February 28, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
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their shorter length. It is a beautiful species, and thrives well 
in a cool greenhouse. It flowei’ed at Kew last year. 
C. capense .—Sometimes called Amaryllis longifolia; a common 
Cape species, and is one of the best known in this country. 
Planted in a well-drained and sheltered border it grows and 
flowers freely all summer. There are two forms of it, a red- 
flowered and a white-flowered one. The bulb is Amaryllis-like, 
with a short neck, and the leaves from 3 to 4 feet long The 
flower scape is 18 inches long, and bears an umbel of from six 
to twelve flowers, which are from 3 to 4 inches in length, the 
segments being about an inch wide. Herbert says of this plant 
“ It is a very hardy species, endures the winter, and flowers in 
profuse succession during five or six months in a bed covered 
with leaves in the winter. It delights in wet, and will flower in 
a pond. In a warm situation it may remain always in water.” 
As a companion to the Belladonna Lily in borders out of doors 
the two varieties of this Crinum will be found exceedingly 
useful.—W. W. 
(To be continued,) 
THE PINE APPLE NURSERY, MAIDA VALE. 
Messes. E. G. Henderson & Sons’ nursery in the Edgware Road 
has for many years been one of the most noted of London trade 
establishments for plant-growing, and there appears great probability 
that under the present energetic management its prestige will be 
still further increased. The almost innumerable glass houses have 
been long devoted to an extensive collection of miscellaneous plants, 
but special attention is now being paid to the more popular and 
useful classes of plants, though all the meritorious rarities are carefully 
preserved. Large stocks of young plants are being raised in all depart¬ 
ments, several new houses have been erected and others are about to be 
commenced, while in the outdoor department the fine collection of hardy 
plants has been advantageously re-arranged. Other improvements are 
under consideration, and the general aspect of the nursery indicates a 
most pleasing and vigorous activity. A few notes upon the chief features 
will enable readers to form an idea of the collections. 
Orchids. —These have deservedly received a considerable share of 
attention for some years past, and many thousands of the most useful and 
choice cool and tropical species and varieties are now grown. Odonto- 
glossums have several houses devoted to them, such established favourites 
as 0. Alexandra and 0. cirrhosum being represented by numbers of the 
best varieties obtainable ; the plants being almost without exception in 
robust health and showing and bearing abundance of flowers. The 
charming little dwarf O. Oerstedi, which continues for so many weeks in 
flower, is in capital condition, and is certainly one of the best of the 
small-flowered type. Masdevallias are in strong force, especially 
M. Lindeni, M. Harryana, M. Shuttleworthi, and M. Veitchi, while some 
of the smaller and less conspicuous forms, such as M. triangularis, are 
interesting ; but the most remarkable of all in regard to numbers and 
profusion of flowers is the white M. tovarensis. Of this useful Orchid 
one house contains some hundreds of plants as healthy as could be 
desired, not a sign of “ spot,” and quite a sheet of bloom, some of the 
spikes bearing three or four flowers each. Either for effect or cutting, 
this is an indispensable plant in any collection of Orchids. Cattleyas and 
Laelias are in vigorous health, showing sheaths abundantly and pro¬ 
mising a fine display later in the season, though many of the C. Trianm 
section already brighten the houses with their richly coloured flowers. 
Three span-roofed houses with open stages over large tanks of water are 
principally occupied with Dendrobes, Plialmnopses, and Cypripediums, 
the latter being exceedingly good ; the growths stout and of that fresh 
healthy green tint which is so pleasant to the eyes of an Orchid grower. 
Other houses are devoted to miscellaneous collections of Aerides, Vandas, 
Trichopilias, Sophronitis, and all the principal genera. 
Palms.—A dozen or more of the really useful Palms that have been 
proved to be of substantial decorative value are grown by hundreds, and a 
most satisfactory stock of young plants is now steadily advanced. The 
indispensable and graceful Cocos Weddelliana, the much-enduring 
Seaforthia elegans and Areca lutescens, the sturdy Phoenix reclinata, and 
the beautiful Kentias Fosteriana and Canterburyana, occupy several houses, 
and are chiefly about the size most suitable for decoration. Moreover, as 
they are not grown in the steamingly high temperatures too frequently 
accorded to Palms, their leaves are of firmer texture and better capable of 
enduring changing temperature, dry air, and exposed positions of rooms, 
corridors, &c. 
Ferns. —The Todeas at Pine Apple Place, it is well known, are always 
alone worth a visit, and they are just now preparing for the production of 
their annual handsome crowns of young fronds. Adiantums, Pterises, 
Davallias, and other favourite genera are represented by thousands of 
plants in all stages, from the “ spore pan ” to exhibition specimens. Several 
novelties are included, but particularly good is a pretty variety of our true 
Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris gracilis, which is distin¬ 
guished from the type by its larger and more compact fronds and closer 
neater habit. It is to be sent out this spring, and will no doubt receive 
the favour of many Fern-lovers. Selaginellas are receiving much attention, 
the number of species and varieties being very large for a trade collection. 
Many beautiful forms of these plants are much neglected in gardens, and 
except a few of the S. Kraussiana habit comparatively few are generally 
grown, yet S. hoematodes and others of the erect or frondose group are 
rivals of some of the most elegant of Ferns. 
Miscellaneous Plants. —The general stock comprises greenhouse 
Rhododendrons of all the standard varieties now being rapidly increased, 
double Primulas, one of the finest collections of varieties and plants, Tree 
Carnations, Passifloras, Camellias, Marantas, Bromeliads, and scores of 
other stove or greenhouse plants, most of which have houses specially 
devoted to them. Imantophyllums are numerous, some of the specimens 
are of considerable size, and showing flowers in large numbers. Bland- 
fordias are well grown, the varieties being remarkable for the rich colour of 
the flowers. In one house specimens of a pretty little plant are growing 
in small pans suspended from the roof, and though as yet in an infantile 
stage they are likely to become extremely ornamental. This is honoured 
with the somewhat lengthy title of Saxifraga sarmentosa tricolor superba, 
and differs from the tricolor known in gardens by the leaves possessing an 
unusually broad pure white margin, which contrasts very agreeably with 
the bright rosy young leaves, and the emerald centre of the older ones. 
The occupants of the large conservatory have been re-arranged with 
praiseworthy taste, and some artistic additions have been made to the 
rockery, which have greatly increased the beauty of this handsome house. 
Every department, in fact, affords evidence to the practical skill brought to 
bear upon the work by the experienced manager, Mr. Hollands, who has 
already done much to increase the fame of the establishment in the horti¬ 
cultural world. 
ELCOME’S REGISTERED IMPROVED FUMIGATOR. 
Mr. Elcome of Woodland Road, Upper Norwood, sends us one 
of his new fumigators, which is represented in the annexed figure. 
Its claims, as enumerated in the prospectus, are “ simplicity in con¬ 
struction and economy in operation, as it will burn any sort of 
tobacco paper, rag, or card, without attendance, in close frames or 
greenhouses.” Several gardeners who have tried the fumigator testify 
that it has given them great satisfaction. It appears to be a handy, 
light, yet durable article, and we see no reason that it should fail 
to accomplish the purpose for which it is designed. 
MANCHESTER HORTICULTURAL MUTUAL 
IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 
At the fortnightly meeting of this Society, recently held in the Old 
Town Hall, King Street, Mr. Bruce Findlay, the President, in the chair, 
there was a large attendance. 
Mr. W. Nield read a paper on“ The Apple,” which, he said, is unquestion¬ 
ably the best and most useful of all hardy fruits. Though it possesses many 
good qualities, the Apple has not received from those who till the soil any¬ 
thing like the amount of attention to which it is justly entitled. According 
to the agricultural returns for 1883 there were in England 185,782 acres of 
land planted with fruit trees. If 35,782 acres, a liberal estimate, were 
deducted for land planted with Pears, Plums, Cherries, and Filberts, there 
remained 150,000 acres devoted exclusively to the cultivation of Apple trees. 
About seventy standard Apple trees can be grown on an acre, so that the 
total number of trees would be 10,500,000. There are probably as many 
Apple trees grown in hedgerows and farm orchards, not returned as such, 
and market gardens, as are grown on all the land specially devoted to their 
cultivation. This would bring up the total number of Apple trees to 21,000,000, 
or nearly one for every individual in England. If one-half is deducted 
10,500,000 trees still remain, and, assuming each tree to bear two bushels 
per annum, the yearly crop would amount to 21,000,000 bushels, the market 
value of which at 4s. per bushel amounts to £4,200,000. Supposing the 
trees to be grown in 150,000 acres, the annual value of the crop would be 
£28 per acre, which, with good cultivation and a better selection of sorts, 
might easily be doubled. In fact he did not know of any purpose to w T hich 
the land could be put which would bring in so large a return for the capital 
employed, if farmers and market gardeners only knew how to go about it. 
He pointed out that demand for raw fruit is increasing in a greater ratio 
than the population. We have now from 3000 to 5000 different names for 
Apples though he very much doubted if we have anything like that number 
of varieties in cultivation. The greatest number of sorts ever collected 
together was at the recent Apple Show held a short time ago in London , 
