426  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  May  7,  mk 
with  which  it  usually  is  stocked.  The  colours  of  the  paints  used,  the 
soft  glow  of  the  numerous  electric  lights,  the  rich  green  leafage,  the 
brilliantly  hued  flowers,  make  at  night  a  veritable  fairy  scene,  such 
as  everyone  likes  to  see.  An  ornament,  which  must  have  a  word  in 
passing,  is  the  superb  onyx  basin  in  the  centre.  This  is  said  to  be  the 
largest  piece  of  its  kind  in  the  country,  and  the  writer  can  well  believe 
it.  In  a  Palm  house  adjoining  the  conservatory  may  be  found  many 
plants  in  perfect  health.  There  are  Palms  large  and  small,  Ferns, 
Dracsenas,  Marantas,  Ficus,  in  fact  all  kinds  suitable  for  the  temperature, 
and  which  owe  their  popularity  to  their  foliage.  From  the  roof  depend 
baskets  of  Ferns,  with  here  and  there  extraordinary  looking  specimens 
of  fishes,  the  spoils,  it  was  understood,  of  some  of  Mr.  Pears’  visits 
abroad.  Lending  diversity  to  the  plants  on  the  borders  were  a  few 
lizards,  and  as  they  did  not  look  very  gentle,  inquiry  was  made  as  to 
whether  they  were  alive  or  dead  ere  venturing  near. 
Though  the  bedding  had  not  commenced  at  the  time  of  the  visit 
every  preparation  was  being  made  for  the  reception  of  the  plants  when 
the  weather  is  safe  for  the  operation  to  be  carried  out.  The  flower 
garden,  enclosed  by  hedges,  is  not  very  large,  but  should,  according  to 
the  formation  of  the  beds,  be  very  charming  when  fully  occupied.  The 
thousands  of  plants  necessary  for  this  purpose  are  to  be  seen  in  the 
houses,  in  the  frames,  and  in  sheltered  positions  out  of  doors,  and  if  the 
present  healthy  state  is  maintained  they  will  without  doubt  do  justice 
to  themselves  and  to  their  grower.  They  are  sturdy,  strong  looking 
plants,  such  as  all  good  flower  gardeners  like  to  see.  Close  to  this  garden 
is  the  tennis  court  with  a  handsome  tea  pavilion  adjoining,  and  not  very 
far  from  Mr.  Pears’  delightful  coffee  room.  Roses,  too,  in  great  variety 
find  a  congenial  home.  The  plants  are  breaking  strongly,  and  give 
promise  of  producing  abundance  of  flowers  at  their  proper  season.  It 
is  to  be  hoped  that  there  will  be  no  late  frosts  sufficiently  severe  to 
even  partially  destroy  the  harvest  of  the  queen  of  flowers.  Unfortunately, 
none  can  yet  feel  perfectly  safe. 
The  fruit  garden,  containing  large  numbers  of  bush  and  pyramid 
trees,  is  in  splendid  condition.  So  recently  as  last  season  all  the 
specimens  were  lifted,  root-pruned,  and  replanted  in  thoroughly  good 
compost,  and  this  season  the  show  of  blossom  has  been  remarkable.  Tbe 
wood  on  all  of  them  is  stout  and  strong  without  being  luxuriant  and 
gross,  while  its  cleanliness  is  testimony  to  the  care  that  is  devoted  to 
them  for  the  prevention  of  insect  and  fungoid  pests.  A  system  well 
worthy  of  emulation  is  the  manner  of  labelling  with  large  tallies,  on 
which  the  names  are  written  in  white  paint,  making  them  perfectly 
legible  at  some  distance.  The  Strawberry  garden  is  a  model,  and  the 
plants  are  in  the  best  of  health.  A  trial  is  being  made  to  determine 
which  varieties  are  best  suited  to  the  Boil  and  situation.  The  several 
trees  on  the  walls  are  in  quite  as  good  condition  as  those  in  the  open, 
and  the  promise  of  fruit  throughout  is  excellent.  It  was  noticeable  that 
all  the  best  varieties  of  the  various  kinds  of  fruits  were  cultivated  either 
in  the  open  or  on  the  walls. 
Creditable  as  is  tbe  condition  of  the  outdoor  fruit  that  cultivated 
under  glass  is  equally  so,  and  proved  that  here,  as  elsewhere,  there 
is  a  master  man  at  the  helm.  There  are  Vines  carrying  ripe  Grapes, 
others  with  half-s welled  berries,  with  many  more  only  just  past  the 
flowering  stage.  On  all  alike  are  sound  healthy  leaves,  and  above 
thoroughly  ripened  wood.  In  the  earliest  houses  the  bunches  are  of 
good  size,  evenly  distributed  over  the  Vines,  and  the  way  the  berries 
have  finished  must  be  very  gratifying  to  both  owner  and  grower.  There 
are  Hamburghs,  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Appley  Towers,  Foster’s  Seed¬ 
ling,  Lady  Downe’s,  and  others  represented.  Then  there  are  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Figs,  Apricots,  Cherries,  Plums,  Apples,  and  Pears,  of 
which  the  last  six  are  grown  in  pots,  in  considerable  numbers  and  great 
variety.  Those  who  are  interested  in  fruit  culture  generally  would  find 
a  few  hours  at  Spring  Grove  House,  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Farr, 
thoroughly  well  spent,  as  they  would  assuredly  pick  up  some  informa¬ 
tion  that  would  be  of  value  to  them.  Royal  Sovereign  Strawberries  in 
pots  are  a  picture,  while  Melons,  Cucumbers,  and  Tomatoes  in  the 
various  houses  are  living  monuments  of  the  grower’s  skill. 
Like  the  preceding  department,  that  for  plant-growing  is  of  some 
considerable  extent,  though  the  equipment  is  perhaps  not  quite  so  good. 
Notwithstanding  this,  however,  there  are  thousands  of  splendidly 
grown  plants  to  be  seen,  comprising  all  those  usually  seen  in  such  an 
establishment,  with  a  few  others  besides.  One  house  is  devoted  almost 
exclusively  to  Crotons,  the  larger  plants  being  in  a  central  bed  with  the 
younger  stock  on  the  side  stages.  These  are  very  clean  indeed,  and 
the  colours  are  already  in  many  of  the  specimens  very  richly  developed. 
Passing  along  we  noticed  Dracaenas,  Palms,  Ferns,  Asparagus,  and  other 
foliage  plants,  with  flowering  plants  in  seemingly  endless  variety,  and 
all  in  excellent  condition.  All  those  that  are  suitable  have  to  serve 
their  turns  in  the  conservatory  or  in  the  mansion,  whence  they  return  in 
a  more  or  less  dilapidated  condition.  It  was  remarked  that  Orchids 
were  not  largely  grown,  as  a  matter  of  fact  there  was  only  a  small 
batch  in  a  corner  of  one  of  the  plant  structures.  This  was  at  first  a 
matter  for  surprise,  until  it  was  learned  that  Mr.  Pears  was  not  particu¬ 
larly  partial  to  them,  and  as  a  consequence  they  are  relegated  to  a  minor 
position.  _ 
In  the  vegetable  gardens  the  condition  of  affairs  is  as  satisfactory 
as  in  the  other  departments,  but  while  all  seasonable  crops  are  present 
in  good  form  it  would  serve  no  useful  purpose  to  particularise  them  here. 
But  before  concluding  it  is  necessary  to  draw  attention  to  the  general 
conditions  that  prevail  as  regards  cleanliness.  In  brief,  no  garden  could 
be  more  tidy ;  the  lawns  are  closely  mown ;  the  walks  are  destitute  of 
weeds;  the  woodwork  and  the  glass  of  the  many  houses  are  clean  and 
fresh  ;  while  the  plants  and  trees  inside  and  out  are  in  the  best  of  con¬ 
dition.  It  was  an  initial  visit  to  Isleworth,  and  therefore  to  Spring 
Grove  House  ;  but  the  writer  was  so  impressed  by  the  condition  of  the 
gardens  and  charmed  by  the  homely  cordiality  of  Mr.  Farr,  that  he  is 
already  hoping  for  and  looking  forward  to  another  visit. — II.  J.  Weight. 
HOUSE-RAISED  versus  AUTUMN-SOWN  ONIONS. 
I  have  recently  been  planting  out  a  large  number  of  house-raised 
Onion  plants.  They  were  fairly  strong,  but  would  have  been  better 
could  they  have  been  kept  nearer  the  glass,  and  had  in  the  earlier  stage 
of  growth  a  little  more  warmth.  But  the  friend  who  raised  them  in 
shallow  boxes  for  me  did  his  best.  Still  it  is  evident  that  it  is  only 
where  there  is  ample  glass  room  can  much  attention  be  given  to  early- 
raised  Onion  plants,  seeing  that  to  do  them  well  it  is  not  only  needful 
to  sow  very  early  in  the  year  in  shallow  pans  or  boxes,  but  also  to  have 
other  pans  or  boxes  at  disposal  into  which  to  prick  ofE  the  plants  thinly, 
and  thus  enable  them  to  become  stout  and  strong  ere  the  time  for 
transplanting  comes.  In  a  garden  where  wonderfully  fine  Onions  from 
glass-raiBed  plants  are  produced  each  year,  I  saw  early  in  the  month  of 
April  fine  plants,  about  9  inches  in  height,  that  had  been  planted  some 
two  or  three  days  previously.  Such  plants  could  of  course  be  raised 
only  where,  as  in  this  case,  there  was  ample  house  and  frame  space  at 
disposal. 
Now  that  is  not  everyone’s  case,  and,  indeed,  there  are  many  cases  in 
which  it  is  very  difficult  to  find  any  but  the  most  elementary  accommo¬ 
dation,  as  even  if  there  be  a  greenhouse  or  two  or  some  frames  they  are 
usually  early  in  the  spring  so  full  of  tender  plants  or  something 
or  other  of  necessity  that  it  is  not  practicable  to  find  needful  space  for 
several  pans  or  boxes  of  Onion  plants.  No  doubt  there  are  instances 
where  determination  to  have  such  plants  for  dibbling  out  in  April 
surmounts  all  difficulties,  but  it  is  not  everyone  who  can  accomplish  so 
much.  Then  it  becomes  a  question  as  to  how  far  all  this  trouble  may 
not  be  avoided  with  success  by  making  outdoor  sowings  in  the  autumn. 
Onion  plants  are  proverbially  hardy,  although  unless  unavoidable  there 
is  no  need  for  sewing  in  a  wind-swept  position. 
Most  gardeners  have  some  sort  of  shelter,  but  even  in  that  case  the 
more  the  plants  are  fully  exposed  to  light  and  air  the  better.  Very 
commonly  sowings  outdoors  are  made  early  in  August.  That  is  all  very 
well  where  the  plants  are  required  for  winter  and  spring  bulbing,  and 
the  soft  white-skinned  Lisbon  is  as  good  as  any  other  for  the  purpose, 
seed  being  also  cheap.  But  for  spring  transplanting  to  secure  not  only 
fine  bulbs  but  good  keepers  it  is  better  to  sow  any  of  the  ordinary 
spring  varieties,  for  there  is  in  them  little  or  no  difference  in  the  matter 
of  hardiness.  It  is  wisest,  however,  not  to  sow  for  this  purpose  until 
about  the  last  week  of  August  or  first  in  September,  though  the  exact  time 
must  be  regulated  by  site,  Boil,  and  local  conditions  of  weather.  Then 
to  transplant  in  this  way  not  a  very  large  area  of  ground  need  to  be 
sown.  Rows  may  be  not  more  than  8  inches  apart,  but  the  sowings 
should  be  comparatively  thin,  to  enable  the  plants  to  become  stout  and 
sturdy,  yet  not  drawn. 
Should  very  hard  weather  ensue  much  of  protection,  if  thought 
needful,  may  be  furnished  by  strewing  dry  leaves  amongst  the  plants  ; 
but  if  biting  east  or  north  winds  be  shut  out  it  is  not  probable  that  the 
plants  will  suffer.  Very  much  stouter  and  harder  are  plants  so 
wintered  to  any  raised  under  glass,  whilst  they  give  no  trouble  and  have 
the  advantage  of  being  ready  for  transplanting  at  any  moment  in  the 
early  spring  when  the  ground  is  ready.  It  is,  of  course,  desirable  that  in 
lifting  these  plants  great  care  be  exercised  to  prevent  breaking  the  roots, 
also  that  the  soil  on  which  planted  be  well  prepared  and  the  planting  be 
done  with  all  possible  care.  Onions  so  put  out  have  before  them  a 
longer  season,  and  it  is  in  that  way  such  fine  mature  bulbs  are 
produced. — Practice. _ 
HERBACEOUS  CALCEOLARIAS. 
Chinese  Primulas,  Cyclamens,  and  Cinerarias  are  now  practically 
over  for  the  season,  and  the  time  of  Calceolarias  is  at  hand.  No  doubt 
we  shall  see  these  plants  in  fine  form  at  tbe  Temple  Show  on  the  19th 
of  May ;  but  as  the  weather  has  so  long  been  genial  there  may  be  diffi¬ 
culty  iu  some  cases  of  keeping  the  plants  at  their  best. 
Early  sowing  and  growing  the  plants  in  warmth,  be  it  never  so 
trifling,  has  the  effect  of  assisting  them  to  bloom  early,  a  matter  of  little 
consequence  when  needed  only  for  home  decoration.  When,  however, 
required  for  exhibition  at  a  given  time,  and  in  consequence  have  to  be 
placed  in  a  shaded  house  and  retarded,  the  result  invariably  is  loss  of 
colour,  thin  florescence,  irregular  shaped  flowers,  and  general  lack  of 
freshness  and  effect.  Thus  plants  that  have  been  so  treated,  although 
they  may  come  from  a  first-rate  strain,  always  wear  an  inferior  aspect 
to  those  plants  that  have  been  grown  under  cool  treatment  and  had 
ample  exposure  to  light  and  air.  Whilst  so  many  sow  seed  early  in  the 
summer,  the  best  growers  defer  sowing  till  July,  and  even  so  late  as  the 
first  week  in  August. 
Seed  should  be  sown  thinly  in  5  or  6-inch  pots,  the  soil  kept  just 
|  moist,  and  the  pots  well  shaded.  That  prevents  evaporation,  whilst  full 
exposure  to  light  does  not  assist  germination.  When  the  seedlings  are 
