January 30. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
95 
Round the Nurseries. 
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons. 
One has 1 to; be very careful to-day bow be uses the. hack¬ 
neyed descriptive term “ a blaze of colour ” in conjunction with 
things horticultural, for the public taste just, at present de¬ 
mands soft harmonies in the garden., and those who still retain 
the glaring effects and contrasts of the last generation’s fashion 
are veiy apt to. be looked on as being the possessors of a, de¬ 
cidedly vulgar taste. I feel sure, however, that no. one will 
accuse Messrs. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, of a. vulgar taste, 
although they have; worked so hard to obtain the comment : 
“ What a blaze of colour! ” and when I burst out. with those 
words my conductor was far from being offended, for it was 
Christmas week and the climatic conditions were dull in the 
extreme. Such a. display of scarlet, and crimson as met my 
eye in. house after house was a most welcome change from 
the dreary surroundings. Just, as white is. in 'demand at 
Easter, so are warm reds and scarlets greatly appreciated 
during Christmas and at all times during the dreary winter. 
We have the Euphorbias and a, few Bouvardias, and that is all, 
unless, we fall back on our old friend the zonal Pelargonium. 
What a, romantic history this plant has had, for from a,s far 
back as; I can remember things horticultural it has. been fast 
“ going out.” The pessimists still maintain that it is doomed 
to. be rushed off to the back ranks of fashion., but in my opinion 
it is still likely to hold its own against all rivals, and, thanks 
to the efforts of Messrs. Cannell, specialists, it is still being 
improved. One of the most pleasing advances is the growing 
tendency which the newer varieties have to produce their crop 
off bloom in the dull months of winter. Of course, the cul¬ 
tivator’s art has; much to' do. with this, but. unless the plant 
has a. tendency to' flower in winter it is useless to try and 
make it.. We have even amongst our best zonal®, varieties 
that refuse to flower satisfactorily when, the weather is dull, 
as, for instance, Lady Hopetoun, which is decidedly a.' summer 
bloomer. Messrs. Cannell hold a, large stock of this, as it, is 
a variety that is very welcome even in the plenteous array of 
summer, as the colour is so, effective, being a chaste white 
with a pink halo. 
In, this nursery, I believe, is to be found all the best, varieties 
in cultivation, so any attempt of mine to enumerate and dee 
scribe the best -would mean the compilation; of a, great oaitar 
logue. However, even, in, a collection of the best, there, are 
usually some that, appeal to one’s tastes more than, others, 
and I soon fell to' jotting down my selection, which was as 
follows:—The Sirdar, the very best of all the scarlets 1 ,, both for 
form and colour; Duke of Bedford, flue round flowers; oif a. 
peculiar yet pleasing light crimson.; Princes® of Wales, a 
delicate, soft, salmon-rose, distinctly a, ladies’ shade-; Captain 
Holford, crimson-magenta ; Duke of Connaught,, sh.ot-magen,t,a ; 
Prince of Orange, a glowing orange shade; and Mrs. J. Cad¬ 
bury, clear salmon, claimed to be the very best salmon yet 
raised. As> flowering here it wa,s> certainly the best of that, 
shade that I have seen;. Duke of Norfolk is the largest crimson, 
yet raised ; even on small plants; the flowers- of this, variety are 
decidedly in advance of all others, both a,s regards truss and 
individual pips. 
Striped and fancy types are being given a trial, and I must 
say that when I saw them I was agreeably disappointed, for, as; 
a rule, I hate those flowers which come under the classification 
of “ fancies,” for such flowers appeal to me as an over-dressed 
lady, and they appear sadly lacking in dignity when associated' 
with those content, to; be just, plain,. When I saw the variety 
named Mr?;. W. Watson, in. honour of the wife; of the mucli- 
respected curator at, Kew, I felt, at once that this class will 
appeal to the public, not only a.s a, novelty, but- also as a, 
decided acquisition to every collection of decorative plants. 
Mm W. Watson is, a, beautiful blending of crimson and rose 
on a white ground, and is, entirely free from the harsh contrast® 
which I had expected to- see. Another pleasing feature is; the 
variability of this section, for no two; trusses are of the same 
tone, for -the colours soften, change and blend with a^e in a 
most fascinating manner. Lady Warwick may lie described 
as a white with a pink edge;, lint not of the usual Pi-cotee 
type;. In. the Countess of Dudley we have a, bright scarlet, 
gradually toning* off to a pur© whit© eye. 
Amongst the doubles I noted three of extra, quality— 
Golden Glory, orange; Mine. Tilmant (?), whites heavily 
marked with rose; and Jean Viand, clear pink. Amongst the 
unnanted seedlings were quite a, dozen, varieties, yet waiting to 
be christened and make their debut. Those who have followed 
the report® of the recent exhibition of the Royal Horticultural 
Society know how well they have been received since I saw 
them in their “ rehearsal.” 
I spent so much time in going through the many house® 
tilled with these plants, and Mr. Mayes had so much to tell me 
about, them, that- I had very little time to spend in the other 
departments, but, I could not help being impressed by the 
vigour and bloom off Begonia, Gloire de Lorraine, and by the 
many new shade® in Primula obconica. Although Christina,si 
week, the C annas, the " glory of the sunny season,” were 
Hypericum patulum. (See p. 93.) 
making a, brave display, as was also Coleus thyrsoideus. Cacti 
find a, good home in these nurseries;, and should, do in every 
nursery and garden., for there is something pleasing and fase 
cinating about the most vicious; looking, and many of the 
sipecies produce flowers which may lay claim to being the 
most gorgeous in creation. 
Since the above notes were taken the new varieties have 
been named and brought before the public, including Mr. 
Joseph A. Bell, freckled salmon on a white ground ; George 
Coates, scarlet with a pale eye,; Countess of Jersey, white with 
a salmon eye; King Victor, scarlet; Sir Tbps. Hanbury, purple 
and shaded scarlet; Queen! of Italy, salmon-pink; Chas. H. 
Curtis, scarlet; Reticulata, white, mottled scarlet; and Lady 
Warwick, white, with a rase edge like a Picotee. The; above 
brief descriptions merely relate to colour, and can give little 
idea, of the size of the trusses and flowers as well as the habit 
and floriferous character of the plants. There can be no, doubt 
that these homely, old-fashioned but, favourite flowers are still 
being improved and kept up to the high-water mark of per¬ 
fection, that has; ever been, seen in the class. Kewite. 
Readers’ Competition. —Particulars of Weekly Prize see 
centre page. 
