144 ROYAL GARDENS 



batches of the useful Pandanus Veitchii, Panax Victorias, 

 Acalypha Sanderi, Aralia Veitchii and the indispensable 

 Fittonias. The second stove is devoted mainly to Anthu- 

 riums in variety and Pancratiums, both of which are in 

 much demand for cut flowers. The side stages are filled 

 during the growing season with a collection of Calanthes, 

 whose places are taken in winter by Plumbago rosea, 

 Poinsettia pulcherrima, Coleus Thyrsoideus, Gesneras, &c. 

 An interesting specimen of Dendrobium moschatum (in an 

 1 8-inch pot, and measuring 6 feet high and 9 through) well 

 fills up one end of the central stage. Creepers are trained 

 overhead on narrow trellises, and comprise plants of AUa- 

 mandas, Aristolochia gigas, Clerodendrons, Ipomasa Hors- 

 fallias, Passiflora princeps, Rondeletia speciosa, Conbretum 

 racemosum and Stephanotis, the gable ends being covered 

 with Begonia President Carnot, and Plumbago rosea. 



The next range consists of three Orchid-houses : an East 

 Indian, Cattleya and Intermediate house. There are also 

 two Odontoglossum-houses, and one for Cslogyne Cristata 

 with its varieties, and Cypripedium insigne. All are grown 

 for decorative and cut-flower purposes, and include such 

 useful subjects as Cattleya labiata, C. Gaskelliana, C. Trianae, 

 Cymbidium Tracyanum, C. Lowianum, Cypripedium can- 

 didum, C, Cardinale, C. Leeanum superbum, C. insigne 

 Harefield Hall, C. insigne Sanders, C, niteus superbum, 

 Miltonia vexillaria, many useful Oncidiums, Dendrobium 

 Phalsnopsis, the lovely Vanda coerulea, Laslia anceps, L. a. 

 Stella, Masdevalha Harryana, M. ignea, the beautiful Odonto- 

 glossum Crispum, O. Pescatorei, and O. pulchellum. 



Next comes the Begonia range of three houses, which 

 for all the winter months are exclusively filled with Begonia 

 de Lorraine. Doors are removed from the centre houses, 

 and doorways hung as well as roof arched with Begonias 

 in cork baskets, and the edge of the stages being draped 

 with trailing plants of the same, the whole appears a verit- 

 able fairy bower of exquisite pink. The effect is heightened, 

 too, by an arrangement of mirrors at the far end, which 



