July  7.  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER . 
11 
distinct  foliage  also  give  them  relief.  In  borders  round  shrubberies  it  is 
rather  a  mistake  to  have  alternate  plots  of  Hyacinths  and  Tulips,  because 
the  former  are  fading  before  the  latter  are  fully  out,  and  dead  Hyacinth 
spikes  in  contrast  with  the  Tulip  flowers  have  a  very  objectionable 
appearance.  The  only  way  in  which  these  bulbs  can  be  seen  to  advantage 
is  when  massed  in  large  beds,  as  they  are  between  the  carriage  drive  and 
Park  Lane  from  the  Marble  Arch  to  Grosvenor  Gate.  Brilliant  is  the 
only  term  that  will  adequately  describe  the  Tulips,  and  in  a  long  experience 
I  have  never  seen  the  beds  more  even  and  showy. 
The  most  notable  of  the  earlier  Tulips  were  chiefly  old  favourites 
that  are  yet  unsurpassed  for  bedding  purposes.  The  richly  coloured 
Keizers  Kroon,  for  instance,  was  magnificent  in  several  beds,  the 
charming  rose-and-white  .Toost  Van  Vondel  was  another,  and  the  sub¬ 
stantial  handsome  deep  rose  Proserpine  was  similarly  notable.  Ophir 
d’Or  is  an  excellent  dwarf  bright  yellow  variety,  one  of  the  best  of  its 
class.  Leonardo  da  Vinci  is  a  telling  colour,  a  rich  orange  red  ;  Samson 
has  a  rather  small  flower,  but  very  bright  red  ;  and  Dussart  is  a  rich 
scarlet,  but  later  than  the  others,  the  yellow  Tournesol  being  the  only 
noteworthy  double  variety.  Beds  of  mixed  Tulips  have  a  pleasing  effect ; 
one  in  which  Proserpine  and  Keizers  Kroon  were  mixed  was  a  surprise, 
for  I  should  not  have  expected  these  two  varieties  to  look  so  well  together. 
A  mixture  of  Joost  Van  Vondel  and  Narcissus  Horsefieldi  was  good, 
while  another  of  mixed  Tulips  and  Doronicum  plantagineum  exoelsum 
was  equally  attractive.  _ 
Of  other  bulbs.  Narcissus  Tazetta  Grand  Monarque  and  Chionodoxas 
formed  a  capital  bed.  Narcissus  Campemelli  with  Scilla  siberica  or 
Chionodoxas  were  equally  suitable.  Hyacinth  Lord  Derby  (pale  blue) 
and  Narcissus  maximus  formed  a  pleasing  combination  ;  but  another 
mixture  in  which  Hyacinth  Sir  H.  Barkly  (dark  blue)  was  employed  with 
Narcissus  rugilobus  was  not  so  satisfactory,  the  shade  of  blue  seeming  too 
dark  for  the  best  effect.  The  chief  Hyacinths  were  King  of  the  Blues, 
very  handsome,  the  spikes  large  and  the  colour  rich,  one  of  the  very  best 
in  the  park;  Charles  Dickens,  blue;  Madame  Van  der  Hoop,  white  ; 
Robert  Steiger,  red ;  La  Grandesse,  white ;  Pabiola,  pink ;  General 
Havelock,  blue  ;  Mont  Blanc,  white  ;  and  Lord  Macaulay,  pink,  are  all 
old  favourites,  and  when  fresh  highly  effective. 
With  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  Victoria  Park,  there  is  scarcely  one 
of  the  London  parks  which  shows  so  many  improvements  in  recent  years 
as  that  at  Battersea.  In  many  respects  it  is  admirably  situated,  especially 
for  dry  seasons,  and  the  proximity  to  the  river  with  the  moist  air  no 
doubt  accounts  to  a  great  extent  for  the  vigorous  development  of  many 
trees  and  shrubs.  It  is  an  ideal  park  in  every  respect,  and  an  inestimable 
boon  to  a  populous  district,  There  were  several  fine  beds  of  bulbs,  but 
two  circles  of  Narcissus  maximus  surpassed  any  that  I  have  seen  this 
year ;  the  flowers  large,  of  the  richest  golden  yellow,  and  as  even  as 
possible.  Another  bed  of  Narcissus  Emperor  was  a  near  rival,  the  flowers 
excellent  in  size,  shape,  and  colour.  By  far  the  most  notable  object  in  the 
park  at  the  time  of  my  visit  was  a  large  tree  of  the  pure  white  double 
Cherry,  labelled  Cerasus  multiplex,  on  the  road  from  the  pier  to  the  lake. 
The  tree  is  about  25  feet  high,  with  a  well  developed  head,  and  it  was 
loaded  with  its  large  pendant  flowers,  which  had  a  beautiful  effect  viewed 
from  below.  I  have  known  this  tree  for  some  years,  and  many  a  time  I 
have  seen  it  flowering  profusely,  but  never  better  I  think  than  this  season. 
Why  the  double  Cherries  are  not  more  frequently  planted  in  shrubberies  it 
is  difficult  to  understand,  they  rank  amongst  the  best  of  our  flowering  trees. 
If  duties  permit  I  may  trouble  the  Editor  with  a  few  more  notes  of  my 
journey  another  week,  for  there  is  much  in  my  book  that  has  not  been 
dealt  with  in  this  letter. — A  Countryman. 
Boys’  Flower  Gardens. — “  Come  over  and  see  our  boys’  gardens  ’ 
was  the  invitation  that  came  to  me  from  that  enthusiastic  gardener, 
the  Superintendent  of  the  Police  Orphanage  at  Twickenham,  for 
Saturday  last.  There  was  to  be  a  great  function  on  that  day  with  a  royal 
Duke  and  Duchess  there.  I  accepted  and  went  over,  finding  the  boys’ 
gardens  in  one  corner  of  the  grounds.  There  are  forty-two  of  them,  all 
oblong  in  form,  having  brick  on  edge  edgings,  and  between  them  broad 
gravel  walks  lengthwise  and  narrower  ones  crosswise.  They  are  in  three 
lines.  I  was  rather  disappointed  with  these  gardens,  because  they  seemed 
to  show  so  little  of  initiative  on  the  part  of  the  workers.  Each  plot  was 
10  feet  by  18  feet,  and  the  older  lads  who  attend  to  them  have  charge  for 
two  years  ;  then  when  these  leave  the  school  the  gardens  come  to  other 
lads,  who  again  repeat  the  attention  previously  shown.  Each  garden  has 
two  or  three  standard  Rose  trees,  various  and  generally  too  tall,  and  large 
clumps  of  hardy  flowers,  some  a  yard  over.  Some  smaller  things,  such 
as  Sedum  acre,  Pinks,  Sweet  Williams,  and  common  hardy  plants,  with 
a  few  annuals  and  tender  plants,  and  wj  th  many  far  too  much  Golden 
Feather.  Every  garden  was  neatly  kept ;  but  that  was  in  each  case  the 
chief  feature.  Generally  they  were  a  long  way  behind  in  interest,  in 
cropping,  and  culture  the  boys’  gardens  found  so  widely  distributed  in  the 
county  of  Surrey.  Of  course,  the  boys  who  go  out  from  this  Institution 
are  well  educated  and  trained  in  various  ways,  and  then  apprenticed  ;  but 
if  they  find  little  use  for  gardening  knowledge  in  after  life,  no  doubt  a 
taste  for  it  follows  them  all  the  same.  The  gardens  had  been,  previous 
to  my  seeing  them,  judged  by  some  of  the  Managers.  It  would  have 
been  fairer  to  the  lads  to  have  asked  some  gardener  to  undertake  the 
duty.  Out  in  the  kitchen  gardens  the  crops  were  excellent ;  but  these 
are  under  qualified  gardeners. — Wanderer. 
f'C  H 
National  Chrysanthemum  Society. 
The  annual  outing  will  take  place  on  Monday,  July  25th,  1898.  The 
outing,  which  will  this  year  take  the  form  of  a  trip  to  Harwich  by  Great 
Eastern  rail,  a  water  trip  from  Harwich  along  the  picturesque  Orwell  to 
Ipswich  and  back,  returning  from  Harwich  by  rail  in  the  evening.  The 
general  manager  of  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  Hotel,  Liverpool  Stieet, 
has  entered  into  a  contract  to  convey  the  company  throughout  the 
entire  journey  by  rail  and  water,  providing  dinner  and  tea  at  the  Great 
Eastern  Railway  Hotel.  Harwich.  The  charge  for  the  day,  including  rail, 
boat,  dinner,  and  tea  will  be  10s.  6d.  to  members,  and  11s.  to  non  members. 
A  special  train  ot  saloon  carriages,  and  one  of  the  splendid  saloon  steam 
ships  of  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  Company  will  be  placed  at  the  service 
of  the  party,  provided  a  guarantee  can  be  given  for  250  persons.  The 
exclusive  use  of  these  modes  of  conveyance  would  greatly  promote  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  the  company. 
As  one  or  two  of  our  affiliated  societies  are  desirous  of  taking  part  in 
the  trip,  this  preliminary  circular  is  issued  in  the  hope  that  by  the 
participation  in  the  trip  of  affiliated  societies,  and  by  members  exerting 
themselves  to  dispose  of  tickets,  the  number  stated  above  may  be 
secured.  Bona  fide  members  of  affiliated  societies  will  be  charged  for  the 
trip  at  the  same  rate  as  members  at  the  N.C.S.  It  is  certain  that  the 
catering  will  be  most  satisfactory,  and  should  the  weather  prove  un¬ 
favourable,  the  protection  on  the  steam  ship  will  be  found  ample.  Should 
the  required  number  of  250  not  be  obtained,  the  party  will  have  to  travel 
by  ordinary  trains  and  steam  boats.  A  complete  programme  of  the 
day’s  arrangements,  together  with  menus  for  dinner  and  tea  is  in  course 
of  preparation,  and  a  copy  will  be  furnished  to  every  person  taking  part 
in  the  trip. — Richard  Dean,  Ealing,  London ,  W. 
[It  will  be  difficult  we  suspect  for  chrysanthemists  and  others  to 
spend  a  day  affording  equal  pleasure  from  the  outlay  involved,  and  it  is- 
hoped  the  number  desired  will  be  forthcoming.] 
Chrysanthemums  from  Seed  in  Australia. 
For  the  information  of  those  who  have  not  had  the  opportunity  or 
taken  the  trouble  to  keep  the  seed  of  different  varieties  separate,  it  may 
be  interesting  to  know  the  extraordinary  variations  in  types  and  colours 
obtained  from  one  variety. 
Types  Reversed  with  Reed  from  Incurveds. — Last  year  I  obtained  seed 
from  a  bed  of  incurved  varieties  that  were  growing  near  a  bed  of 
Japanese.  I  raised  upwards  of  fifty  plants  which  are  now  (May  17th) 
flowering,  and,  strange  to  say,  not  one  could  I  class  as  Chinese  incurved, 
although  I  have  one  or  two  very  promising  Japanese  varieties  from  them. 
Seed  from  G.  W.  Childs. — A  number  of  seedlings  saved  from  G.  W. 
Childs,  which  is  also  flowering,  do  not  resemble  the  parent  in  the  type  of 
petal,  and  yet  they  more  or  less  give  the  same  type  of  foliage.  A  few 
that  are  similar  in  colour  have  a  gold  reverse,  the  others  are  composed  of 
various  shades  of  rose,  yellow,  and  white  —  one  of  the  latter  being  of 
the  purest  white  Japanese  incurved. 
Seed  from  E.  Molyneux. — A  large  number  of  seedlings  from  E.  Moly- 
neux  have  given  a  variety  of  forms,  a  fair  number  being  of  a  dwarf  habit 
with  extraordinary  large  foliage,  but  not  one  approaching  the  parent  in 
colour,  and  any  darks  obtained  were  colours  that  faded  before  the  flowers 
were  half  expanded.  About  one-fifth  were  yellows  and  about  one-tenth 
dirty-looking  whites,  with  the  usual  mixture  of  very  pale  pinks.  A  fair 
number  of  the  petals  incurved. 
Seed  from  Lady  T.  Lawrence. — From  Lady  T.  Lawrence  they  were 
principally  white  and  primrose,  one  clear  yellow,  and  several  of  pale  pink 
colours,  the  foliage  in  most  cases  being  very  similar  to  the  parent,  some 
much  dwarfer,  and  a  few  very  tall. 
I  mention  three  as  a  guide  that  will  apply  to  many  other  varieties  of 
the  same  colour. 
Dark  Varieties  Have  a  Tendency  to  give  Lighter  Shades. — My  experience 
has  convinced  me  that  darks  have  a  decided  tendency  to  give  lighter 
shades,  although  they  may  be  fertilised  with  dark  varieties,  and  that  will 
probably  account  for  so  many  dark  varieties  having  a  tendency  to  fade 
prematurely  ;  and  although  all  dark  varieties  will  give  a  fair  percentage  of 
lights,  I  have  not  yet  obtained  one  dark  from  seed  saved  from  whites  or 
yellows,  and,  further,  there  is  not  the  same  variations  in  the  foliage  from 
seed  of  the  two  latter  colours. 
Chrysanthemums  in  Victoria,  Season  1898. 
Chrysanthemums,  on  the  whole,  have  been  quite  equal  to  any  previous 
season.  The  best  varieties,  as  noted  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  also 
apply  here  to  a  great  extent,  but  those  having  full  centres  naturally  are 
most  favoured  by  growers  who  depend  solely  upon  the  open  ground  for 
their  blooms,  such  varieties  as  Viviand  Morel  and  Col.  W.  B.  Smith  being 
very  reliable,  but  such  as  Mons.  Panckoucke,  E.  Molyneux,  and  Pride 
of  Madford  are  seldom  seen  to  advantage  as  exhibition  blooms. — Thos. 
POCKETT. 
[We  are  very  much  obliged  to  Mr.  Pockett  for  his  interesting  notes. 
It  will  be  observed  that  Chrysanthemums  are  in  accord  with  the  motto  of 
