January 8, 18G7. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



25 



a man's work than a woman's. I think, indeed, it is the world's 

 great plot of neutral ground belonging to all who have skill, or 

 taste, or strength, to work in it, and all may work in it on a 

 level, for the necessary outlay is small, it needs no costly tools. 

 I often wonder dear i3essie Parke? never tried it as a good, a 

 pleasant, and a remunerative emploj'ment. To be sure the 

 Latin names might he hard to learn ; but then many Vi"omen 

 have learnt harder things." 



"And very fine they would look out in the rain and puddle 

 planting monster trees they could not carry," said Janet. 



"Well, I suppose few women live beyond the rench of a 

 man's stronger arm, and help could always be procured to do 

 what women were unable or unwilling to perform for them- 

 selves,'' said Kate. 



So the autumn and the winter came again, the leaves all fell 

 from the Vines ; they were once more at rest. All rubbish was 

 carried away, the house was smoked, well swept down, and our 

 fire-maiden came in with hot water, soap, and brush, to " clean 

 out the place," as she called it. How she laughed and sang at 

 her work, called it her holiday, and how clean and fresh she 

 made it, and the only extra cost to ns was a new print dress for 

 the one cook said she " had spoiled doing new-fangled work." — 

 Maud. 



(To be continued.) 



THE GL.VDIOLUS IN POOR SOIL. 



Being a great admirer of that beautiful flower the Gladiolus, 

 I beg to state, in support of the opinion of some growers, that 

 this flower does exceedingly well with me in very poor SOU, 

 very little better than brick-rubbish, and the atmosphere is not 

 very good, the place being only one mile from London Bridge. 

 I mention these facts for the encouragement of those who may 

 think soil and situation may not suit this flower. 



I have had spikes equal to those I saw this season at the 

 Crystal Palace ; they have been admired by experienced gar- 

 deners. — WiLLi-iJi Edw.yrds, Bcrmonilscij. 



A VISIT TO TOWERVILLE, HELENSBURGH. 



Ai this season (October), when the shadow of approaching 

 winter is beginning to fall on the parterres and flower-borders, 

 the lover of floral beauty can still find under glass much of 

 the brilliance of summer, and even some of the first fresh- 

 ness of spring. On tho afternoon of the 16th was gathered 

 and arranged what it was feared would be the last bouquet of 

 out-door flowers for the season. It was for an invalid lady 

 friend in London, who would appreciate the gift all the more 

 that it came from her natal district. It seemed to be the finest 

 of the many which had been gathered and arranged in the 

 course of the season. Next morning the hoar frost lay thick 

 on plant, and flower, and grass, and at a glance it was evident 

 that, in as far as the more tender specimens were concerned, 

 my worst fears had been realised. Cast down though for the 

 moment I unquestionably was, the thought that I was that day 

 to pay a long-promised visit to a very dear friend, one of the 

 most enthusiastic and successful amateur horticulturists of my 

 acquaintance, dispelled the rising gloom, and made me forget 

 the grudge I owed John Frost for coming on so very soon. 



The day was not far advanced when I started. Glasgow was 

 soon reached, and then by rail to Helensburgh — one of the 

 most sunshiny seaside towns in the west of Scotland. The 

 sun was bright overhead, but a misty veil hung over the Frith 

 of Clyde, and shut out from view one of the most glorious 

 panoramas on which the eye can rest, and which, if equalled, 

 is certainly not surpassed. Arrived at our terminus, I hur- 

 ried on to TcwerviUe, along pleasant streets, skirted on either 

 hand with villas and villa gardens, and, after a ten-minutes 

 walk, arrived at the private entrance. 



The first object that attracted attention was the flag which 

 my hospitable friend had raised in expectation of my arrival, 

 and which the morning breeze flung out from its folds with a 

 force that made the strong flagstaS bend like a Willow saphng. 

 Next the villa came in view, enlarged since my last visit ; but 

 so skUfuily had the architect adapted the addition to the origi- 

 nal building, that even a practised eye would fail to detect 

 what recollection alone informed me of — that its parts had been 

 plaimed and erected at different times. As it now stands it is, 

 both iatemally and externally, a very model of its kind, and, 

 _ whik) aeithei imposing iamm its siae nor pretentious in its 



style, it gives one that idea of elegance and comfort whioh we 

 deem essential to a seaside summer residence. 



Another turn in the road brings the owner in view. He is 

 leaning on a gentleman's arm, for, unfortunately, Mr. Hender- 

 son has been for the last eight mouths an invalid, set aside 

 from any active share in the business of the important and in- 

 fluential firm of which he is a partner ; but here his love of 

 flowers and plants has served him in good stead, occupying 

 without fatiguing his mind, affording healthful recreation, 

 giving a present enjoyment, and leading heart and mind " from 

 Nature up to Nature's God." As a man of business, as an 

 enlightened patriot, as a warm-hearted friend, he has gained 

 a name both in this country and in Italy, where he is even 

 better known; and if it be the will of Providence that "a 

 youth of labour " should be followed by an " age of ease," 

 amid such scenes as those by which he is surrounded. I am 

 persuaded that, even as he has no occasion, so he will not be 

 tound to complain. 



The first cordial welcome over, and a slight repast disposed 

 of, we are once more on the gravel on our way to see the latest 

 novelties and improvements. 



The lawn, with its adjoining terraces, stretches away east- 

 wards from the villa. It is sufficiently extensive to admit of 

 the intro4uction, without confusion, of a large number of our 

 rarer Conifers and evergreens. All along the main approach, 

 on the right hand there is a row of Cedi'us deodara, while on 

 the left hand these are admirably balanced with large Portugal 

 Laurels, in the intervals between which rise deciduous trees in 

 great variety, and a fine effect is thus produced. Among others 

 were fine specimens of Welhngtonia gigantea, Cupressus ma- 

 crocarpa, and C. Lawsoniana. One feature in the decoration 

 of the lawn is quite unique in this part, biit is easily accounted 

 for by Mr. Henderson's long residence in Italy. Here and 

 there, partially hidden by the evergreens, or skh-ting the line 

 of walk, or forming the terminating point in some pleasing vista, 

 are beautiful marble statues, copies of well-known works, and 

 although, assuredly, we have not the warm, dry chmate which 

 some regard as essential to this kind of ornamentation, stiU 

 the effect on the day of my visit was charming ; and after the 

 eye became accustomed to their presence I would not on any 

 account have dispensed with them. 



The great attractions of Towerville, however, are under 

 glass. Adjoining the house is a small conservatory, in whioh 

 a matchless collection of tree Ferns have their temporary 

 abode. The larger number are specimens (some of them 

 10 and 12 feet high), of Cyathea dealbata, the fronds of which 

 are already 5 feet long, and yet only one-half of their original 

 size when they were dug up in their native habitat. The 

 taUies attached to these splendid plants tell a marvellous tale. 



I They inform us that in the beginning of this year (1860), they 

 were growing in the depths of a New Zealand primeval forest ; 



j and now, after the lapse of only eight or nine months, they 

 are throwing out their graceful fronds in every direction, over- 

 arching the on-looker with their silver tracery. What care 

 must have been bestowed on them in their transit from the 

 Antipodes ! and what skilful treatment by ilr. Henderson and 

 his clever painstaking gardener before a result so satisfactory 

 could have been realised ! A new house is being planned by 

 Mr. Clark, of the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, for the reception 

 of this interesting collection of valuable plants. 



A few steps from the small conservatory is the Orchid-house 

 • — a spacious building, with a passage all round, so wide that 

 it is obvious that the comfort of the ladies of the household 

 has in this been consulted. The impression produced on enter- 

 ing this house is one not likely to be soon effaced. In front 

 you have a tiny sheet of water, on which the huge leaves of 

 the Victoria regia are floating as healthily as if on the surface 

 of a Guiana lagoon, and in which some gold fish are glancing 

 like flashes of fire. Overlooking the little lake, as if the 

 i;enii(s loci, is a statue — a beautifully executed copy of the 

 famous Nina del' Arno, surrounded on all sides by foliage df 

 the richest colours and the rarest forms. Overhead a Banana 

 (Musa Cavendishii), showing unmistakeable signs of fruit, 

 shoots upward to the lofty roof its broad leaves, some gra- 

 dually unrolling. The effect of the central row of plants, 

 including another Banana (Musa textihs), is very fine, and is 

 greatly heightened by the splendid specimens in front, by 

 which their stems are concealed. Among these may be parti- 

 cularly noticed Cissus discolor (7 feet high), Maranta zebrina 

 (4 feet high and 7 feet in diameter), Alocasia zebrina, and Alo- 

 casia metaUica. Interspersed are large plants of Golden and 

 Silver Ferns, such as are seldom seen elsewhere, and at least 



