December 19, 1903. 
THE GARDENING 
WORLD . 
1041 
Round the Nurseries. 
Messrs. Bradley Bros. 
An excellent example of a really well-planned, nursery is 
afforded by the seed and nursery establishment of Messrs. 
Bradley Bros., of the Mill Lane Nursery, Bardney, Lincoln¬ 
shire. Situated some distance from the small but quaint town 
of Bardney, it lies in the midst of a typical Lincolnshire coun¬ 
tryside. One of its boundary fences marches with the high¬ 
way, from which it is immediately accessible. A matter of 
eight years ago it was bare agricultural land, but it. is now well 
cowered with a variety of trees, shrubs, vegetation and glass, 
which speaks volumes, for the well-directed energy and fore¬ 
thought of the pr oprietors who* have made tire place what it now 
is, much of the work, in the early days, at all events, having- 
been done with their own hands. An afternoon of one of the 
closing days of November is not the time of the year to see 
such a place at its best, but there was quite sufficient to show 
that it was managed by men who thoroughly understood their 
profession. 
Messrs. Bradley for some time back have made the raising 
of seed Potato® a special s^tudy, and have scored some notable 
successes. They were amongst the first to realise the possi¬ 
bilities of the “ Northern Star," and they put money and faith 
in them when the price was at its most prohibitive point, and 
to many the proceeding appeared to be a. rash speculation. 
The- result up to the prestent has more than justified their 
judgment. They have had a most successful season, and have 
made money over the venture quite sufficient to satisfy them 
for the outlay and risk. They continue to hold a sitock which 
they are not in a hurry to dispose of, and intend next season 
to plant for a crop of from 60 to 100 tons of this variety. 
Their land is particularly adapted to the successful culture 
of the Potato, and they intend to. pay particular attention, to 
the raising of special varieties. In addition to “Northern 
Star ” and “ Evergood,” they have also acquired a, supply of 
“Lim Gray and “ El Dorado," amongst others, and these also 
they hope t.oi do well out of next season. Owing to 1 the wretched 
weather -which prevailed during the past summer and autumn 
(and of the wet part of it Lincolnshire appears from all accounts 
to have had even more than its, share), a difficulty was found 
in drying the Potato® for seed purposes. This Messrs. 
Bradley overcame by the .erection of special drying sheds for 
a portion of their crop-, and so, satisfactory was the' result, in 
the way of absence of disease and waste, that they intend put- 
ting up' a, number of others before the next, Potato, harvest, and 
garnering the whole of their crop this way. They say their 
method gave such satisfaction to their customers that it more 
than doubly paid for the' trouble and expense involved. 
Bradley Bros, supply vegetable seeds for kitchen garden) 
and farm purposes of every description, but they have several 
specialities of their own raising and introduction which are 
worth mention. In Broiad Beans they have a variety named 
“ Bradley’s Mammoth Long Pod," which has long, handsome, 
well-filled pods, with Beans of a delicate flavour. In Celery 
the “ Bardney Prize Solid Bed ” and the “ Mill Lane Glory 
White ” are of good habit and quality. The former remains 
goc'd until quite late in the season, while the latter matures 
very early. Bradley’s Crimson Globe Beet is flat turnip- 
shaped, and very suitable for shallow soils, and is very early. 
From this nursery a, very large trade is done in flower seeds, 
a particular speciality being made of Sweet Peas and most 
hardy annuals. Glasshouses are devoted to> Chrysanthemums, 
Geraniums, and Pansies. The business in packet seeds is very 
considerable. Last season, about 20,000 packets were sold, 
and the firm expect to get through a much larger number 
during the spring of 1904. The work of weighing and of 
picketing has already commenced, and will continue day by 
day until the end of February. 
A minor line which Bradley Bros, find very profitable is the 
growing of Spruce Firs for use as Christmas trees. They have 
a good extent of ground set out with these, and during the 
coming season of good cheer and merriment expect to do a 
large business in them. The Mill Lane Nurseries have lately 
been considerably extended by the addition of new land, and 
it isi intended to increase the amount of space under glass to 
more than double its present area. 
Reverting to the subject of the “ Northern Star ” Potato', it 
was interesting to learn as we came away that Messrs. Bradley 
Bros, have just despatched a consignment to the town of 
Houghton, South Australia, and that they anticipate a large 
demand for exportation generally next year. 
Tomato Hanwell Victory. 
A short time since we had the pleasure of a visit to the 
glasshouses of Messrs. Seward Bros., The Firs, Hanwell, which 
are beautifully situated on the road between Hanwell and 
Tomato Hanwell Victory. 
Brentford, having a wide view over the valley of the, Brent, 
with the woods and trees of Osterley Park to form a, fine back¬ 
ground, a view, alas! which will soon be.doomed, as the eyes 
of the devastating builder are already cast in the direction 
of this spot. 
Under the guidance of the foreman, Mr. C. Shrimpton, we 
first visited a, long range of buildings, the home of the Cycla¬ 
men persioum, with a fine lot of plants all in good growing- 
order and sound health, with a promise of abundance of bloom. 
Next in order were the Chrysanthemums, and here was a 
wealth of floral beauty, many seedlings undergoing their period 
of probation, some, like Dorothy Pywell, a,n ivory-white Jap., 
which has already gained an A.M. (R.H.S.) and F.C.C. 
(N.C.S.) ; Mrs. R. Dusgate, a large Jap. of a bright rosy 
mauve ; Miss E. Holding, a large solid incurved rosy lilac, A.M. 
(R.H.S.), F.C.C. (N.C.S.); and John Chant, a golden brotozO 
