436 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 26, 1878. 
grown—not requiring a special structure nor a high tempera- 
ture. It is remarkable also for the long-lasting quality of the 
flowers, they, under favourable circumstances continuing fresh 
fora quarter of a year. Sucha combination of desirable qualities 
must render this plant very popular. and will create a desire 
on the part of many cultivators to obtain it. Other Orchids 
in beauty at the time of our visit were Lelia anceps and 
L. anceps alba, which has been recently certificated ; Odonto- 
glossum nebulosum, a remarkably fine variety ; O. vexillarium 
roseum, rosy lilac and very beautiful ; O. Rossii majus, O. ma- 
drense and O, Alexandre. Oncidiums were represented by O. 
Weltoni, a fine variety, and O. triumphans. Charming by its 
chaste pencillings and pure white margin was Cattleya maxima; 
and very rich were Masdevallia Harryana czrulea and Sophro- 
nites grandiflora. Cattleya Skinneri, Zygopetalum Mackayi 
majus, Pilumnea fragrans, the curious Bollea ccelestis, Cypri- 
pediums Sedeni. Harrisianum (a fine variety), insigne Maulei, 
and Vanda cerulea were all in excellent condition, and dozens 
of fine spikes of Calanthe Veitcbii and other varieties contri- 
buted greatly to the attractiveness of the house. 
But while the Orchids in flower are naturally the more im- 
mediately noteworthy, Orchids out of flower are imposing by 
their numbers. A large house is filled with Dendrobium nobile, 
and “over the way” several houses in the new nursery are 
occupied by recent importations of these growingly popular 
plants. New plants in considerable variety, some beautiful, 
some curious, command a share of attention, and particularly 
striking is a houseful of Draczena Goldieana. Crotons, Palms, 
and Ferns in almost all sizes contribute in an important 
manner to the general effect ; and in contrast are potfuls and 
boxfuls on the stages and under them—wherever space can 
“be provided—it may truthfully be said, scores of thousands 
of the valuable commercial plant the Liberian Coffee, which 
are grown to meet the great demand for exportation. Thus 
the nursery is interesting as well as attractive. 
Messrs. E. G. HENDERSON & Sons.—Unmistakeable signs 
of the near approach of Christmas were manifest on our visit 
to the Pine Apple Nursery. In the forecourt near the large 
conservatory Christmas trees were arranged—handsome Spruces 
ranging from 6 to 18 feet in height, the firm having a great 
demand for such trees. The interior of the large building is 
extremely attractive, very great improvements having been 
effected in the arrangement of the plants, and sound judg- 
ment having been exercised in selecting those that are best 
adapted for the adornment of such a fine structure as this is. 
The house, however, is not brilliant: indeed flowers play a 
small part in its embellishment, yet the effect is most pleasing 
from the free, natural, and picturesque manner in which the 
plants are arranged. Towering above all are two magnificent 
specimens of the Abyssinian Banana—Musa ensete. Although 
only planted two years ago, one of these plants is now 25 feet 
in height, the stem near the ground measuring nearly 6 feet in 
circumference, and the leaves, without the bare leafstalk, being 
13 feet long. These noble specimens have a most distin- 
guished effect. In fine contrast are handsome Tree Ferns, 
Fern-clad rocks, aquariums, stately Araucarias, Palms, Yuccas, 
and Agaves, relieved by such variegated-foliage plants as 
Euonymuses, Euryas, and variegated Ivies, and further 
brightened by flowers—Ericas, Primulas, Hyacinths, Cycla- 
mens, and other flowers incidental to the season; and the 
visitor cannot fail to admire a remarkable specimen of Aralia 
papyzifera, which is flowering freely. 
The other numerous and extensive glass structures are 
crowded with plants, many of them very rare, others beautiful, 
and allhealthy. Orchids are in large numbers, the beautiful Den- 
drobium Wardianum having made remarkable growths which 
are studded with flower buds. These plants will shortly be a 
fine feature in the nursery. One or two of them are already 
in flower, and the others will follow rapidly. The collection 
of cool Orchids merits notice. The fire heat was applied to the 
house from April to the third week in October, and no plants 
could look more healthy. Odontoglossums are throwing up 
their spikes with great freedom. The night temperature of 
the house is now 45°, and it is worthy of remark that such 
plants as Cymbidium Masteri and C. eburneum, also Indian 
Crocuses (Pleiones), are flourishing in the most satisfactory 
manner under this cool treatment. Several Orchids are in 
flower which we cannot enumerate, but one not frequently, 
seen is Gomeza recurvya. The plants growing in the shells of 
the Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa) have an unique effect. 
Amongst other flowers there are Tree Carnations in thousands 
—a wonderful collection ; double Primulas, for which the firm: 
is famed ; Bouvardias, which are largely grown; Jasminum 
grandiflorum, very useful for cutting ; and not less useful the 
White Azalea narcissiflora, which isextensively grown ; severak 
Amaryllises, including the charming A. O’Brieni delicata, pure 
white striped and spotted with delicate rose. It is the result 
of across between a variety of A. pardinum and Hippeastrum 
reticulatum, and is a decided acquisition. Many thousands of 
Amaryllises are grown, and the collection of Cape bulbs is 
very extensive. Sonerila Hendersoni var. is a charming dwarf 
plant for this season, with rosy lavender flowers; and very 
striking is Hemanthus albo-maculatus, with its pure flower 
heads and attractive foliage ; and especially so, but of a 
different order of beauty, is Tydza Robert le Diable, with its. 
large, numerous, scarlet and almost black flowers. 
These flowers—with a fine collection of Ferns, Anzectochi- 
luses, Crotons, and other fine-foliaged plants—render the 
nursery particularly interesting. Improvements are being, 
effected on an extensive scale, and the nursery is highly 
worthy of note and inspection. 
Mr. B. 8. WILLIAMS, HOLLOWAY.—Visitors cannot visit. 
this great northern metropolitan establishment at any time 
without finding much to admire. In the height of summer 
and the depth of winter flowers are always present, with 
plants remarkable for their high culture, rarity, and beauty. 
At this period of the year the most beautiful flowers are of 
course found in the Orchid houses, and there they are provided 
in plenty. Calanthes are represented by hundreds, C. Veitchii 
predominating, it being admittedly one of the most useful of 
plants for decoration at Christmastide. C. vestita in variety 
are also represented, also the distinct and much less common 
C. masuca, the flowers being first blue, changing with age 
to port-wine colour. Oncidium Forbesii, cheirophorum with 
twenty spikes, and yaricosum ; Sophronites grandiflora in 
tich masses ; Lelia autumnalis, Dendrobium bigibbum, D. for- 
mosum giganteum, which continues so long in beauty, and 
D. superbiens which continues still longer—the plant for 
which Mr. Williams had a first-class certificate having remained 
in beauty (the same flowers) for thirteen weeks ; Odontoglossum 
nevadense, very distinct ; Oncidium Weltoni, fine variety ; 
Dendrobium Johannis, various Cypripediums, and the ‘curious 
Masdevallia polysticta — upwards of fifty flowers—are some 
of the Orchids now flowering at Holloway. Advancing for 
flower are the striking Angraecum sesquipedale, Phalaenopsis 
Schilleriana, fine spikes, which probably produce fifty or sixty 
flowers, and P. amabilis. In the cool Orchid house Odonto- 
glossums are showing freely, the plants being in admirable 
condition ; and equally so are fine masses of Ccelogyne cristata. 
In fine contrast with the Orchids, and adjoining them, is the 
fine collection of Filmy Ferns, some of the more slender of the 
Trichomanes being grown on the old stems of Tree Ferns 
about a foot in length, each protected with a glass shade— 
chaste ornaments for rooms. 
In other houses we noticed a wonderful plant of Rondeletia. 
speciosa major, valuable for affording a supply of bright flowers 
for cutting ; Ipomea Horsfalliz, flowering in 48-sized pots ; new 
varieties of Azalea of the amcena type, which Mr. Williams is 
now sending out, and which will prove welcome acquisitions 
to those who obtain them, flowering as they do so early and so 
freely without much forcing, and giving colours bright and 
new. Camellias, of which there is a fine collection; a late 
white Chrysanthemum, flowers small and numerous, and just 
expanding, is proving useful for bouquets; Hricas mutabilis 
and Bowieana, and Dapline indica rubra are also attractive 
now. Brightness is provided by Solanums, the best of all of 
which is Empress, but this is not so plentiful as older 
varieties. 
Amongst ornamental-foliaged plants many fine Palms arrest 
attention, from the massive Verschaffeltia splendida to the 
slender Cocos Weddelliana. Kentias, too, are both elegant 
and rich in colour, and rank amongst the most useful for 
decorative purposes. Amongst Ferns Gleichenias are notice- 
able, and the soft refreshing green of Microlepia hirta cristata 
improves in beauty as it increasesin size. Plants with brighter 
foliage are provided in Crotons and Dracienas. Of the former 
Prince of Wales is quite one of the most beautiful, Williamsii 
is massive and rich, and Burtoni is striking by its deep orange- 
yellow markings and its rich contrasting green. Dracenas 
are equally fine—Frederici as an elegant table plant. also Mrs. 
Bause ; while more massive and rich in colouring are Bausei, 
Berkleyi, and some others of the Anerley seedlings. The 
nursery throughout is in admirable condition, and a visit to it 
and its genial owner is always enjoyable. 
