Jrme 2, 1870. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



39S 



besides many Orchids in flower, or coining into flower, and 

 a brilliant display of Azaleas and other stove and greenhouse 

 plants. Added to theBe there are the Ferns, ever graceful, with 

 their young fronds of the brightest of green, vari-coloured 

 foliage plants, and a fine collection of Palms. 



The Bhow-house, except in the greater abundance of plants 

 in flower, such as Azaleas, Eriostemons, Amaryllids, and Pelar- 

 goniums, presents much the same appearance as it usually 

 does. The large Dicksonias, having made a new growth, have 

 had the fronds tied down, so as to form umbrella-like heads. 

 Cibotium princeps, one of the noblest of all Ferns in a conser- 

 vatory, is also conspicuous. Among the numerous Agaves, 

 Yuccas, and Beaucarneas, there are A. Verschaffelti and several 

 other new kinds, and associated with these the Australian 

 Grass Plant, Xanthorrhcea hastilis, or Kingia australis, which 

 is of remarkably slow growth, and is interesting from the 

 numerous uses to which it is applied by the aborigines. 

 Another Australian, Banksia speciosa, long ago introduced 

 into this country, is a pretty table plant in a young state. 



In the nest house, a stove, there is a large number of young 

 Palms for room and table-decoration, purposes for which they 

 are very extensively employed on the Continent. The taste 

 for them appears to be rapidly extending in this country, and 

 we venture to predict will go on increasing as the beauty and 

 endurance of young specimens become better appreciated, and 

 as their cost becomes low enough to place them within the 

 reach of those of moderate means. The principal genera re- 

 presented in this collection are Chamicdorea, Hyophorbe, Ma- 

 lortiea, Geonoma, Areca, Calamus, Thrinax, Martinezia. Livis- 

 tonia, Phcenix, and the new Welfia regia. More ttitely than 

 these are fine specimens of two of the noblest of all Palms, 

 and bearing considerable resemblance to each other, Phcenico- 

 phorium sechellarum and VerschaSeltia splendida. The latter, 

 however, makes a crown of roots at the base of the stem, 

 whilst the former acquires a stout stem with age. Dion edule 

 is making a fine growth, and among other Palms may be men- 

 tioned Corypha australis, one of the best for subtropical gar- 

 dens. Anthurium acaule, which is fruiting, is another plant, 

 which is very effective for the same purpose. 



Another stove contains numerous plants in flower, as Clero- 

 dendrons, Anthurium Scherzerianum, of which Beveral fine 

 specimens are to be met with in the different houses, Medinilla 

 magnifica, Cochliostema Jacobianum, so often alluded to of 

 late, and a large number of young Palms on the shelves. 



Next we enter the fernery, in which Lomaria gibba crispa is 

 noticeable as making a dense mass ; and several species of 

 Lindeaea, nice specimens of Cibotium spectabile and regale, 

 and a peculiar variety of Pteris serrulata, called corymbifera, 

 are well worthy of attention. Passing onwards we come to the 

 New Holland house, now chiefly filled with Azaleas being for- 

 warded for exhibition. Of the other plants, Draccena oongesta 

 is worthy of notice as being a very hardy kind suitable for 

 Wardian cases and windows ; and it is much grown in Prussia, 

 where, notwithstanding the Beverity of the winters, it does well. 

 Tinnea asthiopica. though not showy, may be noted as having 

 a slight scent of Violets. 



Then come the Orchid houses, containing extensive collec- 

 tions of all that is good, as well as new. Among Cypripediums 

 are fine specimens of villosum, barbatum superbum, and cau- 

 datum. Vandas are numerous; Aerides have already many 

 long racemes, and some of them will shortly be remarkable 

 specimens ; Dendrobiums and Cattleyas will shortly be splendid, 

 and some are bo already — to wit, Dendrobium densiflorum and 

 nobile, and Cattleya Mossiaa and Skinneri. Laelias, too, as 

 pnrpurata, and Odontoglossums, as Alexandra and Pescatorei, 

 are lovely ; then there are the old but free-flowering Maxillaria 

 Harrisonias, M. leptocephala with ochreous yellow and white 

 sepals and petals, the new Miltonia festiva, Oncidium obry- 

 zatum which is nearly always in bloom, and many others. 

 There is also a Pogonia, supposed to be new, from Java, 

 somewhat resembling P. discolor, but richer-coloured. In the 

 compartments at the ends of these houses are the collections 

 of Sarracenias and Filmy Ferns. 



The remaining houses must be passed briefly over, though 

 containing numbers of plants in flower, such as the Azaleas 

 Mr. Williams has exhibited so successfully at the recent shows, 

 and many others besides, Francisceas, Dipladenia amabilis, 

 AUamandas, Pitcher Plants, of which there is a fine collection, 

 Ixora coccinea, Pimeleas, Heaths, Genetyllis, i-c. Ornamental- 

 foliaged plants are equally well represented, comprising the 

 new Dracaena Guilfoylei, which promises to be a valuable kind 

 ior conservatories and rooms, being so hardy and so diversified 



in colour ; many new continental Caladiums; Calamus ciliaris, 

 an elegant table Palm ; Cocos Weddeliana, one of the hand- 

 somest of Palms ; the new Crotons, Alocasias, and a host of 

 other plants. One, Sonchus pinnatus, though not belonging 

 to a dignified genus, may be mentioned as forming a graceful 

 plant for table decoration in winter ; in summer it is useless, 

 for it then loses its leaves. Two other plants but of quite 

 recent introduction also deserve mention — namely, Godoya 

 splendida, which is said to have large, pure white, sweet-scented 

 flowers, and Theophrasta nobilis, which, it is considered, will 

 be a valuable addition to ornamental- foliaged plants. 



Since our last visit two new houses have been added facing 

 the Junction Boad, each 55 feet long by 25 feet wide, and it is 

 intended to connect them by a fernery. One is filled with a 

 fine lot of Camellias, the other with Azaleas. 



WAYSIDE JOTTINGS— No. 5. 



Early in the month of July, 18G8, I set out to pay a long- 

 projected visit to Whitefield House, near Wigton, the residence 

 of Jackson Gillbanks, Esq., a magistrate of the county of Cum- 

 berland, and a gentleman well versed in many branches of 

 natural history. As a drive of fully nine miles, mostly over a 

 narrow and rough country road, lay before us, my companion, 

 a neighbouring medical practitioner, agreed with me upon 

 making an early start. The morning was lovely, and though 

 the weather of the preceding ten days had been close and sultry, 

 a fine breeze from the north-west Berved to keep down the 

 temperature to quite an enjoyable degree on this particular 

 morning. As we passed along the sides of several newly-mown 

 meadow fields, the fragrance of the freshly-cut grass was very 

 grateful. My medical friend several times remarked upon the 

 mellowness of the atmosphere, and we congratulated each other 

 on the prospect of the holiday on which we were just entering. 

 A lively chat on matters connected with natural science, of 

 which ornithology and botany formed the chief elements, served 

 to beguile the weariness of what, under ordinary circumstances, 

 would be considered a jolting and uncomfortable drive. The 

 blossoms of the Guelder Bose and the Honeysuckle studded the 

 hedges of the narrow lanes, and at one particular point of our 

 journey the flowers of the Bough Cow Parsley (Myrrhis temu- 

 lenta), were so abundant as almost to hide with a mantle of 

 dazzling whiteness the hedge banks on which it grew. In the 

 meadows near Ireby old church we noticed very fine speci- 

 mens of Orchis Conopsea (Aromatic pale Orchis), with the 

 delicious odour of which my companion was up to this time 

 unacquainted. Several other Orchids were growing in the 

 meadow, but as these were at some distance from the road we 

 did not stop to examine them, keeping in mind the extensive 

 field of observation which lay before us on the mountain sides 

 to which we were by this time rapidly approaching. 



On arriving at Whitefield, the situation of which at the head 

 of Overwater Lake and in close proximity to Skiddaw we greatly 

 admired, we found a hearty welcome from the proprietor, who 

 had kindly promised to be our guide as well as host for the day. 

 After a short i est we sallied forth provided with spuds, hammers, 

 and collecting boxes, and took our way towardB one of the off- 

 shoots of Skiddaw, called Cockup. While still within the 

 grounds of Whitefield, Mr. Gillbanks pointed out to us the 

 locality of an ancient encampment, having the oblong outline 

 of those erected by the Bomans, but only limited in extent, 

 having probably formed an outpost to some of their larger 

 stations. 



Soon we found ourselves on the mountain side, and as I 

 busied myself in securing specimens of Pinguicula vulgaris 

 (Butterwort), Saxifraga stellaris (Starry Saxifrage), and other 

 plants which grew in the spongy grounds at the base of the 

 mountain, my guide jocularly called to me to hold hard, as he 

 was afraid I might overload myself at the outset. 



Gradually we made our way up the face of the hill in a slant- 

 ing direction, and pointing towards a "hawse" or pass be- 

 tween two mountains, which it was our purpose to gain. As 

 we ascended the springs became fewer, and the soil changed in 

 character. It consisted almost entirely of the debris of the 

 slaty rock composing the mountain, loosely scattered over the 

 surface, and covered with a profusion of the finest Parsley Fern 

 which I had ever seen. The lively green of the large hassocks 

 of this plant formed a striking contrast to the lichen-covered 

 surface of the crags, which here and there protruded from the 

 soil in an irregular and pictnreBque manner. 



Higher up yet, the gorge narrowed like a funnel, and we re- 



