63 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 24, 1903 
Saxifraga umbrosa variegata, a form of tire London Pride, or 
St. Patrick’s Cabbage-, is so universally known and admired 
that it is needless to do more than mention it. Sedunr Sieboldi 
varie-gatum has lovely foliage, ranging from blue to cream and 
coral, and is a charming rock plant. The flowers are rosy 
pink, and the plant grows about 6 in. in height. Sibthorpia 
euro-para variegata, a chaste form of the Cornish Money Wort-, 
requires a very warm shaded nook. I generally plunge a pan 
of it in a sheltered position on the rockwo-rk in spring, where 
it can spread for the summer, when the pan can be lifted inside 
again in autumn, otherwise one is apt to lose it altogether in 
our northern latitude ; but it is well worth any little trouble, 
as it is a little- gem. Thymus Serpyllum citriodorus argenteus, 
perhaps better known as Fraser’s Silver Thyme-, is, of all the 
Thymes, my especial favourite, either for the border or rock- 
work. It has a most distinct and graceful appearance in either 
case, and is in much demand for cutting purposes., for the 
making up of cut-flower vases, etc. 
Of the Periwinkles, Vinca major and V. minor supply us 
with variegated forms, which for sloping banks, etc., are ideal 
plants, and are, I think, admired by most people. 
This, then, exhausts my collection of hardy variegated plants. 
I have omitted those subjects with silvery and golden foliage, 
many of which are extremely fascinating. These I shall le-ave 
for my next story. Borderer. 
A Visit to the Channel Islands. 
(Continued from page 40 ) 
Flower-growing. 
The largest collection, of general nursery stock was that of 
Messrs. Smith & Son, but they had several specialities, including 
ornamental trees and shrubs, a fine collection of many species 
of Himalayan Rhododendrons in the open, and mostly well se-t 
with flower-buds. They grew several species and hybrids of 
Nerines, mostly under glass. Selections of Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Narcissi, and other bulbs were grown in quantity. The bulb 
farms are on the flat lands of the north-western part of the 
island. Freesias were grown in the vineries in large quantities 
to come into- bloo-m during the winter to supply the market 
with cut-bloom. Chrysanthemums were raised in considerable 
quantity in the open ground, on the bush system, with two 
to three dozen blooms on a plant. Lady Selborne was the 
greatest favourite. Early batches were lifted, potted, and 
hastened in the vineries, while others were sheltered in the 
open ground for late work by means of canvas thrown over’ 
a light framework to keep the flowers fresh and- clean. 
I reesias and Chrysanthemums were then grown in the- 
same- way at the Rohais Nursery. Here also a general stock 
v r as kept; but the. nursery was notable- for a collection of 
Australian and other exotic trees and shrubs. The Tree 
Heath (Erica arborea), of which the so-called briar pipes were 
made, stood 25ft. high. Eucalyptus Globulus stood 40ft. 
high, and there were larger ones upon tire island. The- Acacias 
were also fine. 
Lery interesting was the Guernsey Lily (Nerinesarniensis) 
grown in large quantities at its original British home, La 
Haye du Puits, the- seat o-f Le- Marchant Thomas le Marchant, 
Esq. The stoiy runs that a vessel containing a quantity of 
the Lily was wrecked in Vazon Bay, on the west coast of the 
island, close by La Haye du Puits, where the bulbs were 
taken and planted in the open ground, and where they were re¬ 
puted to flower better than anywhere else. They were m-own 
in lines, several o-f which had not been lifted ‘for 22 years 
and the bulbs were therefore densely crowded. Altogether 
there were reckoned to be about three cartloads of bulbs & from 
which 27,000 flowers were yearly culled. The natural soil 
is almost pur© sand, and large- supplies of liquid-manure are 
given during the growing season. Close by, on the same piece 
of ground, about 20,000 conns of Gladiolus Colvillei albus 
(better known as The Bride) were grown, and an offer of 
<£50 was refused for them. The stems grow 3ft. high, and 
the flowers are marketed. 
I must not omit to mention a fine avenue of Cordyline aus¬ 
tralis at the same place, the trees varying from 3ft. to 12 ft, 
in height, the largest being heavily fruited with red and white 
berries of great ornamental value. Dicksonia antarctica lives 
in the open air without protection, and had a stem 4 ft. high. 
Fuchsias- do well, including Mademoiselle Marie Cornelisson, 
F. fulgens and F. globosa. The last-named was the great 
favourite, being loaded with bloom and standing 6ft. to 8ft. 
high. Other subjects that were- hardy and flower in the 
open air were Hedychium gardnerianum, Canna iridiflora 
Ehemanni, Clethera arborea, Metrosideros floribunda, Tecoma 
jasminoides-, Acacia dealbata, Riehardia africana, Abutilon 
Boule de Neige, and many others. 
The mansion, once a nunnery, is of French architecture, 
and one of the oldest in Guernsey. The hedges of Holly Oak 
(Quercus Ilex) surrounding the garden were massive and line. 
Mr. T. Earland, the gardener, took great pride in the rich 
collections of plants. 
Saumarez Hall, Cat-el, the seat of the Honourable Janie, 
Saumarez, adjoins the last place, and was under the charge of 
Mr. H. Carre, who- keeps the- place in fine- order. A Japanese 
house stood on a rising knoll in the pleasure grounds, and was 
beautifully furnished inside with samples of lacquered cabinet 
work. A fine collection of Bamboos was grown at Saumuez 
Hall. On the walls of the mansion, which is of Norman 
architecture, and built of yellow and black and white granite, 
Passiflo-ra Constance Elliott was very floriferous, and Acacia 
Riceana, floriferous in spring, was 10 ft. high. A wall close 
by the house was covered with Clianthus puniceus, which 
flowered freely in spring; Abutilon Boule- de Neige, Habro- 
thamus elegans in full bloom, Tacsonia exoniensis, Boussin- 
gaultia baselloides, and several others, 
A fine- specimen of the Shaddock (Citrus decumana) was 
loaded with fruit in all stages, the largest being as big as 
a swan’s egg. In the open ground were many stove or green¬ 
house subjects perfectly at home, including Bouvardia Hum- 
boldti corymbiflora, Pimele-a. decussata, Agatho-sma rugosa, 
Cytisus fragrans, 8 ft, by 8 ft,, in full bloom, Camellia Sasan- 
quha, and many others too numerous to mention. Araucaria 
excelsa stoc-d 6ft, to- 7ft. high, surrounded by trees. The 
Pampas Grass (Gynerium argenteum), 8ft. to 10ft. high, had 
sometimes as many as 50 heads of bloom. 
Rosenheim, St, Andrews, the- seat of Mrs. General Huysche, 
an interesting old place, was under the charge of Mr. Wm. 
Leiper. It may be described as the Kew Gardens of Guernsey, 
for its grfl's were- open tc- the- public daily from 7 a.m. to 
6 p.m., mfl constituted a great resort for visitors. The 
grounds were furnished with some curiosities in the shape 
of old Roman arched gateways of granite, collected from 
different parts of the island. The houses contained a varied 
collection of plants from all parts of the world, including 20 
species, varieties and hybrids of Passion-flowers, some of which 
flowered all the year round. Passiflora quadrangularis would 
have 50 to 60 flowers open at one time. The commoner ones 
were even more floriferous. Tacsonia ^ an \olxemii bore- both 
flowers and fruit. Begonia fuchsioides, 12ft. high, was always 
in flower. A tree of the Japan Medlar (Photinia japonica) 
bore 30 to 36 bunches of bloo-m, and fruited every year. 
Dahlias, Night-scented Tobacco, and Lobelia fulgens, then in 
full bloom, are hardy, in the open ground. 
SECRETARIES OF SOCIETIES will oblige by- 
entering in their books the new address of THE 
GARDENING WORLD, 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, 
London, E.C., and notify us as to dates of meetings, 
shows, etc. 
