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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
April  14,  1898. 
Monday,  and  Derby  days,  but  these  were  voted  a  nuisance  and  abolished 
in  1873.  A  year  later  the  Enclosure  Commissioners  for  England  and 
Wales  certified  a  scheme  for  placing  the  common  under  the  Metropolitan 
Board  of  Works.  A  sum  of  £17,000  was  expended  in  buying  up  certain 
rights,  and  a  mandate  issued  forbidding  from  that  time  the  cutting  of  turf, 
digging  of  gravel,  and  shooting  of  rubbish.  An  avenue  of  young  trees 
was  planted  and  three  fine  ponds  made  during  the  draining  of  the  ground, 
hut  its  rustic  simplicity  was  thought  sufiBcient  without  any  ornamental 
gardening. 
The  exposed  position  of  the  common  has  made  it  the  victim  of  many 
storms,  and  any  trees  of  historical  interest  have  long  since  been  swept 
away.  One  ruined  stump  to  the  north-east  of  the  common  may,  however, 
be  associated  with  Thomas  Babington  Macaulay,  who  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  childhood  in  a  house  but  a  few  yards  from  it,  near  to  the 
Plough  Inn.  Under  its  sweeping  branches  the  studious  boy  would 
have  indulged  in  many  of  his  waking  dreams  of  “  Robinson  Crusoe.” 
The  County  Council,  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  Board  of  Works, 
have  added  a  roomy  bandstand,  which  is  a  great  source  of  attraction  to 
youths  of  the  district  on  Sunday  evenings,  and  they  have  further  greatly 
extended  the  opportunities  for  football  and  cricket.  It  was  here  some 
American  enthusiasts  made  a  few  years  back  a  determined  attempt 
to  popularise  the  game  of  baseball,  despite  the  derisive  remarks  on  the 
man  in  armour  who  acted  as  “wicket  keeper.”  Clapham  is  supposed  to 
have  derived  its  name  from  Osgood  Clapha,  the  Danish  lord,  at  whose 
marriage  feast  Hardicanute  died.  The  district,  and  undoubtedly  the 
common,  too,  has  associations,  beside  Macaulay,  of  Pepys,  who  often 
stayed  there  with  his  friend  Gauden,  and  of  Mr.  William  Wilberforce,  M.P., 
the  distinguished  philanthropist  and  father  of  Bishop  Wilberforce. 
Ancient  and  honoured,  Greenwich  Park  is  still  one  of  the  most 
charming  resorts  in  the  district  of  London.  Peter  the  Great  was  not 
wholly  a  barbarian  when  he  wondered  why  Dutch  William  did  not 
have  his  royal  palace  there,  not  knowing  that  it  was  long  a  royal 
residence.  When  Greenwich  Park  was  first  enclosed  by  Humphrey, 
Duke  of  Gloucester,  m  1433,  Greenwich  was  “a  prosperous  town  in 
Kent,  five  miles  from  London.”  The  duke  erected  a  palace,  which  he 
called  Placentia.  This  was  enlarged  by  Henry  VII.  and  completed  by 
Henry  VIII.  Here  Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth  were  born,  and 
here  Edward  VI.,  who  just  lived  long  enough  to  found  the  Bluecoat 
School,  died.  Mr.  T.  Miller,  in  his  ‘Picturesque  Sketches  of  London,” 
thus  writes  of  the  park:  “What  scenes  these  aged  Hawthorns  have 
looked  upon.  They  are  the  ancient  foresters  of  the  chase,  and  many  of 
them  have  stood  here  through  the  wintry  storms  of  past  centuries,  and 
were  gnarled  and  knotted  and  stricken  with  age  long  before  Evelyn 
planned  and  planted  those  noble  rows  of  Chestnuts  and  Elms.  Below, 
between  the  plain  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  the  river,  stood  the  old 
palace  of  Greenwich,  in  which  Henry  VIII.  held  his  revels,  and  where 
Edward  VI.,  the  boy  king,  breathed  his  last.  That  ancient  palace  was,  no 
doubt,  rich  with  the  spoils  of  many  a  plundered  abbey  and  ruined 
monastery.  ...  On  this  hill,  again.  Cardinal  Wolsey  may  have 
meditated  with  all  his  blushing  honours  thick  upon  him.  Katharine, 
the  broken-hearted  queen,  may  here  have  reined  in  her  palfrey,  or  from 
this  aged  Hawthorn  have  torn  off  a  sprig  when  fragrant  and  white  with 
Mayblossom,  as  now,  and  have  presented  it  with  a  smile  to  the  royal 
savage  who  rode  beside  her.  On  yonder  plain,  where  so  many  happy 
faces  are  now  seen,  in  former  days  the  tournament  was  held.  There 
gaudy  galleries  were  erected,  over  which  youth  and  beauty  leant  as  they 
waved  their  embroidered  scarves.  We  can  almost  fancy  we  can  see  the 
crowned  tiger  smile  as  he  closes  the  visor  of  his  helmet,  bowing  his  plume 
while  he  recognises  some  fair  face  which  was  soon  to  fall  on  the  scaffold 
with  its  long  tresses  dabbled  in  blood.” 
The  Royal  palace  fared  very  badly  during  the  Civil  war,  and,  becom¬ 
ing  ruinous,  was  pulled  down  by  Charles  IL,  who  began  a  magnificent 
edifice,  and  lived  to  see  the  first  wing  finished.  The  Merry  Monarch  also 
enlarged  the  park,  bringing  it  up  to  185  acres,  walled  it  round,  planted  it 
afresh,  and  erected  a  Royal  observatory  on  the  top  of  the  hill  for  the  use 
of  the  celebrated  Elamstead.  The  observatory  occupies  the  site  of  the 
tower  commonly  called  “  Greenwich  Castle,”  which  was  built  by  Duke 
Humphrey.  It  was  constructed  in  haste,  chiefly  with  the  materials  of  the 
old  tower  and  some  waste  bricks  that  lay  available  at  Tilbury  Fort  and 
the  Tower  of  London. 
The  avenues  still  remaining  in  Greenwich  Park  are  composed  chiefly 
of  Elm  and  Spanish  Chestnut,  the  latter  being  mostly  confined  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  Park.  But  there  is  one  avenue  — perhaps  the  finest  — 
which,  widening  out  at  the  base  to  correspond  with  the  width  of  the 
hospital,  is  there  composed  of  Elms,  but  as  it  ascends  the  hill  is  made  up 
wholly  of  Scotch  Firs  of  an  exceedingly  picturesque  and  noble  type. 
Walking  under  these  trees  Dr.  Johnson,  who  then  had  lodgings  in  Chirrch 
Street  (it  was  1737),  composed  a  great  part  of  his  “Irene.”  “One 
Tree  Hill  ”  “  inspired  ”  George  Cruickshank  to  the  following  rhyme  in 
his  “  Comic  Almanack  ”  : — 
Then  won’t  I  have  a  precious  lark 
Down  One  Tree  Hill  in  Greenwich  Park ! 
The  significance  of  this  title  is  now  somewhat  destroyed  by  the  fact 
that  six  trees  grace  its  summit,  planted  when  the  original  soilitary  tree 
decayed.  When  the  Queen  came  to  the  throne  the  park  was  much  resorted 
to  for  fairs  on  the  Monday,  Tuesday,  and  Wednesday  of  Easter  and 
Whitsuntide  weeks.  The  fairs  have  long  been  out  of  date.  In  later  times 
the  glorious  park  has  been  unpleasantly  associated  with  an  Anarchist 
attempt,  for  it  was  here  on  February  15th,  1894,  that  the  ruflfian.  Martial 
Bourdin,  was  fatally  wounded  by  the  premature  explosion  of  a  bomb  he  had 
prepared  for  Greenwich  Observatory. — (“Lloyd’s  News.”) 
THE  YOUNG  GAHDENEHS’  DOMAIN. 
Camellias. 
These  charming  and  certainly  very  popular  evergreen  shrubs  have 
an  imposing  effect  when  well  grown  in  houses  devoted  entirely  to  their 
cultivation.  The  best  method  is  by  planting  in  specially  prepared  borders, 
although  they  may  be  grown  very  successfully  in  pots  or  boxes  if  properly 
treated. 
Camellias  delight  in  shade,  and  retain  their  flowers  three  times  as  long 
as  if  exposed  to  the  sun.  They  may  be  produced  in  abundance  for  at 
least  six  months.  Those  which  expand  early  in  the  season  are  always  of 
the  best  quality,  and  usually  last  the  longest.  Fire  heat  is  seldom 
necessary  except  to  exclude  frost,  but  when  flower  buds  are  forming  a 
genial  warmth  is  beneficial,  and  should  be  continued  until  growth  is 
completed,  when  the  house  may  be  gradually  reduced  to  its  natural 
temperature.  If  the  buds  form  in  clusters  they  must  be  thinned  out. 
Always  pay  strict  attention  to  watering  and  ventilation.  Although 
abundance  of  air  is  essential  for  the  Camellia,  cold  draughts  are  dangerous, 
and  must  be  avoided  if  possible.  During  their  growing  season  an 
occasional  application  of  weak  clear  liquid  manure  and  soot  water  may  be 
given  with  advantage.  Camellias  are  subject  to  insect  pests,  which 
should  be  diligently  sought  and  destroyed  if  good  results  are  expected. 
— J.  F.  D.,  Yorks. 
Grafting  Gros  Colman  on  a  Lady  Downe’s  Vine. 
The  Vine  Lady  Downe’s  was  twenty  years  of  age,  planted  in  an 
outside  border.  About  the  middle  of  December,  1895,  the  Vine  was  cut 
back  to  within  about  2  feet  from  its  base,  to  form  a  stock  for  grafting. 
The  following  February  the  vinery  in  which  the  stock  was  situated  was 
started.  By  the  middle  of  March  the  stock  produced  several  shoots,  the 
three  stronger  of  which  were  selected  for  grafting,  the  remainder  taken 
off.  When  the  three  young  shoots  were  about  18  inches  in  length  they 
were  grafted  with  Gros  Colman  scions,  the  split-grafting  method  being 
adopted.  One  out  of  the  three  scions  soon  united  and  started  into  growth, 
which  went  on  very  rapidly,  and  by  the  end  of  the  summer  had  formed 
a  short  jointed  well  ripened  cane.  As  soon  as  the  leaves  had  fallen  the 
cane  was  pruned  back  to  fifteen  joints  from  the  union  of  the  scion  with 
the  stock.  In  the  following  spring  the  cane  broke  very  strongly,  the 
whole  of  the  joints  starting,  and  fourteen  of  them  showed  fruit,  but  six 
only  were  allowed  to  carry  their  fruit.  As  a  result  we  had  six  bunches 
of  good  shape  and  excellent  colour,  weighing,  on  an  average,  3  lbs.  each. 
The  crop  did  not  exhaust  the  Vine  in  the  least,  as  it  looks  very  promising 
for  a  still  better  crop  this  season.  I  have  also  seen  very  good  results  by 
grafting  Gros  Colman  on  a  Foster’s  Seedling  stock,  but  rarely  on  a 
Black  Hamburgh.— A  JOURNEYMAN. 
(A  concise  description  of  successful  practice,  but  no  doubt  other 
journeymen  would  have  been  glad  if  the  condition  of  the  scions  had  been 
made  as  clear  as  the  rest  of  the  communication.] 
Fuchsias. 
In  response  to  the  call  of  “  An  Old  Boy,”  on  page  226,  touching 
the  desirability  of  learning  to  use  the  pen  as  well  as  the  spade,  I,  for 
one,  venture  to  enter  the  “  Domain.”  Not  having  contributed  before, 
one  feels  a  little  uncertain  as  to  whether  one’s  efforts  will  be  crowned 
with  success  or  not  ;  but  after  so  stirring  an  appeal  it  behoves  us  to  try 
and  do  our  best. 
Fuchsias  are  not  unfrequently  neglected  in  gardens,  on  the  plea  that 
“cottagers  can  grow  them,”  and  for  that  reason  no  effort  is  made  to 
cultivate  them.  But  that  is  an  erroneous  idea,  and  one  that  should  not 
be  entertained.  The  comparatively  small  amount  of  skill  required  in  the 
cultivation  tends  to  the  detriment  of  the  Fuchsia  in  a  slight  degree  in  the 
estimation  of  some  ;  but  it  should  not  he  despised,  for  it  rivals  many  of 
its  more  favoured  associates  of  the  greenhouse  in  wealth  and  beauty  of 
flower,  and  also  in  length  of  period  of  beauty,  for  with  judicious  care  and 
forethought  plants  may  be  had  in  flower  for  three  months  out  of  the 
twelve. 
It  is  easily  propagated  by  cuttings,  which  process  is  no  doubt 
familiar  to  “  iDomain  ”  readers,  and  therefore  it  is  unnecessary  to 
enlarge  upon  it.  Although  not  a  common  practice,  Fuchsia.s  can  be 
grown  from  seeds  every  year.  Sow  in  heat  in  January  or  February, 
and  when  large  enough  to  handle  prick  the  seedlings  round  the  edges 
of  3-inch  pots,  moving  as  required  until  the  final  size  is  reached.  Shade 
and  moisture  are  essential  to  their  well-doing. 
After  they  have  ceased  flowering  they  should  be  gradually  dried,  and 
stored  unc’er  the  late  vinery  staging  or  some  other  dry  place  for  the 
winter.  In  the  spring  the  plants  ought  to  be  repotted  and  grown  again. 
They  should  have  a  frame  to  themselves,  and  he  kept  moist  and  well 
syringed  on  bright  days.  A  light  top-dressing  of  rich  compost  or  some 
approved  artificial  manure  is  beneficial  just  before  they  commence  flower¬ 
ing,  and  they  should  also  have  occasional  applications  of  liquid  manure, 
for  the  Fuchsia  is  a  gross  feeder,  and  must  have  abundance  of  food.  They 
can  be  grown  year  after  year,  and  by  raising  young  plants,  and 
throwing  the  old  ones  away,  a  continual  supply  of  useful  stock  will  be  the 
result.  Green  fly  is  the  worst  enemy  to  Fuchsias,  and  as  soon  as  it 
makes  its  appearance  the  plants  should  be  promptly  fumigated. — A.  E. 
[Men  who  do  not  “  try  ”  cannot  expect  to  succeed  ;  those  who  will  to 
excel  in  anything  can  only  do  so  by  intelligent  practice  and 
perseverance.] 
