July 22, 1905. 
THE GARDEN INQ WORLD 
589 
ship’s garden, it will be seen, consists of a 
•entral design filled with palms in the centre 
ind surrounded by smaller beds of dowers, 
his central portion being surrounded like an 
island, as it were, in a long walk. 
• On the outside of the circular walk are 
other beds of simple design in themselves, but 
forming a part of the whole, ltight and left 
the taller plants consist of the variegated 
Maize, and the four beds outlined with a 
light-coloured plant representing another 
brass, namely, Dactylis glomerata elegantis- 
sima. The four corners are occupied with 
statues, which we may fancifully consider are 
the guardians at the entrance to this beauti¬ 
ful and secluded retreat. 
The grass is beautifully kept, and the back¬ 
ground is occupied by dense plantations of 
trees, representing Conifers and other ever¬ 
greens, besides the usual accompaniments of 
deciduous trees. It will be admitted that this 
iforms a beautiful scene, differing from all 
others on an estate which is extremely varied 
and notable throughout the land for its beau¬ 
tiful gardens and grounds. 
OTHER PEOPLE’S GARDENS. 
I.—PARK PLACE. 
During the past week I have paid visits, 
to the gardens of various members of the War- 
grave and District Gardeners’ Association, 
and I thought a few notes on them would 
give the readers of the “G.W.” an idea, 
though perhaps somewhat imperfect, of the 
style of gardening carried on and the various 
things now to be seen in them. First I will 
take Park Place, the residence of Mrs. Noble, 
near Henley-on-Thames, whose head gardener 
is Mr. T. J. Powell. There are several en¬ 
trances to this beautifully-situated place, 
and whichever one is taken you get a delight¬ 
fully winding shaded carriage drive overhung 
with magnificent trees, with clumps of 
Syringa in full flower diffusing a charming 
perfume all round. The day I visited was an 
ideal one, and everything was seen in all its 
summer beauty. The great stretches of wood¬ 
land scenery in the park, with here and there 
some choice specimen Cedar or Fir, proved 
very restful to the eye. Round the mansion 
there is comparatively little bedding-out done 
for such a large place, but what strikes one 
most forcibly when walking on the terrace 
are the aviaries, in which are hundreds of 
birds of all kinds. A splendid pair of cocka¬ 
toos particularly took my fancy. 
Entering the gardens by the archway near 
the orchard, one is struck by the fine large 
club and reading room built by Mrs. Noble 
for the use of the young men. Opposite this 
is a range of glasshouses, pits, etc., where 
Tomatos, Strawberries, Peaches, etc., were 
in great profusion. In another range Oranges, 
Citrons, Lemons, Bananas, Grapes, Figs, etc.’ 
were to be seen in very promising condition.’ 
The back walls of the fruit-houses were 
covered with Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums in full 
bloom, brightening up the otherwise green 
appearance of the houses. The Palm-house 
I must pass over entirely. Carnations, nota¬ 
bly Miss Audrey Campbell, were making a| 
fine show in another house. The wild garden 
was a picture, and is so planted that as soon 
as one lot of flowers is over another takes its 
an< ^ ^ us kept up a continuous mass 
of bloom all through the spring, summer, and 
autumn. The orchard, fruit-garden, herba¬ 
ceous borders, chalk caves, and other spots of 
interest I must leave entirely, although a 
great deal might be said of them. H, ~C. 
-Mesembryanthemums- 
FIG MARIGOLDS 
or 
SUNNY ICE PLANTS . . SUCCULENT 
Such very useful and ornamental, easily 
grown, and always satisfactoiy plants as these 
do not deserve to be left in the obscurity to 
which they have been subject for the last six¬ 
teen or eighteen years. Our fathers and 
grandfathers grew them to perfection, and 
studied their simple requirements. Why can 
we not do the same, and have a similar dis¬ 
play of gjlorious blossoms of almost every 
colour ? 
Plants may be obtained from some of our 
principal nurserymen, especially those who 
are adepts in the culture of succulents. 
Young plants potted into small pots (60’s), in 
March, then given one or two subsequent re¬ 
portings, may be had a mass of bloom at the 
end of August and onwards. Then, when 
flowering is finished, cut off all long strag,- 
gling growths, and stand in a dry, warm spot 
till next February. Shake out of the old pots, 
repot into the smallest size that the roots will 
go into, and start syringing on mild, sunny 
days. This treatment will result in an 
astonishing number of cuttings. Slip the 
shoot to be made into a cutting just below a 
joint (i.e., pair of fleshy leaves), then insert 
a number of these in a medium or 48-size pot, 
in rather poor soil, well admixed with sand, 
and with a good layer of sand on the surface. 
Place the pot on a fairly sunny shelf, and 
water very sparingly (once a week if it is 
needed) until growth commences, then be 
more lavish with the water-can. In a few 
weeks’ time you will notice young fleshy leaves 
forming, and the roots will begin to peep 
through the bottom of pot. This is the sign 
to very gently separate them, and pot each 
into a 60-size pot to itself, then grow on as 
above. 
Watering. —Whenever the pots are fairly 
full of roots water may be lavishly given if it 
seems required ; but unless this is so it is 
better to withhold the water can. I have 
known plants live through six weeks drought, 
flower profusely, and be no worse at the end 
of it than others moister—in fact, rather more 
sturdy and short-jointed if anything. 
POtting and Soil. —In no case must any 
attempt be made to over-pot the young plants. 
If there is failure, as is almost certain, the 
young growths and roots will be sure to get 
too much moisture in some form or other ; 
rather let them get very pot-bound. Any 
garden soil of a gravelly or readily draining 
nature is suitable, but in any case a good ad¬ 
mixture of sand is advisable. No manure un¬ 
less of a liquid nature just at flowering time 
is advisable, as it tends to long, sappy, flower¬ 
less growths. 
Position. — No position can be found that is 
more suitable for grand culture than a 
window - ledge box or balcony, on which 
the sun shines for many hours at a 
time, where other subjects would in all 
probability be burnt up. A sunny hot¬ 
bed or border may be embellished beauti¬ 
fully, or, in fact, pots, baskets, vases, 
boxes, or any place that is not shaded will 
suit these glorious sun-lovers. South, south¬ 
east, or south-west, it matters not. Do they 
care for wind ? No, not one bit, blow it ever 
so hard, I have seen window-boxes in bal¬ 
conies in tearing south coast gales one week 
look as bright and fresh as ever the next, with 
trailing or upright growths one mass of pink, 
white, or yellow inflorescence. 
For indoor window gardens, in pots, they 
are equally suited, and I have known by 
suitable propagation plants bear blooms from 
February to Christmas without intermission. 
Of course, in the south of England they are 
almost hardy. Indeed, I have known them 
live outdoors with n-o protection whatever, 
through one or two mild winters, but, of 
course, severe frost will soon finish them. No 
one, however, need be deterred from enjoying 
these lovely plants, if they can give them a 
sunny position, as they flourish in our 
northern counties nearly as freely as in the 
south. 
Anyone who does not know these elegant 
subjects and tries one or two varieties, will 
not rest I am sure until quite a collection has 
been got together. The large flowering sorts 
rival the now fashionable Cactus in splen¬ 
dour, and are more effective, inasmuch as they 
give a long succession of bloom, and have not 
the objectionable spikes and thorns with 
which the Cactus is adoimed. I give a short 
list of some of the easiest and most useful to 
grow, but do not wish to say that it is any¬ 
thing of a comprehensive list, as only a 
specialist in succulents could supply a com¬ 
plete list of the innumerable varieties. 
Mesembryanthemum conspicuum, deep 
rose ; M. stelligerum, mauvy pink; M. poly- 
phyllum, deep mauve; M. glaucum, helio¬ 
trope ; M. polyantha violacea, violet; M. p. 
aurata, deep copper; M. caudens, long trails 
of very glistening foliage, white flowers ; M. 
Othonna, free flowering yellow, good for hang¬ 
ing pots ; M. depressum, deep yellow, scarce ; 
M. edule, yellow ; M. Haworthii, rose ; M. in- 
claudens, majenta, open flowers; M. 
Lehmanni, two shades yellow; and M. mu- 
cronatum, mauve. Some varieties do not 
flower well until quite pot-bound, and others 
are better struck fresh every year. The fol¬ 
lowing have not yet flowered, so I am not sure 
if they are worth growing, but the foliage looks 
well:—M. bulbosum, very quaint; M. glau- 
cium mutabile ; M. Salmii, pretty growth ; 
and M. felinum, scarce. Anyone wanting an 
uncommon plant should obtain one or more of 
these varieties, and I am sure they will be 
pleased with them. D. V. E. 
A FINE PASSION FLOWER. 
(Passiflora quadrangular is Bonapartii.) 
The blooms of this Passion flower are of 
remarkable form, with a peculiar combination 
of colours. The sepals are red and the petals 
crimson. Inside of these is a crown of fila¬ 
ments, each about 2 in. long, and variegated 
with blue or violet, white and maroon in alter¬ 
nate bands. These remarkable flowers are 
followed by fruits like small Vegetable Mar¬ 
rows, and which are eaten as a fruit in tropi¬ 
cal countries when ripe. A splendid lot Of cut 
flowers was exhibited by Percv Waterer, Esq., 
Fawkham, Kent, at a recent meeting of the 
R.H.S., for which he was awarded a cultural 
commendation. - 
