122 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 20, 1900. 
lateral branches have been allowed to grow as far as 
space permitted them. The whole treatment speaks 
well for the man in charge. With such heavy crops 
from five young rods (about twelve years old) they 
must demand a deal of nourishment if the bunches 
are to be finished to perfection. The Muscats were 
doing well, and the Black Hamburghs had almost 
completely finished their ripening. A few Ferns and 
table plants were housed in this vinery. 
In the greenhouse which stands a little higher up, 
we found the beautiful Hoya carnosa. The Bride’s 
Wreath (Francoa ramosa) in pots was also doing 
well, and other well-known greenhouse subjects fur¬ 
nished the stages. We had an idea of the fairyland 
scene which the garden must present on the dusk of 
a summer's evening, when Mr. Webster pressed a 
switch which let the electric light flash into a 
hundred little globes beaded about the vinery, the 
arbour, the fountain, and among the bushes and 
trees of this the higher part of the garden. One of the 
illustrations (p. 123) shows the tiny fountain playing. 
Mr. Webster and two of his boys are also represented. 
The other photograph gives a view of a cosy arbour 
near the house, and which overlooks the lawn and 
other parts of the garden. It should be mentioned 
that around the basin of the fountain various Stone- 
crops, Saxifragas, and some dwarf alpines are 
planted. The vinery is within a few paces to the 
left of this. But though there are other features of 
this pretty suburban garden which one could bring 
to notice, it may be conceded that we have furnished 
a fair idea of its pretensions and general plan. If so 
comfortable a garden can be designed and furnished 
in one of London's closely-built suburbs, such 
gardens, having the maximum of utility and beauty, 
ought to be found far more frequently than is the 
case. So we leave Mr. Webster’s garden for the 
present. 
--*•- 
THE FRUIT CROP, 
As I predicted in your pages early in the spring, has 
been enormous, and all up to its usual standard 
of excellence with the exception of Apples, which are 
very small, and a great part of them gnarled or 
crumpled quite useless for dessert or cooking. 
Neither do I think such fruits will tend to the quality 
of cider if used for this purpose. This is to be 
regretted, as no doubt it is the fruit of the masses, 
not only this, the majority of standard trees in the 
orchards in this locality are very much blighted, 
which must surely be detrimental to the formation 
of fruit buds for next year’s supply. American 
blight, too, has been very prevalent this season, all 
against a clean healthy growth being made. This 
coupled with another dry summer must be part, if 
not wholly, the cause of so much deformed fruit and 
unsatisfactory growth. Pears are a fair crop, and 
the fruit clean and good, especially Beurre Hardy, 
B. Superfin, B. Bachelier, B. Diel, General Todtle- 
ben, Pitmaston Duchess, Marie Louise, Marie 
Louise d'Uccle, Thompson’s, Doyenne Boussoch, 
Doyenne du Comice, Winter Nelis, and a few others 
of lesser value ; while that good late variety, Glou 
Morceau, is very scarce with us this season. 
Peaches and Nectarines have been very plentiful 
and good, not so much damaged by wasps and flies 
as at one time seemed likely. No doubt our placing 
bottles of beer and treacle on the trees was the cause 
of this, for we caught thousands. The trees have 
made clean and healthy growth, and all carrying 
such heavy crops of fruit. The said growth has not 
been too strong except one tree of Early Alexander, 
whose roots will be seen to very shortly. We still 
have a few fruits (October 12th) of that late Peach, 
Golden Eagle, to gather, so have had a fairly long 
season, starting with the former on July 18th, ten 
days later than some seasons. The trees get a 
thorough engineing twice a week, and an abundance 
of water at the root, two important factors to bear 
in mind in the culture of these luscious ftuits. 
Plums have been too plentiful, I think ; tons upon 
tons must have rotted upon the ground in some 
parts. Nearly all of ours are on walls, east, 
west, north, and south. I am gathering the last lot 
to-day of Belle de Septembre ; while Golden Drop 
was cleared two days ago. This has been extra 
good this year ; it should be given a southern aspect 
as it requires a long time to finish. These remarks 
also apply to Reine Claude de Bavay, a grand late 
Gage. Apricots were a good crop, and quality 
supreme. Small fruits of all kinds have been in 
abundance, as well as Filberts and Walnuts. It is 
curious to relate that, in spite of the drought, those 
winged depredators, the birds, whose mischief I con¬ 
demned so strongly last year, have not served the 
Apples and Pears so badly this season. Let us hope 
they see the folly of spoiling good fruit, and intend 
to let the grower sample his own when ready, but I 
shall still '■ net " in case they revert to their old game. 
— J. Mayne, Bicton. 
-- —flN — - 
TREES AND SHRUBS AT WINDLE- 
STRAWLEE NURSERY, EDINBURGH. 
On a beautiful September morning we took the 
electric car from Princes Street, Edinburgh, along 
by the Botanic Gardens and Inverleith Row towards 
the Granton Road, by the side of which the Windle- 
strawlee Nursery is situated, and which belongs to 
Mr. David W. Thomson, 24, Frederick Street, 
Edinburgh. The nursery forms part of the celebrated 
Lawson Nurseries in the early seventies. We took 
a hurried run through twenty acres of forest trees 
and flowering trees and shrubs, to which we con¬ 
fined our attention, although that does not exhaust 
the business done here. The ground is 
laid out on the plan customary in nurseries devoted 
to trees! and shrubs, and the various ' breaks and 
acres of ground occupied by different subjects are 
kept scrupulously regular, neat, and|clean. Hedges 
form dividing lines and give shelter in some places, 
but several belts of ornamental trees suitable for 
street, lawn, and pleasure ground planting also form 
even better shelter than the hedges as wind-breaks, 
because they are taller and much broader, while 
they are at the same time saleable slock, and thus 
occupy the ground economically, none of it being 
allowed to lie fallow. 
One of the main walks runs parallel with the 
Granton Road, and cn either side of the walk is a 
broad border occupied with a great variety of 
choice and useful trees and shrubs, including 
Conifers, Cherry Laurels, green and golden Privet 
(Ligustrum ovalifolium aureum), Cotoneaster micro- 
phylla, Lilacs, the purple-leaved Prunus Pissardi, 
and similar subjects always in demand for the plant¬ 
ing of parks, pleasure grounds, &c. The left-hand 
side of these borders is fringed with a belt of Syca¬ 
more, Sweet Chestnut, Service Trees, Oaks, Ash, 
Laburnums, Willows, Poplars, Limes, and other 
deciduous subjects. 
Weeping trees receive considerable attention, and 
amongst them we noted the Weeping Elm (Ulmus 
montana pendula) the Kilmarnock Willow (Salix 
Caprea pendula), and the American Weeping 
Willow (S. purpurea pendula). The Willows are 
highly suitable for planting in the neighbourhood of 
lakes and ornamental water. To these may be 
added Salix rubra, S. acuminata, the Golden Osier 
(S. alba vitellina), and several others. 
Still proceeding along these borders we noted the 
Irish and Common Yew, Ligustrum japonicum 
excelsum superbum (with a creamy edge to the 
leaves), Rosa rugosa, Weigela rosea, W. Looymansii 
aurea (with golden foliage), and Cotoneaster 
Simonsii, in finely berried condition. The latter Is 
a first-class subject for walls, porches, for covering 
fences to screen undesirable views in gardens, or for 
loose and not too closely cut ornamental hedges. 
Philadelphus coronarius aureus is another choice 
golden-leaved shrub. In the south of England 
Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles is considered the 
hardiest of the broad-leaved varieties, but here C. 
Marie Simon seems to take its place. The pink 
flowers are produced in great profusion. The Bar¬ 
berries are represented by Berberis stenophylla, B. 
vulgaris, and various others. Fine leaved subjects 
are. the Purple Beech,Populus canadensis aurea, 
Cornus Spathii aurea variegata, ^nd Cornus 
variegata, the latter having white margins to the 
leaves. The Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus, Cembra) in 
specimens, 12 in. to 18 in. high, is grown in consider¬ 
able numbers. It forms a beautiful upright tree, not 
liable to be smashed by snowstorms. There is a con¬ 
siderable variety of green Hollies, Sweet Briers, 
Spiraea ariaefolia, S. paniculata, S. Douglasii, and 
various others, all worthy of examination by intend¬ 
ing planters. 
In other parts of the nursery we came across 
varying quantities of such things as the Golden Elder, 
highly suitable for town planting; the golden cut¬ 
leaved Elder (Sambucus racemosa foliis aureis); 
Hypericum calycinum, Portugal Laurels, the red¬ 
stemmed Cornus sibirica, 5 ft. to 6 ft. high, and valu¬ 
able for landscape effect in winter on account of the 
bright red bark ; and Furze (Ulex), which is useful 
for planting in various situations. Prunus Pissardi, 
4 ft. to 5 ft. high, was notable for the rich colour of 
the foliage. Double flowering Cherries and Paul’s 
Scarlet Thorn are amongst the finest of flowering 
trees. A break of White Thorn was being budded 
with Paul’s Scarlet Thorn. The Golden Mountain 
Ash, 4 ft. high, is notable for the rich golden colour 
of its foliage in spring. It had been lost sight of for 
some time and was recovered here by accident, as it 
were. 
Of Rhododendron ponticum and choice hybrids 
there is a large stock ; seedlings of the former being 
grown in great quantity and suggesting a use for 
covert purposes. The same may°_be said of the 
Black Thorn and Silver Birch, 3 ft. to 4 ft. high. 
The oval-leaved Privet is grown in great quantity 
for covert and hedges. The round-leaved Laurel 
(Prunus Laurocerasus rotundifolia), 2 ft. high, is 
stocked in quantity. It stands frost better than the 
common one. ‘Next came a plantation of choice named 
hybrid Rhododendrons ; and one of hybrid perpetual 
and Tea Roses. The Duke of Fife’s Ash (Pyrus 
pinnatifida) stood 6 ft. to 8 ft high. Belonging to 
the same group were P. Aria latifolia and P. Theo- 
ohrasti, the latter having oblong-elliptic and lobulate- 
serrate leaves, that are white and cottony beneath. 
It is a rare tree and proves suitable for town plant¬ 
ing as it grows slowly. Other plantations contained 
one year's seedling Geans, Evergreen Privet, 
Maples, Ivies in pots in quantity and variety, White 
Broom, and Cytisus scoparius andreanus, with 
velvety-brown wings to the flowers. 
Forest Trees. 
Where these are grown, the nursery is laid out in 
squares, and the trees kept in capital trim for trans¬ 
planting. Millions of Scotch Firs are grown. Com¬ 
mencing with the youngest there are one and two 
years’ seedlings, two years and one transplanted, two 
years and twice transplanted, and two years and 
thrice transplanted. Oaks, 1 ft. and 2 ft. high, are 
grown in quantity. The”green Populus canadensis 
and the Ontario Poplar are distinct trees. The 
English Yew in various stages and suitable for 
different purposes is grown in quantity. The same 
may be said of Cupressus lawsonianus, of which 
there is fine stuff 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. Some fine young 
Hollies, transplanted last autumn, are in good con¬ 
dition for moving now. 
A large break is occupied with Spruces, ranging 
from r8 in. to 24 in. high, according to age, and 
forming fine even stuff. Some of them are three 
years' seedlings and one transplanted ; while others 
are two years' seedlings and two transplanted, this 
lot being 6 in. to 12 in. high. There are variegated 
Sycamores of all heights, as well as green ones. 
Acer Prince Hendryi has golden leaves, with a 
purple under-surface. Acer Pseudoplatanus pur¬ 
purea is also purple beneath. The Mountain Ash 
does well here, having large leaves and red petioles. 
Limes (Tilia vulgaris), paper-leaved Birch (Betula 
papyrifera), Purple Beech, 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, Horse 
Chestnut, 3 ft. to 4 ft., Black Italian, and Canadian 
Poplars are all trees that suggest subjects for town 
planting as well as parks and pleasure grounds. 
Very fine is the stock of one and two years’ seed¬ 
ling Larch from home-grown seeds, generally spoken 
of as native Larch. Of the ordinary European 
Larch there are seedlings in great quantity and 
breaks of trees 12 in. to 18 in., and 18 in. to 24 in. 
high. Other Conifers are grown in variety, includ¬ 
ing the Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio), 12 in. to 15 in. 
high, Pinus montana, and P. austriaca in variety. 
Fruit trees also form part of the business, includ¬ 
ing pyramidal and dwarf-trained trees in all the 
classes. Gooseberries and Currants are grown in 
quantity. Amongst Raspberries we noted Yellow 
Antwerp and Superlative, both very fine varieties of 
their kind — we should say the finest. All these 
things are kept in the finest condition for moving by 
the periodical transplanting to which they are 
subjected. 
-- 
Bromelaids as Floral Receptacles.—It remained 
for a Chicago florist to take advantage of the 
structure of many Bromelaids, which enables them 
to retain a large quantity of water at the bases of 
their leaves, by using the plants as cut flower 
receptacles. Tillandsias are used in this way, and 
