240 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  11,  1902. 
Plants  at  Victoria  Park. 
For  the  filling  of  a  very  large  span-roofed  house  in  Victoria 
Park,  London,  E.G’.,  Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman,  the  superintendent 
there,  raises  some  thousands  of  Chrysanthemums  annually.  His 
collection  this  year  are  in  very  good  condition,  the  leafage  being 
generally  stout  and  plentiful,  the  wood  and  growths  firm  for  the 
season,  and  buds  are  promising  nicely.  There  are  even  batches 
of  Mrs.  Barkley,  with  buds  already  prominent ;  Edwin  Molyneux, 
too,  promises  admirably,  and  its  needs  seem  to  be  understood  by 
the  grower.  Mrs.  Carpenter,  Loveliness,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Neville, 
Mine.  Gabriel  Debrie,  and  especially  W.  R.  Church,  are  each  very 
vigorous  and  stout.  The  buds  on  the  latter  are  good.  Florence 
Molyneux  with  Sir  Herbert  Kitchener  and  Mrs.  R.  Darby  made 
a  favourable  show.  Mrs.  H.  Weeks  is  very  strong  and  heavily 
foliaged,  standing  but  24ft  high.  The  brilliant  flowered 
R.  Hooper  Pearson  is  44ft  high,  grown  as  triple  stemmed  plants, 
and  the  buds  are  now  developing  as  finely  as  could  be  desired. 
Dry  sunny  weather  is  required  in  order  to  perfect  the  unripened 
growth. 
The  N.C.S.  and  the  Royal  Aquarium. 
Writing  to  “  American  Gardening,”  Mr.  Richard  Dean,  secre¬ 
tary  of  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  here,  says: — “The 
announced  sale  of  the  Royal  Aquarium,  Westminster,  and  its 
probable'  destruction  as  a  preliminary  to  building  structures  for 
religious  purposes  will  deprive  London  of  the  only  building  in  its 
centre  in  which  a  large  horticultural  exhibition  could  be  held. 
For  twenty  years  past  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  has 
held  its  annual  exhibitions  therein  ;  a  Dahlia  show  has  been  held 
in  it  for  a  long  time  past,  and  a  Sweet  Pea  exhibition  during  the 
past  two  years.  It  is  central,  the  position  can  be  readily  reached 
from  all  points,  and  there  is  abundance  of  space.  It  is  a  very 
serious  matter  for  the  National  Chrysanthemum  Society  to  be 
rendered  homeless,  because  beyond  the  Crystal  Palace  at  Syden¬ 
ham,  which  is  too  far  south,  and  the  Alexandra  Palace  at  Mus- 
well  Hill,  which  is  too  far  north,  there  is  no  other  place  commo¬ 
dious  enough  for  the  inclusion  of  a  N.S.C.  exhibition.  The  sale  has 
to  be  ratified  by  the  shareholders  of  the  Royal  Aquarium,  but  that 
they  will  assent  to  the  sale  of  the  building  there  can  be  no  doubt.” 
• - — 
Notes  from  Gardening  Literature. 
( Concluded  from  j, age  195.) 
The  heating  of  glass  structures  by  hot  water  was  agitating 
the  experts  of  that  day  (1820-40),  and  in  all  the  journals  or 
magazines  drawings  were  given  of  the  various  systems.  To 
describe  these  would  hardly  come  under  the  scope  of  this  paper. 
One  only  might  be  made  mention  of,  viz.,  heating  by  hot  water 
troughs,  and  where  dips  had  to  be  made  syphons  were  used. 
Some  doubts  were  expressed  as  to  the  effect  of  too  much  moisture 
by  that  system,  but  according  to  the  accounts  it  was  not  so  in 
practice. 
The  pruning  of  fruit  trees  also  caused  as  much  controversy 
and  difference  of  opinion  as  it  does  at  the  present  (jay.  Grape 
growing  had  not  attained  the  dimensions  of  the  present  day,  and 
in  a  communication  from  Mr.  James  Acorn,  gardener  to  the  Earl 
of  Surrey,  Worksop  Manor,  March,  1826,  he  gives  details  as  to 
how  he  is  able  to  maintain  a  supply  of  Grapes  all  the  year  round. 
An  experienced  Grape  grower  also  gives  his  views  of  Grape  grow¬ 
ing  in  “Loudon’s  Gardeners’  Magazine,”  in  1833.  “The 
border  in  front  of  the  vinery  should  be  30ft  to  40ft  wide  (P)  and 
should  be  formed  of  loamy  soil,  sharp  sand,  and  at  least  a  fourth 
part  of  well-rotted  horse  dung.  The  Vines  may  be  planted  on 
the  outside  of  the  front  wall,  but  the  stems  should  be  taken 
through  it  below  the  level  of  the  surface.  When  it  is  desired  to 
swell  the  fruit  to  a  large  size,  the  border  should  be  well  watered 
every  evening  in  the  swelling  season,  and  covered  during  the  day 
with  litter  to  prevent  evaporation. 
“  In  order  to  have  very  late  crops  of  Grapes  the  house'  should  be 
kept  dry  by  giving  air  every  fine  day,  and  supplying  no  more 
fire  heat  during  winter  than  is  barely  sufficient  to  keep  out  frost.. 
If  the  house  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  much  coal  smoke,  the 
laps  between  the  panes  should  be  puttied,  and  the  putty  such 
as  will  not  crack,  which  is  effected  by  putting  lib  of  white  lead 
to  every  101b  of  putty,  and  instead  of  using  common  linseed 
oil,  which  dries  and  cracks,  use  sweet  oil.” 
As  putty  is  mentioned,  the  following  use  for  the  old  putty 
is  worth  noticing.  A  correspondent  wrote: — “Two  years  ago  I 
had  a  heap  accidentally  placed  on  a  piece  of  turf,  it  was  after¬ 
wards  cleared  off  and  burnt.  Since  that  time  the  grass  in  that 
place  has  required  to  be  mown  thrice  to  once  in  other  parts, 
and  the  grass  is  of  a  much  better  quality.  I  intend  to  apply 
some  to  plants  in  pots,  as  I  think  it  contains  nourishment  for 
plants  in  the  absence  of  watering.” 
There  were  scientific  men  in  those  days,  and  Joseph  Hayward, 
of  Weymouth,  author  of  “The  Science  of  Horticulture,”  gives 
a  recipe  to  assist  fruit  trees  to  set  their  blossom.  He  says  the 
Peach,  Apricot,  Plum,  and  Apple'  are  well  furnished  with 
blossoms,  and  often  fail  in  the  setting  and  fall  off.  These  failures 
he  had  proved  to-  be  the  effect  of  unwholesome  food,  and  he 
advised  the  following: — “Just  as  the  blossom  is  beginning  to 
expand,  take  a  Potato  fork  and  make  holes,  18in  apart,  as  far 
as  the  roots  extend,  by  pressing  the  fork  in,  and  giving  the  soil 
a  gentle  heave.  Then  dissolve  some  nitre  in  water  (loz  to 
3gal  of  water),  and  fill  the  holes  with  the  solution.  No  manure 
must  be  given,  but  if  after  stoning  of  the  fruit  the  tree  should 
be  unequal  to  sustaining  its  crop,  the  following  preparation 
may  be  given  in  the'  same  manner  as  the  nitre.  To  lgal  of 
blood  add  lgal  of  water  and  loz  of  potash;  stir  the  mixture 
well,  and  let  it  stand  for  a  week.  Now  pour  off  the  solution, 
and  mix  lgal  of  this  liquid  with  4gals  of  water,  and  give  it  to 
the  trees  as  above.”  This  discovery  he  considered  of  great 
value. 
In  the  earlier  part  of  these  notes  I  mentioned  that  in  visiting 
the  various  gardens  in  England  and  Scotland,  the  writers  freely 
expressed  their  opinions  as  to  the  conditions  of  them.  I  will 
conclude  my  paper  by  two  or  three  quotations  showing  their 
remarks. 
Loudon  speaks  of  Drumlanrig  in  the  highest  praise,  but  finds 
fault  with  the  attempt  to  make  a  carriage  drive  up  a  steep 
acclivity  in  front  of  the  house,  and  suggests  that  they  should 
have  commenced  the  road  two  or  three  miles  to  the  right  or 
left  and  made  an  easier  ascent.  Whether  that  was  carried  out 
I  cannot  say. 
At  Caprington  Castle,  he  says :  “We  were  sorry  to  find  that 
the  gardener  had  recently  had  his  cow  taken  from  him,  and 
we  saw  the  carpenters  at  work  fitting  up  his  cow-house  as  a 
fruit-room.  What  a  reward  for  a  faithful  servant  of  twenty- 
fite  years’  standing  !  ” 
“At  Williamsfield  we  regretted  to  see  the  park  spoiled  by 
‘dotting.’  But  perhaps  it  is  not  yet  too  late,  and  if  Mr. 
Cooper,  the  gardener,  a  most  willing  and  excellent  man,  will 
send  us  a  correct  plan  of  the  trees  and  other  objects,  as  they 
now  stand,  we  will  return  it  to  him  gratis,  with  corrections.” 
[Loudon,  be  it  remembered,  was  a  renowned  landscape 
gardener,  and  doubtless  acted  in  writing  thus  quite  according  to 
his  spontaneous  dictates,  knowing  right  from  wrong  in  the 
principles  of  his  calling. — Ed.] 
“  At  Dalscairth  we  were  surprised  to  find  some  green  painted 
iron  bridges,  an  artificial  ruin,  and  other  things,  belonging,  as 
we  thought,  exclusively  to  the  Cockney  School.” 
Coming  to  England,  a  Mr.  Saunders  writes  rather  dis¬ 
paragingly  of  Trafalgar  House  (Earl  Nelson’s  seat).  He  says : 
“  I  am  persuaded  that  a.  few  bold  strokes  from  a  masterly 
genius  would  go  far  to  raise  this  place  to'  no  mean  station 
among  its  compeers.  The  place  was  in  tolerable  keeping,  con¬ 
sidering  the  Ifttle  assistance  that  was  allowed  to  the  gardener.” 
Loudon,  writing  of  a  tour  through  parts  of  Middlesex,  Berk¬ 
shire,  Oxford,  Wilts,  Dorset,  Hants,  Sussex,  and  Kent,  says: 
“  With  respect  to  gardens  and  country  seats,  we  may  say  that, 
on  the  whole,  we  never  saw  them  in  a  state  of  worse  keeping. 
The  more  extensive  the  gardens  the  worse  they  are  kept.  We 
scarcely  recollect  above  one  or  two  noblemen’s  places  highly 
kept.  The  noblest  place  in  Britain,  perhaps  in  Europe,  Blen¬ 
heim,  is  going  rapidly  to  decay.”  In  a  footnote  Loudon  added: 
“  Let  not  this  view  of  decay  of  noblemen’s  gardens  induce 
gardeners  in  want  of  places  to  despair.  Every  gardener  who 
has  seen  much  service  knows  that  a  situation  under  a  rich 
tradesman,  merchant,  or  small  landed  proprietor  is  productive 
of  far  more  comfort  to  him  than  one  under  a  nobleman,  where 
so  many  intermediate  persons  come  between  him  and  his  em¬ 
ployer  that  lie  is  at  all  times  liable  to  misrepresentation,  and 
to  be  discharged  without  even  an  opportunity  of  explanation. 
As  far  as  we  have  observed,  the  pay  given  to'  their  head 
gardeners  by  men  who  are  themselves  in  business  is  as  great 
as,  in  many  instances  greater,  than  that  given  by  noblemen. 
As  the  country  goes  on  improving  the  small  places  will  greatly 
increase,  and  with  them  a  taste  for  gardening  and  situations 
for  first-rate  gardeners.” — J.  B.  S. 
