December 11!, 1865. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



479 



or it may take seven. Can any one tell mo what advantage a 

 south Willi liiis over a narrow span-roofed house, from haviiij? 

 taken its maxiiim and minima for a siiinmer in a nieteorolofji- 

 cally favoured iilacoV I would ratlier have my Orajies or Peaches, 

 if I wished them to como in soon, rostinp against such a wall, 

 and enjoying its radiation all uiglit long, than he starved in iin 

 orchard-house with a tcmperatino of from -10° to 45°. It is 

 not a question of fresh air ; and let me refer those who wish 

 to know how nature does in favoured climes to the Jlentone 

 temperatures for A]iril and May — in May tliere are only 2.U' 

 between the maximum and minimum. JSy this I think Nature 

 clearly shows us how to act. Th(> low night temperatures are 

 for autumn, to ripen our fruit and set the buds. 



I had written thus far when your Journal arrived containing 

 Mr. llivers's letter. I will not rejoice that I am in so nnudi 

 happier a position than Job when he sighed, " My desire is 

 that mine adversary had written a book." I began tliese letters 

 with the hope of gaining information ; and now I shall be very 

 sorry to make Mr. Rivers an adversary, but I must remind 

 him that ho has written a book. Mr. Rivers has conferred far 

 too much benefit on horticulture for any one to wish him any 

 harm. May I not, then, count on the Editors of The Journal 

 OP HouTieuLTURE to joiu rae in asking Mr. Rivers to confer 

 another benefit on the gardening world by making a large 

 collection of facts, and then publishing another volume of his 

 work. It is evident that his standard of shade is a very rigid 

 one ; and I presume when he wrote the book ho was a little 

 enthusiastic in the opposite way — the best of us cannot help 

 being biassed by our feelings. I will explain. He says that 

 his climatic world reaches as far as Pertli, and that this proves 

 that the orchard-hou.se system is a success. I refer to pages 

 14, 15, 16, and think what I said is correct — that climate is 

 far more potent than shape. In Lancashire, as a whole, a 

 single four-inch pipe will not enable any shape of an orchard- 

 house to succeed ; the trees must be advanced a month, as I 

 advised, so as to make August into their September. If this 

 is done a large span-roofed house, or a lean-to with a brick 

 back, will both succeed after June without iire heat. 



Now let me return to tlie question of the power of sun heat. 

 I will take what I consider is the order in which Mr. Rivers 

 would put them. 1st, The back wall of a lean-to and a large 

 span-roof as equal; 2nd, The front of a lean-to and a small 

 span ; last, a hedge orchard-house. Now, what makes this 

 difference ? Fresh air at the same temperature will not. The 

 hedge-house cannot be lov,-er than in the ease of the forcing- 

 house — 35° to 45°, or tlie large span-roof, which he gives in his 

 last article at from 40° to 50°. It must be the day tempera- 

 ture's gain by sun heat. In the same article he says in his 

 large spau-i'oof this is only 15°; in the book, at page 145, he 

 says the hedge-house gains 15° to 20°. I Imvo already noticed 

 the case of the forcing-house, where he gives the difference as 

 from 20° to 30°. These temperatures want going over again and 

 bringing to one standard, which I hope Mr. Rivers will do next 

 summer, and that he wiU give us the temperature in the sun 

 as well as in the shade. 



I think ilr. Rivers was taken by surprise when he read my 

 paper, and perhaps I was a little "sharp .and decisive," but I 

 am new at the business. I have a letter from the gentleman 

 whose orchard-house I mentioned, to say that his varies from 

 75° to 100' ; he does not know the highest point reached. 

 Mr. Rivers says he has seen his at 9G°. Was I not justified 

 in telling the owners of lean-to houses, from which the sun is 

 kept out, that they lose more than the value of their pipes in 

 summer time ? for are not these temperatures forcing enough ? 

 and is it not possible that the Peach trees in these houses 

 enjoy on some days a temperature as high as 110°, for they are 

 not in the shade ? 



If Mr. Brfihaut will read his paper " My Orchard-House,' 

 No. 6, in your Journal of August 2nd, 18G4, I think he wil- 

 acquit me of any intention to misrepresent him. — U. H. 



PLANTS FOR DINNER- TABLE DECORATION. 



{Concluded from page 458.) 



Plants ornamental by their flowers m.ay almost be said to be 

 innumerable. Those of symmetrical growth, that are not too 

 high, and that can be had in flower in a small state, are the 

 best suited, and many hardwooded plants are available. The 

 following list, a very meagre one, is merely given as a nucleus 

 with which to commence a collection. 



Azalea indica affords many of the most handsome plants that 



we have, and these can hardly be excelled by anything for 

 richness of appearance. 



Acacia. — Some of the species are as remarkable for foliage 

 as they are for their flowers. A. armata, graiidis, and Drum- 

 mond are about as good as any, while A. attinis and decurrcns 

 look well at all times. 



Cinerarias. — These look well, and coming in at a time when 

 flowering plants are scarce they are indispensable. The foliage 

 has a good appearance, and the flowers are beautiful. 



Ci/tisiis being of a neat uniform growtli is entitled to a place ; 

 the foliage, however, ought to be healthy, and as dark a gi'een 

 as ])ossible in order to show oft tho pale colour of the flowers 

 by night. 



Cypripedimns are rarely sufliciently showy to be attractive, 

 but being singular, if placed where they have a chance of being 

 closely examined and admired they may occasionally have a 

 l)lace. 



Caclii.i, or Epij)ln/Uum. — The dw.arf winter-flowering varieties 

 of the E. truncatum breed cannot be excelled for the purpose. 

 There are several varieties all good in their way. 



Geraniuma or Pelar;inniiims are not inferior to any class of 

 plants. The best varieties are those called Foncies, the inter- 

 mediate class called French are also good. Comment on any 

 of this family is unnecessary, as they cannot well bo improved, 

 (ieraniums of the Zonale class also afford many useful varieties 

 for the object in view, some being ornamental by their foliage 

 as well as their flowers. In general, however, it will be found 

 that the gold and silver-edged are less satisfactory when seen 

 at night than in the day, but as a change they are worthy a 

 place. 



Gardenia. — Nice flowering plants look well, especially if the 

 foliage has escaped the attacks of insects, and looks healthy. 



Gesncras. — Some of the varieties present handsome foliage 

 as well as showy flower-spikes. 



Gloxviiian being more dwarf than the last, and also flowering 

 more abundantly, are certainly superior as a class ; unfortu- 

 , natcly, however, there is much difficulty in flowering them in 

 I midwinter. 



Acliiinencs are also invaluable while they last, being suitable 

 alike from tho habit of the plant and the brilliancy of its 

 flowers. 



Beiilzia riracilis, as a forced plant, with an abundance of 

 , flowers, is one of the most useful plants that we have in its 

 season, from its compactness, and the graceful character of its 

 \ flowers. 



IJiehitra spectabilis is, perhaps, a little too large for the table, 

 otherwise it is fine in foliage, and in the colour and shape of 

 i its flowers. 



j Wcifiela rosea is also a plant that bears forcing well, and, like 

 ! Deutzia, can be grown of any size, or rather it can be had 

 I small. 



Praiuis sinensis alba phma. a double-blossomed Cherry, is a 

 forcing plant of similar merit to the last, the flower being a 

 pure white. 



Deutzia crenata Jlore-pleim. — This, like Deutzia gracilis, also 

 forces well, and produces abundance of flower. The plant is 

 more robust than gracilis. 



Deiidrnbiioiisoi several species are also useful. Dendrobinm 

 nobile, fimbriatuvn, and speciosum are sturdy growers, and 

 when in bloom look well ; of the others I have not had sufficient 

 experience to give a correct opinion. 



Salvia. — Small idauts of S. splendens when nicely flowered 

 look well, and as they come in when flowering plants are not 

 very plentiful are generally acceptable. 



Heatlm. — All the species are good, the winter-flowering ones, 

 such as E. hyemalis, Wilmoreana, rubra-calyx, and others being 

 especially desirable. 



I'rim'ila. .•;(ftc»s-ts, as already stated, is one of the very best 

 plants for table decoration, being low, compact, and the foliage 

 sufficiently spreading to partially cover tho pot. It cannot 

 well be improved upon ; the leaves ougiit to bo healthy and 

 green. 



Torenla asiatica is less seen than it was twenty years ago, 

 but when in nice trim forms a very good plant for the table. 



Cyclamens, like Chinese Primulas, are good. 



Hydrancfcai. — Neat little plants look well, and as they can 

 almost be flowered in pots of any size they are nsefiil. 



Camellias when in flower look well, and sometimes small 

 ones come in handy. 



Orchid.-^. — Any that may be in flower at the time may be 



employed when their si;;e will allow of its being done. Their 



i peculiar structirre and other features make amends for the 



