September 27, 1833. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
281 
By-the-by, what a fine plant 0. Andersonianum lobatum as grown 
here is I 
Passing out of the OJontoglossum house we enter a very long one 
cram full from basement to apex with Orchids that will be overcrowded 
a year hence if they just do as they are doing. It is not a question of 
holding the ground here, with the aid of an occasional subsidy in the 
shape of imported plants. The question is, Where is room to be found 
for all these plants by-and-by? Yet Mr. Gair, with that enthusiasm 
that marks the true flower lover, cannot help adding more and more 
always. The first plant in bloom that attracts attention is Cattleya 
guttata Leopoldii, and beside it Lrelia elegans Schilleriana and superba, 
with Cattleya crispa superba. In passing we notice Dendrobium 
Walkerianum with growths 3 feet high, and a D. Wardianum with 
4-feet stems, which was brought to the place in a match-box only three 
seasons ago. Last time 1 called at the same place there were a few 
unpromising Saccolabiums, Aerides, and Vandas newly imported, now 
they are beautiful plants that anyone would be proud to own. One 
Saccolabium Blumei Dayanum has a spike at least 15 inches long, and one 
of S. B. majus we note as particularly fine. Cattleya Dowiana is in 
splendid condition, and a row of C. gigas all different and all fine. 
C. Wallisii was in bloom, some novel and very fine forms being among 
them ; one almost pure white, with a beautiful rose blotch at the point 
of the lip, and lovely rose shading at the base of the segments of the 
perianth. It is to be sent to the recognised Orchid authority, who will 
doubtless consider it worthy to bear the name of the happy owner. 
Some very fine forms of C. Eldorado are also in bloom. There is also 
one plant here that nobody else has, and is prized accordingly. It is 
one of the best, if not quite the best, of the Pescatoreas, and is named 
Gairiana. It is in luxuriant health. 
Some orchidists grow Dendrobiums well and only succeed moderately 
with others, Odontoglots or Cattleyas are the forte of others. Few places 
can show everything thoroughly good, but The Kilns can. Hundreds 
upon hundreds are here, every one in luxuriant health such as we all like to 
see, but only a few seem able to secure. There is a secret or secrets in 
their cultivation. Part of the secret is that here the plants are thoroughly 
loved, and this by master and man alike. The consequence is that the 
one spares no expense necessary to secure their well-being, and the other 
grudges no labour spent. These are the secrets in all successful cultiva¬ 
tion everywhere and in everything. 
Mr. Fairbairn was, I believe, the first to use Fern roots instead of 
peat, and the first to demonstrate its superiority for that purpose. Mr. 
Brotherston advocates its use, and has referred to Mr. Fairbairn's success 
with it. Mr. Fairbairn showed us what his ripe experience has taught 
him to regard as the best kind of fibre to use. He procured it from a 
distance. It is the surface from off ground where in the woods Lastrea 
dilatata grows to the exclusion of everything else. This is cut just like 
common turf into tough mat-like squares, and after the soil is shaken 
from it there is left the best, sweetest, and most lasting fibre it is possible 
to secure. Better than peat, better than sphagnum, it may often be 
obtained by those who can secure neither. Mr. Fairbairn states that 
Dendrobiums and other Orchids which require to be kept dry at certain 
periods, and which are apt to shrivel when grown in sphagnum alone, 
remain plump when Fern fibre is used. He said he thought that the 
dried sphagnum had the effect of sucking the juice out of the plants by 
the roots. The opinion was hazarded that possibly the bulbs were better 
conditioned, got more material out of the fibre, and therefore had 
more substance and less pure water, and therefore did not so readily 
shrivel. He said that might be the explanation, but the fact remained 
the same. 
Besides the Odontoglossum house and the large one where the bulk 
of the Vandas, Cypripediums, &c., are grown, other two houses are devoted 
to Orchids. There is also a fine collection of Ferns under glass, a stove, 
a greenhouse, and two vineries. The latter have considerably improved 
of late. Mr. Fairbairn has been using lime and also Thomson’s manure. 
Doubtless both have had something to do with the improvement. Some 
very fine bunches of Abercairney Black were ripening at the time of our 
visit. In flavour and in the appearance of the wood this very much re¬ 
sembles Black Alicante, but the bunches are much more Black Hamburgh¬ 
like in appearance, are handsomer, and is found there to be a better 
keeper. By some Black Alicante and this are considered one and the 
same. Seen here the difference is decided, and Mr. M. Temple, who is 
at present in the district, and is no mean pomologist, considers them 
distinct, and the Abercairney superior. It seems to be the case of 
Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury and Garibaldi Strawberry over again— 
both very much alike, but one superior ; but the same thing often grown 
under both names are so misleading. 
Though the Orchids have been especially noted it must not be sup¬ 
posed that there are nothing but Orchids about The Kilns. Supposing 
the glass houses were removed and the indoor plants scattered it would 
still remain a notable place. Leading from the house to the garden 
where the glass houses are, and which, by the way, was once a bog, 
the walk passes through a grand Rhododendron garden. The grounds 
are rich in splendid shrubs and trees ; even the hedges are uncommon. 
To screen off part of the lawn is a hedge of Golden Queen Hollies 8 feet 
high and 30 yards long, densely furnished to the very base, and in 
luxuriant health. The Yew hedges are kept in the best style possible, 
and in such a way as is only seen here and there. The flower gardening 
is not carried out on an extensive scale, but what is done is well done. 
Where once a gravel pit was is now a shady roclcwork covered with 
luxuriant Ferns, and a goodly Rose garden nestles in a sheltered nook. 
The lawns are in a model condition, and altogether The Kilns is one of 
those model places that are not of common occurrence. The influence of 
such places upon young men who visit such is to determine them towards 
the accomplishing of something deserving the name of gardening.— 
A. H. 
FRUIT-FORCING. 
Figs. —Early Pot Trees .—These are now sufficiently advanced to 
admit of the essential operation of root-pruning and potting being 
attended to, which should be proceeded with at once. The trees 
having been plunged will have rooted abundantly into the material, and 
the surface mulching is full of fibres. If the trees are in 18 or 20-inch 
pots it will not be necessary to repot, but all the top-dressing should be 
removed from among the roots with a hand fork, and the strongest roots 
cut back. The drainage of the pots should be examined, the soil being 
then top-dressed with a compost of turfy loam three parts, and half part 
each old mortar and rubbish thoroughly incorporated and rammed firmly 
into the pots, giving a little water to settle the compost about the roots. 
Every particle of the fermenting material should be removed from the 
pit, and the pots stood on the open brick pedestals which it is advisable 
to have in order to keep the pots well up to the light and prevent dis¬ 
placement by the sinking of the fermenting materials. Trees treated in 
this way are less liable to cast their first crop of fruit than those shifted 
into larger pots ; yet where it is thought advisable to increase the root 
space a good shift may now be given, employing the compost above 
named, and well moistening the balls before potting, ramming the com¬ 
post well down so as to prevent the water passing through it without 
wetting the ball. The house should be kept cool, dry, and well ventilated 
until the time arrives for starting the trees early in December. Any 
trees in pots outside should be brought under cover without delay and 
treated similarly. 
Trees Ripening a Second Crop .—Trees in succession houses ripening 
the second crop of fruit ought to be kept drier as the days become 
moister and shorter, a little fire heat being needed to expel damp, 
with free ventilation on all favourable occasions, as a dry and warm 
atmosphere is essential to insure well-ripened full-flavoured fruit. 
Ripening the Wood .—Particular attention must be given to the 
exposure of the wood to sun and air, allowing the points of the shoots to 
stand out or find their way to the glass. Remove all useless wood, and 
thin out all soft wood now, removing decaying leaves as soon as they 
part freely from the trees. Watering trees in permanent borders should 
be discontinued after this, they having been well mulched and watered 
up to the present time. 
Trees Growing too Vigorously .—Fig trees are gross feeders, and in 
rich borders make too strong growth, in which case preparations should 
be made for root-pruning or lifting as soon as the second crop is gathered. 
The drainage should be thorough, so as to allow of the free passage of the 
water needed in large supplies through the growing season. 
Melons. —Plants swelling their fruits should be encouraged by closing 
the house early, maintaining a day temperature of 70° to 75° from fire 
heat and running up to 85° or 90° with sun, night temperature 65° to 70°. 
Keep the growths well stopped, and thin so as to expose the fruits fully 
to sun and air. Water carefully, and when supplies are needed give 
them thoroughly in preference to little and often. Plants with the fruit 
ripening should be kept rather dry at the roots, and have a warm, dry, 
freely ventilated atmosphere. 
Pines. — Young Growing Stock .—Take advantage of every opportunity 
to well ventilate these plants, so that any present tenderness of growth 
may have the full benefit of favourable weather for hardening it before 
dull weather commences. With a further view to this object it will be 
necessary to keep the glass clean both inside and out, so as to allow of 
the sun’s rays not being obstructed. The temperature for these plants 
should be still continued at 60° at night, or a few degrees less in cold 
weather, 65° to 70° artificially in the daytime, and 80° with sun, with S(f 
at the roots. As the days decrease in length reduce the atmospheric 
moisture proportionately ; but a dry atmosphere is extremely pernicious 
for these plants such as that of large houses, which for these plants, if 
they must be accommodated in such, can hardly be kept too moist, but 
pits or small houses with fermenting beds are decidedly preferable. 
Plants that have already made a good growth and need to be kept gently 
moving preparatory to their being started into fruit should have the full 
benefit of all the sun and light possible at the present time. If such 
plants are at a distance from the glass they should be brought up to it 
and given plenty of room. 
Bruiting Plants .—In order to obtain a genial condition of the 
atmosphere water should be freely sprinkled on the paths and walls to 
encourage growth in the fruit. Let the temperature range at night from 
70° to 75°, and from 80° to 90° during the day, ventilating from 80° 
slightly, and close at 85° when the sun is declining. Watering will 
require to be seen to once a week. Supply plants requiring it with tepid 
water, to which has been added a little guano or some other stimulant. 
