June 28, 1913. 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
479 
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IVER NURSERIES. 
Enjoying all the advantages of pure coun¬ 
try air, untainted by smoke of factory chim¬ 
ney or* railway engines, the site of the Iver 
Nurseries is ideal, and particularly well 
choeen for Mr. A. F. Dutton’s speciality, the 
carnation. 
Mr. Dutton was among the first in this 
country to venture largely upon the cult of 
the modern perpetual-flowering carnation, 
and he has for a number of years occupied a 
prominent position among our leading ex- 
popular flower. Iver Nurseries to-day may 
justly claim to be one of the most extensive 
perts and largest growers of this increasingly 
and up-to-date establishments .among the con¬ 
siderable number that are devoted mainly to 
carnation culture. 
The excellent range of broad, lofty houses, 
built upon modern lines, covers no less an 
area than 146,000 square feet. The general 
arran^ment of the houses is after the Ameri. 
can plan, there being two or three spans to 
the roof of each house, the eaves of which are 
about ten feet from the ground. The atmo¬ 
sphere of these lofty, wide houses is more 
cool underground shed for cut flowers have 
been built, and a competent staff is con¬ 
stantly busy packing both plants and cut 
blooms. 
Now, as to the plants. First, in the pro¬ 
pagating house, a span-roofed structure, 
180ft. in length, were many thousands of 
cuttings, rooted or rooting in successive 
batches, shallow pans being used, in which 
the cuttings appeared to root without fail. 
Then there is a big new three-spanned house, 
200ft. long, filled entirely with young plants 
in go’s. The accompanying illustration will 
convey some idea of the vast number of 
plants this house contains. I never remem¬ 
ber seeing so many thousands under one 
roof, and a sturdier, healthier lot of plants 
no one could wish for. Next in importance 
come the big batches of plants in 48’s, for 
sale as ready to flower, and, indeed, all were 
well budded, and some actually in bloom at 
the time of my visit. The houses filled with 
the main stock for production of flowers for 
exhibition and market, presented an impos¬ 
ing display. Growing in beds, the plants 
show the vigour and robustness that de¬ 
note liberal treatment without coddling. 
to date. He also devotes one house to mal- 
maisons, growing all varieties of merit. 
From end to end of the establishment there 
is evidence of business-like control, a keen 
perception of that which is most serviceable, 
and abundant proof, endorsed by conversa¬ 
tion with Mr. Dutton, that he is as keenly 
interested in the charm and merits of the 
flowers he ^^roWs as in the successful conduct 
of his business. AJthough carnations are 
the speciality, they are not the only feature 
of the nurseries. In the open several acres 
of hardy perennials are grown for cutting, 
and latterly bulb-crowing has been taken up. 
Altogether my visit to Iver Nurseries proved 
most enj^able, and I came away well pleased 
with all I had seen. Visitor. 
LUPINS. 
The great improvements which have 
taken place during the last fow yea.rs 
among the perennial lupins have placcyl 
this sterling race of decorative plants upon 
a high level. Lupins are of immense value 
for massing, und are capable of really splen- 
A HOUSE OF YOUNG TREE CARNATIONS AT IVER NURSERIES. 
The house is 200ft. by 75ft., and contains about 130,000 plants. 
^ narrow, low- 
formerly built, and a 
name temperature can, as a consequence, 
expenditure of 
and heating installation is modern 
the \ round the 
wpli overhead, close under the roof, as 
boilpi?^ ^ near the ground. Powerful 
beino-^ 4 ^?^^ ipairs, anthracite coal 
wntPv Te¬ 
as Tt£i ingenious device known 
the ® Electric Turbo, by means of which 
thmnak IS driven from the boiler 
at l^Tge block of houses 
befor.. that it returns to the boiler 
the degrees of heat. Thus, 
same pipes stand at practically the 
fr’* ^ntained with far lei con¬ 
oid of ^ possible without the 
risk „f clever instrument, and there is no 
accruino. f ®“]«ctioiiable and injurious results 
pTwer £ overheated pipe. Electric 
ind driving the Turbo, 
ton ^*Te be mentioned that Mr. Dut- 
dnetW of electric plant for the pro- 
St,?^ light. 
Prtal packing sheds, and a beautifully 
and a thorough understanding of all the de¬ 
tails of culture. As to coddling, indeed, Mr. 
Dutton’s system is the reverse. He has 
adopted with distinct succe^« almost open-air 
treatment, one of the ranges of houses being 
built with movable roofs, and the plants are 
kept uncovered until they are just- about 
coming into flower. 
Of varieties it may be said that the collec¬ 
tion at Iver lacks none of the best. Certain 
varieties that have proved themselves excep¬ 
tionally serviceable are grown in very large 
numbers, and when a new one is found to 
excel others of its colour, the superseded 
have to retire. May Day is a strong 
favourite with Mr. Dutton, it and Scarlet 
Glow being grown in thousands. The 
variety Mrs. A. F. Du/tton was in fine form. 
Its clear rose flowers are of a lively and 
pleasing colour, and the plant is of fine con¬ 
stitution. Our illustration faiirly represents 
an average bloom of this variety, showing it 
to be a shapely, well-built flower. I may 
whisper that carnation-lovers may expect ere 
long to see other novelties emanating from 
Mr. Dutton grows border carnations on a 
large scale, and his collection is kept well up 
did effects when the colours are carefully 
selected. 
In the past Lupinus polyphyllus has been 
one of the greatest favourites of the country 
cottage gardens, especially the older varie¬ 
ties, siiiSi as the deep blue, the blue and 
white, and the pure white. The easy 
growth of these plants, their longevity, and 
their effective display when in blossom made 
these general favourites in the past, and 
when one adds to these values the wonder¬ 
ful fragrance of the bean-field, there will 
assuredly be no hesitation in using the 
lupins very extensively in private gaixiens. 
Two of the most beautiful colourings yet 
seen among the polyphyllus section are the 
pinks, of which the variety roseus is the 
type, and the ruby-purple shades give a 
fine vinous touch of warm colouring w'hich 
is splendid in bright sunlight. The 
value of these two-colour groups for mass¬ 
ing is certainly high. 
Then the sterling race of hybrids raised 
by crossing L. polyphyllus with L. arboreus 
has rendered many new shades of colouring 
