•  1 
January  7,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
17 
A  Water  Garden. 
Young  Gardeners’  Domain. 
Of  late  years  considerable  attention  lias  been  paid  to  beauti¬ 
fying  the  waterside  with  plants  conspicuous  for  their  flowers  or 
for  their  foliage,  and  many  charming  effects  (observes  “  Garden¬ 
ing  Illustrated  ”)  have  been  attained  where  the  water  margins 
have  been  laid  out  with  thoughtful  care  and  taste.  Nothing  is 
so  good  for  floating  on  the  water  as  Marliac’s  hardy  AA  ater  Lilies. 
Of  these  there  are  numerous  varieties  now  in  commerce,  of  which 
the  three  most  distinct  are  Nynipluea  Marliacea  albida  (the 
finest  wliite),  N.  M.  chromatella  fa  charming  pale  yellow),  and 
N.  M.  gloriosa  (rich  carmine-red).  There  are  many  others  of 
intermediate  tints  which  are  pretty,  and  the  smaller  flowered 
forms  of  N.  Laydekeri  are  attractive.  The  Water  Crowfoot 
(Ranunculus  floribundus),  Villarsia  nymphseoides  (the  yellow 
Buckbean),  and  Pontederia  cordata,  with  its  blue  blooms,  are  all 
pretty  water  plants.  For  the  shallow  margin  of  pond  or  lake, 
Aruni  Lilies  (Richardia)  form  a  mo.st  exquisite  finish;  but, 
although  these  are  sometimes  grown  in  the  open  as  far  north 
as  Scotland,  it  is  not  wise  to  recommend  them  except  for  the 
south-west  of  Ireland.  In  a  lake  in  Cornwall  they  grow  in  their 
thousands,  and  present  a  delightful  picture  in  the  early  days  of 
June  when  in  full  bloom.  The  Great  Spearwort  (Ranunculus 
Lingua)  is  a  handsome  plant  for  growing  in  shallow  water,  and 
produces  a  quantity  of  large  yellow  flowers. 
For  damp  banks  running  down  to  the  water’s  edge  numerous 
flowering  plants  are  available.  In  such  a  position  Primula 
japonica  grows  i-ampantly.  The  Japanese  Iris  laevigata  or 
kaompferi  also  succeeds  well  by  the  waterside,  its  large,  wide¬ 
spread  flowers  being  very  handsome,  as  does  the  smaller  flowered 
I.  sibirica,  while  the  yellow  Water  Flag  of  our  meadows  (I.  pseud- 
acorus)  and  its  variegated  form,  with  their  noble  sword  leaves, 
are  decorative  even  when  out  of  flower.  Day  Lilies,  Solomon’s 
Seal,  Globe-flowers  (Trollius),  the  Summer  Snowflake  (Leucojum 
aestivum),  and  Spiraeas  in  variety  may  all  be  naturalised  around 
pond  margins,  and  such  wild  flowers  as  the  Marsh  Marigold, 
yellow  and  iDurple  Loosestrife  (Lysimachia  and  Lythrum),  and 
V/illow  Herb  (Epilobium)  grow  naturally  in  a  like  site,  while 
Mimulus  when  established  often  spreads  freely.  For  fine  form 
we  have  the  Gunneras,  G.  manicata  producing  leaves  10ft  in 
diameter,  Rhubarbs,  the  Butter  Bur  (Petasites),  the  Water- 
Dock  (Ruinex),  and  many  graceful  Reeds,  such  as  the  Giant 
Reed  (Arundo  Donax),  the  Bulrush  (Typha),  the  Flowering  Rush 
(Butomus),  Sweet  Sedge  (Acorus  Calamus),  with  Phragmites, 
Scirpus,  and  Carex.  Golden  and  Cardinal  Willows  should  not 
be  forgotten,  as  their  bright  colours  are  indispensable  for  winter- 
effect,  arrd  the  Royal  Fern  (Osrrruirda)  flourishes  nowhere  so  well 
as  by  the  waterside.  In  planting  lake  margins,  care  should  be 
taken  rrot  to  overcrowd  the  verge.  Water  herrrmed  in  by  a 
barrier  of  tall  arrd  thick-growing  .subjects  is  worse  than  if  its 
circumference  is  devoid  of  plants.  Things  should  be  naturally 
grouped,  with  open  spaces  here  arrd  there,  so  that  the  water 
may  be  approached  from  various  poirrts  and  the  effect  studied 
without  hindrarree  from  irrtervening  vegetation. 
Trade  Catalogues  Received. 
Win.  CTibran  and  Son,  10  and  12,  Market  Street,  Manchester. — Seeds. 
W.  Cutbuslr  and  Son,  Highgate  Nurseries,  London,  N. — 1,  Floiver, 
VegetaMe,  and  Farm  Seeds;  2,  Trees  and  Shrn.bs ;  3,  Hardy  Iler- 
haceoHS,  Alpine,  and  Bulbous  Plants  ;  4,  Roses  ;  .5,  Fruit  Trees. 
E.  P.  Dixon  and  Sons,  Hull. —  Seeds. 
W.  Drunnrrond  and  Sons,  Ltd.,  57  and  58,  Dawson  Street,  Dublin. — 
Seeds. 
Fisher,  Son  and  Sibray,  Ltd.,  4,  Market  Street,  Sheffield. — Seeds. 
.John  Foi-bes,  Buecleuch  Nurseries.  Hawick,  N.B. — Seeds. 
W.  Laing,  Sirtton,  Surrey. — Farm  and  Garden  Seeds. 
T.  Methven  and  Sons,  15,  Princes  Street,  Edinburgh. — Seeds. 
W.  Paul  and  Son,  Waltham  Cross,  Herts. — Seeds. 
.7.  R.  Pearson  and  Sons,  Chilwell  Nurseries,  LoAvdham,  Notts. — Seeds. 
.7.  Spink,  Summit  Road,  Nursery,  Walthamstow,  N.E. — Chrysan¬ 
themums. 
Toogood  and  Sons,  Southampton. — Seeds. 
Albert  F.  Cpstonc,  35,  Church  Street,  and  1,  Mai-ket  Street,  Rotherham, 
Yorks. — Seeds. 
R.  Veitch  and  Son,  54,  High  Street,  Exeter. — Seeds,  Implements, 
Sundries. 
- m  I - 
Miscellaneous  Note.— Cadbury’s  Cocoa. 
Gardeners  in  bothies  are  extensive  users  of  the  various  cocoa 
preparations,  becau.Se  of  their  facility  in  being  made  utilisablc, 
and  also  because' of  their  nutritious  qualities.  In  this  place  we' 
desire 'to  name  and  recommend  Cadbury’s  Cocoa  as  a  pure,  whole¬ 
some,  and  refreshing  drink.  As  a  .sustaining  and  warming 
draught  it  is  perhaps  used  in  every  bothy,  the  jmung  men  finding 
it  the  acme  of  perfection  for  their  purposes  at  all  times,  but  par¬ 
ticularly  just  before  “  turning  out  ”  in  these  cold,  damp,  wintry 
mornings.  As  with  the  young  gardeners,  so  with  many  of  the 
other  employes  on  estates,  the  facility  of  preparing  tliis  cocoa 
in  a  utilisabie  form  causes  it  generally  to  be  in  demand. 
The  Eilitor  welcomes  sherJ  letters  from  under  gardeners.  Letters  should  be  oon- 
lined  to  500  words  in  length,  should  he  written  only  on  one  side  of  thep.vper, 
as  clearly  as  possible  with  one  inch  space  at  both  top  and  bottom,  as  well 
as  at  the  sides.  '1  he  names  and  addresses  of  the  writers  must  accompany 
all  communications,  not  necessarily  for  pubiication,  hut  as  a  guarantee' of 
good  faith.  If  these  point.s  are  not  respected,  the  letterscannot  be  considered. 
Principles  of  Propriety. 
In  tinswer  to  the  few  “  mode.st  ”  remark.s  made  l)y  “An 
English  Foreman”  (page  544,  last  vol.)  on  my  recent  contribu¬ 
tion,  I  beg  space  for  a  reply.  “  Nine-tenths  of  the  young  men  in 
England  spend  too  nmeh  time  in  public-hou.ses  and  pleasure 
.seeking.”  Your  correspondent  considers  this  an  offence  to 
young  Englishmen.  I  ask  ;  Are  there  no  other  young  men  beside 
Englivsh  in  England?  Some  of  my  own  countrymen  are  quiie 
as  bad,  and  indeed,  considering  the  very  high  opinion  held  of 
Scotsmen  in  general,  it  looks  wor.so  for  them  than  for  young 
Englishmen,  who  rejoice  in  the  good  ale  of  “  Old  England.” 
Judging  by  the  tone  of  your  corre.spondent’s  letter,  he  seems 
to  have  no  small  amount  of  antipathy  for  Scotsmen.  I  should 
like  to  assure  him  that  my  feelings  towards  Englishmen  are 
good  and  hearty.  Nevertheless,  if  “  English  Foreman  ”  desires 
to  prove  my  a.s.sertion,  let  him  get  further  afield  into  pa.stures 
new,”  a  little  further  away,  and  perhaps  by  the  time  he  has 
roamed  over  Scotland  and  England,  I  trust  he  will  acknow¬ 
ledge  this  painful  fact,  that  “  nine-tenths  of  the  young  men 
in  England  spend  too  much  time  in  public-homses  and  pleasure 
seeking.”  Furthermore,  allow  me  to  say  that  this  statement 
has  beefi,  and  is  now,  acknowledged  by  his  own  countrymen  of 
no  mean  position,  with  regret. 
I  offer  my  congratulations  to  an  “English  Foreman”  if  he 
has  the  good  fortune  to  belong  to  the  remaining  tenth  of 
young  men  who  take  the  profession  .seriously.  As  to  the  latter 
part  of  “  English  Foreman’s  ”  letter,  it  is  really  amusing.  If 
I  take  a  snack  of  bread  and  cheese  in  the  potting  shed  must 
the  others,  who  prefer  a  smoke,  come  running  from  one  end 
of  the  place  to  the  other?  He  might  have  given  me  more 
credit.  I  daresay  if  my  letter  to  the  Journal  was  forwarded 
to  “  English  Foreman,”  he  would  probably  find  a  number  of 
“  t’s  ”  uncrossed  and  “  i’s  ”  undotted. 
He  asks  me  to  give  him  a  character  of  Scotsmen  ;  it  would 
be  certainly  out  of  place  to  eulogise  my  own  countrymen  in 
this  discussion,  but  for  the  benefit  of  readers  I  trust  you  will 
find  space  for  answers  to  this  que.stion :  “Why  are  Scots 
gardeners  preferred  to  English?  ” — “Scot,”  Berkshire. 
The  Gardeners  of  the  Future. 
Just  a  word  about  the  gardeners  of  the  future,  the  young  men 
or  journeymen  of  to-day.  I  hope  they  will  .see  and  note  the  signs 
of  the  times  and  get  a  sound  training  in  the  cultivation  of  hardy 
plants,  alpines,  aquatics,  floAvering  or  evergreen  shrubs  and 
trees.  Never  Avere  good  kitchen  gardeners  and  fruit  and  A-ege- 
table  groAvers  more  in  request  than  they  are  to-day.  Our  pre¬ 
sent  day  young  gardeners  and  probationers  haA^e  a  strange  yearn¬ 
ing  to  be  “  under  glass,”  and  so-  they  often  obtain  an  unequal  or 
one'-sided  training.  These  men  often  fail  Avhen  they  obtain  all¬ 
round  situations  Avhere  outdoor  gardening  is  thought  to  be  as 
important  as  or  even  more  so  than  that  in  the  glass  houses.  Of 
the  many  young  men  I  have  had  through  my  hands  I  have  usually 
found  the  outdoor  .students  more  .successful  Avhen  they  left  me 
and  Avent  to  other  places  than  Avere  those  Avho  preferred  to  potter 
about  under  a  glass  roof.  Young  men  noAvadays  have  advantages 
quite  out  of  the  reach  of  men  Avho  started  tAventy  or  thirty  years 
ago.  There  are  books  and  illustrated  papers,  lectures,  classes, 
and  technical  schools  or  institutes  in  all  large  towns  and  in  many 
of  the  villages  throughout  the  countrju  KnOAA'ledge  is  in  these 
days  obtainable  by  all,  and  knoAvledge  is  not  only  poAver,  but 
profit  and  pleasure  as  Avell. 
Most  good  employers  and  their  gai-deners  afford  facilities  for 
self-in.struction  to  their  men,  and  this  is  best  done,  as  I  belier-e, 
Avithout  any  coddling  or  over-persuasion.  It  is  not  .so  mnch 
Avhat  you  give  as  aa  hat  you  enable  a  man  to  earn  or  Avin  for  him¬ 
self — it  is  not  Avliat  is  taught,  but  AA-hat  men  are  led  to  learn  for 
themselves— that  does  them  and  the  nation  at  large  the  most 
good.  Above  all,  young  men  should  bo  told  and  shoAA'n  early 
in  their  career  that  it  is  not  mere  knoAvledge  as  knoAvledge,  but 
the  practical  application  of  good  lessons  Avell  learned,  that  Is 
really  .serviceable  in  the  Avorld’s  progress.  The  great  thing  for 
yonng  gardeners  to  do  is'  to  learn  the  principles  of  horticultural 
science  or  the  basal  rules  of  the  craft  first,  as  they  may  do 
i-eadily  in  Macmillan’s  primers  on  horticulture,  geology,  botany, 
logic,  political  economju  and  chemistry.  DraAving  to  scale  and 
a  moderate  ability  in  freehand  sketching  are  one  of  the  best  aids 
a  gardener  can  posse.ss  in  his  calling.  A  rude  pencil  or  pen 
diagram  Avith  measurements  added  in  figures  is  better  than  either 
A'erbal  or  Avritten  description,  and  Avill  save  time,  trouble,  mis¬ 
apprehension,  and  labour  in  many  Avays.  Finally,  young 
gardeners  must  learn  all  the  constants  or  set  rules  of  garden 
craft,  even  though  as  master  gardeners  they  mav  modify  or  even 
noAv  and  then  break  them. — F.  W.  BcRHinaK  (in  R.H..S.  Journal). 
