JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
356 
f October 20, 1881. 
rambling habit. Highest of all in the great Nepenthes zone came 
N. villosa, a beautiful plant, having rounded pitchers of the softest 
pink colour, with a crimson frilled orifice, similar to that of N. 
Edwardsiana. All thoughts of fatigue and discomfort vanished as 
we gazed on these living wonders of the Bornean Andes ! Here, on 
this cloud-girt mountain side, were vegetable treasures which im¬ 
perial Kew had longed for in vain. Discovered by Mr. Low in 1851, 
dried specimens had been transmitted by him to Europe, and Dr. (now 
Sir Joseph) Hooker had described and illustrated them in the Trans¬ 
actions of the Linnaean Society, but all attempts to introduce them 
alive into European gardens had failed. To see these plants in all 
their health and vigour was a sensation I shall never forget—one of 
those which we experience but rarely in a whole lifetime ! 
“Not being altogether satisfied with our trip to the mountain, 
we resolved to start off to it again, but this time to take another 
path so as to reach the ‘Marie Parie’ spur. We climbed up a 
rocky pathway, besides which we noticed fine plants of Cypripedium 
Petreianum, Cystorchis variegata, and a lovely yellow-flowered 
terrestrial Orchid belonging to the genus Spathoglottis, but quite 
distinct from S. aurea. As we descended, our path lay up through 
a belt of tall Bamboos, and here two species of Nepenthes were 
seen. One was the long green-pitchered kind covered with purple 
blotches (N. Boschiana var. Lowii), and the other a tall-growing 
species, N. Burbidgei, bearing beautiful white pitchers, elegantly 
ewer-shaped, diaphanous like ‘eggshell’ porcelain, and most daintily 
blotched with reddish crimson in a way quite unlike any other 
variety. This grew on both sides of the path, and climbed the trees 
to a height of 40 or 50 feet. We reached the crest of the ridge about 
three o’clock, in a heavy drenching shower, the climate being similar 
to that of a warm autumn evening in a Devonshire wood. We slept 
under some overhanging rocks at an elevation of about 4000 feet, 
having an understratum of sticks and brushwood to keep our water¬ 
proof sheets off the wet ground. The air, even at this low elevation, 
was chilly during the night, and we found a fire and blankets accep¬ 
table comforts. Melastoma macrocarpa, bearing its large rosy flowers, 
formed a large proportion of the brush around our camping ground. 
Here the large Nepenthes were very fine; and a beautiful white- 
flowered Dendrobium grows among the bushes. It belongs to the 
nigro-hirsute section, and has pseudo-bulbs 5 or 6 feet high. The 
blossoms are described by Mr. Low as being similar to those of D. 
formosum giganteum, but with a deep orange red blotch on the lip. 
“ Just above our camping ground, the long red-pitchered Nepenthes 
Edwardsiana was very beautiful growing up through the low jungle, 
its pitchers contrasting with the tufts of rich green moss which draped 
trunks and branches everywhere. N. Rajah was also abundant; and 
we noticed some immense urns depending from its great broad leaves, 
far finer, indeed, than those found at 9000 feet elevation on the more 
southern spur.” 
The annual display of Chrysanthemums at Finsbury 
Park promises to be equal to last year, and will be opened to 
the public on and after Saturday, the 22nd inst. 
- “A. B.” wishes to inform “ D., Deal," that the best way 
to manage the “spawn” of such Gladioli as Brenchleyensis 
is to plant it at once, 2 inches deep, in open ground. It is perfectly 
hardy, though old corms are not. 
- The Liverpool Horticultural Association’s Fruit 
and Chrysanthemum Show will be held, as last year, in 
St. George’s Hall on November 30th instead of the 23rd, as stated 
on the schedules issued. This alteration is due to the Com¬ 
mittee being unable to obtain the Hall for their Show on the date 
announced. 
■- A southern correspondent writes—“ Now that the 
planting season has arrived it will not be out of place to remind 
intending planters that Ilex Aquifolium variety pendulum 
is a grand Holly, and when developed into a specimen is a grand 
ornament to any good garden. This Holly endured the severity 
of last winter well in the south. Can any of your numerous 
correspondents say how it succeeds in the north or in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of smoky towns ? ” 
- “Lancastrian” writes—“E ulalia japonica varie¬ 
gata is a beautiful grass-like plant, the variegation being so 
clearly marked, and the white so much purer than the older 
forms. It is perfectly hardy, and is worthy of being largely 
planted either in a mass in suitable position on the lawn or at 
the front of borders of shrubs. In this position it is very con¬ 
spicuous, and shows to great advantage when surrounded by the 
green foliage of the shrubs.” 
- The same correspondent says— “Eulalia zebrina is 
well named, and is not only distinct in character from the other, 
but a striking and good variety. It produces a very fine effect 
when planted alternately with the above. This is also perfectly 
hardy.” 
- “ Scientia ” finds Aster macrophyllus a good dwarf 
variety, and worthy of a place in any collection of herbaceous 
plants however limited. Aster ptarmicoides is a striking com¬ 
panion to the above, its flowers being white. 
- “ L. D. W.” considers that “ no border of hardy flowers 
should be without a few plants of Statices. They are as valu¬ 
able in the herbaceous garden as a good plant of S. profusa is 
in a collection of greenhouse-flowering plants. They are light, 
elegant, and distinct. The following are two beautiful varieties 
—S. Limonium and S. Tomentella, the latter being the more 
elegant.” 
- In these days of elaborate and expensive ornamental 
catalogues it is pleasing to observe some attempt at combining 
originality and attractiveness with simplicity. A very creditable 
and novel example of this kind from Erfurt is now before us. It 
is of moderate size, the cover having an oblong chocolate-coloured 
centre, upon which the name appears ; surrounding this is a buff- 
coloured band, upon which is neatly gummed a neat wreath of 
dried Grasses, the tips of Fern fronds, and blue flowers resembling 
a Centaurea, the colour of the latter being admirably preserved. 
This is very carefully and lightly done, so that there is no approach 
to heaviness, while it imparts a novel and pretty appearance to 
the cover ; but it is not durable, 
- Mr. C. Warmington, writing from The Gardens, Penller- 
gare, Swansea, sends the following note respecting a fine Vanda 
czerulea —“ In the Orchid house here we have one plant of 
Vanda caerulea with four spikes of flowers. The two strongest 
spikes measure 2 feet long, with eighteen flowers on one spike 
and seventeen on the other. On the two weaker spikes there are 
fourteen and twelve flowers respectively. Some of the flowers 
measure 3J inches in diameter.” 
- It is with regret that we announce the Decease of 
John Russell, Esq., of Mayfield, Falkirk, N.B., which 
took place on Monday, the 17th inst. Mr. Russell was a liberal 
patron of horticulture, and one of the first in Scotland to form 
a collection of Orchids. His original collection was dispersed 
at Stevens’ rooms a few years ago, but another and larger one 
has been since formed. Famous as was his first collection of 
Orchids, his attention was by no means confined to these. 
Tree Ferns were also, until lately, largely represented at May- 
field, and large numbers of other stove and greenhouse plants 
were cultivated. The outdoor collections of Conifers, Japanese 
Maples, shrubs, and trees are unique and extensive. Although 
not a large establishment, Mayfield is perhaps one of the richest 
in plants in Scotland. This indicates somewhat the position of 
the late Mr. Russell as a horticulturist. For many years Mr. 
Russell was Provost of Falkirk, in which capacity he rendered 
good service to the town. A year or two ago his services 
were publicly recognised by presenting him with his portrait 
in oil by one of the first artists. It now adorns the Council 
Chamber. 
- We learn from the schedule received that the Bristol 
