July  10,  190". 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
27 
characteristic  in  the  family,  distinct  in  foliage  and  formation 
from  any  of  the  others,  and  one  that  does  not  run  about. 
Heliopsis  lsevis  is  still  capable  of  further  improvement.  The 
colour  is  unique  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  for  cutting 
invaluable,  but  it  is  not  a  good  habit.  A  variety  2ft  or  3ft  high 
covered  with  rich  orange  flowers  would  find  many  admirers. 
The  Oriental  Christmas  Roses  are  very  useful,  but  I  do  not 
think  can  be.  much  improved  upon ;  they  are  no  good  for  cutting, 
and  never  will  be,  but  in  a  shrubbery  border  they  are  very  useful. 
It  is  possible  to  get  some  fine  varieties  of  Hemerocallis,  but 
they  will  have  to  be  remarkably  distinct  to  find  favour  with  the 
public.  Commercially  there  is  not  much  value  in  them,  I  suppose 
from  the  fact  that  they  cannot  be  killed. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
Gadding  and  Gathering. 
“Here  aava’,  There  awa’." 
Rochfords,  Turnford  Hall  Nurseries. 
Nowhere  in  England  is  there  such  an  extensive  market 
nursery  as  that  of  Messrs.  Rochford  and  Sons,  Limited,  at  Turn- 
ford  Hall,  near  Broxbourne,  in  Hertfordshire.  The  station  at 
Broxbourne  is  reached  in  forty  minutes  by  rail  from  Liverpool 
Street  Station  by  the  Great  Eastern  Railway  Company.  And 
when  one  has  stepped  out  at  Broxbourne  after  having  studied 
the  mile  upon  mile  of  flat  and  low-lying  country,  much  of  it 
flooded  in  rainy  weather,  the  visitor  discovers  that  he  has  to 
walk  back  almost  in  line  with  the  railway  for  a  distance  of  over 
two  miles  in  order  to  enter  the  Rochford’s  establishment.  On  a 
pleasant  day  the  walk  is  exceedingly  enjoyable,  passing  as  it 
does  by  a  deep  canal  with  grass-shorn  sides  and  onward  to  the 
highway  leading  past  Turnford  Hall.  The  canal  referred  to  is 
kept  under  constant  close  supervision  by  men  whose  duty  it  is  to 
repair  and  dress  the  sides.  In  mowing  the  grass  upon  the  banks 
they  evidently  do  not  try  to  secure  all  of  the  mowings,  judging 
from  the  large  quantities  seen  floating  down  stream. 
An  impression  of  the  extraordinary  acreage  and  extensiveness 
of  the  business  is  obtained  as  one  flies  past  in  the  train  either 
going  from  or  to  London,  and  having  spent  two  or  three  hours 
inspecting  the  glass  ranges,  one  cannot  find  words  more  satis¬ 
factory  in  describing  the  place  than  to  say  that  it  is  a  wonderful 
concern. 
Calling  at  the  office,  where  half  a  dozen  clerks,  under  a  cashier, 
were  busy  on  their  Ijooks  and  correspondence,  an  office  lad  was 
procured  as  a  guide  to  discover  the  manager,  Mr.  Kelsall,  whom 
we  found  with  the  foreman. 
When  it 'is  considered  that  nearly  seventy  English  acres  are 
practically  covered  with  span-roofed  glass  houses  it  will  be 
conceded  that  Ave  did  not  attempt  to  inspect  all  there  was  to  see. 
Here  Ave  saw  a  block  of  houses,  each  200ft  to  300ft  long,  and  12ft 
Avide,  devoted  to  Tomatoes ;  further  on  a  similar  set — perhaps  half 
a  dozen  side  by  side — would  contain  the  brighter  floAvering  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  for  the  supply  of  cut  floAvers;  and  so  on.  The 
houses  run  in  various  directions,  and  each  great  section  of  houses 
is  divided  from  an  opposite  section  by  broad  roadAvays  for  Avaggon 
and  other  traffic.  In  order  to  have  a  thoroughly  efficient  heating 
system  stock-holes  and  boilers  are  built  in  line  at  short  intervals 
apart.  Each  boiler  heats  perhaps  a  dozen  houses.  Dotted  over 
a  great  area  I  counted  tAvo  score  of  chimney  stacks,  built  square 
Avith  bricks,  and  each  about  20ft  high.  The  houses,  as  I  have 
stated,  are  span-roofed,  and  joined  on  either  side  by  a  flat  gutter 
lft  broad.  The  top  ventilators  are  Avorked  by  a  lever  from  one  of 
the  outside  ends. 
The  Tomatoes  are  groAvn  in  8in  pots,  and  succeeding  them 
Avere  the  Zonals,  one  of  the  best  among  which  Avas  Raspail 
Improved.  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  had  gone  past  for  the 
year,  but  its  handsome  Avhite  sport  named  Turnford  Hall,  and 
raised  here,  was  still  on  vieAV,  and  I  Avas  shoAvn  a  seed  pod  on  one 
of  the  plants.  On  the  opposite  section  Avere  some  of  the  magnificent 
vineries,  30ft  Avid©  and  300ft  long.  The  pipes  are  placed  a  little 
on  either  side  from  the  centre,  and  run  at  half  a  foot  above  the 
borders.  Gros  Colman  is  a  market  favourite,  and  filled  the  houses 
I  refer  to.  Only  young  healthy  rods  are  cultivated,  and  a  fresh 
stock  is  constantly  maintained. 
It  Avould  be  without  purpose  Avere  I  to  name  all  the  classes  of 
plants  groAvn,  but  those  cu  1 1 i rated  by  the  thousand  and  in  all 
sizes  including  Pandanus  (almost  milk-white  in  foliage,  secured,  it 
AA'as  said,  by  alloAving  plenty  of  light  to>  them  and  confining  the 
plants  so  far  as  practicable  in  small  pots),  Kentias,  Rhapis, 
Latanias,  Pteris,  Adiantnms,  Asparagus  plumosus  nanus,  and 
many  other  Ferns  and  Palms.  Some  of  the  most  magnificent 
Palms  Avere  12ft  to*  14ft  high  and  in  stout  tubs.  These  Avere  priced 
at  thirty  guineas  apiece. 
Other  collections  embraced  Fittonia  argyrea  and  F.  gigantea, 
AA'hose  foliage  is  used  in  decorations;  also  Cycas  revoluta  to 
supply  leaves  for  Avreaths  and  other  floral  designs.  The  demand, 
hoAvever,  for  Cycas  leaves  has  declined  someAvhat  within  recent 
years.  I  Avas  gratified  not  less  than  surprised  to  learn  that  the 
firm  despatch  large  consignments  of  Palms  to  the  United  States 
of  America,  as  Avell  as  all  over  the  United  Kingdom.  The 
merchants  in  our  OAvn  islands  naturally  deal  largely  Avith  the 
Rochford  firm. 
A  private  service  raihvay  is  conducted  to  the  side  of  the 
nursery,  and  joins  the  Great  Eastern  Raihvay  Company’s  main 
line  at  Broxbourne.  There  is  thus  the  greatest  facility  for  quick 
transit. 
And  since  the  firm  has  established  a  great  refrigerator  at 
Turnford  Hall,  it  is  enabled  to  store  and  supply  millions  of 
Lily  of  the  Valley  roots,  or  Liliums,  Azaleas,  or  other  subjects  at 
any  season  of  the  year.  These  cold  chambers  Avere  a  source  of 
great  interest  to  me,  for  Avhile  the  sun  Avas  warm  and  bright 
outside  the  building,  every  box  and  board  within  it  AA'as  studded 
with  hoar  frost  and  icicles.  Being  arranged  tier  upon  tier,  one 
over  the  other,  in  huge  piles,  and  so  fitted  that  air  passes 
betAveen  each,  an  enormous  quantity  of  stock  can  be  housed.  The 
entrance  doors  are  ponderously  constructed  and  very  tight  fitting, 
while  the  walls,  too,  are  thick  and  non-conductive  to  heat.  Dark¬ 
ness  reigns,  and  a  lamp  is  necessary  Avhen  an  inspection  is  made. 
At  the  time  of  my  visit  a  second  boiler  for  the  refrigerator- 
engine  AA-as  being  added  in  case  any  untoAvard  circumstance  should 
disable  the  original  one — a  compact  marine  boiler.  The  air-com¬ 
pressing  engine  is  loft  from  the  boilers. 
Reverting  to  the  ranges,  the  corridor  of  Lapageria  alba  with 
spotless  AAaxy  floAvers  depending  from  the.  roof,  was  of  Avotiderful 
beauty,  and  opening  off  on  either  side  Avere  the  Orchid  houses. 
It  is  Avell  knoAvn  that  feAV  collections  of  Odontoglossum  crispum 
equal  that  of  Turnford  Hall.  From  so  many  thousands  there 
are  sure  to  be  some  of  superior  excellence  and  of  distinctive 
characters.  Such  is,  indeed,  the  case,  and  I  Avas  privileged  to 
inspect  some  very  prettily-marked  and  coloured  crispums  of 
splendid  form  and  constitution.  The  houses  of  Cattleyas  in 
varieties  and  Cymbidiums  Avere  each  of  interest  and  in  the  pink 
of  condition ;  but  time  Avas  too  limited  to  stay — we  had  to 
“  Move  along,”  as  the  policemen  say.  By  the  Avay,  it  is  note¬ 
worthy  that  Lapageria  rosea  is  not  groAvn,  or,  if  so,  it  Avas 
certainly  not  conspicuous. 
Hydrangea  Hortensia,  with  such  immense  and  beautiful  heads 
of  deep  rose-pink  floAvers  as  I  have  never  before  seen,  came  as 
a  revelation  of  AA'hat  can  be  done  by  good  culture.  Yet  the 
plants  were  only  in  5in  and  Gin  pot-s.  Kalanchoe  flammea  in 
another  house  promised  Avell,  and  only  a  day  or  tAvo  ago  I  was 
pleased  to  see  this  neAv comer  already  in  a  London  West  End 
shop.  A  specimen  plant  of  Stephanotis  floribunda,  covering  fully 
180ft  in  length  of  Avire,  in  one  of  the  ferneries,  Avas  roped  with 
lovely  clusters,  and  Avell  earns  its  position  at  Broxbourne.  The 
houses  of  Eucharis  gave  evidence  of  the  care  bestOAved.  And 
then,  the  Roses  cultivated  on  the  planted-out  system  under 
glass,  add  another  feature,  and  one  which  it  is  hoped  will  be 
developed. 
Some  three  hundred  men  are  employed  here,  and  a  comfort¬ 
able  institute*  for  the  young  unmarried  men  has  been  provided 
since  1896.  Their  meals  are  provided  in  the  institute,  and 
beyond  the  privilege  of  good,  Avell-cooked  food  at  a  moderate 
charge,  close  to  their  Avork,  recreation-rooms,  and  library  with 
books  and  papers  (the  gardening  journals,  of  necessity,  included) 
are  also  attached.  And  this  great  business,  iioav  a  limited 
liability  company,  Avas  founded  and  built  up  entirely  by  the 
efforts  of  the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Rochford,  whose  lamented  and 
untimely  decease  at  the  age  of  fifty-tAvo  occurred  in  October  last. 
Floral  Designs. 
Although  these  notes  on  floral  designs  as  vieAved  in  one  or 
other  of  the  London  west-end  shops  are  recognised  as  being  too 
extravagant  to  be  patterned  after  literally,  yet  on  a  smaller 
and  humbler  scale  the  same  general  features  may  be  copied, 
and  with  this  hope  I  may  be  alloAved  to  continue  the  notes  from 
page  12.  The  best  efforts  of  our  London  florists  are  seen  during 
the  earlier  and  middle  days  of  each  Aveek.  A  magnificent  wreath, 
composed  of  the  floAvers  and  trusses  of  a  purplish-mauve  A'ariety 
of  Fancy  Pelargonium  Avas  Avorthy  of  special  attention.  Unfor¬ 
tunately  I  was  unacquainted  with  the  name  of  the  variety  Avhose 
colours  were  so  pleasing  and  rich.  The  frameAvork  of  the 
AA'reath  was  ensAvathed  in  blooms  closely  and  evenly  laid  on, 
there  being  no  Ferns  or  other  gi'eenery  employed  round  the 
circle.  The  wreath  AA'as  suspended,  and  from  the  top  side,  facing 
the  public,  a  loose  arrangement  which  could  not  be  described 
as  a  bouquet,  yet  which  centralised  much  in  the  same  manner, 
was  fixed,  and  composed  of  individual  blooms  of  the  Pelar¬ 
gonium  Avired.  At  four  points  beneath  this  so-called  bouquet 
Avere  streamers  fashioned  so  as  to  lightly  veil  the  general  circle, 
and,  to  add  to  the  character  of  gracefulness,  deep  in  the  bouquet 
part  of  the  Avreath  I  noticed  the  Avell-selected  leaves  of 
Caladium  argyrites,  each  disposed  to  the  best  adA-antage,  and 
not  one  more  than  AA’as  necessary.  On  the  loAver  outside  fringe 
of  the  arrangement  two  other  Caladium  leaves  were  used  ;  but 
these  were  at  least  5in  long  and  proportionately  broad,  and 
coloured  creamy-white.  FloAvers  of  Cattleya  Schroderiana  and 
sprays  of  Odontoglossum  crispum  with  a  little  Asparagus 
plumosus  completed  this  excellent  floral  Avreath. 
