February  17,  1898, 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
155 
In  all  these  strains  the  heads  of  bloom  are  thrown  well  above  the 
foliage,  when  in  truss  form  ;  when,  however,  the  whorls  develop,  then  the 
heads  are  indeed  striking.  As  decorative  plants  for  winter  and  spring  use 
thus  easily  raised  from  seed,  and  grown  in  such  small  pots,  no  other  plant 
can  excel  them.  The  development  shown  in  these  pyramidal  forms  so 
rapidly  results  largely  from  the  employment  as  pollen  parents  of  the  finest 
of  the  large-flowered  section  ;  but  there  should  be  som^  limit  to  it  all  the 
same.  Directly  the  large-flowered  strain  preponderates,  and  reduces  to 
common  form  the  present  striking  pyramidal  habit,  then  there  will  be 
simple  reversion  to  wbat'is  already  so  abundant  that  would  indeed  be  a 
misfortune.  The  flowers  of  the  most  recent  cross  production  are  amply 
large,  and  of  perfect  form.  When  one  fails  another  soon  fills  the 
gap  ;  with  the  large-flowered  trusses,  big  fallen  blooms  are  not  readily 
replaced. 
The  efforts  of  breeders  should  now  be  rather  directed  to  the  securing 
of  other  colours,  but  anything  which  destroys  the  elevated  character  of 
the  florescense  should  be  strictly  avoided.  But  having  said  so  much  with 
respect  to  the  new  strain  of  Chinese  Primroses,  it  is  not  possible  to 
omit  mention  of  the  superb  quality  and  beauty  found  in  the 
older  types.  What  splendid  whites  are  White  Perfection,  on  dark  Pern 
foliage  ;  Her  Majesty,  on  semi-dark  Fern  leafage  ;  White  Swan,  on  pale 
green  Fern  leaves  ;  and  Eynsford  White,  on  curled  palmate  leafage. 
There  are  also  others.  Flowers  of  fine  form  and  delicate  tint  are  found 
on  Duchess  of  Fife,  white,  just  tinted  mauve,  and  some  yet  small  breaks 
from  other  crosses  have  refined  tints  also.  Very  beautiful  is  Pink 
Queen  on  green  Fern  leaves,  and  the  Queen  Improved  shows  on  the  other 
distinct  advance  ;  but  the  finest  of  all  the  section  is  Cannell’s  Pink,  really 
a  grand  variety,  on  light  green  foliage  ;  flowers  of  great  size  and  of  a 
rich  carmine  hue. 
Emperor  is  a  deep  ruddy  carmine  ;  and  of  reds  there  are  Cannell’s 
Red,  intense  colour  ;  Glow-worm,  having  a  pale  ring  round  the  eye,  and  a 
bluish  shade  in  the  crimson  ground  ;  Swanley  Giant,  even  finer  and 
deeper  in  colour  than  the  preceding  ;  and  Kentish  Fire  brilliant  red.  The 
pretty  lavender  Lilacina,  the  reddish  lilac  Mary  James,  grand  purples  in 
diverse  shades,  magentas,  and  others,  make  up  indeed  a  splendid  show,  to 
which  may  be  added  fine  semi-doubles,  especially  a  crimson-hued  red, 
and  the  well-known  Swanley  Blue. — A.  D, 
APPLE  LORD  HINDLIP. 
This  Apple  has  been  thrice  placed  before  the  Fruit  Committee  of  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society,  the  first  time  on  January  14th,  1896,  rvhen 
an  award  of  merit  was  unanimously  granted  ;  the  second  time  on 
March  llth,  1897,  when  it  was  as  unanimously  confirmed  ;  and  the  third 
time  on  February  8th,  1898,  when  a  first-class  certificate  was  accorded 
without  a  dissentient  vote.  This  at  once  seems  to  exemplify  the  caution 
of  the  Fruit  Committee,  and  emphasise  the  value  of  a  distinct  and  good 
late  dessert  Apple.  As  will  be  seen  by  the  illustration,  the  fruit  is  above 
medium  size  for  a  dessert  Apple.  It  is  broad  towards  the  base,  narrowing 
sharply  towards  the  eye,  which  is  very,  small  and  closed.  The  stalk  is 
slender,  and  inserted  in  a  deep  round  cavity,  which  is  lined  with  russet, 
the  end  of  the  stalk  being  about  level  with  the  base  of  the  fruit.  This 
is  yellowish  green,  covered  with  broken  crimson  streaks  on  the  shaded 
side,  these  rising  from  the  base,  the  colour  deepening  to  glossy  crimson 
on  the  sun  side,  flecked  with  russet.  The  flesh  is  yellowish,  tender, 
sugary,  with  a  pleasant,  though  not  powerful,  aroma.  As  we  have 
previously  said,  this  is  a  Rssemary  Russet  type  of  Apple.  Some  of  the 
smoother  fruits,  however,  bear  a  general  resemblance  to  the  American 
Mother,  though  much  larger.  This  welcome  addition  to  late  dessert 
Apples  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  John  Watkins  of  Hereford. 
LONDON’S  OPEN  SPACES. 
II. — The  Making  op  Victoeia  Paek. 
ViCTOElA  Park  isj  one  of  the  largest,  most  beautiful,  and  most 
frequented  of  the  “lungs”  of  London,  and  the  man  to  whom  London 
mainly  ows  its  possession  of  that  East  End  “  beauty  spot  ”  is  not  only 
still  living,  but  labouring  as  actively  as  ever  in  furtherance  of  Imperial  as 
well  as  local  interests.  This  is  Sir  Frederick  Young,  known  and  honoured 
throughout  the  British  Empire  as  the  great  apostle  of  Imperial 
Federation,  and  whose  special  service  to  London  should  ever  be  gratefully 
remembered.  Victoria  Park  belongs  absolutely  to  the  present  reign. 
When  Queen  Victoria  ascended  the  throne  the  space  was  part  of  a  larger 
area  known  as  “Bonner’s  Fields.”  Early  in  the  year  1840  Mr.  Joseph 
Hume  (who  was  so  well  known  in  the  House  of  Commons  as  an  uncom¬ 
promising  critic  of  the  estimates  in  the  interests  of  economy)  wrote  to 
Sir  Frederick  Young  s  father,  the  late  Mr.  George  Frederick  Young,  M.P., 
calling  his  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Government  had  not  long  before 
received  the  sum  of  £100,000,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  York  (now 
Stafford)  House,  from  the  trustees  of  the  late  Duke  of  York  :  and 
suggesting,  that  it  was  a  good  opportunity  for  endeavouring  to  persuade 
Lord  Melbourne's  Government  to  appropriate  a  portion  of  the  money  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  “  30  acres  of  open  space  ”  as  a  “  playground  ” 
for  the  people  of  East  London.  “  Certainly,”  was  the  reply  of  Mr.  G.  F. 
Young  ;  “  but  why  not  try  to  get  300  acres  I  "  There  was  no  delay  in 
taking  action.  On  receiving  Mr.  Hume’s  letter  Mr.  Young  immediately 
invited  a  number  of  influential  friends  to  meet  at  his  house  for  the  purpose 
of  considering  how  the  object  in  view  could  be  best  attained.  It  was 
resolved  to  have  a  public  meeting  of  inhabitants  of  East  London,  and 
this  took  place  a  few  weeks  afterwards  at  the  London  Tavern,  in  Bishops- 
gate  Street,  under  the  presidency  of  the  Earl  of  Glengall.  Mr.  Young 
drew  up  a  memorial  to  the  (Jueen,  asking  her  approval  to  the  scheme, 
and  setting  forth  sundry  cogent  reasons  in  favour  of  it.  This  memorial 
was  approved  by  a  provisional  Committee  ;  and  Sir  Frederick  Young,  as 
Treasurer  and  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Committee,  got  the  memorial 
signed  by  30.000  residents  in  the  Tower  Hamlets.  At  that  time  the 
“Tower  Hamlets”  comprised  practically  the  whole  of  East  London, 
containing  about  400,000  inhabitants,  who  were  represented  in  the  House 
of  Commons  by  two  members.  That  population  has  since  grown  to 
about  a  million,  and  thirteen  representatives  in  Parliament. 
The  memorial  was  a  great  success,  and  made  a  great  impression  on 
the  Government.  Lord  Duncannon,  then  at  the  head  of  the  Department 
of  Woods  and  Forests,  was  induced  to  view  the  scheme  so  favourably  as 
to  promote  legislation  on  the  subject.  Parliament  passed  the  Bill  intro¬ 
duced  for  the  purpose,  and  the  new  park  received  the  Queen’s  name.  It 
was  a  great  triumph  of  perseverance  and  devoted  effort ;  and  it  conferred 
on  East  London  a  boon  that  increases  in  value  with  advancing  years. 
Fig.  23. — Apple,  Loed  Hindlip. 
Mr.  .loseph  Hume’s  initiatory  letter  was  written  to  Mr.  George 
Frederick  Young  early  in  1840 ;  but  it  was  not  until  March,  1842,  that 
the  Bill  was  introduced  into  the  House  of  Commons,  a  change  of  Govern¬ 
ment  having  taken  place  meanwhile.  Just  midway  between  these  two 
dates  Mr.  Hume,  who  had  apparently  not  much  confidence  in  officialdom, 
wrote  another  characteristic  and  interesting  letter  to  Mr.  Young,  as  follows: 
Bryanston  Square,  8th  March,  1841, 
My  dear  Sir. — In  reference  to  the  applicatii  n  made  to  the  Government  from 
the  Tower  Hamlets  for  an  open  place  for  recreation,  I  wish  to  know  whether 
you  have  had  any  answer,  or  have  taken  any  further  steps  to  forward  that  very 
desirable  object.  Your  experience  must  inform  you  that  unless  you  persevere 
and  remind,  from  time  to  time,  public  men  of  their  duties,  and  of  the  demands 
made  on  them,  you  will  find  them  rather  disposed  to  save  themselves  the 
trouble,  unless  they  are  to  be  specially  benefited  by  the  object  desired  to  be 
effected.  I  dp  not  state  this  as  a  reflection  on  the  present  Government,  but  as 
applicable  to  all  Governments,  and  hence  the  necessity  of  renewing  the 
application.  I  have  effected  the  purchase  of  Primrose  Hill  for  the  use  of  the 
public  for  eve,  a  most  valuable  object ;  and  I  have  been  constant  in  my 
advocacy,  publicly  and  privately,  since  June,  1837.  I  beg  you  will  do  me  the 
favour  to  let  me  have  a  copy  of  the  petition  or  address  to  the  Crown,  with  a 
report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  public  meeting,  of  the  presentation,  &c..  if  ymu 
have  them,  that  I  may  see  how  far  I  can  forward  your  object.  You  will  learn 
that  I  have  also  got  the  Regalia  in  the  Tower  open  to  the  public  at  6d.  each, 
instead  of  2s.  each,  and  that  we  are  thus  gradually  advancing  in  the  right  path. 
Why  should  the  interests  of  the  population  of  the  Tower  Hamlet  she  neglected  ? 
— Tours  sincerely,  Joseph  Hume. 
From  the  above  letter  it  will  be  seen  that  the  making  of  Victoria  Park 
and  the  dedication  ot  Primrose  Hill  to  the  use  of  the  public  “  for  ever  ’’ 
were  practically  contemporaneous.  Sir  Robert  Peel  received  Victoria 
Park  as  a  legacy'  from  Lord  iMelbourne,  and  there  was  no  unnecessary 
delay  in  giving  legislative  authority  for  crowning  the  beneficent  labours 
of  Sir  Frederick  Young  and  his  coadjutors.  It  was  found  that  the 
300  acres,  which  Mr.  George  Frederick  Young  had  told  his  son  to  try 
and  secure,  had  not  been  obtained  ;  “  but,”  said  Sir  Frederick  to  a  friend 
who  was  once  talking  to  him  about  the  struggle,  “  we  did  get  298,  which 
satisfied  us.” 
