March 12, 1835. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
211 
them wii: be found the majority of those kinds that are grown ex¬ 
tensively in the London nurseries. Those marked with an asterisk 
are suitable for dinner-table decoration :—Areca Baueri, crinita, 
*Herbstii, *lutescens, *lutea, rubra, sapida, and Verschaffeltii; Brahea 
filamentosa, Chamsedorea *elegans and glaucophylla. The latter is 
very distinct and beautiful, and is particularly suitable for arranging 
among groups of plants, as the stems grow tall and straight, and are 
crowned with extremely graceful fronds. Chamserops excelsa and 
humilis, Cocos plumosa and Weddelliana, *Euterpe edulis, *Geonoma 
gracilis and ^intermedia. 
*Kentia australis, Belmoreana, *Fosteriana, and Canterburyana. 
These Kentias are in greater demand than almost any other Palms on 
account of their great beauty and enduring properties. K. Belmoreana 
and K. australis are the most graceful, K. Fosteriana has the boldest 
outline, and Canterburyana is the most compact in habit. Latania 
borbonica is also useful. 
Phoenix dactylifera, reclinata, and *rupicola. The latter is a 
splendid decorative Palm, especially when changing from the broad 
leaves of its young state to the evenly divided fronds which older 
plants produce. Its appearance is then unique. Rhapis flabelli- 
formis and humilis. Both of these are very lasting and distinct from 
most other Palms. *Seaforthia elegans, Thrinax elegans. The 
fronds of this Palm are fan-shaped, similar to Latania borbonica, 
but much more elegant ,• it makes a fine specimen plant.—H. Dunkin. 
THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL ON POTATOES. 
Potato-planting time will soon be here, and the question, “ What 
sorts are you going to grow ?” will be repeatedly asked, and advice will 
often be gratuitously given. Now, I venture to give a word of advice 
—simple, but I think valuable: “ Grow for the main crop that sort or 
those sorts that you have proved do well in your soil and situation.” It 
is marvellous the difference between a Potato from a garden that suits 
it and one from a garden that does not suit it. My garden is high, the soil 
is light loam on sand, and below is red sandstone rock. Almost all the 
Potatoes I have tried grow “ soapy ” ; in fact, I have only found one that 
is really “first-rate,” and that is Sutton’s Reading Abbey. This I have 
grown for some years, and it has been good every season, always a fair crop 
with very little disease, and it is always dry and of excellent flavour. I 
seat in 1883 a small quantity of seed tubers to a friend who has a farm in 
Shropshire, known as a good farm for Potatoes, and he sent me in ex¬ 
change some Reading Hero. On his land the Abbey was worthless, and 
on my land the Hero was the same, while the Hero with him is as good 
as the Abbey is with me. I could mention many other varieties that I 
have tried here and found worthless, but when sent me from other p'aces 
have proved good. I, therefore, keep to my Abbeys, and I advise your 
readers ti continue to grow those sorts that they have proved to do well 
with them. I consider the Reading Abbey to be one of the best 
Potatoes.—L. J. W. 
BRANTINGHAM THORPE. 
About nine miles from the busy seaport of Hull, and two miles from 
Brough station, is the charming country residence of Christopher Sykes, 
Esq., M.P. Situated on a hill with the Yorkshire wolds behind and 
magnificent scenery in front, very few mansions can surpass either the 
beauty or extent of the views of the surrounding country. 
The mansion (its walls now nearly covered with Ivy and Virginian 
Creeper) was built of stone in 1671, but many alterations and improve¬ 
ments have been carried out by the present proprietor. About nine years 
ago the flower garden was transferred from the back of the house to newly 
formed front terraces designed and tastefully laid out by Mr. Kingston. 
The beds are now filled with plants for spring blooming, to be succeeded 
by carpeting in the summer. From these terraces looking south a grand 
view is obtained of the mouth of the Humber with the Ouse and Trent 
uniting in the distance, the Lincolnshire hills beyond, and the towers of 
Lincoln Cathedral are visible on a clear day. The west presents a 
beautiful landscape, and far away may be seen York Minster. 
The park or foreground of this view contains many handsome trees. 
Conspicuous are the specimens of Wellingtonia gigantea planted by 
members of the Royal Family, the two first by their Royal Highnesses the 
Prince and Princess of Wales in 1869 on the occasion of their visit when 
opening the Albert Dock in Hull ; several times since his Royal High¬ 
ness has planted trees when accepting Mr. Sykes’ hospitality at this 
pleasant retreat for the purpose of attending the Doncaster races. The 
Crown Prince of Hanover planted a Wellingtonia to commemorate his 
visit to Brantingham Thorpe in 1877, and others have since been planted. 
The conservatory is an old-fashioned but substantial building in three 
divisions, each with a dome-shaped roof with stages in the centre, one 
shelf above another. On the lower shelves softwooded flowering plants 
are arranged with a number of Heaths above in the first division, Azaleas 
and Camellias in the next, and the other contains some healthy specimens 
of good old and rare hardwooded plants, together with a grand batch of 
Nothochlsenas and Cheilanthes, which have occupied this house for a 
number of years. 
Leaving the lawn surrounded with choice Conifer® we come to a 
border extending the full length of the kitchen garden wall devoted to 
herbaceous plants — a very interesting collection arranged in their 
respective families. Near this are some low span-roofed houses 
used for storing bedding plants, growing Cucumbers, choice named 
double Primulas, Euphorb : as, Eucbarises, Gardenias, BouvarJias, and 
other plants to produce blooms for bouquets and table decoration. In 
the Orchid house (a half span-roofed structure in three compartments) 
the stages are as near the glass as will conveniently allow a person to 
attend to the requirements of the plants. Cocoa-nut matting is laid on 
all the stages, and the result is most satisfactory. It is always kept 
moist and does not decay in this condition. Slugs will not crawl over the 
rough surface. The first part is full of Odontoglossum Alexandr®, 
Masdevallias, &c. Dendrobium Jamesianum is making strong growth on a 
shelf close to the glass in a temperature of 45°. The walls are covered 
with Ficus repens, and the Orchids have made vigorous growth in the 
moist atmosphere. The intermediate house is very gay with Calanthes. 
We noticed among others the following in bloom on the day of my visit, 
January 30th :—Calanthe vestita lutea with spikes 3^- feet in length; 
C. Veitchii (the best coloured form we have seen) with graceful spikes, 
some carrying forty blooms each ; Lycaste Skinneri, large and fine; 
Cypripedium insigne Maulei, thirteen blooms ; Cattleya Walkeriana, C. 
Trian®, C. Warscewczii delicata, Masdevallia ignea, M. tovarensis, M. 
Veitchi, Odontoglossum Alexandras, 0. gloriosum, O. pulchellum majus, 
0. Rossi majus, Oncidium Forbesi, Zygopetalum Mackayi. The spikes 
had been cut from a fine plant of Z. rostratum. Amongst there were 
arranged a number of dwarf Poinsettia pulcherrima with bracts measuring 
18 inches across. There are also some large specimen Orchids ; 
Arpophyllum giganteum 3 feet through, Epidendrum fragrans, Ccelogyne 
cristata, L®lia superbiens, a choice selection of Cattleyas, &c. ; and grow¬ 
ing freely in this house we noticed a number of Odontoglossum 
Phalaenopsis, 0. Roezlii, O. vexillarium and its varieties Cobbianum and 
rubellum, also a fine piece of Acineta sulcata, which has flowered there. 
The East Indianhouse containssome good Aerides,Saccolabiums,Vandas, 
Sea., mostly grown in pots ; Dendrobium Dalbousianum with growths 
5 feet high, and last season it had twelve spikes of its showy flowers ; D. 
moschatum with thirty growths ; D. Wardianum Lowii showing well for 
bloom ; the pretty delicate white D. album in bloom ; and Phaius grandi- 
folius, making a number of enormous spikes. Adiantum farleyense and 
many choice Ferns are represented ; Ouvirandra fenestralis is making a 
good specimen in a large wooden vessel ; Pinches’ Acme Labels are used 
for the Orchids ; they are very neat and imperishable. Credit is due to 
Mr. Arthur Greaves, who bad been foreman three years, and having 
served previously under Mr. Swan at Fallowfield it is not likely that a 
man with such love for his work will be long seeking another appoint¬ 
ment. The Orchids in bloom on March 3rd were Coelogynes cristata and 
ocellata, Cypripediums insigne, venustum, and ciliolare, Cattleyas Trian®, 
Percivalliana, and Warscewiczii, Cymbidium eburneum, Dendrobiums 
nobile, Pierardii, crassinode, Barberianum, and Wardianum, Masdevallia 
tovarensis, Odontoglossums Alexandr®, pulchellum major, Madrense, and 
Rossi major, Oncidium Forbesii, Phal®nopses grandiflora and Schilleri- 
aaa, Zygopetalum Mackayi, and Phaius grandiflorus. 
The long range of vineries, Peach, Fig, and Rose houses, all bear testi¬ 
mony of judicious management. The latest vinery was full of Chrysan¬ 
themums in bloom with clean bright foliage, the varieties being chiefly 
Princess Teck and William Howe. Everything about the garden is neat 
and in order. Much more might be said of this garden, but I had only 
time to notice a few of the leading features. My thanks are due to Mr. 
Kingston for conducting me round and his usual kindness. He has faith¬ 
fully held his present situation for the last forty-three years, and he 
is ever anxious to assist his younger brethren and to give instruction 
and advice to those under him.—G. W. Cummins, Hackbridge. 
Ax a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, held 
March 10th at South Kensington, Dr. M. T. Masters, F.R.S., in the chair, 
the following candidates were elected Fellows of the Society :—Samuel 
Deards, William Glover, Alfred Harley, Rev. G, B. Haydon, Enoch 
Harvey, William B. Head, James Flood, Robert B. Lemon, Ernest 
Mathan, E. J. Painter, J. Potts, T. W. Rudston Read, D.L., Charles F. 
Shaw, Henry Smith, Mrs. Frederick Tautz, Charles Temple, William 
Vanner, and Alfred Williams. 
- The quinquennial Exhibition of Bulbs at Haarlem to cele¬ 
brate the fourth centenary of the General Society of Bulb Culture will be 
held on the 20th to the 24th inst. in the largest hall at Haarlem. Large 
exhibitions have previously been held in 1875 and 1880, but this will 
surpass all those held before, and if it realises the expectations of its pro¬ 
moters it will be the best show of flowering bulbs and tuberous-rooted 
plants ever held. The schedule has 140 classes, for which 381 medals are 
offered (gold, gilt, silver, and bronze, some of them with an addition of 
money value). The aggregate value of the prizes is upwards of £500. 
