464 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
June  8,  1899. 
followed  the  Battle  of  Waterloo.  First  the  large  Palm  house  and 
crowded  Orchid  houses,  kept  at  tropical  heat,  excited  surprise.  Then 
came  a  succession  devoted  to  Heaths,  Cacti,  Ferns,  and  Camellias,  of 
which  Loddiges  had  a  grand  spring  display.  In  the  arboretum  the 
species  were  arranged  along  a  series  of  circular  paths,  on  the  right 
side  trees  or  shrubs  being  placed  alphabetically  ;  on  the  left  were  Roses 
and  herbaceous  plants,  the  central  space  showed  the  American  species. 
AVhen  this  nursery  was  closed,  many  of  its  plants  were  removed  to 
Chatsworth,  or  to  the  Crystal  Palace  grounds,  lust  then  laying  out, 
Sir  Joseph  Paxton  being  an  intimate  friend  of  the  family. 
Certainly,  though  Hackney  has  grown  largely  as  a  suburb,  it  is 
not  badly  off  in  the  matter  of  open  spaces.  Paradise  Fields  are  built 
over  indeed,  like  Loddiges’  nursery,  but  there  remains  quite  a  cluster 
of  commons  around,  besides  a  good  number  of  acres  of  marsh  land. 
There  is  Well  Street  Common,  20  acres ;  the  London  Fields,  26  acres, 
and  Hackney  Downs  ot  41  acres;  close  to  it  is  also  the  expanse  of 
Victoria  Park.  This  is  probably  seldom  visited  by  people  living  at  a 
distance,  but  it  contains  a  great  variety  of  trees  and  shrubs,  ra  stlv 
in  a  flourishing  condition,  with  a  good  sprinkling  of  flower  bods  well 
kept.  At  Homerton  a  beautiful  bit  of  scenery  was  spoilt  by  the 
North  London  Railway,  which  cut  through  fields  and  gardens, 
especially  in  the  extensive  grounds  of  Wick  House,  which  belonged 
to  Lenev  Smith,  proprietor  of  silk  mills  on  Hackney  Brook.  Towards 
Upper  Clapton  some  fine  views  are  still  obtained,  as  when  we  ascend 
by  Mount  Pleasant  Lane  to  the  terrace  on  which  stands  Springfield. 
Here,  looking  towards  the  norlh-east  is  a  charming  view  of  meadows, 
water,  and  distant  forest  unrivalled  near  London.  One  of  the  older 
Nurseries,  that  of  Low  &  Co.,  will  shortly  end  its  connection  with 
Clapton,  where  it  has  long  been  famous  for  new  and  choice  plants ;  the 
present  headquarters  are  at  Enfield,  about  which  more  hereafter. 
— J.  R.  S.  C. 
IVY-LEAF  PELARGONIUMS. 
I  AM  cutting  trusses  of  the  best  double  varieties  now,  and  from  the 
extreme  beauty  of  the  flowers,  combined  with  adaptability  as  decorative 
plants — features  which  are  as  yet  comparatively  unknown — I  am  induced 
to  send  this  note  in  their  favour.  The  plants  are  easy  of  culture,  provided 
their  requirements  are  understood  and  supplied  ;  the  chief  point  in  which 
beginners  are  likely  to  make  a  mistake  being  giving  too  little  heat,  at 
lefi'-t  early  in  the  season.  My  experience  with  them  is  that  they  require 
to  be  kept  warmer  than  the  single  varieties  in  order  to  insure  pleniy  of 
flowers  over  a  lengthened  period. 
Tire  best  time  to  propagate  is  the  jiresent  for  strong  early  flowering 
plants,  and  in  August  for  plants  to  bloom  later  in  the  season.  I  like 
strong  cuttings  rather  hardened  at  the  base  than  soft.  One  cutting  is 
put  into  a  thumb  pot  filled  with  light  soil,  and  the  pots  are  placed  in  a 
war.ii  pit  until  a  fair  number  of  roots  have  been  made.  During  the 
summer  months  a  cold  frame  suits  them  well.  The  attention  they  require 
IS  first  to  shift  them  out  of  the  cutting  roots  when  thoroughly  well  rooted, 
arid  putting  into4J  or  .“o-inch  pots.  The  soil  I  use  is  turfy  loam  enriched 
with  cow  manure.  The  pots  are  well  drained,  and  in  potting  the  soil  is 
made  firm.  Then  they  will  require  pinching  at  least  twice — the  stronger 
plants  before  potting,  any  others  after  they  have  become  established. 
About  the  middle  of  September  the  plants  are  pinched  the  second  time. 
An  occasional  surface  dressing  of  an  artificial  manure  is  of  much 
benefit  to  the  plants,  and  may  be  applied  about  o.nce  in  three  weeks 
from  the  end  of  August.  The  plants  should  bo  kept  growing  throughout 
the  winter  months,  and  if  properly  managed  will  require  a  slight  dressing 
of  manure  at  intervals,  as  above  stated,  right  on  until  February,  when 
they  are  ready  to  be  transferred  into  7  or  8-inch  pots,  A  couple  of 
months’  further  attention  to  pinching,  staking,  watering,  and  keeping 
the  plants  in  a  growing  temperature  will  have  secured  fine  strong  plants 
full  of  flower.  During  the  summer  manure  should  be  applied  in  weekly 
dressings,  straggling  shoots  pinched  and  tied  to  sticks,  and  the  trusses 
removed  as  they  open  fully,  or  as  wanted. 
August  cuttings  are  harder  than  those  which  can  be  had  now  ;  more¬ 
over,  they  can  be  cut  much  longer,  and  the  foundation  of  a  strong  plant 
is  more  easily  secured.  The  cuttings  root  well,  several  in  one  6-inch  pot 
filled  with  light  soil,  or  they  may  be  put  singly  into  2j-inch  pots  and 
wintered  therein.  In  any  case  it  will  be  found  that  the  cuttings  will  root 
more  readily  if  they  are  placed  under  glass — such,  for  instance,  as  an 
early  vinery.  During  the  winter  do  not  allow  the  plants  to  stagnate  in  a 
cold  house,  but  keep  them  growing.  In  February  pot  the  stock,  using 
4  or  5-inch  pots,  according  to  the  strength  of  the  several  plants.  If  care 
has  been  taken  to  pinch  those  requiring  it  during  the  winter,  the  plants 
when  potted  will  be  stout  and  bushy,  and  will  require  much  the  same 
treatment  as  already  advised  for  the  earliest  rooted  cuttings.  They  may 
either  be  flowered  as  small  plants  in  the  early  summer,  or  if  jintted  into 
7-inc'h  pots  will  make  strong  fresh  plants  for  flowering  later.  The  same 
plants  do  very  well  a  second  year  in  the  same  pots,  but  though  perhaps 
more  floriferous  the  trusses  are  not  so  fine  as  on  young  plants. 
As  to  sorts,  all  those  we  have  had  during  the  past  year  or  two  have 
been  good.  Single  varieties  are  more  easily  managed,  and  are  more 
floriferous,  hut  I  do  not  like  them  so  much  as  the  double  varieties  either 
for  beauty  or  usefulness.  In  addition  to  their  adaptability  as  pot  plants, 
some  ot  them  are  very  suitable  for  growing  in  baskets  or  for  drooping 
over  the  edge  of  stages.  The  stronger  growing  varieties  run  very  rapidly 
up  pillars  when  plan'.ed  out,  and  are  also  of  value  for  covering  walls. — F. 
LIVERPOOL  NOTES. 
A  FEW  years  ago  one  would  have  been  taken  to  task  if  one  had 
hinted  that  the  Cheshire  side  of  the  Mersey  would  become  so  thickly 
populated  as  at  the  present  time,  for  the  green  fields  were  stretching  far 
and  wide,  which  now  are  covered  with  houses. 
To  keep  pace  with  this  the  Wallasey  District  Council  has  been  on  the 
alert  as  resrards  recreation  giotinds,  and  a  recent  occasion  saw  the 
opening  of  Vale  Park,  Liscard,  which  it  small  must  prove  of  inestimable 
benefit  to  all  residents,  the  work  having  been  done  in  a  thorouoh  manner, 
and  the  selection  of  trees  planted  a  most  judicious  one.  The  park 
includes  the  Li  card  Vale  and  Woodland  estates,  and  some  of  the  old 
plantations  have  been  retained.  Mr..!.  G.  Coombs,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Parks  Conmittee,  issued  invitations  to  a  largo  number  of  residents,  who 
thoroughly  en  oyed  the  proceedings,  wliich  took  the  form  of  a  garden 
party.  Mr.  Coombs  opened  the  park  gates  and  admitted  the  public, 
subsequently  addressing  those  present  in  support  of  the  Council’s  action 
in  providing  these  open  spaces  for  the  people. 
The  total  cost  of  the  purchase  and  work  has  been  £12.230,  the 
Surveyor,  Mr.  W.  H.  Travis,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Park  Super¬ 
intendent.  Mr,  Rooking,  and  the  head  gardener,  Mr.  Burston,  being 
responsible  for  it. 
Asparagus  Sprengeri. 
How  useful  are  all  the  indoor  varieties  of  Asparagus,  and  how  large 
a  part  they  play  in  almost  every  form  of  floral  decoration,  those  who 
make  it  a  study  readily  know.  Such  forms  as  A.  plumosus,  p.  nanus, 
deflexus,  ani  tenuissimus  have  for  many  years  played  a  useful  part,  but 
I  venture  to  assert  that  the  somewhat  new  variety,  Sprengeri,  will  rank 
for  beauty  and  us<  fulness  with  any  of  the  family.  As  a  basket  plant  it 
is  of  the  highest  importance,  tho  elegant  glaucous  shoots  growing  to  a 
length  of  7  or  8  feet,  and  given  a  moist  temperature  and  a  fairly  rich 
compost,  the  growths  are  produced  in  abundance,  and  when  cut  for  table 
decorations  last  much  longer  than  the  Smilax.  Nor  is  this  all,  for 
numberless  small  growths  with  which  the  slicot  is  studded  may  be  taken 
here  and  there  and  used  for  boutjuets  and  wTeaihs  with  lovely  affect. 
Speaking  of  tho  plant  to  one  of  our  leading  florist.«,  he  assured  me 
that  it  had  come  to  slay.  He  believed  it  to  be  superior  to  all  other 
varietic.a,  and  that  already  it  had  been  simply  invaluable  to  him,  and  was 
more  largely  used  than  any  other. 
Through  Country  Lanes. 
The  following  bit  of  word  jvainting,  illustrative  of  the  beauties  of  the 
suburbs  of  Liverpool,  culled  from  the  “Liverpool  Courier,”  .'eemed  so 
appropriate  that  I  could  not  retrain  from  asking  for  space  to  include  them 
ia  these  notes. 
“From  the  coach  lop  you  see,  for  the  first  time  perhaps,  how  beautiful 
the  world  is  that  lies  around  Liverpool.  Gatoacre  nested  in  the  valley, 
the  long  green  arcades  of  Allerton—  where  the  trees  arch  overhead  like 
giant  bows — Speke,  Childwall,  are  all  at  their  loveliest  now,  with  that 
beauty  which  leaf-time  brings.  Though  the  sea'on  is  so  backward  the 
colour  in  everything  has  softened  and  deepened.  The  Laburnum  tassels 
are  breaking  into  gold,  the  Lilac  is  out,  and  Apple  and  Pear  trees  are 
blossoming  safe  in  deep  orchards.  Blackbirds  are  fluting,  and  the  rooks, 
swarming  on  the  field  in  furrow,  rise  in  solemn  flights  at  the  rush  and 
clatter  ot  the  coach  and  the  horn  eclioing  musically  down  the  long  green 
roads.  Tho  tiny  hedue  people  get  terribly  nervous,  and  seem  to  think 
their  homes  are  in  danger’.  Siieh  whirr  and  swirl  of  wings,  and  agitated 
circlings  and  darlings  above  beloved  nests,  such  chatter  and  whimperings 
as  the  coach  rolls  past.” 
So  says  “  Rambler,”  in  his  notes  of  May  20th,  and  I  feel  sure  that 
other  readers  besides  myself  will  enjoy,  as  1  did,  the  perusal  of  tho  few 
intensely  natural  lines  on  a  subject  so  near  to  us  all. 
Amateur  Gardeners’  Association. 
The  effects  of  the  peculiar  season  through  which  we  have  just  been 
passing  was  apparent  at  the  monthly  meeting  held  in  the  Common  Hall, 
Hackins  Hey,  Liverpool,  under  the  chairmanship  or  Mr.  W.  Ilisted, 
when  the  exhibits,  although  of  extremely  good  quality,  were  few  in 
number.  Miss  Hunter  was  tho  most  successful  priz*'wiiuier,  taking  the 
first  prize  for  a  lady’s  spray,  composed  of  pink  Ivy-leaf  Pelargonium  and 
Fern,  Mr^.  McGregor  being  second  with  a  composition  of  pink  Roses, 
Lily  of  the  Valley,  and  Asparagus  plumosus.  Miss  Hunter  took  a  prize 
fur  three  sprays  of  Violas  and  second  for  Pansies.  iMr.  Cangley  was 
first  for  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  and  Mr.  Turner  for  Carnations,  the  blooms 
of  Germania  and  Uriah  Pike  being  magnificent.  The  .Tudges  du-ided  the 
special  monthly  prize  between  Mr.  Turner  and  Mr.  Drake,  the  latter 
showing  Cactus  blooms  set  in  sprays  of  Adiantum  gracillimum,  and  also 
awarded  certificates.  An  admirable  paper  on  the  cultivation  of  the 
Azalea  and  Gloxinia  was  read  by  Mr.  Hoskyn,  a  member  of  the 
Association.  Votes  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  and  Lecturer  were 
unanimously  passed. 
The  Fruit  Crop. 
There  is  always  a  certain  amount  of  speculation  in  predicting  thus 
early  the  promii.e  of  the  year’s  fruit  crop,  but  one  thing  is  almost  certain — 
viz  ,  that  early  Pears  will  be  very  scarce,  the  pierciii^i  winds  and  biting 
frosts  of  last  month  playing  havoc  with  the  tender  blossoms,  and  the 
absence  of  bees  owing  to  the  cold  must  make  a  big  difference  to  the 
setting.  Trees  of  shimmering  white  have  all  been  divested  of  their  load, 
which  lies  blackened  and  ready  for  the  sweeper.  Plums  seem  to  be  good, 
but  I  hope  later  to  he  able  to  send  a  summary  of  the  crops  in  the  district. 
I  — R.  P.  R. 
