THE GARDENING WORLti. 
‘21 
January 9, 1904. 
Round the Nurseries. 
R. Smith and Co. 
Two hundred acres of ground, planted with one of the finest 
collections of trees and shrubs ever brought together, is worth 
a visit at any season of the year, and more especially in the 
autumn. Such a collection is that to be found in the famous 
nurseries of Messrs. It. Smith and Co., Worcester. With the 
well-kept drive through the centre and the studied colour 
effects of the borders, one does not at first take the place as a 
trade establishment. Along the centre drive is a beautiful col¬ 
lection of all the most ornamental of hardy shrubs arranged to 
exhibit their true usefulness as decorative subjects. It must 
not be inferred, however, that the old ruse of displaying the 
best specimens along the walks is adopted here, for treesi are 
lifted and sold from 'every paid of the nurseay, no matter 
whether they be in the general collection or displayed in the 
borders. With such an exhaustive collection to describe, but 
scant justice can be dona in the short space of a column, and 
it is difficult to make a selection from such a uniform stock, 
for, as all know whoi liave either dealt with the firm or have 
visited the nurseries, there is but one quality kept, and that 
is the best. A firm with such a reputation to lose can never 
afford to stock inferior stuff. 
With the dull season fast coming on (this is surely flatter¬ 
ing the past summer), the variegated Coniferae were the first 
subjects to bring out my note-book, and had I attempted to 
describe or recommend all the best of them, I should have filled 
my space with them alone. Taxus baccata fastigata aurea 
variegata, a fine form of the Irish Yew, is a variety I have' 
seldom met, and it certainly should be known more than it 
is. I have recommended Taxus baccata semper aurea before 
in my notes, but it is so worthy of note' and so little known 
that it will hear oft recommending-. The great advantage of 
this variety over other variegated Yews is that its colour is 
constant, and one may rely on a bright golden colour at all 
seasons of the year. Those who brighten their flower beds 
during the winter with variegated and other Conifers should 
not fail to include Thuya Lobbi aurea, T. occidentalis aurea, 
Jimiperus excelsa, and Cupressus lawsoniana lutea in their col¬ 
lection, as they always colour well, and are easily kept in 
bounds. The warm tints of the Japanese Cedar, Cryptoaneria 
elegans, are specially fine just now. The colour and form of 
this subject are pleasing alike in 'Summer and winter, yet there 
are many collections in this country that do not contain a single 
.specimen. The Chinese Arbor-vitae, Biota orientalis, in "its 
many forms as another genus that is sadly neglected. Biota 
orientalis aurea (sometimes known, I believe', as Thuya aurea) 
is a good form, but the newer type, T. o. elegantissima, is a 
great advance on it. One' of the best golden, Conifer's for 
avenue work is undoubtedly Cupressus macrocarpa lut-ea—a 
i subject much used in these nurseries for this work. It is a 
rapid grower, and is both neat and effective. 
The collection of Abies is a grand one, and includes all the 
best species and varieties. Abies parryana glauca is specially 
conspicuous at this season, as it is a beautiful glaucous blue—a 
colour that shows out very boldly amongst the russet hues of 
its surroundings. Another very fine Abies that is a striking 
feature here is candeosis Sargeuitii pendula, a frrm of the old 
Hemlock Spruce. A better lawn tree than this could not he 
wished for, as its graceful appearance is beyond description, 
and must, be seen to be fully appreciated. Abies pungens 
glauca. pendula, a handsome drooping form of the popular 
Rocky Mountain Blue Spruce, is well grown here., and should be 
seen well grown in every collection, for its rich glaucous blue 
foliage and graceful drooping habit should make it a special 
favourite as a lawn specimen. Sciadopitvs verticillata, the 
Umbrella Pme, is a species that is very seldom met with in this 
country, probably owing to. its requiring special treatment, 
but. given the proper soil and protected against drouo-ht there 
are few districts but where it will thrive. As a protection 
to more tender subjects, a great part of the grounds is traversed 
by fine rows of the Chinese Juniper, one of the best tree® I 
know for this purpose', and one that should be more generally 
used in gardens that are swept by cutting winds. 
Leaving the Conifers, I spent some time amongst the speci¬ 
men Ilex or Hollies, subjects this nursery is famous for, and 
not without cause', for they are certainly grand specimens, 
especially the standards. In the general collection I noted a 
few vigorous plants of Caesalpinia japonioa, a handsome 
flowering shrub seldom met with, I believe, even in the best 
collections. Why it should be excluded I can never ascertain. 
In the centre of the extensive frame ground is a magnificent 
specimen of the Silver Weeping Birth, a tree that is most 
effective at all seasons', especially during the dull days of 
winter, when its white bark and graceful trailing branches show 
out so against the .sombreehued sky. Arbutus are now in 
full flower, as are also some very fine specimen Laurustinus. 
In the houses is a good collection of both greenhouse and stove 
plants, and in the herbaceous and alpine departments the same 
high standard is maintained, but neither time nor space would 
permit me to do more than just walk through them. The 
nursery is open to the public—a privilege that is apparently 
much appreciated. Kenvite. 
Primulas as Garden Plants. 
Ao other family of plants seems better adapted for the 
different modes of flower gardening than the Primulas. P. 
sinensis, a deservedly popular species, has been taken in. hand 
by the florist and hybridist, and by them efforts raised to 
such a. high standard of perfection as to' leave little room, for 
improvement. Its culture and qualities have been ably dealt 
with in. previous issues of The Hardening World, and it is 
unnecessary for me to do anything more than allude to it by 
way of introduction. Out of upwards of a, hundred species it 
seems something like presumption to pick and choose; yet I 
have had to do with a few really good ones, and it is these 
that I wish to deal with under the above heading. 
The first that occurs to me is P. denticulata, I have seen 
it in flower in February, which fact is in itself enough to re¬ 
commend it. As a. pot plant, rockery plant, or for spring 
bedding, it is well worth a trial. P. d. cashmeriana is a 
stronger growing plant, but not nearly so rough and ready as 
the former. It is necessary to cover up with leaf mould 
during winter as soon as the leave® have died down. The) 
whitish-coloured meal on the under -side, of the leaves and on 
the scape is more pronounced than in the type. The globose 
heads are larger and the flowers darker, with a distinct yellow 
eye. 
A different style of plant is P. rosea, small growing, with 
rosy-pink flowers; it is admirably adapted for rockwork. It 
requires top dressing with leaf mould and sand in, the autumn. 
Yeiy fine spring bedding subjects a,re P. cortusoide® and P. e. 
Sieboldii, and if a, yellow Tulip, such as Bouton d’Or, be in¬ 
terspersed amongst them, a, splendid combination is the result. 
Of the really good pot plants, mention may be made of P. 
capita,ta, P. verticillata, and P. obconica. The first is a hardy 
species, and needs only the protection, of a cold frame during 
winter. P. verticillata should be potted up, as soon a® it 
shows signs of growth, in a compost of equal part® loam and 
leaf mould, with a good dash of sand. As 'soon as it® beautiful 
yellow flowers are past, the plants should be placed on a shelf 
near the glass in the greenhouse and receive liberal treatment. 
It should never 1 be allowed to die down. P. obconica, seems 
hardly to be out, of flower at all during the summer months. 
Old plants are not, of much use; it is better to sow seed every 
year. Seeds should be sown in February in a bottom beat 
of 70 deg. As soon as they are 1 large enough to handle, prick 
out in boxes. Pot, off into 72’s, and place on the greenhouse 
shelf. As soon as the pots are filled with roots, pot on into 
5-i’s and 48’s, and keep all flowers pinched until a good strong- 
plant is made'. 
A pretty yellow species is P. floribunda, which flowers late 
in the year on the rockery, and for the rockery or pot work P. 
sikkimensisi is a grand yellow. P. japonica, is often used as a 
