November 5, 1868. 1 



JOUBNAIi OP HOHTIOUIiTUltE AND COTTAGE GABDENEH. 



337 



Porteana, and next to this, M. Lindeni, measuring 4 foet 

 C inclies in diameter, no doubt the liaest plant in the country 

 of this mugriificent species. A little to the left of this ia a 

 marvellously fine specimen Anthurium Scher7,erianum (the 

 large-leaved variety), for there areevidently two varieties of this 

 the handsomest of the Anthuriums. The plant is making 

 great progress ; some of its leaves are 111 inchoa long by 

 3i inches wide, and it had on it during the past summer nine- 

 teen splendid spathos all at one time, and there appears to be 

 every likelihood of its producing nearly thirty next year. It is, 

 undoubtedly, one of the finest specimeni in cultivation. There 

 is also in the same house another large plant, but it is of the 

 small-leaved variety, and although very beautiful much inferior 

 to the l.'irge-leaved one. There is likewise a plant of Alocasia 

 intermedia, one of the fine plants sent out this season by 

 Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. There are, besides, many other re- 

 markable specimens of leading new stove plants, such as the 

 beautiful Uractuna regina, Crotou interruptum, and C. irregu- 

 lare, the handsome Alocasia Jenningsii, and Abutilon Thomp- 

 sonii, all distributed to the public this season by the same 

 celebrated firm, whose introductions though expensive may be 

 relied upon, and which always will remain monuments of their 

 enterprise and energy. The next plant I have to describe, is 

 also one of their finest introductions amongst oruamental- 

 foliaged plants. I ciin just imagine their looks of astonishment, 

 on reading this description, to find that the plant they sold to 

 Mr. Mendel only a few months ago, of Sanchezia nobilis va- 

 riegata, is now 7 feet 6 inches across. There are eighty-four 

 shoots on it clothed with its handsome foliage, and a short 

 time ago it was showing a flower spike at the point of every 

 shoot ; these Mr. Fetch had all pinched out, and each of the 

 leading shoots is now breaking beautifully. The plant is a 

 perfect pyramid, and as no conception of its beauty can be 

 formed by looking at it from the path, I was tempted, at the 

 risk of pushing my head through the glass above, to get up on 

 the curb of the tank in order to obtain a fall view of this noble 

 specimen. 



There were also fine plants of Anthurium magnificum and 

 Maranta Veitchii (there appear to be two varieties of this hand- 

 some plant also), and near the fine Sanchezia an extraordinary 

 plant of Alocasia metallica. This, Mr. Fetch told me, was in 

 a 10-inch pot in the spring. It is now i feet G inches high 

 and 6 feet through ; it has upwards of two hundred fully deve- 

 loped leaves in beautiful condition, and is indeed a marvel in 

 plant-growing. The secret seems to consist in growing the 

 plant in a rich compost. The soil it is now growing in is 

 decomposed manure and loam in equal proportions ; and as 

 the plant stands over the water there is no chance of its being 

 infested with thrips and red spider, which very often spoil the 

 beauty of this Alocasia when it is grown in a dry temperature. 

 Near the last-mentioned specimen is a fine plant of Maranta 

 roseo-picta, one of the magnificent introductions of 1866. It 

 is 3 feet 6 inches in diameter and in perfect health. I also 

 noticed fine plants of Anthurium regale and Alocasia macro- 

 rhiza variegata. Trained to the roof of this house containing 

 so many splendid specimens, were healthy plants of Dipladenia 

 amabilis, Cissus discolor, and various other climbers, which 

 were all perfectly clean and healthy. I must not, however, 

 forget to mention the fine plants of Fittonia argyroneura 2 feet 

 6 inches in diameter, and perfect masses of silvery foliage. I 

 also noticed Williams's variety of Anthurium regale, which 

 appears to be much the finer of the two varieties of A. regale, 

 having longer and larger leaves, of a much darker colour. The 

 pretty Costus zebrina also riveted my attention for a moment 

 on leaving the house, and made me almost wish to retrace my 

 steps in order that I might mention many other gems which 

 I had very reluctantly passed by, for time warned me that if I 

 intended to review the contents of between thirty and forty 

 more houses I must be moving, seeing that I had only two 

 short days in which to take my notes, and that the first was 

 fast wearing away. 



With this forcible reminder before me, and feeling anxious 

 to do justice to every department, I passed into the Palm stove. 

 Here the plants most remarkable were a splendid Verscliaffeltia 

 splendida, 7 feet high, with leaves 5 feet long by 8 broad in 

 the widest part ; Pandanus reflexus (the Screw Pine), 11 feet 

 high, and nearly as many feet in diameter ; Thrinax elegans, 

 Stevensonia grandifolia, Areca Yerschaffelti, and A. crinita. 



The next house I entered is called the Gymnogramma house, 

 and a fine sight it is. Here are splendid plants of Gymno- 

 gramma pulchella 5 feet, and G. Martensii 6 feet in diameter. 

 The house is about 30 feet long by 18 wide, and completely 



filled with the finest collection of Gymnogrammag ever seen, 

 and all of them in the most perfect health and condition. 

 There were in tliis house many more of the finest Gymno- 

 grammas of equal dimensions to those named. 



Passing through the house devoted to the Gymnogrammas, 

 I entered another of similar dimensions, and, like it, a lean-to. 

 The front slab next to the front lights is covered with fine 

 healthy specimens of Adianturas of all the best varieties. There, 

 in great luxuriance, is to be seen the graceful and beautiful 

 A. farloyonse, undoubtedly the most handsome of this most 

 graceful section ; also A. cardiochliuna, A. Foei, A. Ecabrum, 

 A. renitorme, A. pulverulentum, and many others. In the 

 body of the house there is a pit filled with tan, on which are 

 brought forward many plants for the decoration of the conser- 

 vatory, such as Poinsettias, Gardenias, Azaleas, Camellias, 

 itc, and very conspicuous amongst these I noticed several 

 plants of the old Asclepias curaesavica with its trusses of bright 

 crimson and golden flowers. It is now very seldom seen, but 

 is one of the most useful plants grown for conservatory deco- 

 ration in winter ; it may also be had in flower nearly the whole 

 of the year, and is a most valuable plant for affording large 

 quantities of cut flowers. It is to be regretted that it is not 

 more extensively grown, which it certainly would be it better 

 known. The rage for beautif ul-foliaged plants has of late caused 

 many of our old favourite flowering plants to be forgotten, and 

 their cultivation has in consequence been very much neglected, 

 and in soms cases they are completely lost to the country ; it 

 is, however, to be hoped that their cultivation will again be 

 resumed, and their beauty and sweetness be again appreciated 

 as they deserve to be. 



I next entered the Gleichenia house, where, perhaps, the 

 greatest change ever seen in any collection of plants has taken 

 place. They are without doubt the finest set of plants in the 

 world, but when I saw them twelve months ago they were in a 

 sad plight owing to unskilful treatment. Mr. Fetch wrote to 

 all the sage Fern-growers asking for advice and assistance, so 

 that he might save these noble plants from destruction, and 

 many suggestions were offered and several kinds of medicine 

 recommended ; some advised him to cut them down, others 

 told him to divide and repot them ; but after having had so many 

 strange doctrines suggested, none of which he dared act upon, 

 he made up his mind to depend upon his own judgment, which 

 has turned out perfectly safe and satisfactory. At the time 

 Mr. Fetch took charge of the plants, not thirteen months ago, 

 they were in a pitiable state, covered with all the pests that 

 plants of this class are subject to, and very soon after they 

 were taken in hand, as stated above, I saw them, and at the 

 time pronounced it a hopeless case ; but now, in this short 

 space of time, their restoration to perfect health is almost com- 

 plete. ^ This result has been brought about by the moat careful 

 attention to the following precautions — namely, watering very 

 sparingly, gradually cutting away any decayed fronds, and above 

 all lowering the temperature considerably, instead of stewing 

 them to death in a very hot and humid atmosphere. They 

 were gradually inured to a temperature of 5.5°, and all the air 

 that could with propriety be given, was admitted on all favour- 

 able occasions. This is a hint I think many may profit by. 

 We often see the beautiful Gleichenias either being roasted 

 alive or broiled with steam from the hot-water pipes, at the 

 same time rendering the house unfit for any lady or gentleman 

 to enter ; but in a moderately dry temperature of 55° one may 

 stay for any length of time to admire the beauty of these 

 graceful plants. The house is span-roofed, about 50 feet long 

 by 22 wide, and there is a large bed in the centre, and slate 

 slabs along the sides. There are three rows of plants on the 

 centre bed, some of them of very extraordinary dimensionB. 

 Thus, of three large plants of G. flabellata, I measured one just 

 opposite the door, and it was 5 feet high in the centre, and as 

 many feet in diameter. The under side of its handsome 

 foliage was covered with fructification. There are also plants 

 of several other species, as G. dicarpa and G. microphylla, 

 quite as large, and all in good health ; also fine specimens o{ 

 Lygodium scandens, and two very handsome plants of Davallia 

 dissecta, about 5 feet high. Two stumps or blocks of wood 

 formed the groundwork of these fine masses, around which 

 the creeping Davallias have twined their fronds and shoots in 

 every conceivable form. There was also a balloon-shaped plant 

 of Lygodium polystachyum, one of the finest of them all, and 

 three large plants of Gleichenia speluncie. Many of the above 

 are in pans from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches in diameter, 

 and 18 incbea deep. There is also a fine healthy plant of 

 Gleichenia Mendeli, a silvery Gleichenia, with its fio'nds nearly 



