April 19, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
825 
STOVE PLANTS, VASES, COVERING WALLS. 
No large stove plants are grown, but the houses are filled 
with innumerable highly coloured and serviceable half-specimen 
Crotons, Dracmnas, Pandanuses, and other fine-foliage and 
flowering plants. A hanging basket completely surfaced with 
Peperomia, the centre filled with a highly coloured Ananassa 
sativa variegata, and another similarly filled with Panicum varie- 
gatum and a bushy and brightly coloured Croton Youngi, were 
singularly pretty and effective. So also was a back wall of a 
plant stove and pillars of a doorway which were faced with a 
charming mixture of Lycopods, Ferns, principally Adiantums, 
Peperomias, Fittonias, Panicums, and small pieces of Begonias of 
the Bex type. These were dibbled into soil consisting principally 
of turfy loam and peat, enclosed with strong wire netting, and in 
this manner what might have been an unsightly wall is easily 
transformed into a most pleasing feature. Those who may attempt 
a similar experiment are advised to lightly shade the plants till 
they are established—newspapers are employed for this purpose 
at Ashton Court—and at all times to syringe freely in order to 
maintain the requisite amount of moisture at the roots. I have 
previously seen walls covered somewhat similarly, but at Ashton 
Court saw the Gardenia utilised as a wall plant for the first time. 
So well does this answer the purpose, that the thought at once 
suggested itself, “ How strange that no one else appears to have 
tried it in the same way 1 ” Camellias are generally considered 
well adapted for covering walls in a cool house, or in the open, as 
at Ashton Court ; but in this position in reality are much inferior 
to the Gardenia, whether in or out of bloom, and are much less 
accommodating in habit. Mr. Austin has planted the latter in a 
narrow border filled with loam, peat, and charcoal, and they are 
now about 10 feet high, of proportionate width, well furnished, 
and giving promise of abundance of bloom, which will be produced 
for several months. 
CAMELLIAS AND AZALEAS. 
Camellias planted in the conservatory and in pots are in excel¬ 
lent condition, and several large specimens planted against high 
terrace walls and in the open shrubberies are very healthy and 
Fig. 78.— TIUCHOPILIA LEPIDA. (See page 322.) 
have abundance of buds, C. Bealii in particular being crowded 
with them. Rhododendrons, again, are largely represented in the 
grounds and also in the conservatory. In the latter house they 
are grown in pots, and are extremely handsome. The best were 
Auguste Van Geert, with large trusses, colour chocolate purple 
spotted ; Limbatum, white, with crimson margin ; Prince Camille 
de Rohan, white, shaded with rose ; Fair Rosamond ; Hendersonii, 
purplish crimson ; and Brayanum, bright rosy scarlet. 
Azalea mollis in variety is largely forced, and wonderfully fine 
they prove, and are much superior to the Belgian Azaleas for pots. 
STAPHYLEA COLCHICA. 
Of this perfectly hardy deciduous shrub Mr. Austin has about 
fifty plants in various stages of growth, and rightly considers it 
invaluable for early forcing. More dwarf than Lilacs and as free 
blooming, the panicles of pure white blooms being produced some¬ 
what similarly, as sweetly scented as a Tuberose or Gardenia, it 
must inevitably become wonderfully popular both for private 
gardens and markets. It is easily forced into bloom, and judging 
from its appearance and my experience with a panicle of bloom, 
it will prove serviceable in a cut state for bouquets as well as 
vases. Mr. Austin made no mistake in purchasing largely, and 
neither will others who may follow his example. 
The Roman Hyacinths are largely grown for furnishing cut 
blooms, while the large-flowered Hyacinths are extensively grown 
for conservatory decoration. Of the latter in a large collection 
the finest were, La Joyeuse, single red ; Baroness Yon Tuyll, 
L’Innocence, La Grandesse, La Franchise, Elfride, single white ; 
Grand Lilas, Czar Peter, Pieneman, single blue ; Laurens Koster, 
double blue.—W. Iggulden. 
BULBS UNDER TREES. 
Mr. Wm, Plant, under this heading (page 280) explains how 
we may lose by the scythe bulbs thus planted, and there is little 
