MAY. 147 



is gathered, the trees are turned out of the pots and plunged in the open 

 ground, where a fresh set of trees is in preparation for next season, 

 'ihe forcing of the early house commenced the first week in January, 

 and the fruit is now ripening ; in the second house they are about the 

 size of Peas, having been started a month later, to succeed those in the 

 early house. In both houses the trees are well furnished with fruit. 



The whole of the Pines were looking strong and remarkably healthy, 

 especially those planted in loam on a bed of leaves in the larger fruiting 

 pits, without the assistance of more bottom heat than the bed of leaves 

 affords. The heated air is supplied through hot-water pipes placed in 

 the front part of the pit. Some of the best Pines are grown in these 

 pits, and with comparatively very little trouble. The Pines in the 

 principal range are grown much in the same way ; only, instead of a 

 bed of leaves, hot- water pipes supply the bottom heat. 



Cucumbers are produced throughout the year, and the plants from 

 which the supply is now obtained have been in bearing all through the 

 winter months. The plants are growing in a bed of earth placed over 

 a heated chamber, forming a pit in the centre and back of the house, 

 which is a half-span, and the plants are trained near the glass. 



Early Potatoes are looking strong and healthy ; they are chiefly grown 

 in cold pits over a bed of leaves, without the aid of fire heat. Carrots, 

 Peas, Turnips, &c., also occupy several cold pits and frames. 



Most of the plant-houses were exceedingly gay, especially the stoves 

 in the front range, where many varieties of Begonias are now in great 

 perfection. The following are amongst the best : — Albo-coccinea, a 

 pretty variety, with scarlet and white flowers ; manicata, nitida, and 

 hybrida, which is an exceedingly good variety, raised a few years since 

 at Cliveden, between manicata and hydrocotylifolia ; it partakes of both 

 its parents, and 'is of good habit and fine foliage. Fuchsioides, Ingrami, 

 and coccinea contrasted well with other varieties of less colour. We 

 also noticed several hybrids raised by Mr. Ingram, among which was 

 nitida rosea, a fine variety of better habit, and the flowers deeper 

 coloured than nitida. Suaveolens rosea is also a great improvement on 

 the old variety. There were also several other seedlings — varieties of 

 Fuchsioides — not yet named. Several other stove plants were in flower 

 — such as Hibiscus rosa sinensis and flore plena, Adamia versicolor, 

 Centradenia rosea, Franciscea Hopeana and confertifolia, and many 

 more, too numerous to admit of their being noticed here. 



We observed two fine plants of Impatiens Hookeri, not yet in 

 flower, but growing very strong in rough turfy loam. 



The greenhouses were also very gay with the different varieties of 

 Cinerarias, Azaleas, Camellias, Ericas, Epacrises, and scarlet Rhodo- 

 dendrons, intermixed with other plants — such as Boronia tetrandra, 

 Dielytra spectabilis, Hardenbergia monophylla, Cytisus racemosus, 

 Deutzia gracilis (a useful little plant for forcing and early spring- 

 flowering), Tropseolum tricolorum. Cyclamens, &c. On the back-wall 

 we noticed a fine plant of Clianthus puniceus, covered with scarlet 

 flowers 



We were much pleased with some seedling Ericas which Mr. Ingram 

 showed us in one of the principal houses. Three varieties — seedUngs 



L 2 - 



