198' 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
August  27,  1903. 
(3ai'bens  IRounb  Sbeffielb. 
One  can  scarcely  realise  the  iimuense  growth  of  the  demand 
for  flowers  during  the  last  few  years,  the  public  taste  and  love  for 
floral  beauty  having  wonderfully  developed,  and  to  a  great  extent 
“  supply  ”  has  created  “  demand.”  but  in  .seeking  the  cause  we 
generally  find  that  some  influence  has  contributed  to  the  culti¬ 
vation  of  popular  appreciation  of  the  florists'  productions,  and  a 
visit  to 
Messrs.  Artindale  &  Sons’ 
evstablishment  reveals  the  influence  in  Sheffield  in  this  direction. 
In  the  Nether  Green  Nursery  there  is  about  six  acres  of  herbaceous 
stuff,  but,  commencing  with  the  plant  houses,  one  is  .struck  with 
a  fine  house  of  Lilium  Harri.<.si.  Here  are  about,2,000  just  flower¬ 
ing  looking  remarkably  well ;  about  .5,000  are  grown,  and  250  had 
been  cut  on  the  day  of  our  visit.  Of  C'aladiums' there  is  a  valuable 
collection.  Noticeable,  too,  were  some  lovety  pieces  of  Abutilons. 
Kalanchoe  flammea,  a  nice  .stock  ;  fine  pieces  of  Dracfena  (Cordy- 
line)  Sanderiana;  al.so  I),  indivisa,  Godseffiana,  &c.  There  are 
some  very  fine  Aralia  elegantisima.,  gracillimum,  and  Veitchi, 
Cocos  Weddelliana,  etc.  The  noble  Croton  house  is  woi'thy  of 
special  notice,  because  there  are  few  “  trade  ”  places  where  .so 
good  a  collection  can  be  seen,  perhaps  from  the  fact  that  the  firm 
grows  for  exhibition.  Pandanus  Veitchi,  Acalypha  macrophylla, 
Sanderiana,  and  musaica.  Ficus  repens  variegata,  Aloca'sias, 
Marantas,  and  Ixoras  are  all  well  in  evidence.  Some  nice  plants 
of  Nidulariums  (one  in  flower),  Dieffenbachias,  Eulalia  japonica 
(grand  plants  for  grouping),  Marantas  Veitchi,  zebrina,  and 
Massangeana,  all  looked  well.  Again  we  enter  a  house  where 
Abutilon  Thompsoni  is  doing  well,  also  Bambusas  in  variety, 
Dracfenas  and  Asparagus  deflexus.  A.  plumosus,  A.  Sprengen, 
and  tenuissimus  are  largely  grown  ;  indeed,  Sprengeri  can  be  .seen 
growing  verj-  luxuriantly  all  through  the  establishment.  Here, 
too,  is  a  quantity  of  Begonia  Gloire  de  Lorraine  and  the  Turnford 
Hall  variety,  and  an  improved  variety  not  yet  in  commerce  of  a 
stronger  habit  and  larger  flowers  than  Gloire  de  Lorraine. 
The  first  batch  of  2,000  Tuberoses  are  in  flower,  and  then  we 
come  to  a  Carnation  house  90ft.  long,  full  of  “  Mals  ”  from  end 
to  end,  of  all  the  leading  and  newest  varieties ;  and  later  we  saw 
another  house  90ft.  long,  full  of  border  varieties,  including  a  large 
quantity  of  Childe  Harold  and  Heather  Bell.  There  are  growing 
here  about  10,000  Carnation.s  in  pots,  and  Mr.  Egginton,  who  is 
in  charge,  certainly  deserves  credit  for  their  remarkably  good 
condition.  In  the  Palm  house  Kentias,  Phoenix,  Latanias, 
Geonomas,  Cocos,  Ac.,  demand  notice,  and  on  a  wall  grows 
Asparagus  Sprengeri  in  great  profu.sion. 
In  another  house  are  Camellias,  Roses  in  pots,  some  fine 
A.spidistras,  and  a  Hoya  on  the  wall,  showing  a  profusion  of 
flowers.  An  interesting  item  is  a  robin’s  nest  built  in  the  soil  of 
a  hanging  Musk  basket.  It  contained  five  eggs,  and  we  were 
informed  that  one  of  the  houses  is  usually  chosen  for  nesting. 
In  the  next  house  was  another  batch  of  1,000  Tuberoses,  also 
Marguerites,  Hydrangeas  Thoanas  Hogg  and  japonica  ;  new  yellow 
Calla  (Richardia  Elliottiana),  Eucalyptus,  Ac.  In  another  house 
was  a  large  stock  of  early  flowering  Chrysanthemums,  including 
over  1,000  Horace  Martin,  and  such  other  varieties  as  Crimson 
Marie  Massee,  Godfrey’s  Pet,  White  Quintus,  Ac.  Then  there 
are  Gloxinias.  Begonias,  Amaryllis,  Odontoglossums,  Cattleyas, 
Coelogynes,  Cypripediums,  Calanthe  Veitchi,  and  Oncidiums. 
Coming  to  Roses,  the  firm  has  about  10,000  of  all  the  varieties 
worth  growing,  and  though  kept  back  by  the  cold  sea.son  they 
looked  promising.  A  batch  of  Lord  Penzance  varieties  of  Sweet 
Briars  were  also  noticeable.  Of  Spanish  Iris,  there  are  about 
50,000  growing  here.  Gaillardia  grandiflora  is  also  in  quantity, 
and  there  are  six  large  nunsery  beds  of  Iceland  Poppies.  Passing 
on  one  sees  that  large  quantities  of  Narcissus  have  been  grown, 
and  all  the  choicest  hardy  plants.  Coming  to  smaller  things,  we 
notice  a  nice  strain  of  Auriculas,  of  which  there  are  some  10,000; 
and  of  Pansies  there  are  also  thousands  of  very  special  merit : 
they  Avere  really  very  fine.  Then  there  are  about  20,000 
Polyanthus  of  a  very  good  strain.  Of  .Sweet  Peas  all  the  leading 
varieties  and  colours  are  grown  for  cutting,  and  there  are  hun¬ 
dreds  of  yards  of  them.  Lilies  make  another  big  feature,  and 
hundreds  of  Lilium  auratum  are  in  pots.  Dahlias  are  by  no  means 
neglected,  about  5,000  being  here.  Mr.  Egginton  has  been  in 
charge  here  for  six  and  a  half  years,  and,  therefore,  knows  what 
to  grow,  and  when, and  how  to  grow  it.  He  prides  himself  on 
his  Carnations,  and  has  helped  the  firm  to  victory  on  several 
occasions.  He  was  previously  Avith  Mr.  Lion,  of  Stanmore, 
Middlesex;  at  Hampton  Court  Palace  tAvq  years;  and  five  and 
a  half  years  with  Messrs.  HeAvitt,  of  Birmingham.  At  Messrs. 
Artindale’s  other  nursery,  at  Ecclesall  Road,  there  is  much  forced 
material.  Mr.  Willingale  is  in  charge  here,  having  been  Avith  the 
firm  some  3’ears. 
The  Flo  wee  Trade. 
Messrs.  Artindale’s  retail  shop  in  High  Street  is  always  up  to 
date  with  cut  flowers  and  fruit  of  the  choicest  kinds.  It  is  the 
depot  par  excellence  for  everything  pertaining  to  flowers  in 
Sheffield.  In  the  Market  Hall  they  have  plants  and  every  j 
description  of  design  in  floAvers ;  from  here  are  despatched  daily 
every  conceiA'able  device  in  floAvers,  Avreaths,  anchors,  wedding 
bouquets,  presentation  bouquets,  Ac.  In  the  Castlefords  Market 
is  Hie  Avholesale  department,  and  here  we  found  Mr.  John 
Artindale,  the  chief  of  the  firm,  genial,  as  always,  and  shrewd, 
yet  unassuming;  he  has  by  polite  attention,  aptitude,  and  ability 
built  up  a  business  of  Avhich  he  may  be  justly  proud.  Gold  and 
silver  medals,  and  other  premier  honours,  have  been  secured  at 
the  principal  .shoAvs  for  floral  deAuces  and  groups.  We  gathered 
from  Mr.  Artindale  that  in  addition  to  their  oAvn  productions 
they  received  large  consignments  daily  from  all  parts.  From 
Scilly  comes  early  Narcissus;  from  Lincolnshire,  Daffodils;  from 
Guernsey,  Grapes  and  Tomatoes ;  from  November  to  April,  large 
quantities  of  ChrA'santhemums,  Ac.,  come  from  NorAvich,  Bedford, 
and  the  Channel  Islands.  Thi’ough  the  summertime  there  is  a 
large  supply  of  local  produce;  from  Worthing  come  Grapes,  and 
also  Grapes  and  Tomatoes  from  all  parts  of  England  and  Scotland, 
Avhile  they  have  a  daily  supply  from  the  south  of  France  of  flowers 
in  Amriety. 
Asked  as  to  the  A-olume  of  trade  done,  we  learnt  that  the  trade 
had  greatlj'  increased,  but  the  prices  compared  verj^  unfavourably 
Avith  three  or  four  j-ears  ago  to  the  growers.  In  one  month  Messrs. 
Artindale  paid  the  Midland  Company  . £60  for  carriage.  This  will 
give  some  idea  of  the  volume  of  trade  done  by  the  firm.  Mr. 
Artindale  has  lately  returned  from  the  Continent,  and  we  asked 
his  AueAAS  as  to  the  trade.  He  is  of  opinion  that  land  in  Lincoln¬ 
shire  is  superior  for  Daffodils,  Narcissus,  and  Tulips,  and  that  if 
the  growers  Avent  seriously. into  the  matter,  they  Avould  have  the 
adA'antage  of  the  Dutch  groAvers  in  that  land  Avas  cheaper.  Land 
in  Holland  is  highly  rented,  but  they  beat  us  for  labour,  men 
Avorking  more  hours  at  a  loAver  rate  of  wages.  In  Belgium,  labour 
costs  A'ery  much  less  than  at  home,  but  the  English  gardener  is 
not  one  Avhit  behind  them  in  his  ability  for  groAving  stuff,  the 
chief  advantage  in  competition,  therefore,  being  labour. — W.  L. 
- - 
Orchard  Houses. 
The  Lean-to. 
I  will  suppose  (says  the  late  Mr.  Rivers  in  his  book.  “The 
Orchard  House”),  an  orchard  house  30ft  long  is  required.  A 
ground-plan  30ft  long  and  12ft  Gin  Avide  should  be  marked  out. 
Then  six  posts  of  oak  or  good  yellow  deal,  5in  by  3in,  and  from 
10ft  to  lift  Gin  in  length;  or  of  larch-poles  IGin  in  girth,  cut  in 
two  and  the  flat  sides  placed  outAvards,  must  be  firmly  fixed  2ft 
in  the  ground :  the  ground  ends,  before  fixing,  should  be  charred 
2ft  Gin  from  the  bottom,  and  then  liaA’e  a  coat  of  boiling  coal-tar, 
Avhich  adds  much  to  their  durability.  They  Avill  form  the  back 
line  of  posts,  standing  Oft  Gin  in  height  from  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  For  the  front  Avail  six  posts  of  the  same  thickness, 
6ft  Gin  long,  must  be  firmly  fixed  18  inches  in  the  ground,  so  that 
they  stand  5ft  out.  Tavo  posts  Avi  11  be  required  at  each  end  (at 
one  end,  if  only  one  door  is  AAanted) ;  these  Avill  form  the  door¬ 
posts.  On  these  posts,  both  at  front  and  back,  must  be  nailed  a 
plate  4in  by  Sin,  on  which  the  rafters  are  to  rest;  the  posts  are 
thus  arranged  in  tAvo  lines. 
The  rafters  must  be  14ft  long.  A  9-inch  deal — i.e-,  a  deal  9in 
AA'ide  and  Sin  thick,  Avill  make  four,  each  4^in  bj’  or  nearly  so. 
These  are  light,  strong,  and  economical.  The  rebate  should  be 
half  an  inch  Avide  for  the  glass  Iw  rest  on  (not  too  much  for  glass 
20in  in  AA'idth).  I  find  that  scarcelj’  any  breakage  takes  place 
from  frost  OAving  to  the  large  pieces  being  elastic ;  16-oz  glass 
ansAvers,  the  extra  co.st  of  21-oz  glass  is,  hoAA-ever,  worth 
incurring. 
On  and  outside  the  back  ijosts  three-quarter-inch,  Avell- 
seasoned  deal  boards  should  be  nailed.  In  the  back  AA'all  thus 
formed  sliding  shutters  in  grooA'es  3ft  by  1ft  must  be  fixed  to  act 
as  ventilators^ — tAvo  close  to  the  roof  and  tAvo  18in  from  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  ground  (the  loAver  shutters  in  the  back  wall  must 
