468 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ June 4, 1885. 
supporters, and who, having committed themselves to the assertion 
that the practice of pruning must be and is bad under any and all cir¬ 
cumstances, now stand convicted of complete ignorance of certain phases 
of the culture of those subjects which they profess to, and should, 
know more about than most other people ; and it is notorious that one of 
them at least has advocated more practices than he has ever proved 
himself either at home or abroad. In conclusion, I may add that, accord¬ 
ing to my experience, in addition to D. nobile and D. Wardianum, the 
following species may be pruned without injury—viz., Coelogyne cristata, 
of the whole of the old bulbs not bearing leaves; Dendrobium chrysotoxum, 
of all leafless bulbs not likely to flower again; D. thyrsiflorum, ditto. 
Odontoglossums of all back leafless bulbs not likely to produce back 
breaks ; and ditto, Cattleyas and Laslias. When I speak of back bulbs 
I mean those that are usually left on for years but have become spent.— 
J. Simpson, Wortley. 
THE PLAS, DINAS MAWDDWY. 
This charming garden belongs to Sir Edmund Buckley, Bart., who in 
his day has been a pre-eminent planter of trees, and consequently a great 
benefactor to mankind. It is most delightfully situated, for standing 
by the gate opening to the carriage drive the surroundings are truly 
majestic. Facing the gate on the left hand is Moel Dinas, carpeted with 
a bright green mossy sward, and clad with Larch, Spruce, and some 
Austrian Firs to the very summit; in front is Moel Benddu, partially 
afforested ; on the right the Bwlch, and behind stupendous Moel Mallwyd, 
all belonging to the metamorphic series of rocks, composed in the main 
of slate beds, some of which are profitably quarried. Moel Dinas affords 
an excellent example of what may be done by judicious tree-planting ; for 
miles it is quite covered with luxuriant growth ; Larch is mainly used, 
but a large number of Scotch and Aus'rian Pine3 are well employed. 
The trees stand in great need of judicious thinning, as they are getting 
far too thick ; and the sooner this is done the better will the chances be 
for a very profitable return in the future. “ Plant a tree, Jock, for it will 
be growin’ while ye’re sleepin’” is an excellent axiom, but subsequent 
treatment afterwards determine to a great extent the ultimate result, 
especially in forestry. 
Through the kindness of Mr. James Laurie, the excellent gardener and 
estate manager, I was conducted about half way up Moel Dina«, and 
standing by the large reservoir which supplies the garden and hall with 
water, a splendid view of the grounds and valley was thoroughly enjoyed. 
The reservoir contains a large water supply, the force being so great that 
a jet from a 4-inch hose can be thrown over the tower of the Plas. 
Scanning the slaty crannies of these piled-up rocks several plants were 
noticeable even at this early season. There was the Welsh Poppy 
(Meconopsis cambrica) starting into growth, while all the time I wished 
myself a bryologist, for the variety of Mosses was great. The rock 
stratification was very varied, and immensely interesting faults, contortions, 
and vertical layers were observable in a small area. 
There is not so much diversity as we frequently meet with in gardens 
of this size, but it is almost impossible to see Conifers and Rhododen¬ 
drons in finer condition ; the latter grow most luxuriantly, both in foliage 
and bud they are the very picture of beautiful health. We cannot but 
envy the chance of those who will see them in hloom, for, as well as being 
represented by immense numbers, there are a large number of varieties, 
the colours being prettily associated. Evidently they are in favour with 
Sir Edmund; for one of his farmer tenants hard by, fearfully troubled 
with rabbits, asked his advice as to the most likely crop to plant to avoid 
the attack of this troublesome creature, when Sir Edmund replied, 
“ Plant Rhododendrons, rabbits will not eat them,” in which reply the good 
farmer did not find much consolation. There have been some very fine 
standards planted recently in the Rose garden, which in due time will 
present a very attractive appearance. Roses are a complete failure here, 
with the excepti n of Gloire de Dijon, which either as a standard or 
dwarf does grandly. Some very old standards are replete with excellent 
wood, promising a large supply of bloom ; while Mr. Laurie informed me 
they produced good flowers till hard upon Christmas last year. The 
culture of other varieties, however, both Tea and Hybrid Perpetuals, 
appears to be a hopeless task, for they have been tried repeatedly and 
well, always with the same results, the small remaining examples looking 
miserable in the extreme ; and however sad it may seem to rosarians, 
their culture is to be given up. 
Conifers grow exceedingly well, a long row of Wellingtonia gigantea 
and Pinus Cembra, planted alternately about sixteen years ago, present 
now a very fine feature ; the Wellingtonias have quite outstripped the 
P. Cembra, which will ultimately have to he removed to make room for 
its vigorous companion. A long avenue of P. Douglassi is a charming 
sight, the trees vigorous beyond measure, splendidly furnished, forming 
in this condition one of the most effective trees for the home woodlands, 
P. Pinsapo, Picea grandis, Cupressus Lawsonianus, the Weymouth Pine. 
Araucarias, &c., are flourishing equally well ; while Portugal Laurels 
form large masses, which never, or very rarely, get cut in this favoured 
valley, the mildness of which may be gathered from the fact that an ice¬ 
house was built, but ice could not be found in the neighbourhood to fill it. 
Flowering Currants are conspicuous, as well as the type, the varieties 
carnea, atro-sanguinea, and punicea were very showy. 
The present hall or Plas is very commodious, pleasantly situated, 
erected in 1865 upon the site occupied by the shooting box of the once 
celebrated Jack Mitten, and it is here and in the immediate neighbourhood 
that many of his vagaries and idiosyncrasies were planned and carried 
out. Since those days the scene is altered, Jack would scarcely recognise 
the spot where he used to shoot wild ducks in his shirt. At that time 
it was formed of a series of knolls, bogs, and small lakes; now a river 
channel has been cut, which merges into the Dovey, the very base of the 
valley is drained, and not at all a likely home for wild ducks. 
There is a compact series of glass houses, mostly utilised for fruit 
culture, the collection of plants being not very extensive. There are four 
Peach houses, two lean-to and two span-roofed, each averaging about 
40 feet long. Early forcing is not practised, as the fruit are most in 
demand later in the season than when the first crop would be produced 
by hard forcing. The trees are mostly in excellent condition, crowded with 
blossoms and young fruit, with only inside borders. The varieties most 
prized are Prince of Wales and Bellegarde, the former especially. About 
thirty varieties of Grapes are grown in five good-sized lean-to vineries 
and a large Grape conservatory. Alnwick Seedling succeeds admirably, 
producing an excellent crop, but is not largely grown, as its peculiar 
flavour does not gratify all tastes. Mr. Laurie fertilises the flowers with 
pollen from Black Hamburgh, and ripens it in a Muscat temperature, 
when it keeps well, and is of an excellent flavour. In a large house Muscat 
Vines are just opening into blossom, also Black Hamburghs next to 
it are in nearly the same condition, the desideratum being to get the Vines 
in both houses in flower at the same time, so as to utilise the Hamburgh 
pollen for the Muscats. All the vineries have large inside and outside 
borders, but the former are not of much service, as but few roots are 
found therein. A splendid lean-to orchard house is filled with Plum trees ; 
it is a great length, and contains many varieties ; standards planted out 
in the front, and trained specimens upon the back wall. An annual crop 
is sure here of the finest fruit ; most of the’trees are either in bloom or just 
past, and the outlook is most promising. Kirk’s Superb, Coe’s Golden 
Drop, Victoria, Jefferson’s, Magnum Bonum, Purple Gage, Pond’s 
Seedling, and Belle de Septembre are the varieties most highly esteemed 
and most remunerative. Three Pine pits accommodate a healthy batch of 
suckers, successional and fruiting plants ; from eighty to 100 of the 
latter are handled yearly, mostly Queens, a few Black Jamaica being 
grown. 
The most noticeable plant-house is the Palm stove, where are some 
fine samples of Livistonia sinensis, Areca sapida, A. Baueri, &c., as well as 
some fine Gymnogrammas. The conservatory was gay with flowers, 
Salvia rutilans being especially attractive ; it flowered all through the 
winter in ordinary greenhouse temperature, and is likely to do so for 
some time, large plants being very attractive. A good collection of Ferns, 
as well as other stove and greenhouse plants, are grown. 
The kitchen garden is some distance from the houses, on the other side 
of the river. It is about four acres in extent, walled in, replete with 
fruits large and small ; the latter and Strawberries do remarkably well, 
but Apples, Pears, and Plums produce only moderate crops. The soil is 
not by any means the best for their accommodation, and could not be 
made so without a large outlay, as it is chiefly composed of shaly debris, 
and being in the very bed of the valley is perhaps too moist during the 
winter and spring. Some kinds do better than others, but none is fully 
satisfactory. A large collection of Pears are grown, mostly rigidly 
trained and spurred ; many of these were formerly fruited in the orchard 
house, but the labour in connection therewith was so great that it was 
decided to plant them out. Hard by is a small field about an acre and a 
half in extent, which has been planted with Gooseberries and Currants as 
an experiment upon Lord Sudeley’s plan ; the bushes are arranged 3 feet 
between each and 6 feet between the lines, Strawberries, Onions, and 
Potatoes occupying the ground between. 
Gardeners or those interested in forestry visiting this neighbourhood 
will meet with genial hospitality at the Plas, and they cannot do better 
than cast anchor at the “ Buckley Arms,” where the good host and hostess 
will do everything to make them comfortable ; and if a follower of Isaak 
Walton a day or two may well be spent with rod, line, and gatt in the 
River Dovery, where salmon, trout, and other favourites may be easily 
tempted ; or the lover of British wild flowers may find many a rarity, and 
greatly enrich a moderate herbarium.—J. T. R. 
NOTES ON PLANTS. 
Lilium AURAtum. —Having read the interesting remarks respecting 
the above, I have sent the following notes. We have here planted out in 
the open border in the kitchen garden, sheltered a little by being planted 
between pytamid Apple and Pear trees 10 feet apart, about sixty clumps 
of Lilium auratum, from three to six bulbs in each, with no other protection 
but the walled-in garden. These have been obtained from two lots of 
imported bulbs ; 100 were planted about seven years ago, and 100 three 
years ago. I sent a statement to the Journal respecting the first lot 
about six years ago. I have read of one stem having fifty-three blooms 
(all perfect) in a pot; or, rather, it had grown in the same pot for five years. 
Then, again, of one blooming in Mr. McIntosh’s garden at Weybridge 
with seventy blooms. Then your valued correspondent “ Theta ” records 
sixty-five blooms on a plant in a Rhododendron bed. Your most interesting 
correspondent, “ A Thinker,” mentions one with seventy-five blooms on a 
single stem. This quite surpasses mine, as our largest one only had thirty- 
four this year—like a large broom 6 feet high. Some of the best had the 
following numbers of flowers :—Twenty-eight, twenty-five, twenty-three, 
seventeen, fourteen, and many nine to twelve each, and were from 4 to 
12 feet high, and the compost these are planted in is peat, turfy loam, wood 
ashes, and coarse sand, and they are well supplied before flowering 
with liquid manure ; the subsoil is for the most part red sand, well 
drained, as the water never stands on it. The bulb with thirty- 
, four blooms was one of a few that I accidentally broke the stem off 
