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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
May  14,  1886. 
manufacturing  material,  which  after  undergoing  chemical  changes  is 
stored  in  the  fleshy  crowns  of  the  plants  as  the  leaves  fade  and  die. 
Abundance  of  water  should  be  given  the  plants  during  the  matuiing 
period. 
There  are  two  methods  of  summer  treatment.  One  is  to  plant  in 
trenches  of  rich  soil  and  manure,  watering  freely  thoughout  the  summer, 
lifting  and  potting  in  September.  The  other  plan  consists  in  allowing 
the  plants  to  remain  in  their  pots  until  the  foliage  has  died  down,  when 
repotting  may  be  done.  This  will  be  in  August.  Both  plans  are  good, 
and  may  be  followed  with  successful  results. — E.  D.  S. 
SOME  GOOD  CALADIUMS. 
As  everyone  knows,  these  plants  stand  unrivalled  for  affording 
leafage  of  singular  beauty.  In  a  dozen  plants  one  may  have  some 
dwarf,  others  of  medium  height,  and  the  remainder  tall,  while  each  will 
be  distinct  in  colour.  Caladiums  provide  rich,  bright,  soft,  delicate 
hues,  sometimes  on  one  and  the  same  plant,  and  it  is  consequently  a 
matter  of  some  difficulty  for  anyone  to  provide  such  an  accurate  descrip¬ 
tion  as  will  bring  before  a  reader’s  eyes  the  plant  with  perfect  clear¬ 
ness.  At  the  same  time,  many  persons  will  doubtless  he  glad  to  know 
the  names  of  some  of  the  choicest  varieties  in  commerce,  and  these  it 
is  proposed  to  give. 
Where,  however,  it  is  desired  to  grow  the  plants  to  such  a  degree  as 
to  approach  perfection,  it  is  essential  that  some  considerable  amount  of 
care  be  exercised  at  all  stages  of  the  plants’  life,  though  it  is  not  abso¬ 
lutely  necessary  to  provide  them  with  a  special  structure.  In  a  stove 
temperature  with  atmospheric  moisture  without  saturation  the  plants 
produce  handsome  leaves  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner,  but  the  display 
is  not  so  good  as  when  the  plants  are  staged  in  a  mass.  For  evidence  of 
magnificent  growth,  superb  effect,  and  diversity  of  colouration  one  need 
not  go  further  than  the  Royal  Exotic  Nursery  of  Messrs.  J.  Yeitch  and 
bons  at  Chelsea,  where  so  many  plants  find  such  an  excellent  home. 
For  those  now  under  notice  Mr.  G.  Tivey  is  responsible,  and  they  are 
managed  in  such  a  way  as  reflects  the  highest  credit  on  the  grower  and 
the  firm  he  represents. 
In  looking  at  the  new  varieties  mention  may  advantageously  be  made 
of  those  that  are  now  beiDg  distributed,  eight  in  number,  all  of  which 
were  raised  by  the  late  Mr.  C.  F.  Bause.  The  set  comprises  some  superb 
varieties,  mostly  of  medium  size,  and  splendidly  adapted  for  the 
embellishment  of  rooms.  Sir  William  Broadbent  is  a  somewhat  large 
leaved  form.  The  colour  is  green  blotched  with  white,  the  veins  being 
of  a  deep  carmine  shade.  White  suffused  with  rose  is  the  colour  of  Sir 
Julian  Goldsmid.  The  veins  are  bright  red.  The  deep  green  netting 
on  the  white  ground  with  the  red  veins  make  Duchess  of  Fife  a  general 
favourite,  as  also  is  the  rosy  Lord  Derby.  Of  this  variety  the  veins  and 
reticulations  are  green.  The  colour  of  Marquis  of  Camden  is  very 
bright  red,  the  main  veins  being  blood  red  and  the  smaller  ones  green  ; 
adding  distinctiveness  are  the  occasional  white  blotches,  The  name  of 
Silver  Cloud  tells  its  colour,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  chaste.  Mr.  C.  J. 
Pierpont  Morgan  is  a  carmine  with  green  netting,  while  Sir  Henry 
Irving  complete  the  cycle  of  eight.  The  ground  colour  is  creamy  white, 
with  green  margins  and  yellowish  patches  ;  the  veins  are  delicate  pink. 
These  are  all  magnificent. 
Succeeding  those  previously  enumerated  is  a  set  of  three  from  the 
same  talented  raiser,  but  while  those  already  mentioned  are  in  commerce, 
this  trio  will  not  be  ready  for  distribution  until  the  month  of  August. 
Each  is  in  its  own  particular  style  superb,  and  it  would  be  invidious  to 
select  one  as  the  best.  Let  us  therefore  take  them  as  they  appear  in  the 
notebook.  First  comes  Lady  Mosley,  which  is  deep  rose  with  carmine 
veins.  The  margin  of  green  adds  great  beauty  to  this  variety.  Silvery 
white  is  the  ground  colour  of  Her  Majesty,  but  relief  is  afforded  by  the 
crimson  markings  in  close  proximity  to  the  leafstalk  and  the  light 
green  veins.  This  is  of  exceptional  beauty.  Of  a  peculiar  milky  white¬ 
ness  is  Leonard  Bause.  There  is  a  blood-red  spot  at  the  base  of  the 
leaves,  from  which  spring  the  carmine  veins. 
One  of  the  mottoes  of  this  house  is  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times,  or 
rather  just  in  front  of  them,  this  extending  to  the  Caladiums,  as  is 
proved  by  the  fact  that  another  set  of  eight  varieties  is  now  in  hand 
which  will  be  ready  to  disseminate  in  the  spring  of  1897.  Very  beau¬ 
tiful  are  the  whole  of  them.  Sir  Oswald  Mosley  is  perfectly  distinct. 
The  ground  colour  can  only  be  termed  purplish  crimson  with  a  dark 
green  border  ;  the  veins  are  deep  scarlet.  St.  Frusquin  is  rosy  red  with 
green  nettings  and  red  veins  ;  this  variety  has  a  green  Picotee-like  edge. 
Silver  Queen  is  silvery  white,  mottled  whitish  green  ;  the  veins  and 
margin  light  green.  A  variety  with  brilliant  rose  veins,  and  a  ground 
colour  at  first  suffused  with  light  rose,  others  with  light  green,  all 
changing  with  age  to  white,  reticulated  with  rose,  is  named  Prince 
Edward.  Duchess  of  Connaught  is  light  silvery  green,  with  the  central 
area  and  veins  flushed  with  delicate  rose.  Exquisite  is  bright  red  with 
a  light  green  margin.  Lord  Penrhyn  has  veins  with  a  narrow  band  on 
each  side  of  them,  brilliant  carmine,  the  interspaces  tlrtched  with  green 
and  spotted  with  white.  Avilion  has  a  bright  crimson  ground  with  deep 
crimson  veins,  dark  green  netting,  and  a  narrow  green  border. 
Besides  these  such  standard  sorts  as  Comte  de  Germiny,  Gaspard 
Crayer,  Mrs.  Harry  Veitch,  Baronne  Adolphe  de  Rothschild,  Candidum, 
Louis  A.  YTan  Houtte,  and  Reine  de  Danemark  are  too  well  known  to 
call  for  any  description  here.  At  the  Temple  show  next  Tuesday 
Messrs.  Veitch  purpose  exhibiting  a  group  of  these  striking  plants,  and 
the  writer  was  informed  that  all  the  new  varieties  mentioned  above  will 
be  on  view,  so  that  readers  who  canjrot  go  to  Chelsea,  will  do  well  to  look 
out  for  them  there. — SCRUTATOR. 
GARDENS  ABOUT  LONDON. 
Downside. 
Time  was  when  the  mere  mention  of  Downside,  Leatherhead,  would 
have  brought  to  the  minds  of  everyone  visions  of  Orchids  most  rare  and 
most  choice,  for  it  was  here  that  Mr.  Lee’s  world-famed  collection  was 
located.  But  according  to  the  song,  “  Nothing  in  this  World  can  Last,’’ 
and  certainly  the  Downside  of  to-day  is  far  from  being  the  one  of  even 
five  years,  as  from  the  possession  of  an  orchidist  of  the  real  school  it 
passed  to  a  horticulturist  of  the  true  kind,  and  who  has  made  his  presence 
felt  in  many  ways  since  his  advent  some  seven  years  ago.  Since  then 
alterations,  and,  be  it  thoroughly  understood,  improvements  have  been 
constantly  in  progress,  while  by  way  of  variation  the  mansion  and 
the  estate  have  both  been  considerably  extended.  The  gentleman  who 
now  owns  this  residence  is  Alfred  Tate,  Esq.,  erstwhile,  as  Liverpudlians 
and  many  others  know,  of  Woolton  ;  Mr.  W.  Mease  (another  familiar 
name)  being  the  gardener  in  chief.  Each  is  an  enthusiast,  the  one  in 
his  hobby,  and  the  other  in  his  daily  avocation  ;  so  it  may  be  reasonably 
expected  that  the  improvements  which  have  been  made  in  the  past  will 
be  more  than  maintained  in  the  future. 
It  would  be  impossible  to  particularise  all  the  changes  that  have 
taken  place,  but  reference  may  well  be  made  to  a  few  of  them.  An 
entirely  new  flower  garden  has  been  formed,  new  pleasure  grounds  and 
herbaceous  borders  have  been  added,  the  drive  has  been  remodelled, 
while  the  vegetable  gardens  have  been  greatly  enlarged,  this  at  the  same 
time  providing  more  wall  space  for  fruit  culture.  In  one  of  the  exten¬ 
sions  farm  land  was  acquired,  of  which  a  considerable  portion  was 
tacked  on  to  the  gardens  proper,  while  the  whole  was  surrounded  by 
broad  borders  of  hardy  shrubs  and  trees.  Then  some  careful  planting  of 
forest  trees  has  been  carried  out,  the  natural  aspect  and  condition  of  the 
ground  having  governed  the  kind  and  the  position.  These,  though  not 
yet  of  large  size,  have  appreciably  enhanced  the  general  beauty  of  the 
place,  and  will  eventually  make  it  considerably  more  valuable.  The 
skill  that  is  displayed  and  the  precautions  that  have  been  taken  to 
preserve  every  iota  of  Nature’s  beauty  aie  highly  creditable,  and  might 
well  be  studied  by  others  who  are  proposing  changes,  for  as  Downside  is 
now,  after  all  the  alterations,  it  blends  and  is  entirely  a  part  of  the 
surrounding  beautiful  country. 
Visiting  Mr.  Mease  in  this  year  of  grace  1896  considerable  difficulty 
would  be  experienced  in  deciding  what  is  the  chief  feature  of  the  place, 
as  everything  is  so  well  done.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  majority 
of  persons  would  record  their  vote  in  favour  of  the  Rose  garden,  which 
is  now  practically  completed,  and  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  equipped 
and  arranged  in  the  country.  It  must  be  understood  at  the  outset  that 
Mr.  Tate  is  a  rosarian  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  understands  Roses 
and  their  requirements  as  well  as  most  specialists.  This  being  the  case 
no  expense  has  been  spared  in  making  a  home  for  them,  and  the  results 
of  these  labours  of  love  are  such  as  would  gladden  the  hearts  and  eyes 
of  the  Rose  amateurs  of  the  country.  Originally  this  garden  was  a 
grazing  field  for  cattle,  and  it  was  found  on  removing  the  turf  that, 
like  all  the  portions  of  the  grounds  that  had  been  tested,  the  chalk  was 
immediately  reached,  and  the  fact  was  grasped  that  something  would 
have  to  be  done  ere  Roses  would  flourish  as  they  were  wanted  to  do.  It 
was  decided  to  remove  the  turf,  and  take  out  2  feet  of  this  chalk  in  the 
position  of  each  bed,  and  to  put  in  it.B  place  some  sound  loam,  in  which 
Roses  delight.  _ 
Now  the  plants  in  each  bed  are  in  splendid  condition,  and  it  is  con¬ 
fidently  expected  that  when  the  Brockham  Rose  Society  holds  its 
annual  show  at  Downside  in  July  the  home  display  will  be  magnificent. 
It  will  be  an  ideal  place  for  an  exhibition  of  Roses,  for  in  the  tents  and 
out  of  them  there  will,  weather  and  other  circumstances  permitting,  be 
a  perfect  feast  of  the  queen  of  flowers.  It  might  be  thought  by  some 
people  that  a  garden  of  Rose  beds  would,  at  this  particular  period  of  the 
year,  be  uninteresting.  But  such  persons  are  not  rosarians,  for  these 
latter  find  interest  in  every  bud,  every  leaf,  every  stem,  and  every 
plant,  and  it  might  be  added  in  every  green  fly.  In  this  particular 
garden,  which  we  are  for  the  nonce  looking  at  through  the  glasses  of 
the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  there  are  here  and  there  pillars,  arches, 
arbours,  and  hedges  of  the  strong-growing,  free-flowering  garden  Roses, 
and  these,  now  covered  with  the  refreshing  green  leafage,  undoubtedly 
add  their  quota  of  beauty  to  a  charming  whole.  Fortunate  will  those  be 
to  whom  fate  permits  a  visit  to  Downside  at  show  time  ;  may  the  writer 
be  amongst  them.  _ 
To  speak  of  kinds  and  varieties  might  be  deemed  unseasonable,  so 
this  phase  of  culture  shall  be  passed  over  with  the  assurance  that  all  the 
very  best  are  grown,  and  glancing  tentatively  into  the  future  one  might 
say  many  of  the  choicest  of  them  will  be  seen  and  appreciated  at  some 
of  the  forthcoming  Rose  shows,  and  will,  it  is  hoped  and  expected, 
worthily  uphold  the  reputation  of  Mr.  Tate  and  Mr.  Mease  a9  lovers 
and  growers  of  Roses.  Standing  in  this  garden  a  few  days  ago  one  was 
refreshed  by  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  Wallflowers  borne  on  the 
breeze  from  a  great  mass  of  Blood  Red  and  Belvoir  Castle  some  distance 
away.  Closer  inspection  shows  plants  in  a  circular  bed  clothed  with 
large  finely  coloured  flowers,  while  in  close  proximity  to  this  are  two 
beds  each  of  Aubrietia  purpurea  and  a  dwarf  yellow  Viola.  The  plants 
of  the  former  have  attained  to  a  height  of  about  9  inches,  and  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  see  any  leaves  for  the  tens  of  thousands  of  flowers, 
