312 
April  12,  1900. 
JOURNAL 
OF  HORTICULTURE  AND 
COTTA  GE  GA  RDEXER. 
Subtropical  Bedding. 
In  addition  to  the  plants  already  enumerated  in  my  previous  notes 
(page  290),  there  are  many  perennial  ones  which  are  indispensable 
when  the  work  is  carried  out  on  a  large  scale,  as  lofty  Palms  and  Tree 
Ferns,  towering  above  other  plants  ot  bold  appearance,  are  needed  to 
give  a  truly  tropical  effect.  It  is,  however,  only  in  public  ])arks  or 
large  gardens  that  this  noble  style  of  bedding  can  be  carried  out  in  a 
thoroughly  comprehensive  way,  for  a  great  amount  of  space  is  needed 
to  show  off  prominent  specimens  to  advantage,  and  give  due  proportion 
to  the  whole  arrangement. 
Unfortunately  the  niajority  of  the  lolty  plants  suituble  for  the 
purpose  need  the  protection  of  a  greenhouse  during  six  months  of  the 
year,  and  are  therefore  not  within  the  reach  of  those  who  have  no 
structures  of  sufficient  size  to  winter  them  in.  In  such  instances 
good  use  should  be  made  of  plants  which  are  hanly.  One  of  the  most 
striking  tor  the  purpose  is  the  Great  Heed  (Arundo  Donax).  If 
planted  in  deep  rich  soil  it  will  produce  strong  reeds  from  6  to  10  i'eet 
in  height  during  one  season.  A  plant  of  it  lorms  a  capital  centre  for 
a  large  circular  bed,  to  be  filled  in  with  Gannas,  Castor  Oil  plants,  or 
Zeas;  a  broad  edging  of  Beet,  or  the  golden-leaved  Funkia,  gives  an 
excellent  finish  to  the  arrangement.  There  are  several  species  and 
varieties  of  Funkias  which  are  perfectly  hardy,  and  are  invaluable  for 
massing  in  beds  or  employing  as  edgings,  as  they  have  such  bold 
foliage,  and  range  in  height  from  6  inches  to  2  feet. 
Many  of  the  Bamboos  are  also  quite  hardy,  and  are  admirably 
adapted  for  planting  to  form  clumps  in  isolated  positions.  Let  us 
suppose  that  a  series  of  beds  or  borders  are  arranged  on  grass  with 
ample  space  between  them,  for  tall  striking  plants.  Such  are  ideal 
])Osiiions  lor  Bam  bo  s.  Stake  out  a  few  sites  at  well  chosen  points, 
dig  holes  4  feet  in  width  and  3  in  depth,  obtain  good  turfy  loam 
enriched  with  manure,  and  plant  the  following  kinds:  B.  aurea, 
B.  Fortunei,  B.  mitis,  B.  nigra,  and  B.  Simoni.  These  will  in  time 
grow  into  beautilul  specimens,  increasing  in  size  and  height  each 
year.  As  the  plants  throw  up  suckers,  some  of  them  should  be 
removed  annually  to  keep  the  plants  within  due  bounds,  and  the  turf 
must  be  kept  clear  of  the  mam  tuft  and  stems,  to  allow  them  to  be 
dressed  with  manure  annually  and  watered  during  hot  weather  in 
summertime.  9’wo  fine  Bamboos  for  growing  in  pots  and  placing  in 
the  open  air  in  June  are  B.  nana  and  B.  arundinacea. 
The  Pampas  Grasses  are  also  excellent  hardy  plants  for  the  centre  of 
beds,  or  for  disposing  isolated  specimens  on  grass;  in  a  few  years  they 
grow  into  wonderlully  fine  clumps,  and  their  graceful  foliage  and 
feathery  plumes  contrast  well  with  the  many  bold  leaved  plants  used 
in  the  subtropical  garden.  A  bed  formed  principally  of  Azaleas 
makes  a  striking  feature,  and  although  the  plants  need  protection  in 
winter,  if  sufficient  space  in  a  greenhouse  is  not  at  command  they 
may  be  kept  with  safety  in  frostproof  sheds.  In  n  y  younger  days  I 
served  in  a  garden  where  plants  5  or  6  feet  in  height  were  for  years 
wintered  in  a  shed.  Some  of  the  best  varieties  are  A.  americana 
(green  leaved),  A.  americana  variegata,  A.  ame  icana  mexicana, 
A.  Celsiana,  and  A.  densiflora.  When  arranging  them  in  their 
.'■ummer  quarters,  plunge  the  pots  in  the  soil  of  the  bed,  have  plants 
of  various  sizes,  place  the  larg.  r  ones  at  wide  intervals  apart,  and  the 
smaller  ones  here  and  there  between,  so  as  to  form  an  irregular  surface. 
Echeveria  metallica,  or  E.  secunda  glauca,  makes  a  capital  edging, 
and  Sedum  acre  aun  a,  if  used  as  a  groundwork  for  the  whole  arrange¬ 
ment,  gives  an  excellent  finishing  couch.  Old  clumps  pulled  to  pieces 
and  dibbled  in  2  inches  apart  soon  grow  into  a  compact  carpet. 
Those  who  have  room  to  winter  tall  plants  should  grow  the 
following — Chamaerops  humilis,  Livistona  australis,  Dracaena  Veitchi, 
Phoenix  dactjlifera,  Trachycarpus  excelsus,  Musa  ensete,  M.  superba, 
Cycas  circinalis,  and  those  two  fine  Tree  Ferns,  Alsophila  australis  and 
Dicksonia  antarctica.  All  these  plants  should  be  plunged  in  their  pots 
err  tubs,  and  be  kept  regularly  watered.  When  they  are  disposed  on 
lawns  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  roll  back  the  turf,  and-  alter  plunging  the 
pots  relay  the  turf  to  within  a  few  inches  of  the  stems  of  the  plants. 
They  then  look  perfectly  natural,  and  room  is  left  lor  giving  water.  In 
planning  out  bedding  of  the  above  description  advantage  should  be 
taken  of  any  special  features  the  garden  possesses,  as  beds  arranged 
near  rockwork  or  water  are  particularly  effective.  Some  shelter  from 
strong  winds,  if  possible,  ought  to  be  secured,  as  the  limbs  of  many  of 
the  plants  used  are  eas  ly  injured  during  gales.  In  all  instances  rapid 
growing  plants  should  be  secured  to  strong  stakes. 
Undulating  ground,  where  it  is  backed  up  by  trees  or  shrub¬ 
beries,  may  by  the  expenditure  of  a  little  labour  and  ingenuity  be 
converted  into  an  ideal  position  lor  subtropical  bedding,  for  when 
associated  with  winding  walks,  irregular  borders,  and  grassy  mounds, 
bold  and  varied  plants  have  their  characteristics  more  clearly 
defined. — H.  D. 
Potentilla  frnticosa. 
This  is  a  very  distinct  foriii  of  Potentilla,  as  it  departs  from  the 
usual  low  rambling  or  creeping  types  of  the  genus  in  its  shrubby  habit. 
On  rockeries  it  succeeds  admirably,  forming  compact  little  bushes  from 
1  to  2  feet  high,  covered  with  its  neat  bright  yellow  Howers  (fig.  86), 
which  are  produced  in  great  numbers  throughout  the  summer  months. 
It  is  occasionally  found  in  mountainous  districts  of  Great  Britain,  but 
is  not  common  ;  and  it  is  also  found  in  various  parts  of  Europe, 
especially  in  the  Pyrenees.  In  well  drained  borders  it  grows  strongly, 
but  much  the  best  position  is  the  rockery,  on  which  it  is  soon  estab¬ 
lished,  and  can  readily  be  increased  by  division  or  by  seeds.  P.  fruticosa 
is  also  found  in  various  parts  of  Asia,  and  even  in  America.  In  the 
latter  country,  however,  several  shrubby  forms  have  been  noted,  which 
by  some  botanists  have  been  regarded  as  varieties  of  this  one,  and  by 
others  as  distinct  species.  Examples  of  these  are  found  in  P.  flori- 
bunda,  a  North  American  plant  ;  P.  parvifolia,  from  the  Soongarian 
Desert ;  P.  dahurica,  from  Dahuria ;  P.  arbuscula,  P.  rigida,  P.  lignosa 
and  P.  Salesovi.  The  last  named  is  somewhat  of  the  habit  of  P.  fruticosa, 
but  is  easily  recognised  iu  the  leaves  of  P.  Salesovi  not  having  the  same 
silvery  appearance,  and  the  leatleta  a'-e  more  sharply  serrated. 
-  -  - - ♦  •  ♦ - 
An  Hour  at  Willianis’. 
The  horticultural  world  in  general,  and  London  in  particular,  has 
seen  many  changes  during  the  past  half-century,  and  amongst  the 
participators  in  all  the  various  phases  have  been  Messrs.  B.  S.  Williams 
and  Son,  of  Upper  Holloway.  From  the  time  when  the  late 
Mr.  Benjamin  Williams  was  doing  such  meritorious  work  for  horti¬ 
culture,  and  was  laying  the  foundation  of  an  excellent  business,  until 
to-day,  the  firm  has  ever  been  to  the  fore.  Now,  under  the  personal 
direction  of  Mr.  Henry  Williams,  the  business  in  its  several  aspects 
continues  its  prosperity,  though  the  lines  adopted  may  be  and  probably 
are  vastly  different  from  those  of  long  ago.  Plants  that  a  quarter  of 
a  century  back  made  the  name  of  the  Victoria  and  Paradise  Nurseries 
more  than  famous,  have  had  to  go  to  the  w'all,  for  fickle  fashion  has 
exalted  other  favourites,  which  wi'l,  in  their  turn,  have  perforce  to 
languish  in  a  practically  forgotten  obscurity. 
Not  only  have  men  and  manners  altered,  but  establishments  also 
have  felt  the  touch  of  time.  London  has  grown  and  is  growing,  and 
with  its  constantly  widening  boundaries  the  smoke  fiend  has  travelled. 
In  situations  where  awhile  ago  it  was  easy  to  grow  almost  any  plant, 
it  has  become  an  almost  disheartening  task,  for  after  all  the  skilful 
care  many  only  just  exist.  Having  this  unfortunately  ever  increasing 
difficulty  to  contend  with,  the  fact  was  forced  upon  Messrs.  Williams 
and  Son  that  if  they  wished  to  maintain  their  prestige  they  must  go 
further  afield  beyond  the  pernicious  influences  of  the  smoke  and  fog. 
With  this  end  in  view  a  considerable  area  of  ground  was  acquired  at 
Finchley,  where,  in  addition  to  glass  structures,  there  was  ample  space 
for  Roses,  shrubs,  and  other  hardy  stock.  This  ought  to  prove  a  most 
admirable  arrangement,  as  all  kinds  of  plants  grown  there  can  be 
drawn  upon  for  the  supply  of  the  principal  establishment.  A  small 
portion  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  home  nursery  has  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  builder,  but  the  main  frontage  and  a  large  majority  of 
the  houses  remain  intact. 
A  few  days  ago  the  houses  at  Holloway  were  inspected,  and  it  is 
really  surprising  what  immense  numbers  of  plants  are  accommodated 
in  the  space  at  command.  Furnishing  is  a  great  specialty  of  the  firm, 
and  to  meet  the  demands  of  this  department  alone  thousands  of  Palms 
of  various  kinds  are  essential.  Hence  we  find  the  large  conservatory 
and  more  than  one  house  completely  filled  with  plants  ranging  from  a 
few  inches  to  many  feet  in  height.  Kentias  by  the  thousand  are  raised 
at  home,  and,  despite  the  space  that  is  accorded  to  them,  the  supply  is 
rarely  or  never  equal  to  the  demand.  Some  of  the  plants  show  signs  of 
having  had  a  spell  in  some  uncongenial  atmosphere,  but,  as  a  rule,  they 
are  clean,  healthy,  and  of  good  shape — in  fact,  perfectly  adapted  for 
furnishing  purposes. 
The  collection  of  Orchids  is  more  extensive  than  one  might  suppose 
at  first  glance,  and  the  condition  of  the  plants  reflects  undeniable  credit 
on  the  growers.  They  may  not  have  the  ruddy  glow  of  health  in  the 
leafage  that  one  would  look  for  in  a  purely  rural  neighbourhood,  but 
they,  notwithstanding  smoke  and  bad  light,  look  hardy  in  the  growth 
and  firm  in  the  bulb.  Such  plants  as  these  could  scarcely  fail  to  make 
markedly  good  progress  when  they  were  taken  to  more  suitable  places 
in  a  clear  growing  atmosphere.  Several  houses  are  devoted  to  them, 
but  it  is  seldom  that  many  plants  can  be  found  in  flower,  as  the  firm’s 
floral  depot  in  Piccadilly  swallows  up  all  that  can  possibly  be  supplied. 
This  may  detract  somewhat  from  the  appearance  of  the  houses,  but  it 
is  a  good  sign  of  activity  in  one  phase  of  the  business,  and,  moreover, 
it  relieves  the  plants  from  the  burden  of  carrying  the  flower  spikes  too 
