542 
journal  of  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener 
June  il,  4896. 
glimpse  through  a  vista  in  the  trees.  The  peep3  are  numerous  and  the 
effects  extremely  varied,  all  giving  pleasure  to  the  beholder.  Occasion¬ 
ally  our  guide  drops  a  word  that  tells  us  he  has  had  a  hand  in  this  or 
that  view,  but  such  admissions  are  all  too  rare.  At  last  we  reach  the 
end  of  this  riverside  path,  and  find  something  that,  while  having  no 
relation  to  gardening,  is  of  exceeding  interest.  In  the  days  of  State 
barges,  when  river  pageants  were  the  most  popular  and  aristocratic 
means  of  travelling  from  one  place  to  another,  each  house  by  the  river 
had  an  entrance  for  its  barges,  and  that  of  Syon  was  what  was  found. 
Entrance  was  effected  by  descending  a  flight  of  stone  steps,  and  when 
inside  we  saw  a  historical  relic  in  the  form  of  the  barge  that  conveyed 
the  ill-fated  Lady  Jane  Grey  to  the  Tower  of  London,  whence  she 
never  returned.  It  is  slung  by  thongs  from  the  roof  of  the  boathouse. 
But  there  is  no  time  to  linger,  and  we  arrive  at  the  Bose  garden. 
No  poet’s  fancy  could  paint  a  more  ideal  home  for  the  queen  of  flowers. 
Sheltered  by  stately  trees,  the  beds  let  into  turf  of  velvety  softness, 
the  Rose  garden  must  be,  when  the  flowers  are  at  the  zenith  of  their 
beauty,  a  dream  of  loveliness,  for  the  plants  are  in  the  condition  that 
shows  the  controlling  influence  of  a  master  hand.  It  is  a  Rose  garden 
that  might  to  some  eyes  be  considered  all  too  limited  in  dimensions ; 
but  what  matters  it  if  it  be  comparatively  small  when  the  flowers  in 
colour,  form,  and  fragrance  are  so  delightful.  “  Size,”  the  true  Rose 
and  Nature-lover  will  ejaculate,  “  is  as  nothing  when  all  else  is  in  such 
condition.”  But  we  must  pass  on. 
Parallel  with  the  riverside  path  is  a  gravel  walk  leading  through 
wood  and  dell  back  to  the  mansion,  and  commanding  here  and  there 
some  of  the  most  superb  views  through  the  trees  to  the  river  and  over 
the  broad  and  undulating  park  that  one  could  wish  to  behold.  Altera¬ 
tions  have  been  made  freely  in  this  portion  of  the  grounds,  and  each  one 
has  been  such  as  conduces  immediately  to  improvement.  We  pass  by 
great  clumps  of  Rhododendrons  with  but  a  cursory  glance,  brush  masses 
of  Spirfeas  and  Daphnes,  that  tell  their  presence  as  well  by  their  delicious 
fragrance  as  by  their  beauty — aside,  through  copses  of  evergreens  and 
undergrowth,  until  the  house  looms  before  us,  and  we  step  forth  once 
more  into  the  glorious  sunshine  from  the  softly  subdued  light  of  the 
grounds  through  which  we  have  traversed. 
We  next  approach  the  flower  garden  and  the  conserva’ory.  Look  for 
a  moment  at  the  illustration  (fig.  90,  page  oil)  which  we  are  enabled 
by  the  courtesy  of  the  Editor  of  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle  to  repro¬ 
duce.  Is  it  not  a  magnificent  structure?  While  not  less  imposing 
is  the  interior.  Stand  under  the  central  dome;  a  forest  of  Bamboos 
surrounds  you,  great  Palms  and  Ferns  rise  yards  above  your  head,  the 
Banana  carries  its  luscious  burden,  the  Monstera  deliciosa  is  at  home, 
the— but  enough.  Do  the  plants  make  progress?  Well,  yes,  considering 
the  fact  that  the  first  named  grows  anything  from  12  to  24  inches  in  the 
latter  number  of  hours. 
Right  and  left  from  the  dome  run  the  arms  of  this  splendid  building, 
and  in  passing  through  we  find  on  each  side  stages  filled  with  plants  in 
pots,  and  above  a  roof  from  which  at  intervals  depend  some  charming 
creepers.  No  monotony  here,  the  plants  are  ever  changing,  and  with  the 
extraordinary  variety  there  exists  a  really  surprising  evidence  of  good 
health,  which  is  especially  pronounced  this  season,  for  the  simple  reason 
that  Mr.  Wythes  had  the  hundreds  of  yards  of  piping  altered  so  as  to 
insure  an  equable  temperature,  which  had  not  previously  been  attainable. 
Each  arm  culminates  in  a  square,  where  for  Camellias  of  immense  size 
are  found  suitable  places.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that  all  the  rafters 
in  this  building  are  made  of  solid  copper,  and  it  may  safely  be  surmised 
that  many  thousands  of  pounds  have  been  expended  ere  the  erection 
was  completed.  But  it  will  last,  and  coming  generations  will  see, 
examine,  and  admire  the  conservatory  at  Syon,  unless  it  be  that  someone 
should  have  it  destroyed,  than  which  nothing  is  more  unlikely.  This 
alone  is  a  garden,  but  as  such  we  must  not  now  regard  it,  or  the  other 
features  that  go  to  fill  the  measure  of  Syon  cannot  be  noted. 
In  the  foreground  of  the  illustration  to  which  attention  is  drawn  in 
the  preceeding  paragraph  is  seen  the  flower  garden.  It  is  of  fairly 
large  extent,  and  adds  its  mite  to  the  60  odd  acres  that  comprise  the 
pleasure  and  flower  gardens.  A  trifle  stiff  perhaps,  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  it  R  a  typical  example  of  flower  gardening  as  it 
was  in  the  days  of  formal  bedding.  As  such  it  must  be  regarded.  Such 
flowers  a9  Zonal  and  other  Pelargoniums,  Begonias,  variegated  Abutilons, 
scarlet  and  blue  Lobelias,  Violas,  and  Pansies  are  amongst  the  most 
conspicuous  in  the  majority  of  the  arrangements.  Carpet  bedding  is 
also  done,  but  only  to  a  very  limited  extent,  and  is  welcomed  for  this 
reason  ;  and  the  designs,  though  changing  with  every  season,  are 
always  of  much  interest  and  beauty.  Flanking  the  fountain  are  two 
long  beds,  in  which  Crozy’s  Cannas  are  to  be  the  feature,  and  very 
charming  they  will  be  in  August  if  the  weather  prove  favourable. 
When  referring  to  the  trees  one  or  two  here  might  have  been  named, 
but  perhaps  they  come  more  appropriately  with  the  garden  to  which 
they  are  such  ornaments.  There  are  magnificent  specimens  of  the 
Scottish  Laburnum  and  Magnolias  amongst  others.  Towering  to  a 
height  of  almost  40  feet,  and  with  a  like  spread  of  branches,  is  a 
specimen  of  Magnolia  conspicua,  which  is  said  to  be  the  largest  in 
the  country.  Immediately  facing  it  is  another,  probably  planted  at 
the  same  time,  but  it  makes  little  progress,  for  the  reason  that  it 
catches  the  full  power  of  the  biting  north-east  winds,  from  which 
No.  1  is  amply  protected.  M.  Soulangeana  is  also  represented,  but  not 
on  such  a  scale  as  M.  coDspicua.  Irises,  mostly  German  varieties,  make 
this  garden  pretty  in  the  early  summer  months,  and  they  have  this 
season  been  superb,  though  now,  of  course,  they  are  rapidly  getting 
over,  and  will  in  a  day  or  two  be  numbered  for  another  season  amongst 
the  beauties  that  have  gone. 
As  the  transition  may  be  effected  by  the  easiest  of  Btages  we  will 
now  turn  to  the  flowers  as  grown  under  glass,  and  in  the  borders  of  the 
vegetable  garden.  They  are  naturally  of  an  extremely  varied  nature, 
but  all  are  well  grown.  Syon  is  not,  like  The  Dell,  Burford  Lodge,  and 
Sanningdale  Park,  renowned  for  its  Orchids;  but  it  is  nevertheless  a 
fact  that  Mr.  Wythes  can  always  set  up  a  group  that  is  of  the  greatest 
credit  to  him,  as  witness  the  collection  staged  at  the  recent  Temple 
show.  The  plants  of  Odontoglossum  crispum,  Cymbidium  Lowianum, 
Vanda  teres,  Dendrobium  Dalhousianum  (superb),  Cypripedium  barbatum 
and  others,  are  carrying  flowers  noticeable  alike  for  colour,  form,  and  sub¬ 
stance,  while  those  not  in  flower  are  evidently  in  the  best  of  health. 
With  these  brief  words  we  must  perforce  dismiss  the  Orchids  and  turn, 
if  only  foi  a  moment,  to  the  Carnations.  Of  these  the  Souvenir  de  la 
Malmaison  varieties  are  making  the  most  imposing  display,  as  will  be 
readily  believed  when  it  is  said  that  the  splendidly  grown  plants  are 
principally  of  Mr.  Martin  R.  Smith’s^  varieties,  obtained  through  Mr. 
Jas.  Douglas.  There  are  also  other  Carnations  of  equal  quality  in  all 
respects  though  not  of  the  Malmaison  type,  but  these  cannot  be 
particularised  now.  . 
Rich  are  the  structures  now  with  decorative  and  Ivy-leaved  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Gloxinias,  and  other  flowering  plants,  with  Caladiums,  Crotons, 
Dractenas,  Ferns,  Palms,  and  Pandanus  amongst  the  many  with  beau¬ 
tiful  leafage.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  structures  are  old 
and  glazed  with  thousands  of  squares  of  glass  that  often  become 
dulled  by  London  smoke,  the  richness  and  depth  seen  in  the  colour  of 
these  leaves  is  really  exceptional.  The  delicate  tints  of  the  Croton*,  the 
soft,  mingling  gradations  of  the  hues  of  the  Caladiums,  the  rich  clear 
green  and  pure  white  of  the  Pandanus  are  all  alike  splendid  in  their 
development.  The  Ferns  in  the  lean-to  fernery,  principally  Adiantum 
cuneatum,  are  numerous,  and  with  the  Asparagus,  which  rambles  over 
the  back  wall  of  the  structure,  provide  thousands  of  sprays  and  fronds 
for  cutting.  From  the  mention  of  Ferns  we  might  turn  to  other  plants 
that  are  now  in  flower  in  the  houses  ;  but  we  must  continue  our 
pilgrimage,  or  we  shall  not  even  now,  after  all  this  time,  succeed  in 
getting  a  look  all  round,  for  there  is  yet  very  much  to  see  and  to  appre¬ 
ciate  ere  it  can  be  said  with  truth  that  all  has  been  seen  at  Syon. 
Before  entirely  dismissing  the  flowers  it  behoves  us  to  say  a  few 
words  anent  those  grown  on  the  brrders  of  the  vegetable  garden.  Indeed, 
one  whole  border  of  considerable  width  and  length  is  wholly  devoted  to 
the  culture  of  perennial*.  Though  this  border  ha*  only  been  made  a 
comparatively  short  space  of  time  the  plants  are  looking  remarkably 
well,  and  one  could  at  almost  any  time  gather  great  armfuls  of  flowers 
and  still  leave  enough  to  make  a  goodly  display.  Extending  at  right 
angles  to  this  border  is  another  of  the  same  width,  but  rather  shorter,  in 
which  are  growing  some  hundreds  of  Carnations  that  have  been  raised 
from  Mr.  Douglas’  seeds.  The  plants  are  of  fine  habit,  and  give  promise 
of  the  production  of  a  perfect  plethora  of  flowers.  Besides  these  there 
are  other  borders  of  Carnations,  all  in  the  same  praiseworthy  condition. 
The  pleasure  gardens  and  the  flowers,  in  and  out  of  doors,  having 
now  been  accorded  brief  attention,  there  still  remain  the  fruit  and 
vegetable  departments,  and  as  Mr.  Wythes  excels  in  each,  it  is  with 
difficulty  that  a  decision  is  arrived  at  as  to  which  shall  have  the  first 
attention.  After  much  cogitation  it  was  determined  to  place  them 
alphabetically,  and  in  no  particular  order  of  merit,  thus  fruits  stand  to 
the  fore.  In  the  art  of  growing  fruit  the  Syon  gardener  is  a  past 
master,  as  the  specimens  both  under  glass  and  in  the  open  air  prove  to 
demonstration.  The  amount  of  forcing  that  is  done  would  be  regarded 
by  many  gardeners  as  prodigious.  Everything  is  done  at  high  pressure  ; 
there  must  be  no  break  in  the  supplies,  and,  moreover,  there  i9  none.  As 
an  example  of  the  magnitude  of  these  forcing  operations,  the  number  of 
Strawberries  (5000)  may  be  quoted.  The  variety  that  is  easily  the  first 
favourite  is  Royal  Sovereign,  of  which  1000  plants  are  grown  in  pots. 
President,  Auguste  Nicaiee,  and  Keen’s  Seedling  are  also  highly  appre¬ 
ciated.  Looking  along  the  shelves  on  which  the  pots  of  Strawberries 
are  placed  the  luscious  fruits  may  be  seen  hanging  from  every  plant, 
and  their  numbers  tell  plainly  and  truly  how  excellent  is  the  system  of 
culture  adopted.  So  good,  indeed,  are  they,  that  no  one  need  wish  to 
see  more  healthy  or  better  cropped  specimens. 
Popular  as  are  the  fruits  that  have  just  been  mentioned  the  whole  of 
the  grower’s  skill  and  attention  are  not  devoted  to  them.  Not  at  all,  for 
there  are  the  Grapes,  of  which  there  are  some  dozens  of  Vines  in  pots 
or  planted  out,  and  almost  all  of  them  have  been  raised  on  the  place. 
No  Vines  are  tolerated  here  that  do  not  produce  good  crops  of  fruit,  for 
the  demand  is  so  great  that  every  one  must  provide  its  share,  or  there 
