274 
The gardening world « 
April 2, 1904. 
Round the Nurseries. 
Norfolk Notes. 
One hears too little' of the horticultural enterprises. of 
Norfolk, and I believe there is a, very general idea, that it is a 
dull, uninteresting county as far as gardening is concerned 1 
have never found it so, but rather to the contrary, tor the 
o-ardens are plentiful and well kept® while nurseries abound, 
especially round the historic old town of Norwich, where', many 
will be surprised to learn, considerable quantities of produce 
are grown for the great markets of the North, especially Man¬ 
chester and Glasgow. In the great market nurseries the chief 
crops seem to be Tomato®, Cucumbers, and Chrysanthemums, 
but there are many establishments where a general stock is 
kept, notable amongst this latter being the huge business at 
Messrs. Daniels Bros. 
The Dersingkam Nurseries 
Whenever I visit Norfolk I always make a point of paying 
a visit to Mr. T. Jannoch, of Dersiingham, for he is not only 
a keen business man, but also an enthusiast, and whenever i 
see him he always has some advance to point out ix» me, or 
some new plant to proudly exhibit. Everyone knows Mr. 
Jannoch as an expert on Lily of 1 the Valley, but there are few 
who know him as an Asparagus expert. Asparagus; is his 
great hobby, aud nowhere in the world can anyone; find a man 
more devoted to his hobby. He sells very few, I believe, and 
merely grows them for his own amusement. Here one may see 
the true plumosus nanus ) one often sees the seed of this plant 
advertised, but I fear it ,is a very general experience to find 
“ nanus ” to be more deserving of the name scandens 1 , for 
when an Asparagus insists on throwing up shoots 20 ft. long 
one has to have an elastic imagination to conscientiously call 
it dwarf. Mr. Jannoch makes no secret of his successes, and 
is always pleased to detail them to everyone who has an, in¬ 
terest in them. 
H -0 Wot si itli 0 pioneer of ©tlierisiaition in this- count ly - , <uid is 
still leading, for I was pleased to learn that lie has successfully 
conducted experiments with Strawberries, and there is every 
reason to believer that the methods will completely revolu¬ 
tionise the art of winter forcing. He has proved 'that it is 
quite easy to have Lilac in bloom all the year round, and after 
a more elaborate experiment I feel confident that he will be 
able to accomplish the same things with fruits. I noted in 
one of the houses a race of Cyclamen which, I believe, is quite 
new and distinct. The petals are long and gracefully turned, 
but instead of reflexing on to the stem .they lay out perfectly 
flat, thus making the flowers of much greater value for deco*- 
rative purposes. I know of nothing that is likely to be more 
useful to the florist than this new type, for the white variety 
is an ideal subject for wreaths and other floral designs where 
lightness and grace are essential. 
At the time of my visit lie; and his staff were busy packing 
a number of magnificent special designs; of Lily of the Valley 
for the Dublin Drawing Boom. In most of the piece® the 
plants; were growing on the; designs after the style of the well- 
known Temple Show exhibits. Wreaths;, bouquets, and floral 
art in general are given special attention, and many are the 
royal orders that, are executed. Mr. Jannoch is one: .of the 
few tradesmen who; work more for the love of their profession 
than for the profit. He has had much success in, the past, and 
I am sure everyone wishes that) his successes may continue, for 
his successes are ours too, for he immediately makes them 
known,. 
China Aster Miss Kate Lock. —The “American, Florist’’ 
announces a new variety of China Aster under the above name, 
and says that it originated from the; branching and Washington 
Asters. In form the flowers resemble those of Truffaut’s, Asters, 
and measure from 5in. to 7in. across, these being produced on 
stems 36iin. to 39in. in height, and very robust. Besides being 
useful for cut flowers, we think such aJ remarkably vigorous 
type of Aster would come in useful for sub tropical bedding or 
for beds on the grass. 
A Useful Greenhouse Plant. 
Mackaya bella.—This useful and most beautiful greenhouse 
plant is worthy of a. place in every collection. Requiring special 
treatment to flower it freely, a knowledge of its habit of 
growth, which is very free, and mode of flowering, is indis¬ 
pensable towards successful cultivation. An, encouragement 
of free growth during tire summer months, with plenty of light 
and air, is most essential, with a season of rest during the 
winter. Racemes of flowers; are produced from well-ripened 
growth. 
Propagation is effected by cuttings inserted singly in, small 
pots during May, using light, sandy soil. Place the cuttings 
in a close frame', where they will root readily. When rooted 
they should be potted on, till 6 in. pots are reached, using a 
compost two parts good loam, one part dry cow manure and 
peat, with a fair sprinkling of coarse sand. The plants will 
then require a liberal treatment, with plenty of water during 
the growing season, and frequent use of the syringe. The 
plants may be stopped to; encourage a. sturdy habit. 
The resting season, will extend over a period of four or five 
months, namely, from November to the end of March or begin¬ 
ning of April. They should then be cut back and started into 
growth for flowering the following year. When root action 
and growth have well commenced, they will require potting 
.on till 10 -in. and 12 -in. pots are reached, placing the strongest 
plants, in the latter size, using the same compost as before 
recommended. By the time autumn arrives they will have 
attained a height of from 3 ft. to 4 ft. The same amount, of 
rest will he required as before. Abundance of flowers will 
expand the following spring if at starting a temperature of 
55 deg. to 60 deg. is maintained. Asi the flowers expand, the 
plants should be transferred to the greenhouse, where' the effect 
will be found pleasing, and repay the time bestowed upon them. 
To keep a, stock of healthy plants a few should be propagated 
each year. 
Mackaya bella, can be successfully grown planted out, if given 
a, suitable position in the greenhouse border. I well remember 
when 'serving as foreman in the fine; old gardens at Rooksnest, 
Surrey, some fourteen years; ago, Mr. Janies Friend, the; then 
and now head gardener, had a fine old plant planted out, at 
one end of the greenhouse, which flowered profusely every 
year. It, would be interesting to know if the plant still occu¬ 
pies the same posit,ion. 
At the same place fine plants; of Rhododendron Thomsonii 
and Azalea indica. could be seem flourishing in the American 
garden, without, any protection during the' winter. 
Studley Castle' Cardens. Wm. Jas. Penton. 
Iris germanica now in Flower. 
We hear much, and deservedly so, in these truly progressive 
and scientific days in which the gentle art and science of gar¬ 
dening is fortunately having its due; share—capable yet, 
though, of higher and grander developments—of the retarda¬ 
tion. of plants, culturally applied, as to cold storage and other 
methods. Iu the present note', one deals with the forcing 
aspect of the question. 
In Sir John Thornycroft’s garden at 'Chiswick, by Thames’s 
glittering side, Mr. F. Mears, his able head gardener, had what 
has been well called the Orchid of the flower garden, Ills ger¬ 
manica,, in flower in one of the greenhouses on February 21st,— 
three days earlier than, is his usual custom. It may be remem¬ 
bered that, lie exhibited—the first time of such an, achievement, 
I think—some forced German Irises a,t one; of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society’s meetings a few years ago,—an exhibit that 
well caused a, little sensation. Since that time it has been 
Mr. Mears’ practice to force; some plants annually. Should 
tire Editor like the modus operandi by which such satisfac¬ 
tory results; are obtained in: The Gardening World at any 
time, the writer will, with pleasure, furnish such. The decora¬ 
tive capabilities of such a charming subject at this season of 
the year need not be dilated upon, and there may be some 
readers who may like' to, follow Mr. Mears’ simple and success¬ 
ful methods next season. J. B. 
