October 20, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



307 



five thick, waxy-looking, sweet-scented flowers, each measuring 

 upwards of 7 inches in diameter ; sepals and petals broad at the 

 base, tapering to a long narrow point ; lip ovate, acuminate, 

 and, as well as the Bepals and petals, ivory white, tinged with 

 green. The long spur of the lip, so characteristic of this genus, 

 is developed to an extraordinary degree in this plant, reaching 

 14 and even 18 inches in length, and this has given rise to the 

 specific name. It blooms during midwinter and lasts a very 

 long time in perfection. It bloomed for the first time in Europe 

 in the year 1857. Native of Madagascar. 



A. eburneom- — This is also a native of Madagascar, and 

 being a plant of noble growth is a grand ornament in a col- 

 lection, even when not in flower. It is erect in habit, and an 

 abundant bloomer during winter. The leaves are thick and 

 fleshy, from 12 to 18 inches in length, and about 2 or more 

 inches broad, light green, slightly dusted with a while powder. 

 The long spike is erect, bearing large ivory white flowers, the 

 lip of which is furnished with a long spur. The bloom3 are of 

 great substance, and remain a very long time in perfection. 



A. vikens. — By some authorities this is considered a variety 

 of the preceding ; however, be it a variety or species, it is very 

 ornamental and distinct. The habit of growth is similar to 

 A. eburneum, but the leaves are soarcely so long, and very deep 

 green. The flowers, though large, are smaller than those of the 

 previously named plant, and are produced during the winter 

 months. Native of Madagascar. 



A. biloedm. — A somewhat small-growing plant, but very ele- 

 gant and distinct, and well deserving more general cultivation 

 than has hitherto been accorded it. The leaves are arranged in 

 a distichous manner, and are thick, dark green, obtuse at the 

 apex. The spikeB are pendulous, bearing white flowers, and the 

 lip, as in all thi3 genus, has a long spur or tail ; they are pro- 

 duced during the autumn months, and with a few small fronds of 

 Adiantum intermixed, they form chaste and elegant wreaths for 

 adorning ladies' hair, and the individual flowers are charming 

 adjuncts to a bouquet. A. bilobum is a rather delicate-rooting 

 plant, or what is often called " miffy," and I have found it 

 succeed best when planted in pieces of charcoal and of broken 

 pots only, with just a slight covering of sphagnum moss. It is 

 a native of the west coast of Africa. 



A. pelluciduh. — This is the last species of the genus which 

 I shall introduce here as a winter bloomer. There are, however, 

 one or two others which bloom during this season, and are ex- 

 tremely beautiful, but being of recent introduction and still very 

 rare in cultivation, I have had no experience with them, and 

 cannot, therefore, speak of them practically. The present 

 plant resembles Phalrenopsis grandiflora very much in growth, 

 but the leaves are thinner in texture, from 12 to 18 inches long, 

 and broadest at the apex. The spikes are slender and pen- 

 dulous, bearing small white pellucid flowers, produced in great 

 abundance, but even without these it is very ornamental. 

 Native of Sierra Leone. 



BAEKERIA. 



A genus of small-growing plants with elegant, and in some 

 instances bright-coloured flowers. This, combined with the 

 fact of their thriving under very cool treatment, should render 

 them general f ivourites with all growers of orchidaceous plants. 

 Barkerias succeed admirably upon blocks of wood, and require 

 only a very small quantity of moss to fix them, but they enjoy 

 an abundant supply of moisture, both in the atmosphere and 

 about their roots. In winter the temperature may fall as low 

 as 40°, or even lower, without producing injury, and in summer 

 as cool and shady a place as possible should be assigned them. 

 During the period of rest they lose most of th<ir leaves, and at 

 this time less water is necessary ; but I am not an advocate for 

 drying them much at any season. 



B. Skinneri. — This and its variety superha are, perhaps, the 

 brightest and most lovely of their race. The stem-like pseudo- 

 bulbs are about 12 inches in length, bearing narrow dark green 

 leaves. The racemes of bloom are produced from the apex, and 

 are erect, and from 1 foot to li foot in length. The flowers are 

 numerous ; sepals and petals bright rose ; lip a richer shade of 

 the same colour, faintly streaked at the base with yellow. It 

 blooms during midwinter, continuing in full beauty for two 

 months with ordinary care. Native of Guatemala, at consider- 

 able elevations. 



B. Lindleyana is not, strictly speaking, a winter-flowering 

 plant, but as blooms are produced during the months of October 

 and November, at which season flowers are very acceptable, it 

 deserves more attention than is usually accorded it. In growth 

 this plant somewhat resembles B. Skiuneri, but is scarcely so 

 robust, and it should be treated to a temperature a few degrees 



higher than is necessary for that species. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in long terminal racemes, which remain a long time in 

 perfection ; sepals and petals rich purple ; lip white in the 

 centre, bordered with purple. Native of Central America. — 

 Experto Crede. 



NEW BOOK. 



Choice Stove and Greenhouse Ornamental-leaved Plants. By 



B. S. Williams, F.R.H.S., &c, Victoria Nurseries, Holloway, 



Vol. II. 



The first volume is confined to the flowering plants of the 

 stove and greenhouse, and this is a worthy continuation of the 

 work. The best service we can do it is to publish an extraot 

 that our readers may appreciate its contents. 

 ALOE. 



A genus of succulent plants, admirably adapted for the greenhouse 

 or for window gardening, containing many species of great beauty, 

 and belonging to the order Liliacere. The larger-growing species with 

 scarlet tubular flowers are the most showy, and there is a quaintness 

 about the general habit of some of them which strongly recommends 

 them to the cultivator. The smaller groups separated from Aloe, such 

 as Apicra and Haworthia, contain many little vegetable gems, while 

 another group, Gasteria, contains larger, more grotesque, and in some 

 cases handsome-flowered species. They all require to be potted in 

 well- drained soil, which should be mainly of a loamy texture. 



A. abyssinica. — A majestic-looking plant, the leaves of which are 

 very thick and fleshy, some 2 feet in length, and 6 inches in width at 

 the base, tapering to an obtuse point, and there slightly ineurved, dull 

 green, and clothed at the edges with somewhat distant blunt spines. 

 Native of Abyssinia, about Magdala and other places. 



A. arborescens. — This is a very distinct and handsome species. 

 Stem tall ; the leaves are slightly spreading, lanceolate, recurved at 

 the apex, and glaucous, margined with green. A very desirable plant. 

 Native of the Cape of Good Hope. 



A. plicatilis. — A very distinct and ornamental plant. Its leaves are 

 thick and fleshy, tongue-shaped, aud obtuse at the apex, glaucous 

 green in colour, and arranged in a distichous manner, which has given 

 rise to the popular name of " Fan Aloe." It is called by some Rhipi- 

 dodendron plicatilis. Native of South Africa. 



A. soccotrina. — This is an elegant branching species. The leaves 

 are somewhat erect, narrow, lanceolate, and glaucous green in colour, 

 sparingly clothed with white spines. It is a native of Arabia and Cape 

 of Good Hope. 



A., variegata. — Leaves imbricate, somewhat spreading, and arranged 

 in three rows, ovate in shape, and keeled at the back, in colour bright 

 green, with transverse hands and streaks of grey and glaucous green. 

 It is often called the Partridge-breasted Aloe. Native of the Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



POMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS. 



Standish's Mirquis op Downshire Peach is decidedly one 

 of the finest Peaches I have ever fruited as regards size, colour, 

 flavour, and habit. The fruit has been tasted by several per- 

 sons in my neighbourhood, all of whom will bear testimony 

 to its excellence. — Observer. 



ALTON TOWERS.— No. 2. 



The Seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, 

 Alton, Staffordshire. 



At the head of the lake, a short distance from the Gothic 

 temple, stands a long, square-shaped, glass structure with a 

 span roof. This was formerly an orangery, hut is now divided 

 into three compartments, those at each end containing Peach 

 and Nectarine trees trained-up under the roof on curved 

 trellises, and the central compartment is a Fig house. The 

 Fig trees were a fine healthy collection of bush-shaped trees, 

 bearing a heavy second crop of fruit, and I was told that the 

 first crop had been equally fine. The Peach and Nectarine 

 trees were in excellent condition ; the whole of them had a full 

 crop of very fine fruit, and the wood, growth, and foliage were 

 all that could be desired. Elegant columns of stone between 

 the front sashes of this building impart to it an air of dignity 

 and importance well suited to the commanding position which 

 it occupies. The sides of these columns within the house 

 were covered each with a flourishing plant of some choice Tea 

 Rose, growing in a square wooden box neatly faced with Fir 

 bark, and placed on the floor close to the base of each column. 



Returning now, we descend the left side of the valley, and 

 pass the grand terrace, the golden gates, and the bath garden 

 — a small flower garden with a pretty fountain, whence a pic- 

 turesque view offers itself of the alcove with its graceful statu- 



