iSS3.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



253 



and by simply turning a valve or two the tempera- 

 ture may be increased or diminished at the will of 

 the operator. 



.•\n automatic steam engine for forcing warm or 

 cold water into every house, pit or frame, acts like 

 a charm, expedites the work and saves much man- 

 ual labor. No insidious green fly, destructive cat- 

 erpillar, evil red spider, sly thrip, treacherous mealy 

 bug, sinister plant louse, or otherj^vile insect can 

 e.xist where exasperated "Pluvious," with his aque- 

 ous weapons attacks them. And in support of my 

 assertions I need only to refer to Passifloraquadran- 

 gularis and Gardenia florida, either of which may 

 aptly be termed the home of Aphis lanigera, or 

 where "they most do congregate," which were here 

 to be seen as clean, vigorous and floriferous as I 

 ever saw them. The first-named plants occupied 

 the back of one of the houses and were trained on 

 a trellis overhead, and from which hung a fine 

 crop of good sized, oval shaped fruit. The peculiar 

 flavor, to those who fancy them, is considered de- 

 licious ; while the latter, with their snow white 

 purity and exquisite perfume, seemed fit for the 

 goddesses of to-day. 



In the center of a house fifty-three feet long some 

 early sweet corn was planted on the 14th of May 

 as an experiment, to which a high temperature 

 will be given as soon as the last large cauliflowers 

 are cut from the sides. From the 24th of Decem- 

 ber Mr. Lorillard's table has been daily supplied 

 with fine, tender, fresh cauliflowers. Another simi- 

 lar sized house had each .day amply furnished 

 quantities of dwarf or snap-short beans from No- 

 vember 1st; successive sowings of which are made 

 to keep up the supply, as each crop bears picking 

 about a month. The portable shelves, which run | 

 through the whole range of houses, are suspended 

 near the glass, and on them are placed pots of 

 strawberry plants for early forcing. 



Suitable pots, of Mr. G.'s designing, are used. 

 They are not so tapering as the ordinary kinds and 

 nearly straight in shape, with a larger hole than 

 usual in the bottom, through which the roots 

 are encouraged to grow into a bed of prepared 

 moss and bone dust, kept constantly moist, and 

 with astonishing results. Sir Charles Napier is an 

 excellent kind to force, fruit of which was first 

 picked February 9th. The same may be said of 

 Stuart, Topeka and Sharpless. 



In a house devoted to tomato growing, from 

 which continuous pickings had been made from 

 the first week in October, was still bearing the 

 kind known as "Perfection;" and in four others 

 of the same dimensions, viz., fifty feet each. 



flourished luxuriant plants of the handsome Ran- 

 cocas seedling tomato. Well may Mr. Gardener 

 be proud of his superb seedling, a cross between 

 Acme and Trophy. It is much superior to its fa- 

 mous progenitors, and may be considered the ne 

 plus ultra of its kind. Like the melons, grapes and 

 cucumbers, of which there were excellent exam- 

 ples of successful cultivation, the tomatoes were 

 trained on wire trellises, near the sashes, from 

 which beautifully formed, clean, red-ripe fruit hung 

 in amazing profusion. 



Early peach forcing is also extensively carried 

 out; and among the first to mature is the Early 

 Rivers, which ripens in sixteen weeks from the 

 time of blossoming. The next to follow is Early 

 Louise, which requires two weeks longer. Royal 

 George still maintains its good character, while the 

 good old Grosse Mignonne continues to favor its 

 admirers with abundance of large, rich, juicy fruit, 

 some twenty weeks after the time of blooming. 

 Diamond, too, is a gem of the first water. 



Growing figs in pots is also a success. The two 

 favorite kinds are Black Ischia and Black Italian. 

 Ripe Black Hamburg grapes were cut early in 

 April, and from one year old vines, in pots, eight 

 pounds each were gathered. There is also a 

 house of fine and vigorous Muscats, which promise 

 well for the future. The same may be said of the 

 pineapples, which were strong, healthy plants for 

 their age. 



Among the many attractive features of this unique 

 establishment are two rose houses, well stocked 

 with good blooming plants in pots. One was filled 

 with choice Teas, principally Pearl, Mermet, C. 

 Cook, Niphetos, etc., and the famous old Malmai- 

 son which, as a good, steady bloomer, is not to be 

 excelled. The hybrid perpetual house was chiefly 

 occupied with Jacqueminots, Paul Nerons, Anna 

 des Diesbachs, Baroness Rothschilds, Countess of 

 Oxfords, with some of John Hopper, which for 

 perfect form and fragrance has no equal. 



Of Orchids were some good Calanthe Veitchi's 

 and a beautiful pure white seedling, raised from a 

 cross between C. Veitchi and C. occulata rubra; 

 splendid Dendrobium chrysanthum, Oncidiums, 

 Laelias, Gongoras, Phalaenopsis, Vandas, Brassa- 

 volas, maxillarias, etc. Vanilla aromatica seemed 

 as much at home here as in its native habitat. 

 The beautiful Tacsonia Exoniensis was grand in- 

 deed. The same applies to Eucharis Amazonica, 

 whose pure white, sweet-scented flowers are much 

 admired. To supply the immense demand for this 

 lovely flower several hundred fine plants are 

 grown. 



