February 11, 1905. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
121 
Sub-tropical Border at Aldenham House. 
(See Supplement.) 
We have on previous occasions given illustrations, chiefly of 
water scenes, in the grounds of Lord Aldenham, Aldenham 
House, Elstree. On this occasion we present another scene of 
an entirely different character, showing a kind of mixed bed- 
din<>\ consisting of exotic plants with unusually large leaves of 
subtropical aspect, frequency referred to as sub-tropical gar¬ 
dening. 
This mixed style of bedding has been largely adopted in the 
London parks within recent years, and although not the only 
style at present in use, it nevertheless constitutes a popular 
style of growing tender plants in the open either for their 
foliage alone or for their flowers as well. 
The situation is close to the mansion and the sub-tropical 
plants are sheltered by a mass of trees and shrubs of hardy 
character behind them. On toe other side of the walk shown 
in our supplement are other masses of shrubs very often of a 
choice and rare kind. As Tn the public gardens, so in this case 
the best results are obtained by selecting a sunny position with 
a sheltered environment for the sake of these large-leaved 
plants, which would suffer in our variable and uncertain 
climate if exposed to gales of wind. 
Turning to the picture itself, we may say that the clipped 
trees in the background consist of Yews, the larger ones being 
the ordinary Taxus baccata, while there are smaller specimens 
of T. b. fastigiata and T. b. f. aureo-variegata, the last-named 
being the Golden Irish Yew. 
At the extreme left of the sub-tropical plants are flowering 
masses of the common or Virginian Tobacco. At the lower 
left-hand comer is a plant of the Silvery-leaved Salvia (S. ar- 
gentea). Next to this comes the largest-leaved plant in the 
bed—namely, Wigandia. Behind it is a beautiful variegated 
Abutilon. At the front of the bed, just beyond the Wigandia, 
is a thriving Solarium robustum, with very broad shallowly 
lobed leaves furnished with formidable rusty-looking spines 
on both surfaces, especially along the ribs. It is nevertheless 
a very handsome subject when the foliage is well developed. A 
little farther to the right a taller plant with smaller, silvery 
looking leaves is Solarium marginatum, which owes its name 
to the fact that a silvery 7 or hoary line runs round the edge of 
the leaf, this being natural and not a sort of variegation. The 
spines on the leaves of this plant are white, conspicuous, and 
rather ornamental. Another Solarium named S. tanksianum 
was furnished with orange spines on the principal ribs and on 
both surfaces of the leaf. The stems were also spiny, and they 
as well as the leaves looked rather formidable, owing to the 
spines being 1 in. to J £n. in length. Needless to say, the 
more strongly grown these plants are the more handsome the 
effect. 
Other plants we noted here about the middle of August last 
were green and variegated Maize; Carinas, with large and 
i handsome flowers as well as foliage ; the light glaucous green 
pinnate leaves of the Honey Flower (Melianthis major) were 
also veiy handsome. Numerous Castor Oil Plants were scat¬ 
tered through the mass generally, and included green glaucous 
and purple-leaved varieties. Near the front were beautiful 
, dwarf plants of the Fish-bone Thistle (Chamaepeuce Casa- 
bonae) and the white-ribbed and spined C. diacantha. All of 
these were judiciously mixed, producing a fine effect by the 
contrast between the finely divided leaves, coloured leaves and 
broad, massive leaves, while brightened by flowers of various 
kinds. Me may here also mention an oval bed of a Fuchsia 
named Lye’s Own in fine form arid flowering profusely. 
A Lady Gardener ic*r Swaxley Cot.lege.— Madame 
eonora Ouse, one of the greatest actresses of Italy, is about 
o send her daughter to Swan ley Horticultural College for 
laming with the object of oeing able to instruct her poor 
neighbours m Italy in the development of their gardens. 
Novelties from Near and Far. 
(Concluded from poye 95.) 
In a floral direction we have many new things. From 
France comes a new large flowered strain of Asters, named 
Gitana. These are said to be larger and more curled than 
the comets, and very 7 prolific flowerers. 
A new Verbena, named Garnet Red, also from France, seems 
very promising, owing to its habit, which is compact instead 
of sprawling a-s in the old form. Germany 7 is making much of 
a new form of Emperor Salpiglossis, with blue and gold flowers, 
and also a dense flowering annual Phlox called Cecilly. From 
U.S. there is quite a number of remarkable breaks in Nastur¬ 
tiums, both in tall and dwarf sorts, whilst four new things 
in the Ivy-leaved section are available. The daily Press has 
informed us about Luther Burbank’s wonderful Australian 
Star, which, after being cut, retains its form and colour 
permanently. 
This new plant, discovered in Australia and named Cephalip- 
tcrum Drummondi, is an easily grown hardy annual which 
bears innumerable star-like flowers of various shades of pink. 
It grows i ft. high, and is really an everlasting flower. 
Nicotiana Sanderae is quite a household word, and every 7 
one will want to grow this carmine-flowered variety. Really 
red Iceland Poppies seem near at hand, for a strain producing 
rosy flowers is to be offered. 
.Sweet Pea novelties are fairly numerous. Black Michael 
is a grand dark sort. Romolo Piazanni will lead as a blue, and 
David Williamson will shake all other indigo varieties. 
Mrs. H. Kendal Barnes, together with Florence Molyneux, 
are from Scotland, and they 7 are certainly among the grandest 
of sorts. Visitors to the Sweet Pea show in 1903 will remember 
them. 
Gladys Unwin is a lighter shade than Countess Spencer, but 
it has the same huge crumpled standard. 
In Bolton’s Pink we have a remarkable Pea, and Miss H. C. 
Philbrick will prove a great addition to the blue section. 
Flora Norton and Mrs. Higginson, jun., are two very fine light 
blues, and they 7 are the purest shade yet out. 
Mrs. Sydenham may well be termed an orange Countess 
Spencer, it being a Miss Willmott coloured Countess. 
Florence Spencer is a light shell-pink with a crimped 
standard. 
Another variety named Crimson Cluster is said to bear 
clusters similar to the perennial Pea. I have long been wanting 
such a variety, and have experimented a little on that line 
without success. If this novelty 7 is what is claimed it will 
open up a new field for Sweet Pea hybridists. 
One or two very 7 tine Asters from U.S. are being offered, 
including a splendid pink called Daybreak, and a huge white 
with a German name, Hohenzollern. 
A monster Mignonette called Allen's Giant, bearing spikes 
over 1 ft. in length, seems interesting. 
The Pink Arum (Richardia Rehmanni) is new enough to 
be termed a novelty 7 , and I am surprised that it has not got 
over here. [It has been flowered several times in England.— 
Ed.] It is said to be perfect in all respects and pure pink, 
and the price is low. 
In fruit, apart from Apples raised at home, the new Crimson 
Winter Rhubarb, raised by Luther Burbank, is now obtainable 
as seed. It is a remarkable variety, and bids fair to wipe out 
all others as a forcer. 
Still the new berry fruits are being evolved. The Gardina 
Dewberry is said to be a great advance, and it ripens long 
before the Blackberry, which it resembles. 
Another great Blackberry, named Sugar Plum, seems likely 
to do well over here. 
A Japanese Plum, named Fourth of July, looks like a very 
early sort, and excellent reports of the Japan Peach are being 
gathered in. A new Walnut from Japan, if all that is claimed 
for it, will beat the English sort hands down. It bears its 
nuts in big bunches of 15 to 20. The shells are thinner, and 
it is sweeter eating. Bearing while very young is also a 
feature of this variety. 
So far as I know, the Japan Chestnut has not been grown 
