240 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AFD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March- 12,  1903. 
Hn  1l3istovic  ‘Honbon  pavli. 
G 
RKENWICH  is  a  name  known  even  to  .little  children 
everywhere'  within  these  isles,  because  it  is  the  place 
from  -  which  we  receive  our  coirected  time  j  the  hrst 
'  meridian  of  longitude  passes  through  it.  Lying  a  little 
south-east  of  London,  bordering  the  estuary  of  the  Thames, 
CiroGnwicli  is  a  pla^co  witli  a  ionS  history,  \\liicli  has  boon 
up  in  various  directions,  arid  w'e  think  the  latest  instalment  in 
the  line  is  this  book  of  Mr.  Webster’s.  The  author  is  an  able 
penman.  Years  ago  he  wrote  a  practical  work  on  forestry; 
later  came  his  “  Hardy  Ornamental  Trees  aiul  Shrubs  ;  anon 
his  “British  Orchids,”  “Hardy  Coniferous  Trees,  Flora  of 
Kent”  and  now  this  history  of  the  magnificent  and  very 
extensive  public  park,  whose  policies  he  has  supervised  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  now  ciuits  in  orcler  to  superintend  the 
policies  of  Regent’s  Park  in  the  metropolis. 
This  book  of  104  pages  begins  with  the  early  history  of  the 
park  which  seems  to  go  back  to  the  early  British,  and  the 
Romans,  Saxons,  and  Danes  have  all  left  traces  within  its  site. 
In  the  year  1433  Henry  YI.  gave  his  uncle,  the  Duke  of  Glou- 
ce.ster,  'licence  to  fortify  and  embattle  his  (the  King’s)  manor 
house  and  to  make  Greenwich  Park,  which  he  did.  During 
the  Commonwealth  (1653)  Parliament  decided  to  sell  the  greater 
part  of  the  Royal  estate  at  Greenwich,  including  the  park ;  but 
though  an  offer  was  made  and  accepted,  the  money  was  never 
paid  and  tlio  sale  being  cancelled  in  1656,  it  was  declared  that 
the  palace  and  park  were  fit  for  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  Protector, 
and  was  reserved  for  him.  .  ^  •  n 
Greenwich  Park  is  greatly  renowned  for  its  stately  bpanisri 
Chestnuts  and  Oak  trees,  and  Mr.  Webster  in  his  chapter  on 
Laying  out  the  Park  tells  us  that  one  old  tree  beneath  which 
Henry  danced  witli  Ann©  Boleyn,  and  v,  hose  holloA\  trunk, 
was  afterwards  used  as  a  prison,  is  still  standing,  though  quite 
dead ;  and  there  are  four  Oaks  and  Chestnuts  of  about  a  similar 
the  reign  of  Charles  I.  the  park  was  remodelled  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  designs  of  Le  Notre,  the  famous  landscape  gar¬ 
dener.  General  Monk  in  1664  brought  some  Scotch  Fir  trees 
from  Scotland  for  the  park  plantations,  which  were  then  being 
made.  r  •  , 
The  old  Oak  referred  to  must  have  been  a  tree  of  giant  pro¬ 
portions,  and  within  its  hollow  trunk  Queen  Elizabeth  is  said 
to  have  often  partaken  of  refre-shments.  It  was  fully  26ft  in 
girth,  while  the  internal  cavity  is  6ft  in  diameter.  A  door  was 
at  one  time  placed  at  the  entrance,  and  a  window  cut  through 
the  shell,  the  interior  being  paved,  and  a  rustic  seat  placed 
around,  capable  of  accommodating  fifteen  persons  with  comfort. 
The  last  living  shoots  on  this  ancient  monarch  were  noticed 
about  twenty-four  years  ago,  and  it  is  mainly  supported  by  a 
thick  coating  of  Ivy.  Several  other  trees  in  the  park  are  of 
nearly  equal  proportions.  The  first  Mulberry  tree  brought  to 
England  is  said  to  have  been  planted  in  this  park  by  King 
James  I.  .  .  ,  '  •  i  <■ 
The  Greenwich  Observatory  standing  in  the  midst  of  the 
park,  with  the  castle,  are  both  considered  in  Mr.  Webster’s 
book.  He  also  describes  and  illustrates  the  underground  pas¬ 
sages  and  conduits,  also  the  historic  houses  around  the  park, 
besides  the  fairs,  the  sports  and  pastimes,  and  the  interesting 
finds  connected  with  this  very  attractive  area.  Under  “  Distin¬ 
guished  Persons  who  have  Visited  the  Park  ”  he  is  able  to  set 
out  many  names  of  kings,  queens,  statesmen,  warriors,  and 
litterateurs,  including  John  Evelyn,  whose  portrait  block  the 
author  kindly  lent  to  us  for  the  notice  in  our  Spring  Number. 
The  flora  and  fauna,  the  fungi,  the  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the 
geology  of  the  park  are  fully  detailed,  and  the  Roman  remains 
recently  found'within  its  acres  are  tabulated  in  full.  The  book 
contains  a  great  deal  of  historical  data,  all  admirably  compiled, 
and  though  the  book  is  especially  for  local  consultation,  yet  even 
a  stranger  to  Greenwich  could  enjoy  reading  it. 
WOKK^foiitheWEEK.. 
“The  Natural)  History  of  Plants.” 
The  ninth  part  of  the  above  wmrk,  by  Kerner  and  Oliver, 
has  been  issued  by  the  publishers,  Messrs.  Blackie  and  Son, 
Limited,  price  Is.  6d.  net.  It  is  devoted  to  the  consideration  of 
the  floral  organs,  to  the  dispersion  of  pollen,  and  to  the  colours 
and  scents  of  flow'ers  (with  engraved  illustrations)  as  a  means  of 
alluring  insects  and  animals.  The  part  concludes  with  a  re¬ 
print  of  the  Floral  Clock  compiled  by  Linnseus  for  the  latitude 
of  Upsala  (60deg  north),  and  which,  though  sometimes  inquired 
for.  is  forgotten  by  most  of  us.  No  more  interesting  work  than 
“The  Natural  History  of  Plants”  could  be  commended  to  gar¬ 
deners,  for  herein  are  the  elementary  facts  of  botany  told  in 
popular  and  understandable  diction. 
*  “  Greenwidi  Park  :  Its  History  and  Associations.”  By  A.  1).  Webster, 
Superintendent  of  Greenwich  Park.  With  thirty-one  illustrations  from  drawhigs, 
photograidis,  and  old  enpr'avings.  London  :  Simpkin,  Marshall,  Ilamilton,  Kent, 
and  Co.,  Ltd.,  1902  ;  and  II  Richardson,  Church  Street,  Greenwich.  5s. 
The  Week’s  Cnitaral  Notes  on  Orchids. 
A  slight  rise  in  the  temperature  in  all  the  Orchid  houses  will 
now  be  necessary,  as  growth  will  be  getting  well  away  in  most 
cases.  In  the  warmest  section  Aerides  and  other  distichous¬ 
leaved  sorts  will  be  rooting,  and  when  new  moss  has  been  given 
will  soon  be  taking  to  it  with  a  will.  It  is  easy  now'  to  keep 
these  fine  plants  growing,  as  &  inoister  atmosphere  can  w-ith 
safety  be  kept  up  in  conjunction  wdth  the  increased  heat. 
Avoid  syringing  overhead  as  yet,  as  the  water  is  apt  to  lodge 
in  the  leaf  axils,  and  lead  to  mischief,  especially  when  flower 
spikes  are  starting. 
The  earliest  of  the  Dendrobiums,  too,  that  have  been  re¬ 
turned  to  their  growing  quarters  since  flowering  have  the 
growths  going  strong.  Repotting,  as  I  have  before  pointed 
out,  should  not  be  resorted  to  unless  really  necessary,  as  in  the 
case  of  the  deciduous  kinds  especially  it  is  often  the  beginning 
of  a  backset  to  the  plants  very  difficult  to  arrest.  If  the  roots 
are  in  really  bad  condition,  sour  compost  and  badly  drained 
pots,  turn  them  out  by  all  means,  and  wash  away  every  particle 
of  soil  from  them ;  but  if  they  have  taken  a  really  good  hold  of 
a  small  pot  or  basket,  and  seem  only  to  require  more  room,  let 
the  old  receptacle  be  placed  in  the  neiv  one,  and  fill  up  with 
new  sweet  compost. 
The  correct  time  for  giving  the  first  root  moisture  to  growing 
Calanthes  is  easily  apparent  to  growers  who  have  had  a  few 
years’  experience.  To  those  whO'  have  not,  I  would  say  that  it 
is  far  better  to  keep  them  on  the  dry  side  as  yet  than  on  the 
w'et;  but  as  soon  as  the  young  growths  are  fairly  rooting  on 
their  own  account,  then  water  a  little,  and  as  you  see  the 
plants  taking  advantage  of  it  by  the  roots  and  growdh  lengthen¬ 
ing  rapidly  and  well,  increase  the  supply.  Cypripediums,  too, 
recently  given  fresh  compost,  will  by  now  be  taking  fairly  large 
supplies  of  water  to  keep  the  growths  moving  fairly. 
In  the  cool  house  less  root  moisture  will  be  needed  by 
Oncidium  tigrinum  and  others  passing  out  of  flower,  a  few  weeks’ 
rest  prior  to  new'  growTh  starting  being  an  advantage.  Odonto- 
glo.ssum  crispum  will  in  most  cases  be  rooting  freely,  and  will 
need  more  moisture.  Cattleya  citrina  will  be  active,  and  must 
be  encouraged,  while  the  handsome  Disa  grandiflora  will  neetl 
very  free  supplies.  Keep  all  plants  in  flower  as  close  together 
as  iiossible,  so  that  in  case  of  bright  bursts  of  sunshine  these 
may  be  shaded,  the  extra  light  being  an  advantage  to  plants 
not  in  flow  er.  As  the  tips  of  the  flow'er  spikes  show  in  O.  citros- 
mum,  give  each  plant  separately  a  thorough  soaking  of  water. 
H.  R.  R. 
Fruit  Forcing. 
\INES:  EARLIEST  IN  POTS. — Vines  started  last  Novem¬ 
ber  have  the  Grapes  in  the  last  stages  of  swelling,  and  must  be 
aclcquately  supported  with  liquid  manure  and  rich  top-dressings, 
W'hile  if  the  roots  extend  beyond  the  pots  feed  them  there  as 
well  as  in  the  pots.  The  very  early  varieties,  such  as  White 
Frontignan,  Foster’s  Seedling,  Black  Hamburgli,  and  Madres- 
field  Court,  are  well  advanced  towards  ripening,  and  will  need 
clear  tepid  water  after  the  colour  is  well  pronounced.  A  cir¬ 
culation  of  moderately  dry  air  conduces  to  the  colour  and  flavour 
of  the  fruit,  but  the  Vines”tnust  not  lack  the  needful  supplies 
of  water  to  keep  the  foliage  fresh,  or  the  atmosphere  be  allowed 
to  become  so  parched  as  to  invite  red  spider,  for  the  Grapes 
require  some  little  time  to  mature  after  being  apparently  ripe, 
and  a  moderate  amount  of  atmospheric  moisture  Avithout  stag¬ 
nation  is  essential  to  their  remaining  plump  and  fresh  till  cut. 
EARLY  HOUSES. — Vines  started  early  in  December  and 
previously  forced  will  have  the  Grapes  stoned,  and  should  have 
copious  supplies  of  water  or  liquid  manure,  or  a  top-dressing  of 
some  approved  fertiliser  washed  in.  A  light  mulching  of  lumpy, 
partially  decayed  manure  may  be  placed  on  the  border,  as  the 
Grapes  swell  considerablv  in  the  later  stages,  even  after  com¬ 
mencing  to  colour,  and  allow  a  little  lateral  extension,  as  every 
leaf  encourages  root  action,  and  that  leaf  duly  exposed  to  light 
and  air  aids  the  Grapes  in  swelling  and  finishing.  The  Vines 
started  later  in  the  year,  and  of  which  the  Grapes  have  been 
thinned,  will  need  liquid  manure  applied  to  inside  borders  ; 
but  surface  dressings  are  more  potent  in  accelerating  and  keep¬ 
ing  surface  roots,  and  a  good  handful  of  almost  any  of  the 
advertised  fertilisers  per  square  yard  makes  a  Avonderful 
difference  in  the  colour  of  the  foliage,  which  means  ultimately 
good  colour  and  high  finish  in  the  Grapes.  A'entilation  needs 
to  be  carefully  attended  to,  as,  W'ith  sharp  winds  and  gleams  of 
bright  sun,  the  temperature  is  liable  to  sudden  fluctuation 
and  depressions,  alternatives  which  must  be  avoided  by  admitting 
air  in  small  quantities  at  a  time,  ahvays  in  advance  of,  rather 
