Jnne  16,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER^ 
515 
a  recent  date.  Tlie  nnrsery  grounds  stand  high,  though  some  of 
the  richest  parts,  which  are  devoted  to  Prconies  and  Delphiniums, 
are  in  well-sheltered  confines,  hardly  to  be  called  straths.  The 
acreage  is  extensive,  and  the  land  is  thoroughly  well  stocked. 
Enteiing  by  the  offices,  I  was  escorted,  in  the  absence  of  either 
of  the  Messrs.  Kelways,  by  a  foreman.  The  glass  .structures  are 
of  considerable  extent,  and  the  first  subjects  noted  were  the 
zonal  and  decorative  (French)  Pelargoniums,  of  both  of  which 
large  numbers  are  cultivated,  and  fresh  seedlings  are  raised  by 
the  firm.  Two  of  the  best  zonals  are  undoubtedly  King  Edward 
VII.,  of  a  richer  crimson  than  the  variety  Henry  Jacoby;  and, 
secondly,  Ian  iMacLaren,  which  is  a  warm  shade  of  salmon.  The 
stock  plants  are  placed  out  in  benches. 
Petunias  are  another  class  that  receive  special  care,  and  the 
double  varieties  are  remarkably  line.  Callas,  for  a  supply  of  cut 
flowers,  were  planted  out.  and  in  passing  I  may  remark  that  cut 
flower  orders  are  always  being  executed,  the  flowers,  of  course, 
coming  mostly  from  the  open  air.  A  wholesale  trade  is  done 
in  Cucumber  and  Melon  seeds,  for  the  conditions  here  are  favour¬ 
able  to  the  rerpiirements  for  success.  iUe  new,  well-boomed 
Potatoes  were  observed  pushing  up  growths,  and  thus  promising 
tor  an  increase  in  due  season,  and  the  .seed-pods  of  the  Primulas, 
Cinerarias,  and  Cyclamens  were  ripening.  Roses  in  pots  form 
a  feature,  and  with  the.se  there  are  cpiantities  of  hardy  flowering 
shrubs,  and  jilants  for  forcing,  that  are  also  grown  in  pots  and 
plunged  in  open  frames  out  of  doors,  for  the  supply  of  orders  all 
the  year  round.  Thus,  if  one  desires  to  plant  a  Wistaria,  or  any 
kind  of  Ivy,  Elmagnus,  Tecoma  radicans,  Ceanothus,  or  dwarf 
Conifer,  during  the  late  spring  or  summer,  these  pot  subjects 
are  supplied,  alid  the  chance  of  failure  is  reduced  practically  to 
nil. 
Collections  of  the  leading  kinds  of  herbaceous  plants  are  to  be 
found  on  a  large  break  of  land,  the  varieties  in  each  case  follow¬ 
ing  one  another  alphabetically.  That  beautiful  grass,  Glyceria 
.‘■'pectabilis  foliis  variegata,  was  seen  in  plenitude,  and  the  flowers 
ct  Centaurea  montana  rubra  were  certainly  the  brightest  amongst 
those  of  early  May. 
Iris  pllcata  Madame  Chere;  u. 
Flowers  white,  frilled  azure  blue.  (See  page  516.) 
Between  these  herbaceous  plants  and  the  plunged  pot  shrubs 
there  was  a  bed  of  a  new  fruiting  plant,  evidently  a  Rubus. 
This  was  the  Japanese  Honey-berry  whicb  iMessrs.  Kelway  are 
offering,  and  of  which  pi’obably  few  other  stocks  exist  in  this 
country.  I  have  taken  a  description  from  their  “  Hainial  of 
Horticulture”  (Is.),  which  is  as  follows: — ‘‘  Native  of  an  islainl 
in  the  Yellow  Sea.  The  fruit  is  glossy  and  brilliant  ;  in  colour 
reddish  yellow;  of  large  size,  w’ith  a  fine  though  indefinable 
flavour.  It  commences  fruiting  with  the  early  Rasi^berries,  and 
continues  until  very  late  in  the  year.  The  canes  are  luxuriant 
and  ornamental,  and  when  in  good  growth  are  lin  throtigh  and 
1.5ft  high.  The  leaves  are  like  those  of  the  Rose,  but  much 
thicker,  and  covered  underneath  with  purple  thorns  ;  the  canes 
are  covered  with  tens  of  thousands  of  purple  spines,  which 
glisten  and  appear  very  beautiful  in  the  sunlight.  M'^o  have 
much  i^leasure  in  introducing  this  lunv  Iruit  to  the  British 
public.  It  has  proved  quite  hardy  with  us,  and  fruited  during 
recent  seasons.” 
Doubtless  its  merits  as  a  general  fruiting  irlant  will  be  proved 
before  many  years  advance. 
Thousands  of  hardy  plants  are  propagated  under  handlights 
in  the  open  grounds,  these  appearing  like  the  tents  of  a  great 
encampment  of  soldiery,  since  each  glass  is  conical,  and  shaded 
with  whitewash.  The  cuttings  are  kept  fairly  close,  the  .soil 
beneath  being  of  a  light  character,  and  it  is  not  long  before  they 
are  fit  to  be  lifted,  and  placed  individually  either  in  pots  or  in 
beds.  Tbe  process  of  dividing  Pyrethrums  and  the  general  stock 
of  herbaceous  subjects  wms  being  carried  out  in  other  parts  of 
the  nurseries  by  batches  of  men,  and  though  the  plants  wilt 
under  the  sun,  I  was  assured  that  they  soon  prick  up,  and 
growTli  increases  rapidly,  till,  by  the  autumn,  each  is  a  well- 
developed  plant,  ready  to  be  sent  anywdiere.  Border  Chrys¬ 
anthemums  wei’e  also  being  planted  in  beds  ;  and  in  .specially 
prepared,  sifted  soil,  thousands  of  young  Gladioli  “  bulbils  ”  (or 
“spawn”)  were  being  thinly  placed  in  drills.  This  was  during 
the  first  week  of  May. 
Pteonies  are  indeed  well  treated,  the  richest  and  best  por¬ 
tions  of  land  being  specially  chosen  for  them.  Mr.  Mm. 
kelway’s  name  will  ever  bo  associated  with  the  modern  garden 
Pfeony"  and  he  has  told  how  he  Avas  first  led  into  the  cultivation 
of  this  plant  by  seeing  some  flowers  used  at  a  Avake  in  18G3. 
Tracing  them  to  their  source,  he  discovered  an  old  Avoman  s 
floAver  garden  tAvo  feet  Avide  on  a  road  leatling  to  London,  and 
in  which  neighbourhood  several  Roman  pavements  Avere  recently 
uncovered.  To-day  Ave  have  a  host  of  varieties,  or  at  all  events 
of  names,  and  some  of  these  are  superb.  The  garden  varieties 
have  seemingly  in  a  large  degree  sprung  from  the  tiA'o  species, 
albiflora  and  officinalis,  a  fcAV  from  peregi'ina  and  from  tenui- 
folia.  The  tivo  double  forms  knoAvn  as  Reevesi  and  Pottsi  AA'ere 
imported  from  China,  and  from  them  has  undoubtedly  arisen 
the  name  of  the  “sinensis  varieties.”  All  the  forms  may  be 
distinguished  in  their  adhesion  to  these  types,  those  nearly 
approaching  albiflora  have  red  veins  to  the  leaves,  Avith  a  floAA'er 
.stalk  longer  than  in  officinalis.  The  leaves  of  the  officinalis  are 
dark  above  and  pale  beneath,  and  the  floAver  appears  someAA'hat 
earlier  It  is  greatly  in  favour  of  the  Pmony  as  a  popular  plant 
that  by  a  .selection  of  proper  types  the  flowering  .season  may  be 
extended  over  a  period  of  tAA’o  months. 
The  American  groAvers  have  for  once  in  a  Avay  been  first 
in  forming  a  Preony  society,  Avbile  avo  here  in  Great  Britain 
remain  Avithout  one,  even  though  the  best  varieties  have  come 
from  British  soil.  Onlv  a  feiv  of  P.  officinalis  varieties  were 
in  floAver  at  mv  visit,  but  the  many  acres  of  plants  AAere  pro¬ 
mising  admiralily,  and  they  are  this  week  at  the  height  of  their 
loral  glory.  ,  ^  .  ,  ,  i 
Gaillardias,  T vrethriims,  and  Delphiniums  each  AA'ere  sturdy, 
iiid  these  Avill  engage  our  attention  in  duo  season.  Dahlias  and 
iquilegias  are  also  a  feature  by  themselves,  and  large  quantities 
ire  sent  out.  .  „  .  ,  .  i  i 
Mdiile  I  noted  a  foAV  subjects  of  special  oinamental^c  larac- 
,ers  onlv  the  folloAviug  can  lie  named,  and  of  these  Kelways 
orni  of  Phalaris  arundinacea  (or  Gardeners’  Garter)  was  parti- 
■ularly  pretty.  The  leaims  in  this  case  are  nearly  Avliite  and  the 
n-owth  is  ni'ore  biisliv  than  in  the  average  form  of  Die  plant. 
Euphorbia  pilosa  major  enlivened  the  border  and  EiTsimum 
nilchellum  furnished  another  divai  f-grow  ing  rich  yellow  -floAvered 
ilant.  Asperula  tinctoria  deserves  attention.  Avhile  the  early 
ilpine  Phioxes,  especially  P.  setacea,  as  .seen  at  Langport,  "'ere 
rery  bright.  The  Lyme  grass— Elymus  arenanus—i.s  less  often 
ieeii  than  its  merits  for  decoration  deserve.  The  ^  alenan  is 
itately  and  vigorous;  Iris  albo-piirpiirea,  a  gooci  AA'atei-plant, 
s  sometimes  asked  for  unavailingly,  but  it  is  at  KelAA'ays  ;  the 
collection  of  Anbrietias  is  replete,  and  so  is  that  of  the  Dian- 
Jiiises;  but  as  our  opening  statements  described,  eA^erything  is 
n  marshalled  order,  and  practically  everything  can  be  supplied. 
I  have  Avritten  nothing  of  the  shrubs  and  trees  and  fruits, 
nit  the.se  I  had  the  privilege  to  see,  and  all  Avere  shapely  ^id  in 
rood  condition.  A  new  railway  between  Bangport  and  Castle 
”arv  to  tbe  north-eastAvard  is  iioav  being  biidt.  and  the  inci  eased 
facilities  that  this  will  afford  should  revert  to  the  greater  success 
if  the  firm’s  business. — M  axdering  M  illie. 
