‘M2 
JOURNAL  OF  EORTIGUUlURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  12,1896. 
heart  of  the  carpet-bedder,  have  grown  satisfactorily,  and  are 
now  the  perfection  of  colour  ;  seen  in  the  dim  light  of  “  the 
gloaming,”  outlined  with  Echeveria,  the  effect  is  magical.  Not 
less  does  other  bedding  bravely  hold  its  own.  Yellow  and 
brown  Calceolarias  are  now  resplendent  in  their  second  crop 
of  bloom,  and  Tuberous  Begonias  bear  witness  to  the  benefits 
of  recent  rains.  A  rich  dark  Heliotrope  in  masses  accounts  largely 
for  the  incense-laden  atmosphere,  and  a  long  line  of  single 
Dahlias,  raised  from  seed  this  season,  are  interesting  in  their  variety 
of  form  and  colour.  Even  those  pointed  starry  flowers,  bad  from 
a  florist’s  point  of  view,  are  good  for  cutting,  and  when  arranged 
in  trumpet  vases  with  a  few  plumes  of  common  Asparagus,  I  am 
inclined  to  give  them  the  preference  over  their  better-bred 
brethren. 
Blue  Cornflowers  sown  liberally  through  the  borders  where 
blank  spaces  permitted  now  give  that  true  blue  we  should  otherwise 
miss.  Blank  spaces  ?  Save  the  mark.  The  sower  inadvertently 
bestowed  his  seeds  over  the,  then  dormant,  bulbs  of  Hyacinthus 
(Galtonia)  candicans.  The  latter  with  their  pure  white  waxy  bells 
steepled  over  the  Corncockles  has  proved  to  be  one  of  those  happy 
accidental  hits  worth  mentioning.  Asters  tall  and  Asters  dwarf 
are  exceptionally  good,  being  in  themselves  a  host  of  colour.  One 
notable  clump  is  provided  by  Antholyza  coccinea,  but  notable  only 
in  its  bold  plicated  sword-like  foliage  of  vivid  green ;  the 
Montbretia-like  blossoms  appear  unworthy  of  the  handsome 
scabbards  they  arise  from. 
Here  and  there  a  bright  Carnation  lingeis,  seemingly  as  a 
reminder  that  they  should  not  be  forgotten,  but  the  “last  Rose 
of  summer”  is  exceedingly  well  represented.  Yery  bright  is 
Ulrich  Brunner,  atoning  for  early  summer  shortcomings.  The 
rule  of  the  Rose  appears  to  be  that  of  making  one  grand  effort 
during  the  season,  hence  some  which  earlier  accomplished  their 
object — Her  Majesty  for  example — are  now  unrepresented  by  a 
single  blossom.  Climbers,  too,  such  as  Belle  Lyonnaise  (noticed  in 
a  previous  sketch),  that  made  an  unrivalled  early  display,  are 
now  content  to  yield  from  a  long  stretch  of  trellis  an  occasional 
faultless  bloom.  If  any  further  observation  was  necessary  to 
confirm  this  opinion  it  is  afforded  by  an  ancient  Safrano  on  the 
wall,  now  a  sheet  of  bloom,  but  previously  all  but  bare. 
Sedum  spectabile,  and  I  know  of  no  plant  in  its  flowering  period 
w'hich  more  conspicuously  marks  the  season  of  the  year,  is  just 
sufficiently  opening  to  attract  the  usual  bevy  of  bees  and  butter¬ 
flies,  which  appear  to  forsake  all  else  in  the  garden,  such  enjoyment 
do  they  find  in  the  massive  pink  Cauliflower-like  inflorescence. 
At  all  times  of  the  year  there  appears  to  be  something  that 
particularly  attracts  the  attention  of  bees,  and  earlier  in  the 
season  theso  small  winged  worshippers  have  paid  as  much 
devotion  to  the  Marjoram  in  bloom.  The  white  Anemone 
japonica,  which  here  is  a  weed  in  its  luxuriance,  is  in  its  prime  of 
beauty.  Yucca  filamentosa,  a  variety  precocious  in  flowering,  is 
the  most  stately  of  white  flowers  now  in  bloom.  Old  plants 
of  this  when  killed  to  the  ground  by  frost  are  apt  to  send  up  a  ring 
of  suckers  from  the  base.  Bright  yellows  are  abundant  in  the 
perennial  Sunflowers,  which  add  no  small  share  to  the  brightness  of 
the  garden  at  this  period,  but  there  is  a  sheet  of  gold,  Californian 
red  gold,  on  a  distant  border  so  much  admired,  whilst  distance  lends 
enchantment  to  its  charms.  Only  Marigolds.  “I  am  surprised  you 
have  them  in  the  garden,”  and  but  recently  I  was  surprised — 
pleasantly  surprised — to  find  a  low  bowl  in  the  drawing-room 
filled  with  them  by  a  lady  who  despised  them  not  for  their 
commonneis. 
One  plant  which  should  be  banished  from  the  border  for  its 
*ggr6ssive  habit  is  a  stately  Polygonum,  now  feathered  with 
minute  blossoms.  One  feels  that  they  could  not  do  without  the 
dwarf  Rudbeckia  hiewmanni,  just  opening  its  blaclr-buttoned  discs, 
other  things,  too,  might  be  mentioned,  but  sufficient  tribute  has,  I 
think,  been  paid  to  the  glories  of  autumn— that  is,  as  far  as  our 
garden  is  concerned  by — The  Gardenee. 
A  RACE  TO  THE  NORTH. 
In  the  midst  of  the  exciting  rivalry  between  two  of  our  great 
railway  companies  I  paid  a  visit  to  that  queen  of  Scottish  watering- 
places — Rothesay.  After  a  splendid  run  from  Euston  in  one  of 
the  London  and  North-Western  Co.’s  expresses,  stopping  only  at 
Rugby,  Crewe,  Preston,  and  Carlisle,  I  reached  Glasgow,  and  left 
immediately  afterwards  by  a  Caledonian  train  to  Gourock,  the 
latter  bearing  about  the  same  relationship  on  the  Clyde  to  Glasgow, 
as  Tilbury  does  to  London.  At  Gourock  the  fine  new  steamer, 
“  The  Duchess  of  Rothesay”  of  the  Caledonian  line,  was  awaiting 
our  arrival.  Proceeding  down  the  Firth  of  Clyde  the  beauty  of 
the  scenery  is  at  once  apparent.  In  front  we  have  the  Argyleshire 
hills,  with  Loch  Long  on  the  right  and  Ben  Lomond  in  the 
distance.  Our  first  stopping  place  is  Dunoon,  a  picturesque  spot 
with  Ben  More  rising  in  the  background.  On  reaching  Loch  Fyne 
the  peaks  of  Arron  come  into  view,  and  then  we  arrive  at  our  next 
stopping  place  Innellan  with  its  well  wooded  fields  and  charming 
villas.  We  now  pass  the  Cowal  hills,  and  our  steamer  is  heading 
for  the  Bute  shore.  On  our  extreme  left  we  catch  a  glimpse  of 
Mount  Stuart  House,  the  seat  of  the  Marquis  of  Bute,  and  after  a 
stoppage  at  Craigmore  we  reach  Rothesay  pier,  situated  in  a 
beautiful  bay,  and  this  is  to  be  my  headquarters  for  the  next  few 
days. 
Passing  from  the  pier,  and  entering  High  Street,  the  bold  sign¬ 
board  of  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.,  Seed  Growers  and  Florists  to  the 
Queen,  attracts  attention  ;  and  it  is  with  feelings  of  pride  that  a 
southern  amateur  Yiola  grower  enters  the  spacious  offices  of  this 
celebrated  firm,  and  pays  his  first  visit  to  the  “  Home  of  Flower*  ” 
in  the  North.  Here  Mr.  Wm.  Cuthbertson  (a  gentleman  whose 
characteristic  courtesy  is  almost  as  proverbial  in  the  South  as  in 
the  North)  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome,  and  a  series  of  visits  to 
their  nursery  grounds  are  arranged.  I  afterwards  found  that  on 
account  of  the  scattered  positions  of  the  various  grounds  a  visit  to 
the  home  nursery  only  gives  one  a  very  small  idea  of  the  extensive 
cultures  of  this  firm.  The  Yiola  plantation  was  naturally  my  first 
attraction.  I  found  the  plants  growing  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  a 
position  in  which,  with  the  cool  air  and  frequent  rains  of  Rothesay, 
they  seemed  to  be  quite  at  home,  and  still  carrying  an  abundance 
of  bloom.  Such  a  position  in  the  South  would  insure  disaster. 
Each  variety  was  given  an  entire  row  to  itself,  and  only  in  this 
way  can  the  splendid  effect  in  colour  which  it  is  possible  to  pro¬ 
duce  with  Yiolas  be  attained.  Large  numbers  of  cuttings  were 
being  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  a  large  stock  had 
already  been  taken  to  send  out  as  rooted  plants  either  in  October 
or  next  spring.  Here  also  were  beds  containing  thousands  of 
seedling  Yiolas  in  bloom,  several  of  which  I  noticed  are  destined 
to  keep  up  the  great  reputation  of  Messrs.  Dobbie  &  Co.  as  Yiola 
raisers. 
In  an  adjacent  ground  were  growing  a  quantity  of  Phloxes 
bearing  immense  heads  of.  bloom — an  imposing  sight.  Dahlias 
are  a  great  feature  here  ;  the  new  single  Cactus,  having  “caught 
on,”  is  grown  in  large  numbers,  and  new  varieties  will  be  sent  out. 
As  decorative  flowers  these  would  be  hard  to  beat — the  effect  of  a 
handful  of  blooms  placed  loosely  in  a  vase  is  exquisite.  The 
demand  for  the  ordinary  Cactus  type  will  be  met,  for  I  saw  entire 
rows  of  such  favourite  varieties  as  the  dark  velvety  Matchless 
(well  named),  the  beautiful  yellow  Lady  Penzance,  and  the  white 
Mrs.  Peart  (remarkably  good  when  it  comes  true).  The  Show  and 
single  types  are  also  very  extensively  grown.  So  many  interesting 
things  attracted  my  attention  in  these  nurseries,  if  space  would 
permit  of  a  notice  of  them  all ;  but  the  grand  new  strain  of 
Cannas  cannot  be  passed  over.  Both  the  foliage  and  blooms  of 
these  have  such  a  striking  effect  that  when  better  known  they  will 
undoubtedly  be  found  in  every  garden.  I  was  informed  that  they 
are  very  easy  of  cultivation,  the  roots  being  treated  in  winter  in  a 
similar  manner  to  Dahlias.  The  seed  department  is  most  interest¬ 
ing,  giving,  as  it  does,  employment  to  a  large  staff  of  assistants. 
This  department  is  fed  almost  entirely  from  the  newly  established 
grounds  at  Orpington  in  Kent,  and  the  older  grounds  at  Beaulieu 
in  Hants.  I  also  paid  a  visit  to  the  founder  of  this  remarkable 
business — Mr.  J.  Dobbie — a  fine  hale  old  Scotsman,  well  past  the 
allotted  span  of  life,  but  full  of  vigour,  living  quite  a  retired 
life,  evidently  taking  as  great  an  interest  in  his  garden  and 
as  eclective  as  ever,  here  and  there  pointing  out  blooms 
of  exceptional  merit  which  the  grand  old  veteran  had  instinctively 
marked . 
In  the  Barone  Nursery  I  found  that  noted  grower  and  exhibitor 
of  Pansies,  Mr.  Alex.  Lister.  A  border  of  splendid  Carnations,  all 
of  which  Mr.  Lister  assured  me  were  his  own  seedlings,  first 
attracted  my  attention.  Many  of  them  were  of  great  merit,  and 
all  of  extraordinary  habit.  I  expressed  a  wish  to  see  his  Yiolas, 
but  found  my  host  was  not  very  enthusiastic  upon  this  subject,  so 
I  ventured  to  suggest  to  him  that  it  was  probably  only  a  question 
