April 80, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
849 
the south and west ; and though probably during the summerthe sun 
heat is at times rather fierce, yet when suitably tempered by blinds it 
produces surprising results, especially as regards the Cattleyas, which 
are so important a feature in Mr. Lee’s valuable collection. It is 
somewhat similar at Southport, where Mr. Percival has attained so 
large a degree of success. Dr. Paterson’s Orchids have an equally 
free exposure, though they have not such an elevated position, and 
there again the growths are vigorous, but solid, and scores of other 
instances could be named to prove this point if proof were needed. 
Beyond the matter of exposure to sun, for all but the “ cool house ” 
Orchids, position as regards elevation seems to have little effect in the 
cultivation of these plants. 
At Downside about twelve well-built houses are devoted to Orchids, 
and some of the structures, especially that containing Cattleyas, being 
exceptionally handsome and spacious. Others, too, are in progress, 
and will enable Mr. Lee to still farther extend his already wonderful 
collection. A large number of genera and species are repiesented, 
but particular attention has been given to obtaining the best varieties 
of certain genera, and on the attainment of this object no efforts or 
expense have been spared. Thus of Lycastes, Dendrobiums, 
Cattleyas, Odontoglossums, and Masdevallias numerous beautiful 
forms have been secured, some of which cannot be seen elsewhere, 
and in many cases they are worth more in guineas than the typical 
species would realise in pounds. Lycaste Skinned and its varieties 
occupy the greater part of a span-roof house, and amongst them are 
some exceeding^ beautiful forms, which early in April were flowering 
freely, varying from the darkest rose or crimson to the pure white and 
valuable alba. One distinct and favourite group of varieties is dis¬ 
tinguished by a white lip contrasted with richly coloured sepals and 
petals, ranging, however, from the darkest rose to pale pink or the 
faintest blush, as in the variety appropriately named delicatissima. 
It would be quite unnecessary to give names to every variety, for they 
have become so numerous that it would be confusing, and every batch 
of imported plants would add many to them each as worthy of dis¬ 
tinctive titles as those previously honoured ; this has consequently 
been discontinued in the majority of collections. There can, however, 
be no question about the usefulness of these Lycastes. Their flowers 
are.of such substance that they last for a surprising time either in the 
ordinary house or in a room ; moreover, they are of easy culture. But 
perhaps some err in giving them too cool treatment whilst growing, 
and this mistake Mr. Woolford avoids by giving them a temperature 
5° to 10° warmer than the Odoutoglossum house, and as the house is 
nearly devoted to them, as already remarked, this can be readily done. 
That the treatment suits the plants cannot be doubted, for they are all 
healthy and strong ; the flowers have been numerous, and their size 
m uch above the average. Associated with the Lycastes are the follow¬ 
ing, all of which seem to thrive under the same treatment. The charm¬ 
ing little Odontoglossum Oerstedtii, and its much superior variety 
majus ; Cymbidium Lowianum and sinense atropurpureum ; several 
Zygopetalums ; Oncidium ornithorhynchum, and its companion 0. 
cheirophorum ; Trichosma suavis ; Pilumnas, the distinct purple- 
flowered Odontoglossum Edwardi, 0. Krameri, Cypripedium Schlimii 
album, and Dendrobium Falconeri, which is grown there all the year 
round with most satisfactory results both in growth and flowers. 
dendrobium; house. 
The Dendrobiums are great favourites with many orchidists, and 
they evidently rank high in Mr. Lee’s opinion, for a better collection 
could not be seen, and very rarely is such a handsome display pro¬ 
vided as that which has rendered the Dendrobe house at Downside so 
gay for a long time past. These plants when well grown are remark¬ 
ably handsome, with their long pseudo-bulbs, wreaths of flowers ; 
and though they cannot equal the Cattleyas in gorgeousness they 
possess a beauty that few other genera of Orchids surpass. Even the 
old and well-known Dendrobium nobile possesses charms of no mean 
order, and such a specimen as that recently shown at Kensington by 
Mr. Prinsep would be amply sufficient to prove its claims to 
the general attention of plant lovers. This species is also well grown 
at Downside, and is represented by a number of the best varieties 
obtainable, several being extremely distinct. One named D. nobile 
album has a pure white lip without any blotch ; D. n. elegans has a 
large pointed lip tipped with purple ; D. n. grandiflorum has wonder¬ 
fully large flowers of a rich purple colour ; and several others are 
notable for their dark-coloured flowers. Far away superior, however, 
even to the best of these, is the charming D. nobile nobilius, the 
sight of which has sent many an Orchid lover into ecstasies, and it 
is not surprising that it has become so great a favourite. Two good 
plants are grown at Downside, one having four pseudo-bulbs and the 
other two, the latter bearing eight and five flowers respectively, large, 
beautifully formed, and of the richest purple or violet-tinged crimson, 
extending from the tip to the base of the sepals, the lip having an 
intensely rich blotch, and owing to the position of the flower the lip 
is directed forward so that the blotch is very prominently noticeable. 
In the woodcut (fig. 62), the character of the flower is fairly shown, 
but wood engraving cannot do full justice to such a grandly coloured 
varietj 7 . D. Wardianum is remarkably well grown, and numerous 
plants have been producing a grand effect, many of the stout pseudo¬ 
bulbs bearing two or three dozen flowers measuring 4 inches in 
diameter, and richly coloured, but varying in depth of tint to the 
white album. D. Ainsworthii, and its near relatives D. splendidis- 
simum and D. Leechianum are deserving favourites. D. thyrsiflorum, 
the remarkably fringed D. Harveyanum, and the peculiar little 
D. Kingianum, are also a few amongst other species similarly well 
treated. 
Phalasnopses are numerous, all the best of the species and varieties 
being included in the collection, while with them at the time of my 
visit were about two dozen strong young plants of the lovely 
Angrsecum citratum, flowering most freely. In an adjoining East 
Indian house Dendrochilum glumaceum, Cattleya amethystoglossa, 
Brassavola glauca, and several species of Epidendrum were the leading 
features. Several other houses of more or less interest, and all con¬ 
taining well-grown plants, are passed through until we reach the 
handsome 
CATTLEYA HOUSE. 
This is probably the finest house of the kind in any amateur’s 
garden, and is second only in size to the Veitchian Cattleya house at 
Chelsea. It is 100 feet in length and 21 feet wide, with a centre and 
two side stages, which are filled with vigorous specimens, many of 
considerable size, and including some grand and valuable varieties. 
The flowering plants were arranged chiefly along one side of the 
house and in the centre, over 600 flowers being expanded, principally 
of C. Trianae. The effect produced by such a mass of flowers under 
Pig. 63. —Mr. Woolford’s Orchid Pan. 
a bright sun is indescribable, the colours ranging from the intensest 
crimson of the magnificent C. Trianae Leeana, which has flowers 
8 inches in diameter, to the delicate rosea section and the white alba. 
The intermediate shades are innumerable, but together they served to 
produce an exhibition of surprising beauty. Many other species are 
grown in proportionate numbers, and all the later-flowering forms 
were showing sheaths abundantly. One little appliance employed in 
this house deserves special notice—namely, a combination saucer and 
pot support, of whieh an illustration is given in fig. 63. This has 
been in use at Downside for a long time, and has been found very 
serviceable besides being neat and inexpensive. It was prepared 
from a design by Mr. Woolford, and, as can be seen, effectually pre¬ 
vents slugs attacking the plants so long as the saucer is filled with 
water. It also ensures a constant humidity beneath the foliage, and 
is far more satisfactory than the inverted pot usually employed in a 
similar way. 
Some farther notes respecting this establishment must be deferred, 
but it may be added that no lover of Orchids should lose an oppor¬ 
tunity of visiting Mr. Lee’s famous collection during this and the 
following months.—L. Castle. 
PATRIARCHAL TEWS. 
Passing by the old churchyard of Mallwyd in Montgomeryshire, just 
on the borders of Merionethshire, I was forcibly struck by the appearance 
of four magnificent Yews, ore much larger than the rest. It is said they 
were all planted at the same time, hut as no very authentic information 
could be gathered on the spot this must not be considered as a matter of 
fact. Certain is it that the smallest specimen appeared to be a distinct form 
from the rest, the leaves of a light green, branchlets denser, and in my 
opinion it would develope much slower than the rest. Standing by the 
largest patriarch one may be excused for expressions of enthusiastic wonder; 
questions crowd upon the mind as to its age, by whom planted, whether 
before or after the sacred edifice was constructed. To me as a gardener, 
the names of Anderson and Weir were familiar ; both former gardeners to 
Sir E. Buckley, The Plas, Dinas Mawddwy. I learnt concerning Mr. 
Weir that he never went to church without visiting this Yew. However, 
we may measure the original bole of this noble Yew very near the ground, 
as the branches originate from near the base, and find it ha3 a circum- 
