August 22, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
711 
Messrs. Dicksons’ Nurseries, Chester. 
(Concluded from page 696.) 
Last -week we devoted our space to an account of the outdoor 
departments of this extensive nursery. On this occasion we 
purpose giving a brief account of the hothouses and what we 
saw in them. 
Glasshouses. 
The first house entered was chiefly filled with seedling 
tuberous Begonias for bedding purposes. The seedlings had, 
of course, been subjected to* selection before being potted, so 
that we looked upon a houseful of plants of a. highly meri¬ 
torious character. The central area of the house was occupied 
with scarlet and crimson-coloured flowers, the plants being 
compact and bushy, and carrying their flowers well above the 
foliage. At one end of the house, and in the house adjoining, 
were^ batches of white, yellow, and pink varieties, which had 
also been, subjected to the weeding-out process, and therefore 
represented superior strains well suited for outdoor culture. 
A quantity of Cannas was in full bloom, representing named 
varieties and seedlings. 
The sides of the next ^structure we passed through were 
occupied with Tomatos of the varieties Early Empress and 
Crimson King, carrying a, fine crop of fruit. This house in 
the* early part of the year was occupied with bedding plants. 
At one end of the next house were a few useful Orchids, in¬ 
cluding Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Calanthes, Oncidiums, and 
Coelogynes, at present making or maturing their growth. The 
chief varieties of Ferns are located in this house, and the brief 
reference to some of the kinds will give an idea of the condi¬ 
tions of the house. Amongst others, we noted Adiantum far- 
leyense, A. Pacottii, 0. macrophvllum, and A. cuneatum; also 
Gymnogrammes, species, of Pteris and Davallia bull at a in 
variety. Some of these latter were made up into the popular 
Fem balls, frogs, and other animals. Other useful Ferns were 
Nephrolepis davallioides furcans, N. exaltata, N. rufescens., 
Blechnum occidentale, found very useful here; Osmunda 
regalis palustris-, and the new Pteris metallica, which received 
an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society on 
July 21st last. Useful forms of Asparagus were A. plumosus, 
A. p. nanus, and A. Sprengeri. A number of the more useful 
Selaginellas are also grown. 
The next house visited was devoted to Palms, consisting ot 
the more useful species, such as Iventia. belmoreana, K. fos- 
teriana, Areca lutescens, Latania borbonica, Cocos weddeliana. 
and Phoenix rupicola. All of the above are required in quan¬ 
tity for indoor decoration and other purposes in private estab¬ 
lishments, and are consequently in much request. Smaller 
quantities of Corypha australis and "V erschaffeltia, splendida 
are grown. The shelves round the sides of this same house 
were occupied with such useful subjects a.s Aspidistras, Ophio- 
pogan Jaburan variegatus, Gardenia intermedia, and G. florida,. 
Here, too, we* noted the strange orange and blue flowered plant 
Strelitzia Reginae. Bouvardias and Cyclamen are grown in 
some quantity in frames. 
Crotons are still in much request, and a house was chiefly 
devoted to a collection of fifty of the best varieties in cultiva¬ 
tion. At the far end of the house were quantities of the useful 
Caladium argyrites* and fifty varieties of the larger-leaved 
sorts, these being still in good growth and highly coloured. 
Here, too*, were batches of Pandanus Veitehi, Dracaena Mayi, 
D. elegantissima, D. indivisa,, D. angustifolia, and D. congesta, 
Aralias are also* well done, including A. Veitehi gracillima, A. 
elegantissima and A. filicifolia. The last name means Fern- 
leaved, and the twice-divided leaves very much resemble those 
of a Fern. Ixoras are also grown here in some quantity. 
The popular Begonia Gloire de Lorraine and Tumford Hall 
are also grown to excellent purpose. Hybrid Streptoearpus 
have also given a good account of themselves, and Gesnera. 
refulgens is making good growth. The foliage of Strobilanthes 
dyerianus was wonderfully liigldy coloured. Underneath the 
! benches retarded Lily of the Valley wa.s diffusing its: grateful 
aroma, through the house, and Schubert ia grandiflora will very 
soon be doing the same with its fragrant flowers. Numerous 
climbers are situated in this house, including Dippladenias, 
Allamandas, Cissus discolor, Stephanotis, Gloriosa, and other 
subjects, 
A large and cool house was devoted to different types of 
Pelargoniums, including the best of the Ivy-leaved varieties, 
such as Baden Powell. Leopard, Her Majesty the Queen, The 
King, and Resplendens. All the best of the old and the new 
varieties of zonal Pelargoniums worth growing are kept in 
stock. Decorative varieties of Pelargoniums' are also grown 
to the extent of 1,200 or 1,500. The Pearl is considered the 
best white. Other subjects we noted were Fuchsias, Helio¬ 
tropes, Lilium auratum, L. Harrisi, L. speciosum, I,, s. rub rum. 
and others. 
Farm Seed Warehouse, etc. 
After inspecting the nurseries we were conducted to* the farm 
seed warehouses, situated against the wall of the ancient city of 
Chester, the walls being still standing round the city. We may 
Dianthus neolectus. Seep. 7i3. 
say, however, that these walls are situated close to the Roman 
foundations rather than upon them. When the cellar of the 
warehouse was formed, the workmen came upon a. portion of 
the old Roman wall in perfect condition, and this has been pre¬ 
served. It. is considerably below the present level of the city, 
but then we* must remember that it was situated on the edge 
of the ancient moat, which was* partly cleaned out during' the 
making of this cellar, when many dressed stones were found 
bearing the marks* of the Roman chisels still upon them. This 
was certainly sufficiently interesting to us, and to many others. 
Laro-e numbers of Americans come to visit the ancient city of 
O 
Chester. 
The present is the slackest* period of the year in the ware¬ 
houses. ; nevertheless, we had a look through the various de¬ 
partments, where ample machinery is' kept for cleaning the 
various kinds of seeds in their season. The machinery in some 
of the departments is driven, by electric power. We noted 
the complicated character of the* machines* used for cleaning 
such fluffy seeds as Foxtail and Cocksfoot grasses. Two gas 
engines as well as one electric motor are used upon the pre¬ 
mises, the former being for lifting the sacks of seeds and various 
grain from the ground level up to the* farthest lofts of the 
very high warehouse. 
