10 FEBRUARY 1950, Page 14

In the Garden

A most charming little book of drawings of old Stevenage, now to be smothered, called A Stevenage Picture Book (W. H. Smith and Co. 4s. 6d.), ends with a picture of Six Hills Nurseries, a classical spot in garden annals. Its ex-owner, Mr. Clarence Elliott, was a traveller in plants—to the Atlas Mountains and such—as well as a most ingenious nurseryman and designer of gardens. The county has been singularly rich in garden originators since the first Lord Salisbury brought over Tradescant from Holland. It is remarkable that the tradescantia, a most engaging and not very common plant, is still common in country gardens near Hatfield, often under the name of " Moses in the Bulrushes " 1 W. BEACH THOMAS.