une  2,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
467 
CAMELLIAS  IN  THE  OPEN  AIR. 
The  hardiness  of  Camellias  may  be  fully  perceived  by  a  visit  to 
St.  Leonards,  Windsor,  the  residence  of  F.  T.  Barry,  Esq.,  w-hich  is 
situated  about  three  miles  from  Windsor,  and  commands  one  of  the  finest 
views  to  be  obtained  in  that  district.  In  the  pleasure  grounds,  irrespective 
of  situation,  are  planted  many  varieties  of  Camellias,  of  which  280  plants, 
ranging  from  3  to  10  feet  in  height,  occupy  a  considerable  space.  Large 
beds  have  also  been  made  for  the  reception  of  younger  plants,  and  between 
forty  to  fifty  have  been  planted  this  year.  Some  of  these  are  from  seeds 
that  ripened  in  the  open. 
The  variety  Jubilee  commenced  flowering  on  January  17th,  and 
LTnsubria  January  26th.  Morse’s  Single  White  is  a  grand  variet)',  one 
plant  carrying  flowers  fully  6  inches  across.  Imbricata  rubra,  planted 
nine  years  ago,  forms  a  splendid  specimen  10  feet  high  and  6  feet  through. 
Five  hundred  and  eighty  expanded  blooms  were  counted  on  this  plant  at 
one  time,  to  say  nothing  of  the  numerous  buds  to  follow. 
The  soil  consists  of  a  clayey  loam  with  a  mixture  of  deca3ed  leaves. 
Mr.  Brown,  the  head  gardener,  says  that  in  planting  he  makes  no 
exception  as  regards  variety,  being  fully  convinced  that  they  are 
thoroughly  hardy,  which  the  fine  habit  and  vigorous  constitution  of  the 
plants  referred  to  shows. — H,  S.,  Dorkinq. 
HARDY  FLOWERS  IN  OTHER  GARDENS. 
Rockville,  Mueeayfield. 
Aftee  visiting  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens  (page  428),  those  of 
Mr.  P.  Neill  Fraser  at  Rockville,  Murrayfield,  Edinburgh,  were  next  seen, 
and  fortunately  by  the  time  they  were  reached  the  rain  had  ceased.  Mr. 
Neill  Fraser’s  zeal  for  horticulture  is  well  known,  his  services  for  long  as 
Honorary  Treasurer,  and  now  as  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Royal 
Caledonian  Horticultural  Society,  having  done  much  to  forward  it  in  the 
North.  That  his  interest  in  gardening  is  not  confined  to  promoting  its 
advance  in  this  way  is  evidenced  by  the  garden  at  Rockville  with  its  very 
extensive  collection  of  flowers,  shrubs,  and  Ferns.  This  has  been  in 
process  of  formation  for  many  years,  its  owner  having  kept  for  about 
thirty  years  a  garden  book  containing  a  record  of  all  the  plants  added 
during  that  time.  The  garden  is  beautifully  situated  on  Corstorphine 
Hill,  and  commands  very  extensive  views.  Its  attractions  are  added  to 
by  a  sheet  of  water,  which  fills  an  old  quarry  in  the  grounds  and  forms  a 
pleasing  feature. 
The  garden  contains  a  remarkably  fine  collection  of  hardy  and  other 
Ferns.  It  was  too  early  to  see  the  outdoor  Ferns  in  their  full  beauty, 
but  anyone  who  was  an  ardent  admirer  of  such  plants  could  not  fail  to  be 
•delighted  to  see  so  many  rare  and  beautiful  genera,  species,  and  varieties. 
It  is  unfortunate  that  there  are  so  few  who  grow  large  collections  of  the 
many  exquisite  forms  of  the  Fern.  In  the  houses  were  some  fine 
specimens  of  exotic  species,  and  some  of  the  Filmy  Ferns  showed  how 
carefully  they  were  looked  after  by  Mr.  Fraser  and  his  gardener. 
Of  more  interest  to  the  writer  were  the  flowering  plants.  These  were 
in  great  numbers,  and  occupied  a  largo  space.  By  the  margin  of  the 
lake  is  an  admirably  constructed  rock  garden,  where  many  alpines  were 
coming  into  bloom.  It  was  a  little  too  early  in  the  season  to  see  them, 
but  one  could  observe  their  growth  and  their  promise  of  bloom. 
Aubrietias  were  fine,  and  some  old  waterworn  rocks  nearer  the  house 
were  prettily  draped  with  their  foliage  and  flowers.  Dwarf  Phloxes  are 
numerous,  Mr.  Neill  Fraser  having  collected  all  he  could  procure.  This, 
indeed,  seemed  to  be  the  rule  with  other  alpines.  Even  the  Cerastiums 
had  not  been  overlooked,  and  several  pretty  species  were  used  with  much 
taste  to  droop  over  the  large  stones. 
The  most  complete  collection  of  Sempervivums  I  have  ever  seen  was 
one  of  the  features  of  the  garden.  This  had  been  procured  from  the 
Continent,  and  contained  300  species  and  varieties.  Among  some  there 
was,  as  might  be  expected,  a  good  deal  of  similarity,  but  had  time 
permitted  an  hour  or  two  might  have  been  enjoyably  spent  in  studying 
these  Houseleeks.  Saxifragas  and  Sedums  were  also  very  largely 
represented.  One  might  indeed  say  the  same  of  every  genera  of  the  best 
alpines.  Hardy  Orchids,  not  always  seen  in  collections,  were  also 
numerous  and  thriving. 
Among  plants  in  flower  was  a  remarkably  beautiful  form  of  Primula 
denticulata  alba,  of  more  than  usual  puritjq  and  especially  well  formed, 
.leffersonia  diphylla  was  also  very  finely  grown,  and  several  Trilliums 
showed  every  sign  of  being  in  a  congenial  place.  T.  sessile  californicum 
was  in  flower,  and  Mr.  Neill  Fraser  pointed  out  a  Trillium  which  is 
unknown  to  most  growers,  and  has  at  present  no  recognised  name, 
although  T.  declinatum  is  suggested  for  it.  It  is  of  tall  growth  with 
pendant  white  flowers. 
Hardy  bulbs  are  very  largely  grown,  Snowdrops,  Crocuses,  Narcissi, 
Fritillarias,  Brodiasas,  and  other  genera  being  represented.  Very  fine 
was  a  border  of  Brodiaea  (Triteleia)  uniflora  close  to  the  house,  the 
superior  effect  produced  by  established  bulbs  being  observed  in  the  greater 
profusion  of  flower  they  gave  than  could  be  seen  on  those  recently  planted. 
At  the  edge  of  the  gravel  walk  they  were  very  vigorous.  Fritillaria 
citrina  was  in  flower  in  one  of  the  rock  gardens.  Shrubs  are  largely 
grown,  and  a  special  feature  of  the  garden  is  the  collection  of  Ivies, 
which  are  of  great  variety  and  interest. 
Primulas  are  favourites  ;  but  a  special  feature  is  made  of  self-coloured 
Polyanthuses,  principally  white  and  yellow  varieties.  This  is  the  strain 
referred  to  by  the  writer  in  his  remarks  on  the  one  named  John  M  ilkinson 
on  page  393  of  the  Journal,  and  it  may  safely  be  said  that  there  are  few 
strains  of  equal  merit.  The  best  flowers  obtainable  formed  its  founda¬ 
tion,  and  the  plants  produced  were  rigorously  selected,  all  inferior  varieties 
being  weeded  out.  The  result  has  been  plants  of  vigorous  habit  with 
large  pips  and  trusses,  and  remarkably  uniform  in  quality.  Some  splendid 
whites  and  deep  yellows  were  among  the  many  plants  grown,  and  one 
could  have  spent  longer  time  in  more  critical  examination.  Such  a 
garden  is  a  treat  to  an  enthusiast,  and  the  writer  hopes  to  avail  himself 
of  the  kind  invitation  to  return  to  see  the  treasures  of  Rockville, — 
S.  Aenott. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
PRIMROSES  CHANGING  COLOUR. 
I  USED  the  term  “acaulis,”  on  page  430,  as  that  more  commonly  used 
in  gardens  than  “  vulgaris,”  in  order  that  there  might  be  no  question  as 
to  the  identity  of  the  subject  in  hand,  afterwards  giving  its  correct 
botanical  nomenclature  in  reference  to  variation  of  form  and  of  colour 
by  natural  cross-fertilisation  or  hybridisation. 
“  A.  D.”  says,  page  444,  that  the  Cowslip  is  Primula  veris,  and  its  red 
form  P.  V.  rubra.  I  hold  that  the  nomenclature  given  on  page  430  is 
correct,  and  that  of  your  correspondent  indefinite,  P.  veris  being  a  mere 
svn.  of  P.  officinalis,  and  P.  v.  rubra  of  “A.  D.”  identical  with 
P.  variabilis.  I  must  also  demur  to  the  dictum  of  the  Oxlip  being  but  a 
large  coloured  form  of  the  Cowslip,  for  there  is  no  colour  but  yellow  in 
the  true  P.  elatior,  a  much  more  uncommon  species  than  P.  variabilis, 
the  parent  of  the  Polyanthus, 
I  must  also  take  exception  to  “A.  D.’s”  deduction  of  the  change 
of  colour  in  my  Primroses  being  due  to  the  presence  of  iron  or  some 
other  mineral  ingredient  in  the  soil  without  further  proof,  for  on  the 
same  formation  all  the  wild  Primroses  are  of  the  true  “primrose”  colour 
in  their  several  generations,  never  being  affected  by  the  natural  agents 
of  cross-fertilisation.  In  the  first  generation  the  seedlings  come  coloured 
in  gardens.  Will  “A.  D,”  explain  that  phenomena  ? 
Iron  soils  are  “rare,”  says  “A.  D.,”  but  no  soil  can  be  or  is  devoid 
of  iron  for  the  successful  growth  of  any  plant.  Besides,  how  comes  the 
grass  to  be  devoid  of  iron,  and  the  bare  soil  to  show  abundance  or 
sufficient  to  change  the  colour  of  both  the  Primroses  and  Cowslips,  the 
first  in  plants  and  the  latter  in  the  seedlings  ?  According  to  analj'sis 
grass  land  contains  more  iron  than  arable,  therefore  the  iron  doctrine 
falls  to  the  ground,  as  the  iron  itself  has  no  influence  whatever  on  the 
colour  of  Primrose  flowers  or  otherwise,  for  they  cannot  be  found 
coloured  on  soils  where  the  water  passing  from  them  is  red  with  oxide 
of  iron.  I  threw  out  the  hint  in  that  direction  simply  to  induce  some  of 
your  able  chemically  instructed  correspondents  to  enter  the  lists,  but  I 
am  afraid  very  little  is  known  of  the  subject  upon  any  sure  foundation. 
Half  a  century  ago  I  planted  some  wild  Primroses  in  my  father’s  garden* 
and  these  all  came  coloured  in  flower  the  following  season,  while  those 
on  the  hedgebanks,  in  copses,  and  woods  remained  primrose.  The  soil 
there  was  alluvial,  but  of  the  new  red  sandstone  formation.  Twenty-five 
years  back  I  took  hundreds  from  the  woods  and  placed  the  plants  in  the 
garden  then  in  my  charge.  The  flowers  all  came  rosy’  lilac  the  following 
year,  and  the  seedlings  from  them  were  still  moi’e  highly  and  variedly 
coloured.  That  was  on  the  lias  formation,  where  all  the  Primroses  in 
the  glades,  copses,  and  woods  were  “primrose.”  Why  the  variation  of 
colour  in  even  seedlings  of  transferred  Primroses,  and  no  change  of 
colour  in  the  wildings  of  the  square  miles  of  country  around  ? 
I  may  also  say  that  I  have  had  “  hands  ”  transferring  Primrose  roots 
by’  the  thousand  from  hedgebanks,  copses,  and  woods  to  similar  positions 
by'  woodland  walks  and  glades,  but  have  never  found  a  single  instance  of 
change  of  colour,  and  that  in  five  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  in 
two  instances  in  towns.  On  cultivated  soils  only  do  the  variations  occur, 
either  in  the  plants  first  introduced  or  in  their  progeny  of  the  first 
generation,  and  so  far  from  the  change  being  “  rare,”  I  find  it  invariable, 
and  not  unknown  even  in  the  Thames  Valley.  “  A.  D.”  admits  coloured 
seedlings  ;  but  to  what  docs  he  attribute  the  change  1  Cross- fertilisation 
will  not  do,  for  the  same  agents  must  exist  around  as  well  as  within  the 
precincts  of  the  ground  containing  the  transferred  plants,  and  on  this 
point  I  think  matter  for  ser.ious  digestion  and  practical  value  might 
usefully  be  adduced  by  your  numerous  correspondents. 
Allow  me  to  assure  “  A.  D.”  that  I  am  neither  troubled  by  a  bad  nor 
convenient  memory,  and  cannot  help  facts  being  indelibly  impressed  on 
my  mind.  Though  differing  from  “A.  D.”  on  the  point  in  question  I  all 
the  same  appreciate  his  many  interesting  notes,  and  wish  other  practical 
men  would  follow'  his  example  in  contributing  such  varied  material  to  the 
pages  of  “  our  Journal.” — St.  Albans. 
[In  an  Oak  wood  of  many  acres  in  which  the  ground  is  carpeted  with 
Primroses  we  have  occasionally  come  across  a  plant,  perhaps  one  out  of  a 
million,  with  dark  coloured  flowers.  We  have  seen  numbers  of  plants 
with  similar  flowers  in  cottage  gardens  borne  by  plants  alleged  to  have 
been  brought  from  the  woods  of  the  common  Primrose.  This  change  is 
fully  believed  in  by  numbers  of  cottagers,  but  of  the  assumed  fact  we  have 
personally  no  verification.  In  Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson’s  interesting  woodland 
garden  in  Surrey  w'e  have  seen  countless  thousands  of  yellow  and  buff 
Polyanthuses  on  one  side  of  a  road  and  coloured  forms  on  the  other  side. 
There  is  presumably  the  same  quantity  of  iron  in  the  soil  on  both  sides, 
and  this  considerable,  judging  by  the  redness  of  the  water  in  the  open 
drains  or  ditches.  Mr.  Wilson’s  opinion  would  carry  weight  on  the 
subject  in  question,] 
