532 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  IT,  1897. 
The  Japanese  Witch  Hazels  (Hamamelis)  will  be  familiar  to  visitors 
to  the  Drill  Hall ,  where  they  are  often  shown  in  the  early  spring 
months  from  Coombe  Wood.  A  beautiful  leguminous  plant  is 
Hedysarum  multijugum,  of  which  the  purple  flowers  are  produced 
with  great  freedom.  The  collection  of  Nymphseas,  comprising 
Marliac’s  superb  hybrids  is  very  complete,  and  of  the  greatest 
interest. 
One  might  continue  mentioning  flowering  or  foliage  shrubs  for 
still  a  very  long  time,  but  with  one  or  two  more  we  must  draw  to 
a  close ,  as  there  are  several  other  plants  to  which  reference  must 
be  made.  However,  the  Stuartias  with  their  CameUia-like  foliage 
and  clear  white  flowers,  and  Styrax  obassia  (see  illustration  fig.  97, 
page  507)  must  on  no  account  be  omitted.  Another  point  in 
connection  with  these,  apart  from  the  beauty  of  the  flowers  and  of 
the  leafage,  is  their  general  good  health.  Here  and  there  one  may 
come  to  a  plant  that  has  suffered  from  transplantation,  but  the  vast 
majority  are  in  splendid  condition,  this  applying  to  large  and  small 
alike. 
The  (Joombe  Wood  collection  of  Acers  is  remarkable  for 
nothing  more  than  for  its  extent,  for  it  comprised  most,  if  not  all, 
the  best  in  cultivation  at  the  present  time.  These  Japanese 
Maples,  with  their  beautiful  leaves,  are  fast  becoming  popular,  and 
deservedly  so,  for  nothing  looks  more  beautiful  in  the  border  than 
these.  Planters  were  at  one  time  rather  shy  of  them,  doubting 
their  hardiness  ;  but  all  fear  on  this  score  may  now  be  removed, 
for  on  the  somewhat  cold  soil  at  Coombe,  and  in  exposed  situations, 
they  have  stood  uninjured  for  a  number  of  years.  They  are  well 
deserving  of  all  the  popularity  that  can  possibly  be  accorded  to 
them.  Both  the  varieties  of  A.  japonicum  and  A.  palmatum  and 
others  are  worthy  of  close  attention  for  association  with  the  other 
occupants  of  borders  and  shrubberies. 
In  a  previous  paragraph  brief  reference  was  made  to  the 
Rhododendrons  as  adding  materially  to  the  beauty  of  one  of 
charming  views.  Now  we  must  advert  to  them  to  call  more 
specific  attention  to  their  variety,  quality,  and  health.  It  is  not 
proposed  to  give  any  names,  but  simply  to  refer  to  them  as  a 
whole.  There  are  bushes  and  standards,  every  one  of  which  has 
contributed,  or  is  now  doiDg  so,  to  the  interest  of  the  collection. 
Some  are  light  in  colour,  others  are  dark,  but  all  are  of  the  finest 
quality,  while  the  deep-bued  stout  foliage  creates  the  impression  of 
sound  health.  These  alone,  when  at  the  summit  of  their  beauty, 
are  well  worth  a  journey  to  see.  Hardy  Azaleas,  too,  are  of  great 
beauty  and  in  extensive  variety. 
The  number  of  trees  of  almost  all  kinds  that  are  grown  is 
enormous,  and  the  differences  noticed  in  walking  round  are 
wonderful.  There  are  Coniferous  trees  by  the  thousand,  represent¬ 
ing  all  those  that  can  be  cultivated  at  Coombe,  and  of  all  sizes, 
from  the  tiny  plantlet  to  the  shapely  specimens.  O.ber  trees 
equally  as  good  in  health  as  the  Conifers  are  numerous,  and  include 
Chestnuts,  Limes,  Planes,  Sycamores,  Walnuts,  Ailantus,  Horn¬ 
beams,  with  many  besides.  Cerasus  are  largely  represented,  as  are 
Pyruses,  while  the  Magnolias  form  a  complete  representative  col¬ 
lection.  They  comprise  Watsoni  (of  which  the  courtesy  of 
Messrs.  Yeitch  permits  of  our  giving  an  illustration,  fig.  101) 
hypoleuca,  Soulangeana  nigra,  parviflora,  stellata,  conspicua, 
macrophylla,  and  several  others.  For  these  handsome  plants  the 
firm  has  a  large  demand,  and  frequently  experience  some  difficulty 
in  coping  with  it.  _ 
One  of  the  finest  features  of  the  whole  establishment  is  the 
collection  of  Bamboos,  which  is  nothing  less  than  a  remarkable 
one.  The  visitor  may  see  nearly  every  species  or  variety  in  culti¬ 
vation,  some  with  delicate-looking  growths  and  others  with  very 
strong.  The  firm  was  prompt  to  recognise  their  utility  for  various 
atuations  on  an  estate,  and  with  its  usual  enterprise  commenced 
to  make  the  stock  as  complete,  succeeding  in  a  highly  creditable 
degree.  Those  who  are  interested  in  Bamboos,  and  desire  to  make 
close  comparison,  would  find  ample  material  to  work  upon  at 
Coombe  Wood,  whence  specimens  have  from  time  to  time  been 
shown  at  the  Drill  Hall. 
Such  notes  as  have  found  a  place  in  the  preceding  paragraphs 
are  incomplete  in  many  rt  spects,  but  to  give  an  exhaustive  refer¬ 
ence  to  every  variety  and  kind  would  be  demanding  too  much  space. 
They  must  therefore  suffice  for  the  time  being,  and  readers  will  do 
well  to  make  the  notes  of  more  practical  utility  by  going  to  Coombe 
Wood  to  see  for  themselves.  For  his  own  part  the  writer  is 
determined  that,  though  it  took  years  to  make  the  first  visit,  it  will 
be  by  no  means  years  ere  he  makes  another. — Metropolitan. 
THE  EFFECTS  OF  A  STORM. 
I  note  in  the  Journal  that  on  Sunday,  June  6th,  in  London  there 
was  a  thunderstorm  with  rain.  Here  we  experienced  one  of  the 
most  terrific  storms  I  ever  remember.  The  early  part  of  the  day 
was  very  warm  and  sultry,  and  between  three  and  four  o’clock  it 
became  almost  dark.  The  rain  and  hail  then  commenced  to  fall  in 
torrents,  so  much  so  that  within  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  not 
more,  we  registered  1*  53  inch  of  rain,  comequently  all  low-lying 
places  were  flooded,  as  no  drains  could  carry  off  the  water  as  fast 
as  it  descended.  Roads  and  paths  were  for  a  time  like  rivers,  and 
tons  of  earth  and  sand  were  washed  away.  A  short  distance  from 
where  I  am  writing  a  fine  Oak  was  struck  by  lightning,  the  trunk 
being  stripped  of  bark,  and  split  in  twain.  The  tops  of  Potatoes, 
Beans,  and  Peas  were  cut  off,  while  Lettuce  cut  into  ribbons.  Beet,. 
Carrots,  Onions  were  either  cut  off,  washed  out,  or  battered  into 
the  ground. 
I  thought  we  must  have  had  the  worst  of  the  storm,  but  it  was- 
not  so,  for  yesterday  I  visited  Elmstead  Lodge  and  Elmstead 
Grange  (about  a  mile  away),  the  scene  there  almost  baffles  descrip¬ 
tion.  Herewith  I  enclose  a  few  samples  of  the  damage  done  that 
you  may  form  some  idea  of  same.  Mr.  Blackburne,  Elmstead 
Grange,  is  a  noted  grower  of  Chrysanthemums  ;  he  ba9  a  fine  col¬ 
lection,  which  were  at  the  end  of  last  week  mostly  potted  into 
their  flowering  pots.  I  never  saw  anything  like  the  wreck  they 
now  present.  The  pieces  I  send  are  weak  shoots.  Not  only  are 
the  tops  and  leaves  cut  off,  but  the  stems  are  bruised  with  pieces 
of  ice,  and  the  stronger  plants  are  in  many  cases  split  in  two. 
Yesterday  for  the  first  time  since  Sunday  we  had  sunshine  ;  this 
caused  the  few  leaves  remaining  on  the  plants  to  droop,  as  though 
dry  at  the  root.  Doubtless  these  have  partly  perished,  as  the 
pots  were  full  of  ice  for  quite  an  hour  altogether — a  sorry  sight 
for  an  enthusiastic  lover  of  the  autumn  queen.  All  parts  of  the 
garden  in  both  places  suffered  in  a  similar  manner,  the  ground 
being  strewn  with  shoots  and  foliage  of  all  kinds  of  things.  Apples 
and  Pears  are  also  much  injured,  many  of  the  fruit  being  cut  off 
the  trees.  I  hear  similar  reports  from  other  places  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood. — J.  Lyne,  Foxbury,  Chislehurst. 
[We  much  regret  to  know  of  the  damage  done  by  the  storm,  as 
evidenced  by  Mr.  Lyne’s  contribution  and  the  specimens  senL 
They  were  indeed  fearfully  damaged  ] 
SWANMORE  PARK. 
The  trees  were  about  to  assume  their  autumnal  garb,  Ihe  flowers  of 
summer  were  almost  gone,  and  the  fields  had  given  fruits  for  the  year, 
when  the  writer  made  his  first  visit  to  Swanmore.  A  more  recent 
journey,  undertaken  as  the  foliage  of  the  forest  was  juot  becoming 
green,  while  yet  the  nodding  Daffodil  wafted  in  the  breeze,  and  before 
the  fields  were  fully  clad  in  their  welcome  garniture,  to  Mr.  Molyneux 
in  his  Hampshire  home  showed  his  charge — ihe  gardens  and  the  farm — 
changed  but  happily  only  for  the  better.  In  all  the  several  departments 
of  an  estate  such  as  that  of  W.  H.  Myers,  Esq.,  M.P.,  there  is  a  never- 
ceasing  activity  in  the  month  of  May,  so  that  the  arrival  wa9  made  amid 
signs  and  sounds  of  rural  industry.  All  readers  of  the  Journal  will  not 
have  visited  Bishops  Waltham,  so  reference  maybe  made  to  the  ways  and 
means  of  reaching  there  for  the  benefit  of  those  to  whotn  .the  future 
still  holds  that  pleasure.  _ 
Some  may  start  from  London,  others  from  Southampton,  and  more 
from  Portsmouth,  and  from  the  latter  it  is  easy  of  access,  while  the  two 
former  are  slightly  more  difficult.  From  the  Metropolis  the  London 
and  South-Western  Railway  runs  smoothly,  swiftly,  and  pleasantly 
through  all  forms  of  land  culture — good  and  had — from  the  garden  of 
the  cottager  to  the  domain  of  the  wealthy,  past  the  clean  grounds  of 
nurserymen,  the  broad  acres  of  the  farmer,  and  the' stretches  of  forest 
and  woodland.  Look  a  moment  at  the  various  phases  as  the  train 
speeds  on.  Just  to  the  south  of  Surbiton  is  the  home  of  the  Narcissus 
and  the  Tulip,  for  there  are  situated  Barr’s  Nurseries,  the  memory  of 
which  will  scarcely  have  become  dimmed  ere  Woking,  renowned  for  its 
shrubs,  is  passed,  followed  quickly  by  Aldershot  with  its  acres  of  moor 
peopled  by  soldiers.  Basingstoke  brings  to  mird  the  vegetables  grown 
by  Mr.  Bowerman  at  Hackwood.  Winchester,  the  birthplace  of  the 
Cottage  Gardener  over  forty-eight  years  ago,  teems  with  horticultural 
associations,  while  Eastleigh  brings  us  to  miles  of  works  belonging  to 
the  company  in  whose  carriage  we  are  riding.  Here  the  lines  bianch 
for  Salisbury,  Southampton,  and  intervening  places. 
The  journey  interrupted  here  is  soon  resumed  for  Botley,  whence  come 
so  many  Strawberries  in  the  season,  and  for  Bishops  Waltham  a  change 
must  be  made  into  the  waiting  train,  which  soon  carries  us  to  the  end 
of  our  ride,  and  we  alight  to  receive  a  hearty  welcome  from  the  genial 
“  E.  M.”  Passing  the  ruins  of  an  abbey,  handsome  in  their  decay, 
amongst  which  may  be  seen  Wallflowers  growing  on  tbe  wall  sides,  and 
we  are  soon  in  the  old  fashioned  town  just  named.  It  is  not  very  large, 
and  the  streets  are  not  particularly  wide,  but  they  are  perfect  Thames 
Embankments  in  comparison  with  the  lanes  upon  which  we  enter  after 
