August 15, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
129 
Rhododendrons that are forced in a high temperature had 
better be removed to cooler quarters before half the flower 
truss is expanded ; indeed, for safe travelling all trusses should 
be despatched to their final destination before the centre flowers 
are open. Coming to other sections of plants that are forced 
under high pressure, it were better to work on some well-con- 
sidered principle beforehand. If a small house can be spared 
which is conveniently situated in a cool aspect, with just a 
flow and return hot-water pipe round it that might be used in 
ease of emergency—this house might be utilised as the centre 
of concentration or depét for receiving plants in various stages 
of flower from other houses. The house should have a proper 
shading in good working order and be well ventilated, so that 
the flowers could be shaded from the sun and kept cool prepa- 
zatory to travelling. We are, of course, now assuming that the 
reader has followed our suggestions with the advancing season, 
and has not confounded our hints with very early forcing, in 
which case every bed must be open before the plant—whatever 
it may be—leayes the forcing house, or the sudden change will 
produce temporary stagnation, till the natural warmth excites 
a reaction. 
Roses in pots, Azaleas, and all other portable subjects, either 
‘Stove or greenhouse, will have their flowers greatly improved 
for travelling by this simple method of preparation ; even 
‘stove climbers, and other large plants that cannot be carried 
about, may be materially assisted by lowering the temperature 
.a few degrees, and by admitting more air during the time the 
plants are flowering at their best. East Indian and Mexican 
Orchids are none the worse of being hardenedin company with 
other things, provided they are not exposed to draughts or 
sudden chills, which can be avoided with ordinary precaution ; 
and it is no small advantage to have a spray or two of choice 
Orchid over as long a period as possible. I think it was 
Mr. Harrison of Knowsley I once heard make the shrewd 
remark, ‘“‘ You cannot finish off a box of choice flowers with- 
out a spray or two of Orchid.” Denbrobium nobile is still the 
best of that large and interesting species, and is everybody's 
plant for cutting purposes. It stands packing better than 
most other Orchids, and is accommodating as to the time of 
flowering, either early or late. 
For particular occasions, and in order to meet extra de- 
mands, we have kept plants, both stove and greenhouse, for 
days together in a Mushroom house. “Nothing tothe advantage 
of the plants,” the reader may retort, which we do not dispute, 
except to reply that “the end justifies the means.” The indis- 
criminate adoption of such a principle would be generally 
condemned as extreme, except in the sense referred to. 
_ There are many other plants of a commoner type that are 
indispensable for trayelling purposes during the hotter months 
of the season. Amongst their number we would place pink 
and scarlet double Geraniums at the head of the list; their 
<ompeers, with more flimsy and delicate florets, have few 
qualities to recommend them to general notice for this par- 
ticular purpose. Notwithstanding this, there are many fami- 
lies who would be unwilling to give up old favourites, such as 
Crimson King, John Hoyle, Mary Hoyle, and Alba multiflora, 
which can be had in flower early, and their ranks recruited 
with newer and better sorts, together with many of the Zonal | 
section, which make admirable companions and give great 
variety in colour. Sharp forcing is never desirable with these 
flowers ; but in case they are at all pressed, let them be shifted 
into a cool house in good time, and kept “right up to the glass,” 
to give the flowers as much stiffness and substance as possible. 
They will be better of light, but no actual sunshine that is cal- 
culated to affect the fllmsy framework of the opening trusses. 
Adyantage should be taken of dull cool weather, whenever 
the opportunity presents itself, to cut large quantities of these 
flowers. Previous to cutting, each flower should have a single 
drop of gum arabic, diluted to the consistency of water, dropped 
into the centre of each, which assists in keeping the petals 
together; and in packing let the flower trusses be strewn 
thinly over the surface of other flowers, so that they will regu- 
late themselves into safe position on the first shake of the 
basket. Where there is an objection to carrying plants in 
flower into cool dark places, the flowers can be cut before they 
are fully open, and put in water in a Mushroom house or 
¢ellar, where they will keep quite fresh for two or three days. 
Any flowers gathered from the open air had better be cut 
with a sharp knife before they are fully open in the ‘cool of. 
the morming, and treated in a similar way. As to packing, our 
own plan is simple: We have square baskets of different sizes, 
with tin trays 4 inches deep resting one above another inside, 
the top one of each being a shallow one for Strawberries, 
divided into large and small compartments. There are, of 
course, duplicate keys here and in London. Shallow boxes 
from 3 to 4 inches deep are used for Camellias, which are 
tacked firmly to the bottom of the box; anda sprinkling of 
water completes the work. The tin trays are filled with the 
coarse flowers always in the bottom, and choice flowers are 
carelessly dropped in the vacancies between—we take care 
that each tray contains its full complement, so as to prevent 
violent vibration—anda layer of Maidenhair Fern covered with 
a sheet of silk paper concludes the packing, except a sort of 
rude baptism that is given as a reviver to keep the whole fresh 
on their nocturnal journey —W. Hinps (in Lhe Gardener). 
MARGAM PARK.—No. 2. 
THE SEAT OF C. R. M. TALBOT, ESQ. MP. 
HAVING on page 111 given a description of the general 
features of this fine place, we have now to add a few further 
details, treating more especially of its orangery, forcing house, 
and kitchen garden; and the first-named distinguishes it from 
all other places in Britain. It is not uncommon to see single 
Orange trees growing in conservatories, but at Margam we 
think the trees cannot number less than two hundred, which 
for size and variety are unequalled in any establishment in 
the kingdom. That the system on which the trees are grown 
isa sound one is evident by the success which has ensued. 
Many of them measure from 12 to 18 feet high, and from 12 
to 16 feet in diameter; they are in perfect health, and carry 
heavy crops of fruit yearly. The treatment is different from 
that we are accustomed to see in the public gardens of France, 
where they are clipped in the close formal shape of a cone, 
and seldom, if ever, bear fruit. Here they are allowed to 
fully develope themselves, and the result of this and the 
general treatment is a profuse supply of fruit and flowers at 
all seasons. 
The reason assigned for the existence of the orangery at 
Margam is this: The original trees of this collection, about a 
hundred in number, were sent from the King of Spain to Queen 
Hlizabeth as a present, and the ship conveying them being 
stranded on Margam shores became with its contents the pro- 
perty of the lord of the manor. The original trees, still at 
Margam, are about three hundred years old, and have been in 
the family all that time, so it is no wonder that they take 
lively interest in them and their welfare. Many trees have 
been added to the collection since the first importation, and 
the original trees continue to flower and fruit as freely as those 
much younger. No doubt the climate and situation were 
favourable for their culture, but loving care must also have 
been bestowed on them to attain such good results. The trees 
were formerly sheltered during the winter months im a large 
old barn, which had been used by the monks of the abbey of 
Margam for keeping their grain, till the present Mr. Talbot's 
father erected the large Orange house shown in the engraving 
(fig. 19) accompanying this notice. It is a handsome building 
in the Doric style of architecture, extending to 355 feet in 
length by 30 feet in width, and 24 feet in height. On the 
broad terrace in front, where a great portion of the trees are 
placed in summer, there is a large and beautiful central foun- 
tain, with smaller fountains at either end. 
Another and much larger portion of the Orange trees 
is arranged in a circle on a lawn adjoining, enclosed by 
thick arbours and stately trees of different kinds growing to 
a great height and affording fine shelter to them; while in 
the centre of the circle is a fountain with Water Lilies floating 
in its basin. Besides greatly adding to the beauty of the scene 
the fountains serve a useful purpose by keeping the air moist 
around them. The Orange trees are grown in square tubs about 
4feet wide and 3 feet deep, the compost being loam, leaf soil, de- 
cayed manure, and a little charcoal to keep it open. The tubs 
last from ten to twelve years. Once the tree is put in a tub it 
remains there as long as the tub lasts without receiving any 
fresh soil beyond that of top-dressing when it is required. 
The trees are well watered at all times and are never allowed 
to become dry at the root. They are watered two or three 
times a week with liquid manure from the pigstye during the 
growing season, which adds greatly to their vigour, freshness 
of foliage, and general productiveness. The singular sight 
is presented of seeing all stages of development of the fruit on 
the plant at the same time—ripening fruit, fruit just setting, 
and Orange blossom diffusing a pleasant aroma around. The 
fruit is preserved and used in different ways, as well as for 
