June 15, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
493 
from the geometrical beds in front of the Exhibition house. These 
were quite unfitted for the arrangement of the plants in their natural 
orders, and though at times attractive, they always had an irregular 
appearance, which their symmetrical form rendered more conspicuous. 
Now the collections occupy oblong beds in the style of those at New, 
in a more secluded portion of the grounds, and the others are devoted 
to ornamental purposes, though at present nothing very elaborate has 
been attempted. The most remarkable addition to the gardens, how¬ 
ever, is the new range of glass houses erected to commemorate the 
International Exhibition held last autumn in honour of the fiftieth 
anniversary of the Society’s existence. Though not so extensive or 
imposing as it was intended to be had the Exhibition yielded suffi¬ 
cient returns, yet the structures are useful, and possibly more so 
than others of a more pretentious character might have been. The 
range is in five compartments, each about (10 feet long, span-roofed, 
lofty, light, and substantial!}' though plainly built. They are occu¬ 
pied with miscellaneous stove and greenhouse plants, some of which 
already look considerably the better for their new quarters. The 
centre division is of oblong form, the base being sunk several feet 
below the level of the other houses, and has been most tastefully 
arranged as a rock fernery by Mr. W. Clapham of Stockport. The 
general design is very natural and picturesque, the material employed 
being Derbyshire tufa, which in skilful hands is admirably adapted 
for work of this kind, as, owing to its porous nature, young Ferns and 
Mosses soon become established upon it, completely clothing the rocks 
with verdure. Irregular -walls, arches, pillars, pools of water, miniature 
car cades, and other devices are employed with a very just apprecia¬ 
tion of their respective effects, and by the aid of two mirrors inge- 
Fig. 96.—Philesia buxifolia. 
niously let in the wall very pretty and surprising vistas are obtained. 
At present the rockery is not half clothed with plants, but satisfac¬ 
tory results may be expected in the course of a few months if the 
stock of Ferns is increased.—L. Castle. 
(To be continued.) 
PHILESIA BUXIFOLIA. 
This charming shrub is far too seldom Eeen in gardens, and 
even where it is included in collections it is commonly in such 
indifferent condition that its real beauty cannot be imagined by 
those who have never seen it well grown. When, however, it 
is thoroughly healthy and bearing a profusion of its rosy Lapa- 
geria-like flowers, it is certainly one of the most beautiful shrubs 
that can be grown in a cool house. The finest example we have 
yet seen was recently submitted to us by Mr. J. Crossling, Felton 
Park, Northumberland, and from this the woodcut (fig. UG) was 
prepared, which faithfully represents the characters of the plant 
and the floriferousness of the specimen sent. 
Referring to the treatment which has produced such satisfac¬ 
tory results, Mr. Crossling writes as follows :— 
“1 had this plant in the greenhouse twenty years and it made 
