Juao 17, 1875. ) 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COrTAGE GAllDENEB. 



m 



central stage and marginal trellis with a pathway round and 

 between the plants. The first plant which arrests attention 

 is the Clerodendrou Thomgoni:E. It has long been a dense 

 wreath of white and crimson hloom, and indeed a splendid 

 object, affordinj; cut flowers in great abundance and of long 

 duration. Jlr. Douglas has good reason to recommend this 

 as a roof plant, as enjoying a singular immunity from in- 

 sects, is a free grower, at once ornamental, useful, and long- 

 lasting. It is planted-out behind the pipes in a narrow border 

 along the base of the wall. This is clearly the way to grow 

 this valuable decorative stove climber. It has as a com- 

 panion the well-known Stephanotis, the glossy leaves of which 

 denote that soapy water has been used, or they would not be 

 so clean and handsome as they are, or its waxy flowers be of 

 such great size and substance. It is also planted out, and 

 is evidently enjoying the treatment. Another useful roof 

 plant, as yet young but flowering freely, is the Bougainvillea 

 spectabilis. 



The genera! collection comprises Perns, Palms, and fine- 

 foliaged plants in the very first order of health. It is not 

 necessary for a plant to be new to have a home at Loxford, 

 but only requires to possess merit, when justice will be done 

 it ; hence we find the Aloeasia metallica still cared for and 

 splendiilly grown; Eucharis amazonica in exuberant health, 

 and affording three crops of flowers each season. The reason 

 why some fail with this plant is, Mr. Douglas believes, that they 

 have the " shy-flowering variety." It is well to mention this 

 as explanatory of the productiveness of the plant in one place 

 audits barrenness in another. Anthurium Scherzerianum is in 

 fine form as to size of plant and number of flowers, a duplicate 

 plant being remarkable for the groat size of its spathe. Dra- 

 casnas are well grown, D. Cooperi being especially biilliant in 

 colour. This and D. terminalis are still as useful as ever, not- 

 withstanding the claims of the newer introductions. D. regina" 

 is also in robust health. Caladiums are well grown and in the 

 full sun ; C. Belleymei and C. argyrites alone requiring shade. 

 When grown in the sun the leaves are better in colour and 

 texture than are those in the shade, which are flimsy in com- 

 parison, and flag on being moved from place to place. 



The best of tho Palms are Cocos Weddelliana, an elegant 

 pair of the most elegant Palm in cultivation ; the Cocoa-nut 

 Palm, Cocos nucifera, raised from the nut, the shell of which 

 still envelopes the stem ; and the fine bold Palm Pha!nicopho- 

 rium Seychellarum. Areca " aurea '' is also grown as green as 

 a Portugal Laurel, the yellow hue disappearing under good cul- 

 tivation, which is the best cure for " aurea " in other plants 

 besides this misnamed species. 



Ferns are admirably cultivated. It is not necessai'y to 

 enumerate, but we noticed two which should be in more 

 general cultivation — Adiantum eolpodes, the young fronds 

 deeply tinted with pink, and Davallia polyantha, a species with 

 fine spreading fronds, both fertUe and barren, each being very 

 distinct. There are also fine examples of D. Mooreane, Pteris 

 scaberula, and Stag's-horn Fern, Platyoerium alcicorne. 



Turn we now to the Orchids. The collection is not exten- 

 sive but choice, and the plants are in undeniable health. In 

 bloom were Dendrobium Jlacarthife, beautiful, and remarkable 

 for its long-lasting property ; D. Devonianum, D. Bensoniae, of 

 faultless beanty ; D. Farmeri, and D. thrysiflorum carrying a 

 raceme which for size, symmetry, and colour has probably never 

 been surpassed. Oncidium phymatoohilum had a grand spike 

 laden with quaint flowers ; 0. papilio and others were also in 

 bloom. Lcelia purpurata was exceedingly fine both in size, and 

 richness of colour, and Cattleya gigas showing. This beauti- 

 ful species can only be grown on a block, where it is now doing 

 well. Masdevallia Harryana is remarkably fine ; but even more 

 brilliant in colour is a distinct species in this collection, and 

 worthily named M. Whitbourniana. It is of the most fiery 

 magenta colour imaginable, and very free. Calantbe veratri- 

 folia is also striking, and Mr. Douglas will oblige by informing 

 us how he grows this useful plant so well. Also in bloom is 

 Strelitzia regina, a remarkable plant, the flower stem being 

 4 feet high, surmounted by brilliant orange and purple flowers 

 of singular form and very striking. 



cr.EENHOUSE AN'D COXSEEVATOEY. 



Here is a splendid plant of Lapogeria rosea in the rudest 

 health; it is planted out and covers a large space on the lofty 

 back wall. Azaleas, of which there are good specimens of Cri- 

 terion, Iveryana, Magnificent, very pure. Due de Nassau, 

 Duchesse Adelaide de Nassau, &c , were in fine bloom at the 

 time of our visit. 



Seedling Azaleas, of which Mr. Douglas has a fine batch, are 

 also opening, some of the flowers being of immense size and 

 semi-double, a most promising lot of plants to be watched with 

 interest. Mr. Doug'as grows the Oleander (Nerium splendensj , 

 which is one of the best of conservatory plants. Tree Carna- 

 tions, of which we have a hint now and then, have immense 

 blooms, and are found invaluable. Eoses were heavily laden, a 

 small houeeful of them, but we can only name one as a button- 

 hole Eose — Madame Jules Margottin— which is truly lovely for 

 that purpose. 



Aquilegias were in beautiful bloom. Why are not these 

 more grown? A. pjrcnaica is very rich and effective, so also 

 is A. cajrulea, to say nothing of the fine and stately yellow 

 A. chrysantha leptocera aurea which has deservedly won a 

 first-class certificate for its excellence. A long narrow house 

 is devoted to Liliums, of which a large number of choice sorts 

 are grown. L. Humboldti is throwing three spikes, one of 

 them containing thirty buds. L. puberulum, L. Wasbingtoni- 

 anum, L. californicum, &c., are also very vigorous. Most use- 

 ful during the summer will be this valuable collection. 



FEUIT nODSES. 



Fruit from these houses has frequently proved the best of 

 the best, having secured first honoura in Grapes, Pines, Melons, 

 and Cucumbers at the principal exhibitions. It h.'.s been hinted 

 that there are employers who calculate prize-money as a part 

 of their gardeners' wages. It is not so here, and we record it 

 in honour of Mr. Whitbourn that the more his gardener has 

 won the more has he increased his remuneration. That is a 

 just encouragement of merit, a recognition of energy, labour, 

 and skill, and the greatest incentive to sustained effort and 

 devoted service. But to tho fruit, commencing with the 



Vineries.- — We will neither count the houses, nor the Vines ; 

 suffice it to say the early house is not large, but the Grapes in 

 it are. The Black Hamburghs are ripe — several bunches cut, 

 and for those who may think that prize bunches are chance 

 bunches, one big to ten small, we may fearlessly say that 

 almost every bunch in the house might fitly grace an exhibi- 

 tion table. Wo have seen larger bunches, but crops of such 

 level excellence as is this are certainly few and far between. 

 The berries are black, large, and " hammered," and their finish 

 is almost perfect. Tho crop is regular, the bunches being as 

 large at the bottom as at the top of the house, and the yield is 

 a full one. The Vines are planted inside, but the roots have 

 access to outer borders. The inside borders are mulched, end 

 the Vines well supported. 



The pruning is what may be termed the long-short-spur 

 system, and we note Mr. Douglas is not above !aying-in a 

 young shoot where he wishes to have a good bunch. The 

 young wood is thinly disposed, not the slightest crowding, but 

 still a leaf wherever the eun can shine on it. The shoots are 

 stopped two or three leaves beyond the bunch, as there is 

 space for them to occupy, tho object being to lose neither 

 leaves nor light — that is evidently the principle of the summer 

 routine of dressing. There are no rambling laterals, and no 

 red spider, dust, or dirt. That is how are produced these 

 beautiful Black Plamburghs and clear and bright Bucklanrt 

 Sweetwaters which have made Loxford famous. 



We step into a later house. Thinning ie going on. But 

 what is that Grape, the bunches touching each other, each 

 18 inches long and heavily shouldered ? That is Waltham 

 Cross. Soberly speaking it is a splendid sight. If Mr. Paul has 

 done honour to pomology in raising that Grape, Mr. Douglas 

 is doing honour to Mr. Paul by growing it in this manner. 

 By its side is Eoyal Ascot, a splendid crop of great promise, 

 growth vigorous and hunches fine. Snow's Muscat is carrying 

 a great crop of very even bunches. Douglas's Seedling, a 

 pretty Grape, is also swelling-off freely a nice crop. 



We pass outside, and between one house and the next is 

 oovered-in — a glassed space 5 feet by 3 feet. In this is planted 

 a Muscat of Alexandria ; the cane is taken in the end of the 

 house, and trained horizontally along the base of the rafters. 

 From this horizontal main are three canes trained up the roof 

 at wide intervals. The space in which the Vine is growing is 

 5 by 3, and 3 feet deep. From this root-encased Vine is a crop 

 of Muscats, which for full setting and regularity of bunches 

 and berries is a sight worth a long journey to see. The bunches 

 are models of perfect setting and swelling. In Grape-growing 

 we have seen nothing more interesting than this industrious 

 Vine. Bones fresh from the butchers were broken and mixed 

 in the soil, which is the only difference in its treatment from 

 the rest. If that is the secret of its remarkable health, we can 



