188 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  4,  1897. 
The  proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the  eating,  and  I  invite  you  all  to 
come  and  inspect  my  rockery  whenever  you  like.  A  low  wall 
surrounds  it  of  about  or  3  feet  in  height,  and  there  are 
innumerable  holes  and  interstices  made  in  it  by  the  simple  expedient 
of  leaving  out  every  alternate  brick,  which  exactly  suits  some  alpine 
plants. 
I  must  say  a  word  about  a  very  practical  matter  which  I  think 
should  concern  Islanders  very  much  ;  it  is  the  most  important  part  of 
the  address  which  I  have  the  honour  to  make  to  you.  I  refer  to  the 
adornment  of  our  houses  and  churches  aDd  public  buildings  all  over 
the  place  with  climbers,  and  our  gardens  with  shrubs,  which  for  the 
most  part  at  present  have  no  place  in  them  at  all.  Few  persons  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight  know  what  its  wonderful  capabilities  are,  and  the  reason 
is  because  they  have  never  tried  them;  We  go  on  in  a  very  fixed, 
stereotyped  sort  of  way,  and  we  miss  the  variety,  the  interest,  and  the 
beauty  which  might  so  easily  abound.  Since  I  have  been  living  in  the 
island — and  it  is  now  forty  years  since  I  came  to  it — I  have  only  known 
three  persons  who  really  took  this  matter  to  heart,  and  can  be  said  to 
have  studied  it.  Dr.  Salter  was  one,  who  was  the  co-editor  with  Mr. 
A.  More  of  the  “  Flora  Vectensis  ”  Sir  Lawrence  Peel  was  another,  but 
he  was  principally  devoted  to  trees  ;  and  Sir  W.  Hutt  was  the  third. 
I  do  not,  of  course,  say  but  that  there  are  many  lovers  of  flowers 
in  the  island.  Mr.  Jeans  and  Mr.  Spittall  might  be  mentioned  at 
once,  but  so  far  as  I  know  their  strength  is  mainly  devoted  to  growing 
Roses  for  exhibition,  which  is  a  very  different  thing  from  what  I  am 
speaking  of.  What  I  desire  is  to  find  out  what  will  live  in  the 
island,  and  what  will  not  live  in  it.  It  is  absurd  to  have  no  better 
selection  than  may  be  found  in  Northumberland  or  Durham,  and  yet 
how  seldom  a  new  shrub  or  flowering  tree  is  introduced  into  the  place. 
There  is  the  same  eternal  round  of  Passion  Flowers,  Clematis  montana, 
C.  Jickmanni,  Cotoneasters,  and  Myrtles  wherever  you  go.  Now  these, 
though  very  good  in  their  way,  are  not  everything  that  will  grow  in  the 
Isle  of  Wight ;  nor  are  they  the  highest  form  of  ornament  which  the 
place  will  admit  of.  There  is  an  immense  fund  of  beauty  and  brightness 
on  which  we  can  draw  if  we  like,  and  it  is  our  own  fault  if  we  stick  to 
a  very  narrow  circle  indeed,  and  never  go  beyond  it. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
A  CALL  AT  PENRHYN. 
Calling  at  these  gardens  recently  I  was  much  interested  in  some 
fine  examples  of  the  above  comparatively  new  Grape.  The  bunches  had 
been  cut  from  the  Vines  and  were  arranged  in  bottles  in  the  fruit  room, 
and  excellent  samples  they  were,  with  large  berries,  reminding  one  of  a 
white  Gros  Colman.  The  quality  is  good  for  a  late-keeping  variety,  and 
where  white  Grapes  are  in  request  late  in  the  Beason  it  should  prove 
invaluable.  Mr.  Speed’s  opinion  is  that  it  requires  heat  to  bring  it  to 
perfection  like  all  white  Grapes.  Evidently  its  successful  treatment 
is  understood  at  Penrhyn. 
By  the  side  of  Lady  Hutt  were  arranged  some  handsome  bunches  of  Mus¬ 
cat  of  Alexandria  ;  surely  they  must  have  been  from  3  to  4  lbs.  weight,  of 
beautiful  finish,  and  with  that  appearance  of  excellent  condition  that 
all  well-grown  examples  preserve.  Lady  Downes’  Seedling  was  equally 
good  of  its  kind.  The  wood  of  the  Vines  looked  promising — Mr.  Speed’s 
faggots — jocularly  so  called  from  the  methods  this  able  cultivator 
pursues  of  constantly  working  in  young  wood  from  bottom  to  top,  a  sort 
of  compromise  between  the  long-rod  and  spur-pruning  systems.  Mr. 
Speed’s  opinion  is  that  it  maintains  vigour  and  longevity  in  the  Vine, 
and  judging  by  the  results,  and  the  age  of  the  Vines,  many  of  which  are 
from  forty  to  fifty  years  old,  there  is  ample  food  for  reflection,  when  one 
often  sees  vineries  replanted  several  times  over  in  less  than  that  period. 
It  was  my  pleasure  to  see  here  one  of  the  grandest  batches  of  Queen 
Pines  I  have  ever  come  across — fine  sturdy  fellows,  that  gave  promise  of 
something  superb  for  the  London  season,  such  plants  of  which  any  man 
might  well  feel  proud.  A  house  full  of  useful  late  Chrysanthemums 
was  noticeable  for  their  beauty.  Forcing  plants  and  flowers  were  in 
plenty,  while  in  the  Mushroom  and  forcing  houses  was  abundance  for 
the  inner  man. 
All  occupants  under  glass  were  well  in  hand,  ready  for  their  respec¬ 
tive  seasons,  noteworthy  by  the  cleanliness  and  order  everywhere 
prevailing.  OutBide  the  same  painstaking  care  and  energy  was 
apparent,  the  bold  and  skilful  planting  being  highly  interesting,  even 
daring  midwinter,  amid  a  driving  storm  of  sleet  and  snow.  In  the 
flower  garden,  on  one  of  the  walls,  was  Lapageria  rosea  carrying  sundry 
blooms — a  novel  sight  under  the  conditions. 
It  would  be  unfitting  to  close  these  few  notes  without  referring  to 
the  residence  recently  erected  for  the  young  men  in  the  gardens,  fitted 
up  with  every  consideration  for  their  comfort  and  convenience.  They 
will,  I  am  sure,  fully  appreciate  Lord  Penrhyn’s  kindness  and  thought¬ 
fulness  in  erecting  this  splendid  building  for  his  employ^.  So  ended 
my  call  at  Penrhyn,  always  interesting  with  its  bold  grandeur  and 
diversified  attractions,  so  well  kept  by  the  straightforward  practical  man 
who  so  skilfully  controls  it.  My  sincere  thanks  are  here  tendered  to 
him  and  all  of  his  for  their  kindness  to  a  wanderer  on  the  way. — 
J.  J.  Craven. 
Violet  Marie  Louise. — I  am  sending  a  small  bunch  of  Violet 
Marie  Louise  which  have  been  taken  from  plants  growing  in  a  cold  frame. 
We  have  been  picking  from  the  same  plants  since  September  last. — 
James  Hounslow,  Headfovt  Gardens,  Kells ,  Co  Meath.  [The  blooms 
were  of  exceptional  merit,  and  perfumed  the  sanctum  for  several  days.  ] 
Mrs.  John  Laing  and  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford. 
There  are  not  many  Hybrid  Perpetuals  that  have  reached  the  dis¬ 
tinction  or  enjoyed  the  popularity  of  Mrs.  John  Laing.  Perhaps  its  only 
rival  among  Roses  of  its  class  is  the  almost  invincible  A.  K.  Williams, 
the  most  beautiful  in  colour  and  the  least  faultless  in  form  of  Hybrid 
Perpetuals,  generally  supposed  to  have  been  a  derivation  from  that  great 
beauty  Alfred  Colomb.  Another  of  its  rivals,  the  fragrant  La  France, 
has  been  relegated  to  the  new  race  of  Hybrid  Teas. 
Raised  by  Mr.  Henry  Bennet  in  1887,  Mrs.  John  Laing  rose  rapidly 
into  eminence,  and  has  for  many  years  been  a  supreme  favourite  with 
Rose  cultivators,  and  especially  with  exhibitors.  Its  merits  are  so  great, 
it  has  so  many  attributes  of  the  highest  description,  that  it  is  of  equal 
value  for  the  decoration  of  the  garden  and  for  effective  exhibition. 
I  presume  that  few  first  prizes  have  of  late  years  been  won  at  the 
Crystal  Palace  by  the  great  English  rosarians  without  its  assistance. 
Madame  Gabriel  Luizet,  notwithstanding  its  sweetness,  has  been  almost 
eclipsed. 
There  is,  however,  an  Irish  Rose  which,  by  reason  of  certain  important 
characteristics,  promises  ere  long  to  prove  a  worthy  rival  to  Mrs.  John 
Laing.  I  refer,  of  course,  to  that  beautiful  and  free-flowering  Hybrid  Per¬ 
petual  entitled  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford,  raised  by  Messrs.  Alexander 
Dickson  &  Sons,  of  Newtownards,  in  1894,  regarding  which,  and  its 
relation  to  Mrs.  John  Laing,  a  distinguished  rosarian  who  has  made  a 
it  pecial  study  of  both  varieties,  and  grows  them  extensively,  writes  to  me  as 
follows  : — “  I  do  not  think  there  can  be  two  opinions  regarding  the  high 
merits  of  Mrs.  R.  G.  Sharman  Crawford.  Only  in  one  point  can  Mrs. 
John  Laing  surpass  this  variety,  and  that  is  at  times  a  question.  I  take 
the  point  of  individual  blooms,  and  here,  when  the  English  Rose  is  at 
its  best,  it  would  beat  the  Irish  one  ;  but  on  all  other  points  Mrs.  Craw¬ 
ford  quite  eclipses  Mrs.  John  Laing — viz.,  in  habit  of  growth,  colour,  and 
floriferousness.  Indeed,  with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  W.  J.  Grant  there 
is  no  Rose  more  free  flowering  in  the  Hybrid  Perpetual  and  Hybrid  Tea 
sections.” 
A  pure  pink  H.P,  with  the  colour  of  Bridesmaid  (which  would,  I  feel 
certain,  greatly  charm  John  Ruskin),  and  the  beautiful  form  and  graceful 
habit  of  Mrs.  Sharman  Crawford,  would  be  a  great  acquisition ;  a  very 
near  approximation  to  perfection. — David  R.  Williamson. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
Conservatory  Management. 
( Continued  from  page  146.) 
Fuchsias  and  Coleus  will  be  the  next  tenants  for  the  conservatory. 
Old  plants  of  Fuchsias  which  have  been  resting  during  the  winter 
’  should  be  started  in  February.  When  they  have  commenced  growing 
repot  in  a  rich  compost.  When  the  shoots  are  about  3  inches  long  take 
out  the  points.  This  operation  can  be  repeated  about  May,  keeping  all 
the  flowers  pinched  off  in  the  meantime  to  insure  stronger  growth. 
Afford  a  liberal  supply  of  liquid  manure,  and  by  the  time  they  are 
wanted  they  will  be  splendid  plants.  Smaller  plants  may  be  raised 
by  striking  cuttings  in  September,  afterwards  placing  them  on  a  shelf 
in  a  cool  house  for  the  winter,  pottiDg .  in  spring.  Cuttings  may 
also  be  rooted  in  |pring.  For  this  purpose  a  few  old  plants  should 
be  placed  in  heat,  and  the  shoots  taken  off  as  soon  as  long  enough  for 
cuttings. 
Coleuses  may  be  grown  from  cuttings  taken  in  January.  When 
rooted  place  in  3-inch  pots,  take  out  the  points  to  insure  a  .number 
of  breaks,  and  grow  in  a  steady  heat.  As  soon  as  they  are  sufficiently 
rooted  transfer  to  7-inch  pots,  using  a  good  compost,  and  stand  in  a 
warm  frame.  With  judicious  treatment  they  will  make  bushy  plants 
by  the  beginning  or  middle  of  June,  when  they  may  be  removed  to  a 
sunny  position  in  the  plant  house,  supporting  them  with  weak  liquid 
manure.  By  the  middle  of  July  they  will  be  fine  sturdy  well-coloured 
plants.  A  number  of  standard  Coleus  may  aLo  be  grown,  by  allowing 
the  main  stem  to  grow  and  taking  out  side  growths  until  they  reach  a 
sufficient  height,  when  the  lateral  shoots  may  be  allowed  to  grow. 
These  plants  should  be  grown  in  9-inch  pots,  using  a  rich  compost. 
Tuberous-rooted  Begonias  will  enrich  the  conservatory  during  this 
season.  Kalosanthes  coccinea  and  Uriah  Pike  Carnation  will  also  form 
an  additional  attraction.  A  supply  of  annuals,  including  such  as 
Petunias,  Balsams,  Celosias,  Nicotiana  affinis,  Salpiglossis,  Schizanthus 
pinnatus,  and  others,  will  help  to  keep  the  house  gay  for  some  time. 
For  edging  purposes  Isolepis  gracilis  and  Miami  uses  are  serviceable. 
Abundance  of  air  should  now  be  admitted  night  and  day.  The  collec¬ 
tion  just  named  will  continue  during  the  succeeding  two  months.  In 
September  the  shading  may  be  taken  down.  Towards  the  end  of  this 
month  a  little  heat  should  be  kept  in  the  pipes  and  the  ventilators 
closed  at  night.  This  will  benefit  the  Fuchsias,  and  also  prevent  the 
Coleus  dropping  their  leaves. 
A  few  Bouvardias  grown  after  the  manner  described  by  “  Dunelm,” 
