November 8, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
405 
nothing connected with gardening too great or too small to command 
his attention. In considering these facts, and many more too numerous 
to mention, it would be expected that the attractions at Penllergare were 
of a highly interesting character, and they really are so, with every 
indication of increasing. 
. leaving Swansea the surroundings are a constant repetition of 
mineral and manufacturing works, with innumerable small houses and 
no ornamental vegetation intervening ; and although we cannot help 
admiring industries of the kind, it is quite a relief to leave them behind 
and gain the country beyond. The sides of the highway leading to 
Penllergare were beautifully studded with clusters of red and white 
Heather, and in passing through the lodge gates along the winding 
avenue, with its woodland slopes, lakes, and ravines, it can be seen at a 
glance that the present squire is not the only owner of Penllergare who 
has taken a delight in beautifying their home. The woods are so 
numerous and dense that a stranger can hardly tell the elevation of the 
ground, but in passing up the drive the ground slopes away to the right 
to a stream which forms several large lakes with waterfall outlets, and 
their margins are richly adorned with vegetation, whilst the ground near 
bears a happy aspect of half woodland, halt pleasure ground, the large 
Conifererous and other choice trees being seen in great luxuriance, and 
the size, beauty, and numbers of the Rhododendrons are proverbial in the 
whole country side. No one interested in such subjects will be long in 
Wales without being asked if they have seen the Rhododendrons at 
Penllergare while in bloom ; and the question is not a frivolous one, as 
the vast banks and bushes of these when in bloom must be attractive in 
the highest degree, and in my opinion the best place to secure a full view 
of them would be in a boat in the centre of some of the lakes, as from 
the edges of some of these the Rhododendron banks rise sharply up to 
the height of 90 feet or so and extend for more than 200 yards. The 
plants are mostly hybrids, and all healthy well-developed bushes. These 
banks are intercepted with walks, and in spring and early summer the 
scene here must surpass description. Some of the banks are close to the 
house, and from this substantial structure many fine trees and shrubs 
can be seen in all directions. 
The flower garden occupies a large space on one side of the mansion, 
and on the other side there is another old-fashioned garden, chiefly filled 
with Carnations and Picotees. At the time of my visit the modern 
flower garden was highly attractive, as the well-arranged beds were in 
the height of their beauty. One large bed with a massive centre of 
Lobelia fulgens Queen Victoria, and edged with Centaurea ragusina, was 
most attractive and charming in its effect, and some large beds completely 
filled with China and Quilled Asters were certainly the finest masses of 
these favourite annuals I have seen for a long time. In a ribbon border 
were some large Sunflowers in the back, and further forward the old 
Calceolaria amplexicaulis was showing well. Altogether the arrange¬ 
ments in this part were admirably carried out. On the carriage entrance 
side of the house there is a portico which forms a good receptacle for 
pot plants in bloom, and, at the time I saw it, it was beautifully decorated 
with well-grown Zonal Pelargoniums, Vallotas, Tuberous Begonias, 
Liliums, &c. Further round still than this there is a large conservatory, 
also attached to the house, and there Camellias are a great feature. They 
are mostly planted out in beds and growing very luxuriantly. The roof 
of this house is very attractively draped with Fuchsias, Roses, and 
Lapagerias. 
Near to this conservatory is the old-fashioned flower garden, and 
before going further we glance into it. It is a snug little corner railed 
round and well protected with ornamental bushes, and it is here 
Mr. Llewelyn keeps all his show Auriculas, Pansies, Carnations, and 
flowers of this class. The collections are very large, containing all the 
newest and best varieties in cultivation, as well as many home-raised 
seedlings of great merit, and the whole are in first-rate condition. 
They are evidently well cared for, and they reflect great credit on 
Mr. Stafford the gardener Mr. Llewelyn has to attend exclusively 
to this department. 
Crossing the road from here we enter another garden, which was the 
special resort of the late Mrs. Llewelyn, and is a very comfortable 
enjoyable spot. It was designed and formed by Mr. William Barron, 
the well-known South Wales landscape gardener of Sketty, Swansea, and 
Is a masterly piece of work. It was made and planted in 1868, and the 
choice Conifer® and Rhododendrons have progressed well since, as many 
of the Cupressus and other plants are 20 feet high. Rhododendrons 
fringe the boundaries, and must be glorious when in bloom. The grass 
here is in excellent order, and the beds contain many old-fashioned plants. 
Some little distance from the house we come to the kitchen garden and 
fruit and other houses. The vegetable garden is about five acres in extent. 
The crops consist of the kinds generally found in a well-managed garden. 
Every square yard of ground was fully occupied with vegetables in every 
way excellent for the table, and the winter crops gave promise of gaining 
the most useful proportions. The vineries are four in number. Black 
Hamburghs and Lady Downe’s are the favourite varieties, and it would 
be difficult to imagine anything more perfect than the quality attained 
by the Black Hamburghs. Heavy crops of high-class fruits were the 
Tule. One long lean-to bouse of Lady Downe’s was most noteworthy on 
account of the splendid crop each rod was carrying. Peaches are con¬ 
fined to the open walls, and the crops were much above the average of 
this year ; and in speaking of fruit I may say that Gooseberries are 
found most prolific and serviceable on north walls. I was rather sur¬ 
prised to see the fruit hanging profusely on the bushes on the 31st of 
August, and the last of them were not gathered for some time after that. 
Dan’s Mistake, Souter Johnny, and Thumper are three of the latest of all. 
The plant houses are rather scattered, but they contain some fine 
specimens, especially of Orchids. The chief of these are to be seen in a 
small span-roofed house. Here we saw a fine Aerides odoratum pur- 
purascens 11 feet high, with thirty side shoots, which at one time not very 
long ago produced ninety-one spikes, and some of them opened as many 
as sixty flowers ; this plant is a grand sight. Vanda coerulescens is 3 feet 
high, and Vanda teres 4 feet. Calanthe Veitchii has bulbs 18 inches 
long. Dendrobium pulchellum has made splendid growth in a basket, 
as also has Cypripedium Parishii in a pan. Peristeria elata is represented 
by a grand specimen; and the Ccelogynes, Phalsenopsis, Cattleyas, 
Odontoglossums, and many more of the finest of the Orchids have been 
grown into fine plants. Nepenthes Rafflesiana was bearing thirty-six 
fine pitchers, and the plants generally were in excellent condition ; in fact 
the whole place is a great credit to Mr. Warmington, the gardener, who 
has managed the things so well, and although my visit was rather a 
hurried one, I promised to visit the garden again when the Rhododendrons 
are in bloom.—M. M. 
ROSE SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON. 
This old Bourbon Rose is one of the very best that can he grown for 
producing flowers in autumn when the majority of other varieties have done 
flowering. Where a good supply of blooms are wanted at this season of 
the year, and those planted outside have to be relied upon for producing 
them, none will be found to surpass, if equal, this beautiful fragrant free- 
flowering variety. It is worthy of being planted largely in every garden, 
for it is one of the first to open its flowers early in the season, and what 
more delightful can be desired than its blush white flowers in a half- 
expanded state ? or even when fully developed they cannot be despised. 
This Rose should commend itself especially to those residing near towns, 
for it appears to thrive where smoke abounds better than the majority of 
varieties. This variety does much better on its own roots than when 
worked upon any stock, and will thrive wonderfully in soil of a much 
lighter nature than is required in which to grow many varieties to perfec¬ 
tion. When planted not only for the first hatch of blooms or those that 
continue to he produced more or less the whole season, but more especi¬ 
ally for autumn, when Rose blooms and free-flowering varieties for that 
season are scarce, none should be planted but those on their own roots. 
This is important, for the plants will throw up abundantly towards 
autumn strong growths from the base w T hich terminate with a large bunch 
of flowers. These shoots are those that must be encouraged to produce 
flowers at this season of the year which are not so freely or liberally pro¬ 
duced from worked plants. 
When planting the autumn should be kept in view, and the plants 
placed together as far as practical on a border where they can be tem¬ 
porarily protected. To insure good blooms at this season of the year it 
is necessary that this provision be made, not only to shelter them from 
early frosts, but the heavy falls of rain that are so frequent at this season 
of the year, and which do more harm than slight frosts to unfolded Rose 
buds. 
The system of protection that is most desirable is that of placing old 
lights over them, and if planted with that end in view hut little labour is 
occasioned in so doing. A few stakes should be driven into the border— 
as many as are necessary—and a few boards nailed to them at the back 
and front; in fact, make round them a temporary frame upon which the 
lights can rest to protect them from frost and heavy rains. During fine 
days the lights can be removed or tilted to give the plants abundance of 
air. By planting this variety and affording them this simple mode of 
protection some beautiful blooms will be produced for a long time, and 
which will more than repay for the labour expended in their production.— 
SCIENTIA. 
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS. 
Allow me to corroborate what your able correspondent “ Experientia 
Docet ” says on page 288 respecting the above useful class of plants, and 
to give my experience of the same. We obtained a small packet of seed, 
which was sowm on the 23rd April last. From this, which was sown in a 
pot and placed in a temperature of about 60°, we raised a number of 
seedlings. As soon as these were large enough they were pricked out in 
boxes, and from thence into a three-light frame. This was prepared 
by placing at the bottom some partially decayed manure, about 4 inches in 
depth, and on this nearly 3 inches of good soil. In this they were 
planted about 4 inches apart each way, and well attended to in every 
respect. When well established in their new quarters all the air possible 
was given them; in fact, on all favourable occasions the lights were removed 
during the day and replaced at night, being left open 2 inches at the top all 
night. In this position and with the treatment mentioned they grew very 
fast, so much so that by the end of September they were almost one 
mass of growth and flowers. We now determined to have the best potted 
so that they could be used for decorative purposes as well as to prolong 
their season of usefulness. We therefore lifted them carefully with a 
trowel, retaining a good ball of soil to each, and potted them in 4-inch 
pots. This done they were transferred into a house, had a good soaking 
of water given them, and were kept rather close for a few days, and 
slightly sprinkled overhead occasionaUy with the syringe. As a result, 
they are now (October 26th) looking grand, and will do so for at least 
another fortnight. 
That they will make good specimens the first year our plants testify, 
