512 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
June  10,  1897. 
any  acknowledged  allotment  holder,  after  getting  possession,  chose  to 
allow  a  portion  or  all  of  his  plot  to  be  so  applied  I  believe  that  may 
be  so. 
Turning  to  the  work  done  in  the  direction  of  supplying  school 
gardens  by  County  Councils,  I  believe  that  Surrey  stands  foremost.  For 
several  years  it  has  promoted  the  formation  of  wbat  are  called  “  school,” 
but  are  really  boys’  “continuation  gardens.”  Formerly  lads  either  of 
or  away  from  school  were  esteemed  eligible  to  have  gardens,  but  since 
cottage  gardening  has  been  made  an  elementary  school  subject,  boys 
attending  school  cannot  be  holders  of  continuation  garden  plots  under 
the  C.C.  Technical  Education  Committee.  That  has  led  to  two  or  three 
transferences,  but  still  very  few.  In  the  great  majority  now  lads  are 
taught  in  the  gardens  who  have  not  only  left  school,  but  are  of  the 
age  of  fourteen  and  upwards.  Whilst  in  Surrey  there  were  last  year 
twenty-six  groups  of  County  Council  gardens,  and  a  total  of  357  boys 
working  them,  there  were  of  Education  Department  groups  only  three. 
Three  other  groups  are  being  added  this  year.  However,  the  numbers 
are,  compared  with  those  controlled  by  the  County  Council,  enormously 
disproportioned.  The  County  Council  gives  a  minimum  grant  to  each 
garden  of  2s.  61.,  and  a  further  merit  grant  of  Is.  6d.  or  2s.  61. ,  as  the 
case  may  be.  Their  inspection,  which  is  of  the  most  careful  description, 
is  conducted  by  an  able  gardening  expert,  who  does  know  what  garden¬ 
ing  is,  whereas  departmental  inspectors,  as  a  rule,  are  of  gardening 
absolutely  ignorant. 
A  notable  case  occurred  in  one  village  in  the  county  of  the  difficulty 
of  securing  even  a  few  rods  of  ground.  A  verj  earnest  schoolmaster  and 
an  equally  enthusiastic  gardener  were  most  anxious  to  establish  con¬ 
tinuation  gardens.  They  worked  hard  in  securing  suitable  land,  and 
bad  the  sanction  of  the  Technical  Education  Committee  for  their 
arrangements,  but  yet,  and  in  spite  of  the  strong  desire  locally 
manifested,  that  the  gardens  Bhould  be  provided,  yet  in  the  end  no 
ground  could  be  secured,  although  so  trifling  a  portion  was  required. 
Clearly  in  such  matters  as  this  it  is  evident  very  drastic  powers  to 
secure  land  for  educational  purposes  should  be  placed  in  the  hands  of 
local  authorities,  and  failing  them,  then  be  vested  in  the  County  Council. 
—A  D. 
HARBORNE  HALL. 
AMONGST  the  more  noteworthy  suburban  residences  situated  around 
Birmingham  is  that  belonging  to  Walter  Chamberlaiu,  Esq.  The  estate 
was  purchased  about  sixteen  years  ago,  and  has  since  undergone  extensive 
improvements,  and  now  forms  one  of  the  most  desirable  of  domains. 
The  mansion  and  pleasure  grounds  occupy  a  commanding  position  on 
the  highest  portion  of  the  estate,  with  a  full  view  of  the  celebrated 
Clent  and  Lickey  Hills,  the  broad  expanse  of  intervening  valley,  and  are 
fully  exposed  to  the  south  and  west  winds. 
In  extending  the  area  of  the  pleasure  grounds  a  considerable  acreage 
of  the  estate  adjoining  the  old  portion  was  laid  under  contribution,  and 
designed  mainly  by  Mr.  Chamberlain  himself.  la  the  carrying  out  of 
this  he  found  an  able  coadjutor  in  his  present  intelligent  head  gardener, 
Mr.  C.  R.  Bick,  who  has  the  general  superintendence  of  the  estate. 
In  altering  both  the  old  and  new  portions,  it  was  determined,  partly  by 
way  of  experiment,  to  introduce  a  considerable  number  of  the  choicer 
species  of  Conifers,  planted  in  masses  on  the  more  exposed  sites,  with 
the  hope  of  their  future  establishment,  but  the  acclimatising  ordeal 
eventually  proved  too  drastic  for  several  of  the  tenderer  species.  In  the 
general  embellishment  of  the  grounds  a  fine  assortment  of  trees  and 
shrubs  was  introduced — notably  large  masses  of  the  choicer  Rhodo¬ 
dendrons,  which  at  the  time  of  the  writer’s  visit  a  few  days  since  had 
begun  to  effectively  unfold  their  gorgeous  inflorescence. 
In  the  re-designing  and  formation  of  the  grounds  and  spacious  lawn 
contiguous  to  the  house,  the  introduction  of  the  usual  formal  parterre 
for  bedding-out  plants  was  ignored,  the  object  being  to  preserve  as  much 
as  possible  a  lawn-like  aspect  in  the  foreground  as  well  as  further  on 
down  the  slope,  extending  towards  the  extreme  boundary  of  the  grounds. 
Ample  provision,  however,  was  afforded  in  other  positions  for  the  display 
of  herbaceous  and  annual  flowers,  for  which  there  is  a  great  demand  in 
the  cut  state  for  room  decoration.  Roses  are  largely  grown  in  the 
compact  rosery,  enclosed  by  a  formal  Yew  hedge  ranging  about  5  feet 
in  height,  and  affording  an  excellent  shelter  from  the  east  winds. 
Apropos  of  the  demand  for  cut  flowers,  it  may  here  be  remarked  that 
the  whole  of  the  glass  structures  are  solely  devoted  to  plants  for  con¬ 
servatory  and  room  decoration,  including  the  supply  of  cut  flowers.  The 
cultivation  of  forced  fruits  is  entirely  discountenanced,  Mrs.  Chamber¬ 
lain’s  requirements  and  love  of  flowers  necessitating  the  utilisation  of 
every  foot  of  glass  at  command. 
The  construction  of  a  pool  in  which  various  exotic  fowls  find  a  borne 
entailed  a  vast  amount  of  labour  and  expense,  the  upper  portion  of 
it  having  been  furnished  with  a  rockery  by  Messrs.  Pulham  &  Son 
with  happy  effect.  A  large  assortment  of  shrubs,  Ferns,  and  waterside 
plants  is  there,  the  whole  being  established  in  happy  combination 
amongst  the  rockery  and  on  the  deep  steep  banks  around,  whilst  a 
considerable  proportion  of  the  pool  is  canopied  over  and  around  by  a 
large  group  of  tall  old  Elms  and  other  kinds  of  trees,  under  which  the 
grass  is  allowed  to  grow  in  semi-wild  state,  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  the 
carpeting  of  Bluebells  and  other  wild  flowers  therein.  Altogether  the 
tout  ensemble  has  proved  a  gratifying  success.  Another  good  example  of 
the  formation  of  an  ornamental  pond  is  to  be  seen  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  mansion,  and  considerably  differing  in  character  from 
the  foregoing.  It  also  entailed  a  heavy  expense  and  difficulty  in  its 
formation,  lying,  as  it  does,  over  a  substratum  of  gravel — consequently, 
had  to  be  efficiently  puddled  with  clay  to  the  depth  of  12  inches,  and 
close  up  to  the  turf  edging  of  the  sloping  lawn.  In  its  centre  is  an 
islet  completely  possessed  by  a  mass  of  Polygonum  cuspidatum  in 
conjunction  with  masses  of  Typhas  angustifolia,  latifolia,  and  minima 
springing  up  around  from  the  water  ;  whilst  other  parts  of  the  pond  are 
furnished  with  a  variety  of  aquatics  such  as  Nymph®as,  Aponogeton 
distachyon,  the  pretty  Bog-bean  (Menyanthes  trifoliata),  Sagittaria 
sagittifolia,  Caltha  palustris  (the  Marsh  Marigold),  Yillarsia 
nymphasoides,  which,  pretty  .  though  it  be,  is  apt  to  make 
itself  too  predominant — consequently  necessitates  frequent  checkings. 
The  margin  of  the  pond  is  richly  embellished  with  waterside  plants. 
The  most  noticeable  are  Cyperus  longus,  Sparganium  racemosum, 
Carex  pseudo-cyperus,  Acorus  calamus,  Pontederia  cordata,  Butomus 
umbellatus,  Epilobium  angustifolium,  Carex  riparia  albo-marginata, 
Orchis  maculata  and  mascula,  Petasites  vulgaris,  Gunnera  scabra, 
Rheum  officinale,  Spirraas  aruncus,  S.  filipendula  flore-pleno,  S.  pal- 
matum  and  S.  astilboides  ;  Eulalia  zebrina  in  a  highly  flourishing 
condition  ;  Funkias  variegata  and  F.  ovata  very  striking.  A  large  mass 
of  Arundinaria  Metake  growing  to  a  height  of  from  8  to  10  feet  is 
extremely  effective,  and  evidently  enjoys  growing  in  close  proximity  to 
the  water. 
Ferns  are  represented  by  such  as  the  Lady  Fern  (Athyrium  filix 
foemin*),  and  the  Royal  Fern.  Flourishing  also  are  several  plants  of 
Iris  Kmmpferi,  and,  with  very  pleasing  effect,  small  plants  of  Primula 
rosea,  whilst  an  additional  charm  is  lent  by  the  verdure-clothed  masses 
of  tufa,  more  or  less  in  irregular  form,  projecting  into  the  water,  in 
which  gold-coloured  carp,  disport  themselves — good  evidence  of  its 
purity. 
These  imperfect  notes  of  this  interesting  domain  would  be  incomplete 
without  reference  to  a  very  fine  plant  of  the  charming  blue-flowered 
Ceanothus  Veitchianus  growing  against  Mr.  Bick’s  house.  Tbis  plant  was 
in  a  mass  of  inflorescence  at  the  period  of  our  visit,  and  bearing  strong 
evidence  of  claim  to  a  more  extended  recognition  of  its  merits  and  culture 
elsewhere  than  has  yet  been  accorded  to  it,  whilst  its  hardiness  admits  of 
no  doubt. — G. 
MANCHESTER  WHITSUN  SHOW. 
When  we  came  to  take  our  eye  over  the  gorgeous  display  of  Orchids 
brought  together  under  the  roof  of  the  grand  exhibition  house  at  the 
Botanical  Gardens,  Manchester,  we  can  only  express  ourselves  in  the 
one  word,  “wonderful  1”  or  agree  with  Mr.  Burberry  when  he  remarked 
that  it  was  the  finest  show  of  Orchids  he  had  ever  seen  brought  together. 
Mr.  T.  Statter  (Chairman),  and  Mr.  Thompson,  Stone,  whose  love  for 
them  is  so  great,  sincerely  hoped  that  the  public  would  appreciate  such 
a  treat. 
Coming  to  the  exhibits,  the  glory  of  the  Orchids  almost  dwarfed  every¬ 
thing  else.  How  beautifully  one  end  of  the  exhibition  house  was  made 
perfect  by  the  foreground  of  Orchids,  backed  up  by  the  grand  stove 
and  greenhouse  plants  from  Cypher  of  Cheltenham.  So,  too,  was  the  left 
hand  bank  by  the  veteran,  Mr.  Stevens  of  Stone  Looking  into  the 
annexe  what  beauty  presented  itself.  The  gold  medal  Cannas  from 
Paul  <fc  Son,  all  so  brilliant ;  the  mass  of  colour  made  by  the  hardy  cut 
flowers  from  Barr  <fc  Sons,  and  Dicksons,  Limi’ed,  Chester;  the  soft 
shades  of  colour  in  the  Worcester  Clematis;  the  noted  Forest  Hill 
Begonias  and  Caladiums,  to  the  left  of  which  were  Cutbush’s  fine  pot 
Carnations,  and  to  the  right  the  charming  miniature  rockwork,  filled 
with  the  most  interesting  and  rare  alpines  from  Backhouse  of  York.  A 
gold  medal  was  bestowed  also  for  this  firm’s  group  of  Orchids  and 
miscellaneous  plants — an  interesting  show  ;  whilst  far  beyond  in  the 
distance,  planted  out  on  mounds,  were  the  notable  Rhododendrons  from 
Bagshot. 
The  highest  award  (the  Society’s  large  gold  meda1)  was  taken  this 
year  by  Charlesworth  &  Co.,  Bradford,  for  a  very  beautiful  collection  of 
Orchids.  A  first-class  certificate  was  awarded  for  one  of  the  firm’s 
introductions,  staged  by  them  for  Mrs.  Briggs  Bury,  Bank  House, 
Accrington,  and  named  Lmlio-Cattleya  “  Iolanthe,”  with  deep  purple 
lip,  from  Cattleya  Mobsj'®  grandis  crossed  with  Laelia  purpurata.  Also 
lovely  were  L®lio  -  Cattleya  Lady  Wigan,  from  Laelia  purpurata 
Russelliana  crossed  with  C.  Mossi®  aurea  ;  Cypriped'um  Leysenianum, 
a  cross  between  bellatulum  and  barbatum  Crossi,  whieh  received  an 
award  of  merit ;  L®lia  purpurata  Backhousiana,  Cypripedium  Goweri 
magnifica  (grand  form),  Cypripedium  Morgan®,  and  Oncidium 
macranthum. 
Messrs.  F.  Sander  &  Co.,  St.  Albans,  secured  a  gold  medal  for  a 
charming  collection  of  Orchids  and  new  and  rare  plants,  splendidly 
staged.  The  gem  of  the  show  was  undoubtedly  the  grand  L®lio- Cattleya 
Queen  Empress,  from  Cattleya  Mendeli  Victoria  crossed  with  Laelia 
purpurata  Empress.  It  is  a  veritable  gem,  with  pure  white  sepals  and 
petals,  orange  throat,  and  an  intense  crimson- purple  lip.  It  was  marked 
“sold.”  A  F.C.C.  was  granted  to  Sobrali*  Veitchi,  with  rose  sepals 
and  petals,  lip  of  deeper  rose,  and  orange  throat ;  also  for  Davallia 
hirta,  a  deep-coloured  strong-growing  species,  likely  to  come  to 
the  fore.  In  all  this  firm  secured  six  A.M.  and  a  botanical  certificate. 
Messrs.  W.  L.  Lewis  &  Co.  always  count  for  something,  and  they 
were  even  better  represented  than  on  any  previous  occasion.  They 
were  worthily  granted  a  F.C.C.  for  Cattleya  Hurdyana  Lewisi,  a 
flower  with  an  immense  coloured  lip.  The  Cattleya  Mossi®  were  very 
fine  throughout,  and  the  other  attrctions  were  Cypripedium  Aylingi, 
Gertrude  HolliDgton  and  Stonei. 
