, Roehampton, 
Surrey. 
He was born on October 28th, 1863, and ten and a 
half years later started work under his father in the 
the gardens of Major McDonald, of Glenfinnan. 
This occupation was followed for the space of two 
years, after which he went in for a course of farm 
work. During several successive years he took 
advantage of a few months of schooling in winter, 
the rest of the time beiDg occupied in farm work. 
This used to be a very common practice in Scotland, 
particularly before the birth of the School Board, 
many of the scholars, during winter, being practi¬ 
cally men and women. Needless to say, when 
arrived at years of discretion these pupils made a 
better use of their time than when sent in early 
years by their parents. The experience thus gained 
on the farm and at school was well stored, and later 
on turned to good account on this particular farm, 
belonging to A. D. Grimmond, Esq., of Glenericht, 
Perthshire. High-class stock was bred and reared, 
and the numerous prizes taken at the leading shows 
throughout the kingdom, including Smithfield and 
Birmingham, testified to the quality of the stock 
produced. 
At this stage it was decided to give forestry and 
general estate wo*rk a trial, and for three years this 
very important branch of estate management was 
vigorously ground into him. No better opportunity 
could have presented itself, as the estate was being 
remodelled, and the thousands of forest trees and 
shrubs dealt with in that short space would surprise 
anyone. No haphazard methods were here permis¬ 
sible nor practised, but a system suitable to each 
class of tree and shrub carefully studied. The 
effect, after having been given a fair trial, was highly 
p cturesque, and the outcome profitable and service¬ 
able Drainage, fencing, building, water service, 
&c., were also extensively executed, with equally 
good results. 
After a splendid and liberal education in this kind 
of work, he was urged, very much against his own 
inclinations, by the earnest wish of his mother, to join 
the profession of gardening. Accordingly, feeling it 
his duty, he was apprenticed to gardening, and this 
at an age very much ahead of the average apprentice 
Mr. James Findlay McLeod, F.R.H.S. 
in Scotland. He entered the gardens of the late Col. 
Ogilvy, of Rannagulzion House, Perthshire, N.B., in 
November, 1880, and three happy years were spent 
here, though he admitted that until the first year 
had elapsed, he had no desire to follow up gar¬ 
dening or even to give it the attention he had 
previously given to the other occupations. 
The autumn of 1883 found him engaged as a full 
fledged journeyman in the gardens of Miss Fothring- 
ham, of Tealing, Dundee, Forfarshire, where one 
year was pleasantly spent. The next two years were 
spent in the west of Scotland, in the gardens of the 
late John Gordon, Esq., of Aikenhead, Catbcart ( 
Glasgow. High class gardening was here keenly 
carried on, especially that of plant growing, hard- 
wooded plants and Orchids being specialities. Mr. 
T. Hogg, who was then head gardener there, was one 
of the leading prize-winners at the Glasgow shows. 
The soil of the gardens, under judicious and skilful 
treatment, was capable of producing excellent vege¬ 
tables ; and the necessary treatment was given them 
in unstinted measure, judging from the success of 
exhibits of the same, staged by Mr. Hogg at the 
Glasgow and Edinburgh shows. 
From Aikenhead, Mr. McLeod moved into the 
county of Fife, alias the " Kingdom of Fife,” where 
three years were very profitably spent in the well- 
kept gardens of the late John Balfour, Esq. The gar¬ 
dens were then, as they now are, under the charge of 
Mr. John Skeederson. The extensive gardens and 
grounds were kept in a state second to none in the 
county. Fruit culture, both indoors and out, was 
here a speciality, as was also the production of flowers 
suitable for house decoration. The enormous quan¬ 
tities of vegetables consumed entailed considerable 
forethought, time, labour and skill in their pro¬ 
duction. 
On the 14th September, 1889, Mr. McLeod, having 
journeyed to London, took charge of the estate of 
Dover House, Roehampton, belonging to the late 
Junius Spencer Morgan, Esq.; and here we find him 
still as steward to J. Pierpont Morgan, Esq., who, 
together with his family, takes a keen and active in¬ 
terest, both in the farm, garden and pleasure grounds, 
sparing no expense in keeping up this suburban re¬ 
sidence to a great state of perfection. Eeing on the 
old valley gravel similiar to that of Wimbledon 
Common, Putney Heath and Richmond Park, it is 
of a gravelly and very poor character requiring the 
introduction of great quantities of soil of various kinds, 
as well as manures to suit different fruits, flowers, 
vegetables, shrubs and trees. 
Within the last few years Mr. McLeod has effected 
many improvements on the lawns, uprooting many 
old shrubberies, making up the hollows and planting 
beds of various trees and shrubs in combinations for 
effect. All the smaller beds are of simple design, only 
one or two kinds of shrubs being used. Vast improve¬ 
ments of the staple of the soil were effected by the 
introduction of hundreds of cart-loads of clay obtained 
from the foundations of the beautiful church recently 
built at Roehampton. The lawns by these processes 
have practically been revolutionised, and a great 
deal more open sward now exists in front of the 
house. What walls there are, are furnished with 
many interesting climbers. Two roseries have been 
made, one for Teas and the other for hybrid per- 
petuals and their allies. Enormous quantities of 
Banstead loam at great cost have been used in these 
roseries. 
Being steward the whole estate comes under his 
care. It is pleasantly undulated with fine pasture for 
grazing and hay making ; while fine trees are plenti¬ 
ful, especially towards the boundaries. Five horses 
are kept on the estate, ana twenty-five head of the 
famed Alderney cows, pure bred and beautiful 
animals. We can now see that Mr. McLeod's early 
training has proved of great service to him, seeing 
that he has the superintendence of the whole estate, 
with men under him in each department. We wish 
him a long and useful life in the work he has been 
called upon to accomplish. 
NOTES ON CAMPANULA. 
Campanulas almost without exception are dis¬ 
tinguished for great beauty and elegance; and in 
many cases they are handsome and brilliant in 
addition to their other merits. From the tall Cam¬ 
panula pyramidalis and the broadly spreading 
Campanula Medium down to the very dwarf C. pulla, 
C. pumila, C. garganica and others there is every 
degree of size and habit. As a rule the flowers 
are either white or a shade of blue. 
They are plants which have long been found in 
British gardens. It is over 300 years since the Can¬ 
terbury Bells were introduced to these islands, and 
the equally well-known Chimney Bellflower has even 
had a longer reign. The shape of their flowers 
would soon obtain for them the popular name of 
Bellflower, and according as they first grew or found 
favour at a special place, would their other names 
be applied. Thus the Canterbury Bells are almost 
certain to have derived their common name from 
their connection with Canterbury city, or they very 
likely were brought to notice during one or other of 
the pilgrim journeys to Thomas a Beckett's tomb. 
Some of the other old Campanulas receive their 
common name from the form of their foliage, as C. 
persicifolia or Peach-leaved Campanula; or from 
the towering inflorescences and other points of es¬ 
pecial apparency. 
The Scottish Bluebell is a true Campanula, but 
the English Bluebell is a bulbous plant, like a Hya¬ 
cinth—the Scilla nutans—which flowers in May. 
We often hear of " One-plant gardens." A single 
genus which provides plenty of variation in its 
species and varieties is specially classified and cul¬ 
tivated in a garden or portion of a garden by them¬ 
selves. A Primrose or a Rose garden is quite 
common and they are the acme of loveliness and 
furnish high interest. Occasionally we may see 
a garden wholly devoted to the species and sections 
of Irises, orLiliums, or Narcissi. Where space and 
means permit of it, there is no form of gardening to 
be compared with this method. Unfortunately only 
a few could carry out the principle to its full limits, 
and these do not do it. But there is no reason why 
an amateur or a person of affluence may not have a 
Campanula garden. A whole collection of Campan¬ 
ulas of all kinds may be successfully grown in a few 
square yards of rockwork and border. But this is 
not the style of " One-plant gardening ’’ that will 
ever satisfy anyone. And Campanulas even more 
than any other plants, or at least, equally as much 
as other plants, should be grown in broad sheets, 
far spreading and freely disposed. Where is the use 
or the sense in planting a patch of any one plant if 
you require to adjust your eye-glasses to discover it ? 
But though I filled all this column and three parts 
of the next in arguing in favour of " sheet-planting," 
otherwise termed "massing," perhaps no more 
would be accomplished than if it were simply ex¬ 
pressed in the words, "Try the plan.” 
The culture of Campanulas is so easy that this 
may be accepted as an additional reason for growing 
