August  24,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
171 
LIVERPOOL  NOTES. 
Sir  John  Willox,  M.P.,  on  “Gardening.” 
This  popular  gentleman,  at  the  opening  of  the  recent  Huy  ton  and 
Roby  Show,  said  that  even  those  who  had  a  small  knowledge  of  flowers, 
fruits,  and  vegetables  would  realise  that  there  was  a  common  universal 
instinct  in  human  nature  to  cultivate  land.  Even  young  children  showed 
an  eager  desire  to  have  a  little  patch  of  garden  for  themselves  ;  they 
watched  it  with  care,  and  were  delighted  with  the  results.  That  instinct 
was  common,  and  it  developed  with  maturer  years.  He  was  sure  that 
everyone  must  feel  that  just  as  we  tend  and  cultivate  things  of  beauty 
and  of  utility  in  Nature,  so  should  we  be  elevated  and  improved  in  moral 
and  social  tone. 
Exhibitions  of  this  kind  encouraged  a  spirit  of  emulation,  not  only  to 
excel,  but  to  have  a  knowledge  that  in  that  excelling  there  was  great  and 
useful  reward.  The  culiivation  of  flowers  in  this  country  had  of  late 
years  been  wonderfully  developed,  and  while  we  grew  and  improved  the 
indigenous  flora  of  our  country,  we  were  roost  enterprising  importers 
from  every  quarter  of  the  world.  The  flora  of  England  had  been  much 
enriched  as  a  result  of  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  our  naturalists  and 
nurserymen.  He  spoke  most  cordially  on  the  growing  success  of  cottage 
and  allotment  gardening,  saying  that  of  all  the  duties  he  had  to  perform 
he  claimed  the  present  as  one  of  the  most  beneficent,  practical,  and 
humanising. 
Throughout  Sir  John's  remarks  met  wuth  the  heartiest  applause.  In 
asking  for  this  short  space,  I  do  it  with  the  hcpe  that  the  weighty  words 
of  many  other  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  kindly  open  our  exhibitions  may 
be  briefly  recorded,  and  that  too,  I  feel  sure,  with  much  benefit  to  readers. 
English  Iris. 
During  recent  years  the  run  on  the  beautiful  Spanish  Iris  has  been 
simply  enormous,  but  too  few  realise  how  charming  and  lasting  are  the 
varieties  of  English  Iris  if  only  given  a  sound  compost  of  loam,  leaf  soil, 
decayed  manure,  and  silver  sand  to  grow  in.  No  one  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  grows  them  better  than  Mr.  Cromwell,  the  head  gardener  at 
Cleveley,  Allerton,  the  residence  of  T.  Sutton  Timmis,  Esq.  A  bed 
slightly  protected  from  the  sun’s  rays  by  a  covering  of  tiffany  was  a  week 
or  two  ago  one  of  the  daintiest  sights  one  could  wish  to  see,  all  colours  of 
blue,  purple,  and  white  being  in  evidence,  as  well  as  others  difficult  to 
define.  With  such  a  demand  for  cut  flowers  no  wonder  Mr.  Cromwell 
looks  well  in  advance,  and  in  this  case  the  selection  was  to  the  point,  as 
they  were  just  succeeding  a  grand  bed  of  the  Spanish  varieties,  w  hich  I 
also  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  in  their  full  beauty. 
Carnation  Raising  in  Liverpool. 
“  Honour  where  honour  is  due.”  so  runs  the  motto  ;  and  few  persons 
would  hesitate  in  joining  with  me  in  giving  a  first  and  foremost  place  to 
Mr.  C.  A.  Young,  F.R.H.S.,  the  respected  proprietor  of  the  Floral 
Nursery,  West  Derby,  Liverpool,  for  bis  untiring  energy  in  the  culture 
of  the  Carnation  in -pots.  Until  Mr.  Young  appeared  on  the  scene  there 
was  scarcely  any  place  in  the  kingdom  more  backward  in  Carnation 
culture  ;  but  he,  with  characteristic  determination,  perceived  the  want, 
and  lost  no  time  in  setting  to  work  to  master  the  culture  of  perhaps  the 
most  difficult  type — viz.,  the  Malmaison. 
Soon  indeed  were  the  beauty  of  “  Young’s  Malmaisons  ”  recognised, 
and  from  small  beginnings  several  houses  were  soon  needed  to  accommo- 
date  the  splendid  stock  with  the  almost  “electric  blue  ”  of  the  foliage, 
and  without  a  trace  of  rust.  Other  varieties  were  taken  in  hand  with 
the  same  success,  readers  knowing  them  so  well  as  to  make  me  refrain  from 
adding  further  praise.  One  would  have  almost  thought  that  in  Liverpool 
the  zenith  had  been  reached,  but  on  a  visit  to  the  West  Derby  Show,  I 
was  astonished  to  find  a  fine  new  span-roofed  house  70  feet  long  contain¬ 
ing  4000  plants.  On  inspection  I  found  that  hundreds  were  already 
fertilised,  for  as  Mr.  Young  said  he  did  not  see  why  the  work  should  not 
succeed  in  Liverpool  as  elsewhere,  and  that  having  bought  some  of  the 
latest  and  best  from  Messrs.  Benary,  Douglas,  and  Martin  R.  Smith,  he 
intended  to  make  no  half-hearted  start. 
At  Woolton  Wood. 
On  paying  a  visit  recently  to  the  above  beautiful  residence  of 
Holbrook  Gaskell,  Esq.,  J.P.,  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  improvement 
in  the  Orchid  department,  and  Mr.  Todd  is  to  be  complimented  upon  it. 
The  splendid  Coelogynes  were  making  grand  growth,  and  the  Masdevallias, 
which  were  just  going  over,  pave  indication  of  the  fine  harvest  of  flower 
that  had  been  gathered.  In  flower  was  the  quaint  but  handsome 
Utricularia  monrana,  growing  in  baskets  suspended  from  the  roof. 
Dendrobium  Deari  showed  excellent  culture,  as  did  the  charming  Thunia 
alba.  Yandas  and  Cypripediums  in  variety  were  to  be  seen  on  all  hands, 
but  certainly  the  great  attraction  was  the  house  of  the  charming  Odonto- 
glossum  (Millonia)  vexillariunn,  perfectly  'flowered  and  in  faultless  con¬ 
dition  as  regards  health.  This  is  one  of  those  Orchids  too  often  seen 
dragging  out  an  existence,  so  that  when  one  comes  across  such  a  choice 
collection  as  this  it  makes  the  recording  of  the  fact  a  double  pleasure. 
A  natural  fernery  is  to  be  seen,  the  specimen  Tree  Ferns  are  quite  up  to 
the  roof,  and  how  thev  would  expand  if  more  room  could  be  allowed 
cannot  be  surmised.  Underneath  is  carpeted  with  smaller  species,  but 
nothing  more  interesting  than  the  magnificent  Todeas,  which  have  with¬ 
out  doubt  found  a  congenial  home, 
Griselina  littoralis. 
This  is  one  of  the  hardiest  and  handsomest  evergreen  shrubs  that 
we  have,  yet  scarcely  ever  seen  in  abundance.  When  visiting  the  well- 
kept  nursery  grounds  of  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons,  Newtownards,  I 
was  obliged  to  stop  and  admire  the  large  breadth  of  this  light  green  shrub 
with  its  thick  oral  leaves  and  erect  growth,  and  was  told  that  it  would 
stand  the  hardest  of  winters,  and  for  town  work  and  as  lawn  specimens  it 
could  not  be  surpassed.  The  latter  part  of  the  statement  I  can  vouch  for, 
owing  to  our  paying  a  visit  to  Lord  Londonderry’s  charming  Mount 
Stewart  estate,  where,  at  the  instigation  of  Lady  Londonderry,  this 
Griselina  had  been  dotted  about  as  single  specimens,  several  being  some 
7  feet  in  height  and  of  perfect  pyramidal  form.  Against  choice  Coniferse 
they  hold  their  own  by  reason  of  their  distinct  appearance. 
Small  plants  brought  over  have  done  well  here,  and  make  a  contrast 
to  the  somewhat  limited  number  of  shrubs  that  thrive  freely  with  us. 
In  the  Liverpool  Parks. 
With  the  exception  of  the  improvements  recently  carried  out  in  many 
of  our  Liverpool  parks,  little  has  been  said  about  the  excellent  culture  of 
some  of  the  most  popular  of  our  flowering  plants,  which  are  grouped 
together  and  publicly  displayed  for  the  benefit  of  the  population.  Time 
was,  and  that  not  long  ago,  when  the  visitors  might  be  counted  in  small 
numbers,  but  since  the  generous  gifts  of  Mr.  Yates  Thompson  a  new  era 
seems  to  have  been  entered  upon,  and  thousands  may  be  seen  eager  to 
view  the  delights  and  beauties  of  the  floral  creation. 
I  hope  from  time  to  time  to  be  able  to  send  a  few  short  notes,  the  first 
of  which  are  on  the  Cannas,  Begonias,  and  Liliums  in  Sefton  Park.  In 
dealing  with  the  Cannas  it  may  be  at  once  said  that  they  are  a  striking 
success,  every  variety  of  note  being  grown,  flowered,  and  so  correctly 
labelled  as  to  make  the  selection  of  varieties  a  very  simple  matter.  It  is 
only  where  so  many  are  grown  that  one  is  able  to  choose  the  very  best. 
The  house  in  which  they  are  arranged  is  well  adapted  for  their  culture, 
beiDg  about  120  feet  long  end  some  20  feet  wide,  and  with  rather  a  flat 
pitch  of  roof.  Throughout  the  wide  centre  stage  is  fully  occupied  with 
them,  and  w  ere  it  only  for  the  bronze,  purple,  or  green  foliage  this  would 
be  well  worth  seeing. 
But  that  is  not  the  only  condition  to  look  at,  for  I  cannot  call  to  mind 
plants  so  well  cultivated  in  pots  or  r.o  superbly  flowered,  the  effect  being 
a  mass  of  colour  of  the  richest  shades.  Of  the  best  I  noted  in  the  green¬ 
leaved  section — E.  Mieg.  a  deep  cerise,  with  very  broad  petals  ;  Comte 
H.  de  Choiseul.  beautiful  cerise  purple,  large  truss  ;  Miss  Sarah  Hill, 
scarlet  edged  with  gold,  very  free  ;  Doyen  Jean  Liabaud,  orange  speckled 
deep  cinnamon,  immense  truss  :  L.  E.  Bally,  canary  yellow,  maroon 
spots,  distinct  :  Kaiser  Wilhelm  II.,  brilliant  scarlet,  very  good  ;  Mrs. 
Fairman  Rogprs,  a  great  improvement  on  Madame  Crozv  ;  Rose  Unique, 
very  dwarf  habit ;  Progression,  richest  orange,  heavy  crimson  spots  of 
the  freest  character,  most  handsome  ;  and  Florence  Vaughan, 
which  is  without  doubt  a  gem  in  every  way,  the  rich  yellow  ground 
and  intense  crimson  spots  showing  to  perfection.  The  giant  section 
was  splendidly  represented,  the  two  standing  out  most  prominently  being 
Austria,  with  almost  self  coloured  blooms  of  the  clearest  canary 
yellow.  The  flowers  are  large,  and  it  is  a  great  advance.  Italia 
with  its  fine  spikes  of  intense  scarlet  flowers  and  broad  yellow  edge, 
most  telling.  The  above  are  all  quite  worthy  of  inclusion  in  any 
selection. 
The  Begonias,  numbering  700  or  800  plants  in  7-inch  pots,  were  arranged 
on  the  side  stages,  and  formed  a  brilliant  contrast,  their  dwarf  habit,  large 
flowers,  and  innumerable  shades  of  colour,  equaling  anything  hitherto 
seen  in  any  part.  In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Herbert,  the  chief  of  the  parks, 
I  was  courteously  shown  round  by  Mr.  Samuel  Moore,  who  has  charge 
of  the  glass  in  this  department,  and  who  deserves  every  commendation 
for  good  work  done.  Leaving  here  I  was  soon  in  tight  <f  the  Palm 
house,  which  on  entering  presented  a  beautiful  appearance.  It  was- 
evidently  the  time  of  Lilies,  circular  groups  of  well  flowered  L.  album 
Ivraetzeri  and  L.  Melpomene  arranged  on  the  wide  paths,  the  base  com¬ 
posed  of  Maidenhair  Fern  with  white  and  crimson  Gloxinias  dotted  here 
and  there,  being  most  convincing.  Ttie  greater  group  was  all  L.  auratum, 
nnd  chaste  and  beautiful  they  looked  against  the  yrand  folioge  plants, 
Mr.  White,  who  superintends  here,  is  to  be  complimented. — R.  P.  R. 
ONION  CULTURE. 
I  WAS  very  pleased  with  Mr.  R.  P.  Brotherston’s  lucid  and  practical 
note  on  this  subject,  as  although  I  have  no  wish  to  again  open  the  subject 
of  raising  this  crop  under  glass  in  preference  to  sowing  in  the  open,  it  is,  I 
suppose,  always  satisfactory  to  a  writer  to  find  his  observations  con¬ 
firmed.  Fighting  the  maggot,  as  I  have  repeatedly  pointed  out  in  the 
gardening  press,  is  much  easier  under  the  new,  or,  as  Mr.  Brotherston  has 
shown,  the  comparatively  old  plan  of  raising  and  transplanting  them 
when  the  crop  is  sown  in  drills  in  the  usual  way,  and  for  one  I  am 
convinced  that  labour  is  if  anything  saved  thereby. 
No  one  is  less  fond  than  I  of  iads  and  faddists,  but  when  I  find  that 
by  practising  a  new  method  I  get  better  results,  then  I  follow  it. 
Respecting  the  practice  of  sowing  Onions  in  autumn  and  showing  in 
spring-sown  classes,  I  see  no  barm  as  long  as  the  schedule  asks  fer  a 
certain  variety  of  Onion  with  no  distinction  as  to  time  of  sowing.  Again, 
if  itsavs  so  many  “spring  Onions,”  there  is  no  doubt  but  “spring-sown 
Onions,”  is  at  once  understood,  and  if  autumn-sown  bulbs  were  shown 
I  should  disqualify.  Quite  recently  at  a  local  show  I  was  judging  from  a 
schedule  which  said  “  twelve  spring  Onions.”  and  though  I  ain  sure  the 
first  prize  twelve  were  raised  in  autumn  I  could  not  disqualify,  as  the 
schedule  was  too  vague. — H.  R.  Richards. 
