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JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ November 7, 1372. 



green hedge had before prevented my seeing, and there I was 

 glad to find that the usual massing flowers were not the only 

 subjects grown, for occupying conspicuous places amongst 

 them were two specimens of Pampas Grass, I think the finest 

 I ever saw. I estimated that more than ISO spikes of bloom 

 would grace each of them, and I hardly expected to see them 

 in so forward a condition in the first week of September as 

 they then were, showing the neighbourhood is early as well as 

 productive. The geometric beds formed an agreeable whole ; 

 there was an ample space of grass between them, and their 

 occupants were the best varieties of the different flowers em- 

 ployed. A handsome conservatory near this garden was also 

 well stocked with permanent plants, and would most likely be 

 still more gay at a time when out-door plants were less tempt- 

 ing. Separated from the flower garden just referred to, was 

 another large flower garden, also geometrical and on grass, 

 facing the principal front of the mansion. Each bed was well 

 filled with the most popular bedding plants, and the whole 

 •was in excellent keeping. 



The accompanying view in the pleasure grounds, as well as 

 that of the mansion, at page 847, are from photographs by 

 Mr. F. C. Earl, 46, Broad Street, Worcester. 



At Stoneleigh the kitchen garden is several acres in extent, 

 and is enclosed with suitable walls well covered ; against 

 them I noticed some good Pears, and, I think, also Plums, 

 but most of the latter had been gathered. Peaches, as at 

 every other place that I have heard from, were scarce on 

 the open walls, but under glass they were and had been 

 abundant. Most vegetables seemed to thrive in it, and especi- 

 ally Asparagus, Celery, Lettuce, and Potatoes. 



In the vineries were some good Grapes in various stages. 

 The latest Grapes were just ripening, the others had been all 

 ■cut, and abundance were awaiting their turn. Pigs, which in 

 comparatively few places can be depended on without the aid 

 of glass, were here afforded that protection, the earliest crop 

 being produced on pot trees. Melons and Cucumbers there 

 were, of course, in abundance. 



On the walls some very good Morello Cherries still re- 

 mained, and, as before observed, good crops of Pears, but 

 Apricots had been scarce. I did not need to inquire about the 

 well-doing of Strawberries, for the huge plants, almost attain- 

 ing the size of bushes, indicated that the adversities of the 

 season and not they would be the cause of a failure if there 

 happened to be one. Apples on trained trees were quite as 

 plentiful as in the majority of places, and the appearance of 

 the trees was all that could be desired. Currants and Goose- 

 berries, I learned, had not been so good as in former years, 

 owing to the severe frosts in April and May. Everything 

 looked well in the garden, and reflected great credit on Mr. 

 El worthy, who has the management of it, and notwithstand- 

 ing the rain which so encourages weeds, every place was clean 

 and tidy ; the crops, the walks, and the edgings being alike 

 faultless. — J. Bobson. 



VIENNA EXHIBITION. 

 A meeting was held at South Kensington yesterday, at which 

 His Serene Highness the Duke of Teck presided, to consider 

 what steps should be taken to secure a worthy representation 

 of British horticulture at the approaching Great International 

 Exhibition at Vienna. It was decided, as a preliminary course, 

 that the leading nurserymen and amateurs should be invited 

 to a meeting to be held on Wednesday next, at South Ken- 

 sington, at two o'clock, to discuss this subject, and to promote, 

 if possible, the desired object. Dr. Hogg was appointed to 

 preside on the occasion, and to report to an adjourned meeting 

 to be held early in December. 



CALLS AT THE NURSEEIES. 

 Ma. Williams's, Victokia Nckseby, Holloway. — The large 

 conservatory, as heretofore, has for its leading features mag- 

 nificent Tree Ferns, Palms, and Cycads, together with rich 

 and valuable collections of Yuccas, Beaucarneas, Agaves, and 

 Dasylirions, many of which are of great rarity. It may be 

 noted that the stems of the two large Dieksonias which stand 

 one on each side of the central walk measure 10 feet in height 

 from the tub to the branching of the head, and 4 feet in cir- 

 cumference; while Cyathea Cunninghami is 11 feet high from 

 the pot's surface, and C. Smithii 8| feet. Four noble plants 

 of Dracama indivisa, which had grown too tall for the house, 

 are in course of preparation for being lowered, pots filled with 

 soil having been placed round the upper part of the stem, with 



the view of taking off the tops when fairly rooted. Among 

 the Cycads may be noted remarkably fine specimens of Ence- 

 phalartos caffra, horrida, and latifrons ; the last, in particular, 

 is supposed to be the largest in Europe. Among the Dasyli- 

 rions, longifolium, with graceful drooping leaves, would be a 

 handsome plant for a vase, and D. plumosum is aaiother 

 elegant species. 



Passing next into a Palm and Fern house, we find there 

 noble examples of Cibotium princeps, Cyathea dealbata, the 

 scarce C. MacArthuri, and large stems of Dicksoniaantarctica, 

 fresh imported, and which have not yet broken. Among Palms 

 we find large specimens of Latania borbonica, Areca rubra, and 

 two magnificent plants of Phcenicophorium sechellarum, one 

 of them with leaves as large as we ever remember seeing on- 

 this, certainly one of the grandest of tropical Palms, and which, 

 with the nearly-resembling Verschaffeltia splendida, is not 

 exceeded in majesty of port by any of its order. In another 

 division are large plants of Adiantum farleyense in the finest 

 possible condition, and which cedes to no member of the genus 

 in beauty, beautiful as the others are. Among flowering plants 

 we noted the pure white Eucharis amazonica in great beauty, 

 and Euphorbia splendens, one of the most useful of winter- 

 flowering stove plants. In a stove fernery adjoining, besides 

 specimens of Platycerium grande, Gleichenia flabellata, and 

 hosts of others, there are several new varieties of crested 

 Pterises of the serrulata tribe ; while in the New Holland 

 house, in addition to the hybrid Solanums, which as berry- 

 bearing plants have firmly established themselves as favourites 

 for winter decoration, there are Bouvardia jaaminiflora, white, 

 and Hogarth, red, various winter and spring-flowering Heaths, 

 and Cyclamens just coming in. 



Orchids, with which Mr. Williams's name is inseparably 

 associated, comprise nearly every known species of beauty, but 

 the number in flower at present is not large. Foremost must 

 be mentioned the new Mesospinidium vulcanieum, with charm- 

 ing purplish rose-coloured flowers, Sophronites grandiflora, 

 which for brilliancy of colour is not excelled among Orchids ; 

 whilst of others we noticed Maxillaria venusta, Dendrobium 

 nodosum, Odontoglossum nievium, Calanthe Masuca, Vandas, 

 especially the lovely pale blue csrulea; Pleione Wallichi, 

 lagenaria, and rnaeulata, and Miltonia Clowesii. 



A stove chiefly devoted to fine-foliaged plants contains a 

 great variety of Crotons, including not only finely-coloured speci- 

 mens of C. pictum, variegatum, and angustif olium , butVeitchii, 

 interruptum, and indeed most of the new kinds. In the way of 

 flowering plants there are Ixora javanica in full bloom, and other 

 species of the same genus ; and, reverting to foliage, Draeamas 

 of all the older kinds, together with Guilfoylei, regiuffl, and 

 other handsome novelties. Livistonia rotundifolia and Calamus 

 ciliaris are noticeable as two handsome Palms, and there are 

 many more elegant members of the same great order. Of 

 Pitcher-plants, too, Mr. Williams has here a remarkably fine 

 collection, for both to them and the equally curious North 

 American Sarraeenias he pays particular attention. Marantas, 

 Cyanophyllums, Sphasrogynes, and the Ouvirandra fenestralis 

 we pass over, merely remarking that they are such as do credit 

 to the high reputation of the Victoria Nursery for plant - 

 growing. 



In other houses there are fine stocks of Heaths, Aphelexes, 

 Pimeleas, half-standard and pyramid, Azaleas, and Camellias 

 in great abundance, from large bushes down to small plants, 

 all in the healthiest possible condition, and profusely set with 

 buds. Changing again to denizens of warmer climates, we 

 have Dipladenias, the new Ixoras figured at page 213, 

 Gardenias, Clerodendrons, and Allamandas, some in flower, 

 some not ; and lastly, in the Pine stove one of the best lots of 

 Piues to be met with at any nursery we know. 



Messhs. Cutbush's, Highgate.— The name of this firm is so 

 bound up with their splendid exhibitions of Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 and other spring-flowering bulbs, that when people go to High- 

 gate in the spring months they seldom go further than the 

 house in which those grand spikes of Hyacinths and the multi- 

 tudes of gay-coloured Tulips offer a striking contrast to the 

 usually dreary aspect of out-door vegetation at the season they 

 are in the height of their beauty. There are, notwithstanding, 

 things to be seen then, as there are now, worthy of note out- 

 doors as well as in-doors. The latter, however, we shall just 

 glance at on our way to view the former. Among the contents 

 of the show and other houses may be mentioned excellent 

 stocks of Cytisus racemosus and Attleeana, the latter extremely 

 useful for early spring flowering ; winter-blooming Heaths, as 

 E. caffra, hyemalis, and persoluta; Epacrises, Azaleas, Gar- 



