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JOURNAL OF HOBTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ September 11, 1873. 



gardener to the Earl of Aylesfonl, Packiugton Hall ; Mr. Brown, 

 gardener to Earl Howe, GopsaU Hall ; and Mr. Wilson, nursery- 

 man, Warwick, their awards giving general satisfaction. About 

 four thousand visitors were present, from Birmingham, Korth- 

 arnpton, Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, Burton, and the Stafford- 

 sliire Potteries. 



MESSRS. BACKHOUSE & SON'S, YORK.— No. 2. 



In resuming my notice of my visit I feel more than ever, on 

 reading what I have aheady written, how very inadequately 

 I have described my impressions, and how little it can give 

 people an idea of the beauties of the Alpine Garden ; still I 

 may do something in noting some of the beauties that I saw, 

 as there are, I believe, many who value these flowers and would 

 be glad to introduce them into their gardens. It is not essential 

 that they should be iu an alpine garden, as manj' of them are 

 suitable for herbaceous borders. Fragrance is not wanting in 

 some of these flowers ; nor are curious forms wanting, for 

 suitable places have been made for hardy Orchids. Here, for 

 instance, is the grand Cypripedium spectabile, the great Ame- 

 rican Lady's-slipper, with stems 2 feet high and showy white 

 flowers, and our native one C. Calceolus, and C. pubescens, 

 another American species. Orchis latifolia Trauusteineri with 

 brilliant purple flowers was also to be seen, and Opuntia Kafi- 

 nesquiaua was flourishing. Senecio argenteus is well known 

 for its pretty silvery foUage ; but a fine orange-flowered one, 

 abrotanifolius,wa3 also very conspicuous. Of course the grace- 

 ful forms of Ferns were not wanting, and many which we are 

 in the habit of considering as only fit for the greenhouse were 

 here flourishing in the open ah-. I shall hope to give a list of 

 the best Alpines I kuow. 



But deeply interesting as the Alpine Garden is with its gems 

 and beauties of ail descriptions, and wonderful as is the col- 

 lection of alpine plants iu pots, perhaps the most unique spot 

 about the place is the Fern Valley, iu which are cultivated 

 about seventy or eighty kinds of Hymeuophyllum, Tricho- 

 manes, and other Filmy Ferns. I do not know the exact 

 measurement of this charming fernery, but I believe that 

 120 tons of rough sandstone were used in its construction. 

 The entrance to it is through the private grounds, for reasons 

 which will be clear to everybody who knows the nature of this 

 lovely tribe, and who can appreciate the tender care with which 

 they are nurtured. It is about 9 or 10 feet deep, and narrow. 

 The roof is of thick glass and iron ; and the fernery is in two 

 divisions, one for those belonging to tropical climates, and the 

 other for hardier species. But the division is not absolute. 

 There is simply a stone arch without any door to it. The far 

 end, which is reserved for the tropical species, is heated by a 

 warm tank. The heated air rises from this and reaches the 

 stone arch ; here it is met by a cool cm-rent from the other 

 portion of the house, which passes underneath the heated 

 current, and the result is that a condensation of vapour is pro- 

 duced, which results in a continued dripping and a most beauti- 

 ful deposition of the finest dew, which no sprinkling or syring- 

 ing with a rose however fine could eliect, and the plants live in 

 the very atmosphere most suited to them. Here were flourish- 

 ing in the greatest luxuriance from ninety to a hundred species 

 of Trichomanes, Hymeuophyllum, &c. Here, for instance, one 

 sees a lovely mass of the beautiful H. tuubridgense, and there 

 another of Trichomanes radicans, one of the lovelj' native species, 

 which thrive here as well as in their native habitats. Amongst 

 the more beautiful and curious of the Hymenophyllums were 

 scabrum, with fronds 10 or 12 inches long and very finely 

 divided ; pulcherrimum, well deser-ving its name ; demissum, 

 with bipinuato fronds, very finely divided ; caudiculatum, with 

 broad fronds, with the ends lengthened-out into fish-hke points, 

 like some of the native Ferns ; dilatatum, with broad bright 

 green fronds ; cruentum, most beautiful — so beautifully trans- 

 parent are the fronds of this species, that I could see to read 

 the smallest newspaper print through it ! — fusiforme, a native 

 of Chili, which Mr. Backhouse thinks one of the finest yet ad- 

 vertised. Then amongst the Trichomanes were, besides radi- 

 cans, the very curious reniforme with its large kidney-shaped 

 fronds of a bright green colour, the sori standing all round the 

 edge of the frond, giving it a remarkable and handsome appear- 

 ance ; Luschnatianum, a dark green climbing species with 

 sessile fronds ; and probably nowhere can the species be seen 

 in such perfection as here, for, while rejoicing iu moisture, it 

 does not like syringing ; alatum, very handsome, the fronds 

 growing from 9 to 10 inclies high ; anceps, very large and fine ; 

 mumbranaceum, a dwarf climbing species from the West Indies, 

 and very handsome. 



But I must stop, for what is the use of adding a number of 

 names, which will only be travesting some first-rate catalogue ? 

 All I can say is that I had no conception of the extreme beauty 

 of these plants when grown in the state of perfection here 

 seen, and that a more pleasing sight it would be impossible 

 for a Fern-lover to have his or her eyes gratified with : and 

 that, as far as I myself am concerned, it is in very deed dir 

 creti't notanda. And what shall I say of the tjeniu.i loci .' Those 

 who know aught of James Backhouse kuow him to be a man 

 of science as well as a thoroughly good gardener. He, with Ins 

 late father, were amongst the favoured few who had the oppor- 

 tunity of seeing the grand solar eclipse of 1851 from the top of 

 one of the highest points of the Fille Fjeld in Norway ; and in a 

 short paper he has recorded his feelings on the occasion, while 

 in his dining-room hangs a strange weird-looking picture, iu 

 which he has placed on canvas his record of a sight which so 

 few can witness. Need I say that he loves his plants '? What 

 stories I might tell of his clever tracking of rare native plants, 

 [ and of the enjoyment of seeing his perseverance crowned with 

 success ! But he has other and higher qualities than these, 

 and pleasant was the interview we had on greater matters. 

 Gentle and loving as he is, he is well fitted to preside over 

 scenes such as I have faintly attempted to portray, where 

 some of the loveliest plants, minute though many of them be, 

 experience his tender care — plants which show that not merely 

 the grandest but the smallest of Nature's productions have 

 been perfected by the same Almighty Hand. Meetings such 

 as these are helpful to all who want rightly to fight the battle 

 of life, and who would desu-e to cherish friendship on its 

 highest and worthiest ground. And so farewell, good friend ! 

 Long may you preside over spots so congenial to you, and may 

 your efforts be crowned now and ever with success. — D., Deal. 



PRESERVING GRASSES, FERNS, AND FLO'WERS. 



Gkasses should bo gathered early iu July, if we desire them 

 to retain their bright hues without the aid of art. Gathered 

 then, tied up iu large bunches, and hung away in a dark closet, 

 they come forth at our bidding, fresh and green as when 

 plucked. Now, by brooksides or in shady places, we can find 

 graceful Grasses, which will prove additions to our winter 

 bouquets, but they will lose their colouring, and require a dip 

 into " Judson's green dye." Dye them again, and they will 

 last for years. WUd Oats, Feather Grass, and all tlieir various 

 species are very ornamental iu wiuter, and mingled with the 

 Everlasting Flowers — Acroclinium, Xeranthemum, and the 

 white, yellow, and crimson Helichrysums — they vie with their 

 more perishable sisters, whose glories are on the wane. We 

 have just arranged two small vases for the coming winter. The 

 brilliant pink and white Acrocliniums add much to their beauty. 

 ' The white Helichrysums can be dyed a brilliant purple or 

 scarlet with Judson's dyes, and exquisite bouquets can easily 

 be manufactured. These "everlasting" flowers should be 

 gathered as soon as the outer leaves open. Tie them up iu 

 bundles as you pick them, and hang them up, flowers down- 

 wards, to dry. Treated in this way, the stems are straight and 

 more easily used. They can be hung to dry in one's chamber, not 

 requiring a darkened place. Most of these flowers are allowed 

 to remain too long upon the bushes, and their beauty is 

 spoiled. As they become dusty under the frequent sweepings 

 of carpets, we dip them in cold water ; their petals close 

 entirely. We dip the Grasses also, to cleanse them, else they 

 ■will acquire a dingy hue. 



Many persons like crystallised Grasses. These are easily 

 made by dissolving 1 lb. of alum in one quart of boiling water, 

 suspeniling the Grasses just over the steam — not to touch the 

 water — and as it cools, the crystals gather. Grasses need not 

 be dried before they ai-e crystallised. A few of them mingled 

 with the green Grasses and brUUant-hucd flowers light up well. 



Ferns are much sought after for floral decorations. Their 

 feathery plumes, pinnated leaves, and graceful forms are very 

 beautiful. They differ from the Grasses, for those gathered 

 late in the autumn retain their colours better than the fresh 

 Ferns of June. The sap has hardened in their leaves. We 

 have gathered them late in November, when they were sur- 

 rounded by snow, and they have kept green all wiuter. The 

 running Fern is a lovely decoration for walls and pictures. Its 

 flowers add much to its grace and beauty, but it fades quickly, 

 and by Christmas but a faint green remains. Dip them in 

 Judson's dye (following the directions given on the bottle 

 for dyeing ribbons), and you will keep their lovely colour. 

 After thoy have been thoroughly pressed in heavy books, then 



