September 19, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
T97 
and purple towards the edges of the segments and paler mark¬ 
ings downwards, on a creamy white ground. The lower seg¬ 
ment was mottled with dark purple on a creamy yellow ground. 
Only three of the flowers were open in this lease, but they were 
notable for their immense size, and a dozen others were rapidly 
preparing to expand. The marbled markings of the lower 
segments of this variety and the triangular shape of the flower 
generally would seem to indicate that G. Saunders,ii had some¬ 
thing to do with the parentage even if only in a secondary 
degree. 
The darkest variety sent us was that named Sir E. Wood, 
which we might 'describe as crimson red, shaded and flushed 
with violet, especially on the upper segment'. The' two lower 
segments of the inner set were the most, intensely coloured, 
hut their deep colour was' brightened somewhat by two white 
line® along the centre 1 . This had eleven flowers fully expanded, 
though they w'ere somewhat smaller than, those of any of the 
previously named varieties. This latter appears to be a very 
vigorous variety with a bronzy purple tinted stem. Tire bracts 
were also tinted with the same bronzy hue'. 
Old English Flowers at Earl’s Court 
Exhibition. 
A visit to the Western Gardens of the above-named popular 
place of public resort recalled to mind those a,pt lines by the 
author of “ Elizabeth and her German Gardens,” to wit:—“ No 
doubt there are piany lovely flowers to be had by heat and 
coaxing, but then for each of these there are fifty others still 
lovelier that will gratefully grow in God’s wholesome air, and 
are blessed in return with a far greater intensity of scent and 
colour.” 
Soane pretty beds have been planted at Earl’s Court this year 
with old English flowers. Here we may feast our eyes and 
other senses upon sweet-scented Stocks, Mignonette, C'arna,- 
tiiions, Sweet Williams, Pentstemons, Hollyhocks, herbaceous 
Phloxes and stately Delphiniums, which latter flowers vividly 
remind us of the most successful work done amongst these 
charming subjects by the great Langport firm, Messrs. Kelway 
and Son. What a charming 1 and striking contrast is afforded 
by the vivid scarlet flowers of Lobelia cardinal is, with its in¬ 
tensely dark foliage! 
We would much like to see this admirable idea of the old 
English flower garden greatly extended at Earl’s Court next 
year, where there is scope for it. 
The enterprising directors here well cater for the multitude 
in other respects, and the great British public want still further 
educating as to the best and most effective means of garden 
decoration, despite the many good object-lessons that are now 
happily beginning to be taught in our parks and other open 
spaces. 
It is a great relief to get away from tire formal, stiff, and 
wearisome style of the ordinary bedding arrangements which 
still exist in far too many gardens, and rest the eyes on some 
of the many beautifully informal mixtures which may be 
obtained amongst the numerous hardy flowering subjects hap¬ 
pily coming to the front again. 
For the first time this season the Western Gardens at Earl’s 
Court have been tastefully furnished by Mr. George M. Bick, 
F.R.H S., the well-known florist and landscape gardener of 
Shortlands, Kent. We trust he may fulfil the same duties 
next, year, so well has he performed them during the present 
season, and give us bigger and brighter pictures of fair and' 
beautiful old English, flowers. He has truly a rich field wherein 
to work, and, capable floral artist that he is, we may joy¬ 
fully anticipate the most successful and thoroughly enjoyable 
results in the good time coming. j rfc 
Chiswick. 
Big Mushroom. —Mr. Baker, of Clarendon House, Ipplepen, 
picked a Mushroom in one of his fields on the 2 nd inst. measuring 
08 m. m circumference, perfect in shape and colour. The stem 
measured 6 in. round. • 
Round the Nurseries. 
Messrs. W. and J. Brown. 
For many years I have been impressed by the high quality 
of the produce exhibited at the large horticultural shows by 
Messrs. W. and J. Brown, and a® I was near to Stamford re¬ 
cently, and had an hour or two to spare, I visited one or two 
of their chief nurseries—they have several large nurseries in 
the neighbourhood of Stamford and Peterborough. 
The first impression on entering the nurseries at Wothorpe, 
where the ornamental trees and herbaceous plants are grown, 
was that I was in a, well-kept private garden, as the main walk 
is bordered by a, collection of trees and shrubs demonstrating 
their use as decorative subjects. The colour effect is very 
pleasing, as there is a great variety of shades—Prunus Pissardi, 
Sambucus foliis aureis, golden Catalpas, Acer Negundo', and 
Acer califomicum contributing beautiful banks of colour. 
Several variegated Conifers are also conspicuous, especially 
that very pretty Yew, Taxus baccata elegantisisima,. Another 
beautiful plant 1 noted in this border was Sambucus lac mat a 
a urea, the golden form of the cut-leaf Elder. When this 
elegant shrub' has; its roots confined in pots it make® dwarf 
and spreading bushes, and should prove an, excellent subject 
for beds. In my estimation it was the prettiest plant in the 
whole collection. 
The land seems specially suited to Conifers, for never before 
did I see such healthy and compact young tree®. The Yews, 
which are grown in ten® of thousands, have a habit seldom 
met with elsewhere;—they branch very freely, and form very 
compact trees. Thuya occidentalis elwangeriana, and Thuya 
semperaures'cens. are two varieties that should appeal to all 
lovers of beautiful Conifers, especially the latter. 
The shrubby Althaeas were not out, but. their fine healthy 
condition and the profusion of buds promise a, grand display 
later on. 
Trained Peaches and Apricot® are a feature of the Stamford 
nurseries, the Peaches, in spite of the dripping season, having 
made excellent growth and promise to ripen it well. Lilacs; 
thrive well in all the nurseries, and make very close growth 
well set with buds. 
Herbaceous plants also seem to find the conditions' congenial 
to them, especially Phloxes;. That, beautiful white variety, 
Amazon, was in splendid form after all the rough weather that 
we have recently experienced. A bed of old seedling Cam- 
tions looked particularly effective. All the good Varieties had 
been, weeded out, and nothing remained but a, great mas® of 
single varieties of eveiy colour in the Carnation) range. They 
weai© called useless 1 , but I say they are 1 excellent for light de¬ 
corative effect, and would be very serviceable where there are; 
many dinner tables to decorate. 
In the houses is a, well-kept collection of plants. Ferns and 
zonal Pelargoniums being the chief feature. Amongst the 
latter I noticed a huge batch of that excellent variety Fire- 
dragon. Heliotrope Lord Roberts was to be seen in abundance, 
both indoors and out. Those who remember Messrs. Brown’s 
exhibit at the last two Temple Shows will doubtlessly re¬ 
member this plant, as this firm made a grand display with it, 
They have several other new and promising varieties, but I 
think none will beat Lord Roberts for all-round good qualities. 
Another nursery I had just time to go into was ten acres 
in extent, and was filled entirely with forest and fruit trees. 
Messrs. Brown, do 1 a tremendous; trade in the Midlands, and so; 
long as they keep their stock up tol the present high standard, 
their trade is likely to increase in spite of the competition, of 
the times. Kewite. 
A Curious Potato. —Mr. H. Fuller, newsagent, of 272, King 
Street, Norwich, is now showing a most curiously-formed Potato 
grown at St. Faith’s. The outlines of the tuber resemble a 
woman carrying a. child under a shawl, and with the insertion of 
beads for eyes, the face is almost perfect. 
