JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
December  13,  1900. 
f)26 
with  the  aspect  of  neatness  and  tidiness  that  prevailed  every¬ 
where  ;  more  especially  was  this  ob.'ervable  in  relation  to  several 
carpet  beds  which  we  noticed,  each  and  all  of  them  showing 
unmistakcable  indication  of  the  patient  care  and  skilful  manipulation 
bestowed  upon  them.  There  was,  however,  despite  alt  this  neatness, 
a  lack  of  brightness  in  colour  both  in  foliage  and  flower,  the  sombre 
appearance  no  doubt  being  due  to  the  close  proximity  of  these 
gardens  to  the  river  and  railway  with  their  ever-present  smoke  and 
dirt.  Violas,  Stocks,  Calceolarias,  and  Antirrhinums  did  not  seem 
happy  in  the  murky  atmosphere,  and  were  miserable  examples 
compared  with  those  in  our  clear  bracing  Scottish  air.  Our  first 
impression  of  London  gardening,  therefore,  was,  as  we  saw  it  on  the 
yictoria  Embankment,  not  at  all  calculated  to  fill  us  with  unqualified 
admiration. 
Hyde  Park. 
Next  day  we  wended  our  way  through  the  busy  streets  tov  ards 
Hyde  Park,  where  we  were  led  to  expect  better  things;  nor  were  we 
disappointed.  On  entering  this  beautiful  park  we  were  at  once  struck 
with  its  huge  dimensions,  and  thought  what  a  priceless  boon  it  must 
be  to  the  thousands  who  spend  their  days  and  years  in  the  brick  and 
mortar  wilderness  which  surrounds  it  on  every  hand.  How  invigorating 
and  refreshing  it  must  be  to  the  jaded,  weary,  city  toiler  to  spend  an 
hour  at  leisure  away  from  the  cares  and  worries  of  the  office  and  store 
amidst  the  bright  foliage  and  brighter  flowers  of  this  charming  park^ 
On  entering  we  were  at  once  attracted  by  a  bed  of  Chrysanthemum 
Precocity,  which  was  very  bright  and  effective,  its  rich  golden  yellow 
colour  readily  catching  the  eye.  This  method  of  massing  one  colour 
in  one  bed  has  many  points  to  recommend  it,  especially  in  large  public 
parks  similar  to  the  one  under  notice.  Another  bed  of  quite  a  different 
type  from  the  foregoing,  although  not  at  its  best  at  the  time  we  saw 
it,  promised  to  be  very  attractive  ;  this  was  planted  with  Celosias  and 
Lilium  lancifolium  rubram,  the  combination  having  a  very  pretty 
effect.  Further  on  we  came  across  several  beds  filled  with  tuberous 
rooted  Begonias,  with  dot  plants  of  Grevillea  robusta  and  Acacia 
lophantha,  which  were  decidedly  disappointing  ;  the  Begonias  were  not 
at  all  up  to  the  mark,  while  the  Grevilleas  and  Acacias  were  planted 
with  so  much  geometric  exactness  as  to  make  the  general  aspect  stiff 
and  ungraceful. 
\  ery  free  and  beautiful,  however,  were  some  beds  of  white 
Fuchsias  an>i  blue  Plumbagos,  with  a  groundwork  of  East  Lothian 
Stocks,  crimson  ;  and  the  same  remark  applies  to  a  couple  of  beds 
adjoining,  which  were  thinly  planted  with  Salpiglossis  on  a  base  of 
blue  Lobelia.  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  or,  as  we  call  them  in  the  north, 
“  Geraniums,”  were  very  much  in  evidence,  and  there  can  be  little 
said  against  them  as  useful  summer  bedding  plants.  As  seen  in  Hyde 
Park  they  were  veiy  floriferous,  and  the  colours  bright  and  effective, 
their  only  drawback  in  our  estimation  being  a  certain  flatness  about 
the  beds,  which  would  easily  have  been  remedied  by  the  addition  of 
some  taller-growing  plants,  such  as  Variegated  Maize,  dwarf  Bamboos, 
or  similar  graceful  leathery  plants.  We  have  seen  hardy  Ferns,  such 
as  Lasireas  and  Athyriums,  used  in  combination  with  “  Geraniums  ” 
with  highly  satisfactory  results.  Specimen  flowering  plants,  such  as 
Hydrangeas,  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums,  Plumbago  capensis  and  Bou¬ 
gainvillea  glabra,  were  used  with  considerable  effect  in  various 
sheltered  nooks,  and  this  style  of  decoration  when  judiciously 
employed  gives  a  tone  to  the  surroundings  which  is  by  no  means  to 
desjiised.  In  one  or  two  instances,  however,  we  felt  they  were  a 
little  out  of  place,  scarcely  harmonising  with  their  surroundings. 
Parliament  Square. 
Strolling  round  the  precincts  of  the  Parliament  Houses  one  after¬ 
noon,  admiring  the  beautiful  architecture,  we  were  much  struck  with 
the  quantity  of  Castor  Oil  plants  and  Eucalyptue  which  were  in 
evidence  every  where— in  fact,  we  began  to  wonder  if  they  had  any 
connectiori  with  British  politics,  or  if  the  man  in  charge  was  a 
practical  j  kvr,  as  the  two  plants  in  their  particular  environment 
seemed  peculiarly  suggestive. 
Finsbury  Park. 
On  Saturday  afternoon  we  journeyed  to  the  northern  suburbs,  and 
there  enjoyed  the  kind  hospitality  of  our  generous  employer,  who 
with  considerate  kindness  conducted  us  over  a  couple  of  private 
establishmen  s  in  the  vicinity  of  his  suburban  home,  pointing  out 
features  of  es:  ecial  interest.  Thereafter  we  spent  a  pleasant  hour 
toge.her  admiring  the  beauties  of  Finsbury  Park.  Occupying  as  it 
does  a  more  elevated  and  airier  position  than  the  parks  we  had  already 
visited,  we  observed  vegetation  here  looked  brighter  and  healthier 
generally  than  any  we  had  previously  seen.  Prominent  amongst 
other  things  we  noticed  a  bed  of  Begonia  seraperflorens  flowering 
most  profusely,  the  bright  rosy  blossoms  and  metallic  foliage  being 
exceedingly  pretty.  Beds  of  perennial  Phloxes,  red  and  white,  made 
a  brilliant  display,  but  Gannas  were  anything  but  a  success,  flowering 
very  sparsely.  Here  we  noticed  several  beds  edged  with  Koniga 
maritima  compacts,  and  we  could  not  fail  to  observe  how  well  adapted 
this  neat,  dwarf-growing  plant  was  for  this  purpose. 
Regent’s  Park. 
In  Regent’s  Park  we  were  delighted  with  some  huge  clumps  of 
single  Hollyhocks  which  made  a  very  effective  display ;  the  plants 
were  freely  branched,  not  more  than  5  feet  in  height,  and  were  flowering 
with  wonderful  profusion.  Beds  of  Begonia  Corbeille  de  Feu,  in  com¬ 
bination  with  Harrison’s  Musk,  formed  as  pretty  objects  as  anything  we 
saw  in  this  style.  A  large  triangular  bed  just  at  the  junction  of  two 
broad  walks  was  filled  with  a  variety  of  specimen  flowering  and  foliage 
plants,  and  had  a  characteristic  beauty  peculiarly  its  own.  The  most 
prominent  plants  in  this  bed  were  various  Palms,  Acalyphas,  Liliums, 
Celosias,  Hydrangeas,  and  Cannas,  the  combination  having  a  tropical 
effect  which  was  exceedingly  pleasing,  and  a  decided  change  from  th& 
style  of  bedding  generally  adopted. 
Zoological  Gardens. 
Within  the  Zoological  Gardens  we  noticed  many  plants  growing 
freely  in  the  open  borders  which  are  generally  accorded  a  place  under 
glass  in  our  northern  latitude.  Such  plants  as  Asparagus  plumosus^ 
Acalypha  musaica,  Strobilanthes  Dyerianus,  and  Pilea  muscosa,  seemed 
to  be  thriving  beautifully,  and  not  much  wonder,  if  the  day  we  spent 
there  was  anything  jike  a  good  sample  of  what  is  generally  experienced, 
the  heat  being  intense  at  the  time  of  our  visit.  Celosias  were  excellent 
here,  and  we  were  delighted  with  some  beds  we  saw  as  we  entered,  but 
at  every  turn  we  were  met  with  fresh  beds  filled  with  Celosias,  until 
at  last  they  began  to  get  tiresome  by  reason  of  their  superabundance,, 
thus  once  more  verifying  the  truth  of  the  old  saying  that  we  can  have 
too  much  of  a  gcod  thing. 
The  Crystal  Palace  and  Kew  Gardens. 
The  Crystal  Palace  and  Kew  Gardens  were  also  visited,  and  at  the 
latter  place  we  saw  the  best  beds  of  tuberous-rooted  Begonias  that  we 
had  seen  in  the  south ;  still  they  were  poor  in  comparison  to  what  we 
are  accustomed  to  see  in  the  north.  Evidently  our  moist  atmosphere 
seems  to  suit  this  plant  much  better  than  the  warmer,  drier  air  which 
prevails  in  the  London  district.  Beds  of  Begonia  superflorens  rosea, 
were  also  very  fine  here  ;  both  they  and  the  beds  of  tuberous-rooted 
Begonias  would,  however,  have  been  very  much  improved  by  the 
judicious  addition  of  a  few  plants  of  Dactylis  glomerata  variegata 
interspersed  amongst  the  Begonias.  Some  of  the  other  parks  we  also 
visited,  but  as  we  have  already  trespassed  too  much  upon  your 
valuable  space  we  must  refrain  from  further  remarks. 
The  Drill  Hall. 
We  had  often  read  glowing  accounts  in  the  Journal  of  the  flower 
shows  held  in  the  Driu  Hall,  and  were  delighted  to  find  ourselves 
in  time  to  inspect  one  of  them.  Having  lound  out,  what  to  us 
seemed  to  be  a  rather  out  of  the  way  hall,  we  entered  with  high 
expectations  of  having  a  floral  treat,  expectations  which  were  doomed 
to  a  rather  sudden  collapse.  This  show  was  a  decidedly  poor  affair ; 
scarcely  anything  of  really  outstandingr  merit  was  to  be  seen. 
A  small  group  of  Campanula  isophylla  Mayi  was  very  meritorious; 
this  will  form  a  welcome  companion  to  C.  isophylla  alba,  which  is  a 
universal  favourite  for  window  gardening,  as  well  as  for  edging  stages 
in  the  greenhouse.  A  few  hybrid  Nepenthes,  and  some  specimens 
of  the  Japanese  Wineberry  showing  its  free  bearing  propensities, 
were  about  all  that  was  noteworthy,  the  rest  of  the  show  being 
composed  of  miscellaneous  exhibits  of  mediocre  quality.  We  were, 
however,  told  by  one  who  should  know,  that  the  show  was  very  much 
below  the  average  Drill  Hall  standard,  therefore,  we  must  not  attach 
any  blame  to,  or  use  any  disparaging  remarks  anent  the  R.H.S,,  but 
simply  conclude  that  in  this  respect  at  least  the  date  of  our  visit  to 
the  metropolis  was  unfortunate.  But  if  we  were  disappointed  in  the 
show  we  were  compensated  in  another  way,  in  having  the  pleasure 
of  beholding  in  the  flesh  the  faces  of  one  or  two  who  previously 
had  only  been  familiar  to  us  from  photographs  appearing  in  the 
picture  gallery  of  our  Journal. 
Memories  of  the  Past. 
Looking  back  on  that  week,  we  still  have  many  pleasant  memories 
of  the  sights  we  saw,  not  only  in  the  busy  pulsa  ing  heart  of  the 
greatest  city  in  the  world,  but  also  in  the  beautiful  and  well  kept 
public  parks  and  gardens — memories  which  in  after  years  may  prove 
to  be  of  great  practical  value. — Albyn. 
