136 
[ August 12, 1888. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
dark bine with light centre ; Palmerstone, light blue very good ; Borbue, 
deep blue, orange centre ; Coronet, dark blue with light centre ; Celestial, 
deep blue with very large spike ; Belladonna, fine blue red, very dwarf ; 
and other varieties too numerous to mention.—C. C. 
ABERAMAN PARK. 
The Glamorgan seat of Sir George Elliott, Bart., M.P., is situated 
midway between Aberdare and Mountain Ash, and within half a mile of 
Treaman station on the Taff Vale Railwaj'. The house is a magnificent 
modern structure, and commands a charming view from the south front 
through the valley of Aberavon. A glimpse of Duffryn House, the seat of 
the Right Honourable Lord Aberdare, is seen in the distance. Aberaman 
Park is surrounded by mountains, presenting here and there rich scenery 
and pleasing pictures ; but the riches of Aberaman are to be found under 
ground in an inexhaustible supply of minerals, for nearly a dozen coal 
mines, besides ironworks, may be counted within a radius of a few miles 
from the house. The grounds are entered from the Aberdare road by a 
neat lodge. The carriage drive is about half a mile in length, which 
sweeps gently to the right and then to the left as it approaches the south 
front of the house, which was gay at the time of my visit with bedding 
plants in small beds and borders arranged on a well kept grass lawn. 
Conspicuous amongst bedding plants was a dwarf variegated Tropseolum 
not yet in commerce. The variety in question was a sport obtained from 
a green variety several years ago, and little notice was taken of it until 
last season, when it was greatly admired by all who saw it, and deservedly 
so. This season it is planted extensively, and appears to be quite distinct 
from any other variety. It is dwarf and free in habit, with close silvery 
foliage and bright scarlet flowers borne well above the leaves in great pro¬ 
fusion, and closely resembling Tropaeolum Cooperi in colour. The house 
is finely sheltered from the east and west by majestic Evergreen Oaks, 
purple and common Beech, &c. Attached to the mansion on the east side 
is a large three-quarter span-roofed conservatory, which contained a mis¬ 
cellaneous collection of flowering plants. Amongst them were many good 
Fuchsias, Begonias, Eucharises, and some fine plants of Acacia armata, 
Dicksonia antarctica, Seaforthia elegans, and many others. The walls 
were covered wiih Abutilon Boule de Neige and A. Thomsoni, Acacia 
dealbata, and Camellias, all of which were clean and healthy. On leaving 
the conservatory we passed a well kept lawn which is intersected by 
gravel walks studded with small Conifers, bedding plant ', and Roses. 
The latter were extra good in growth and flower. A little to the east of 
this were several large beds and clumps of Rhododendrons and hardy 
Azaleas in the best of health, which must have a grand effect from the 
house when in bloom, as the ground slopes from the house towards the 
Park. They can also be seen to advantage from the main walk leading to 
the principal range of glass, which is close to the house. 
The first division in this range is a late vinery 50 feet long by 18 wide 
and 18 high. The varieties grown here were Bowood Muscat, Venn’s 
Black Muscat, Muscat Hamburgh, Lady Downe’s Seedling, West’s St. 
Peter’s, Trebbiano, and Gros Guillaume. The Vines are only three years 
old. The roots are confined to the inside border, and the canes are fairly 
robust, carrying good crops of useful Grapes, with some monster bunches 
of Trebbiano and Gros Guillaume, which if finished well will be a credit 
to Mr. Mitchell. The next division contained Gros Colman, Trebbiano, 
Golden Champion, and Black Hamburgh. Trebbiano was again conspi¬ 
cuous for size of bunch, and the Champions for size of berry ; whilst the 
Black Hamburghs had as useful a crop of Grapes as] need be desired. 
They were also some well-grown plants in this vinery—notably, Latania 
borbonica, Cycas revoluta, Phoenix dactylifera, Phcenix reclinata, Hoya 
carnosa, Begonia Ingrami. and a very fine plant of Coelogyne cristata nearly 
2 foet through, and many other smaller plants suitable for house and table 
decoration. 
We next entered the early vinery, which is 36 feet long. Only two 
varieties are grown in this house, Black Prince and Black Hamburgh. 
The Vines are young and vigorous, planted at the distance of 4 feet 
apart, with the roots confined to the inside border. The crop in this 
house was all that could be desired in size of bunch, berries, and general 
finish. Next to this range is a Pine pit 60 feet long by 15 wide, filled 
with excellent fruiting Pines planted out in the bed. Pine-growing is 
made a speciality at Aberaman, and Mr. Mitchell is well known through¬ 
out South Wales as a successful grower ; and he well merited the cultural 
commendation the Royal Horticultural Society awarded last March for a 
bunch of Black Prince, weighing more than 9 lbs. The next house is a 
span-roofed Pine stove, 66 feet long by 20 wide. The centre bed was filled 
with as fine a stock of succession Pines as we could wish to see. Tomatoes 
and Melons are also grown in pots in this house. The former, Abernant 
variety, in 12-inch pots, was quite a picture ; I have seldom seen better. 
Besides Tomatoes and Melons on the front and back stage were some 
creditably grown plants, particularly the following Croton Wiesmanni, 
Bougainvillea glabra, Stephanotis floribunda, Allamanda Hendersoni, 
and Coleuses in variety. There were also several pots of Eucharis amazo- 
nica, from 4 to 5 feet through, and in excellent health. This charming 
plant detests being annually disturbed at the roots. The finest specimens 
I have ever seen, and undoubtedly the most floriferous, were grown in a 
nobleman’s garden in S iuth Wales, and they had not been potted for 
several years, and I doubt if they would have been potted then had they 
not burst the pots they were growing in. 
Immediately in the back of this range is a small Cucumber house, 
filled with Sharpe’s Epicurean, seemingly a useful variety. Close to this 
is the bothy for youDg men, pottiDg-shed, and store-rooms, and also the 
frame or nursery ground, in which were some good specimen Zonal 
Geraniums, Azaleas, Camellia 0 , Chrysanthemums, and many other winter¬ 
flowering subjects. Adjoining the nursery ground is an old orchard ; the 
trees were carrying a fair crop of Apples and Pears. The gardener’s 
house and kitchen garden lie a little north of the houses. The former is 
a commodious dwelling. The garden is small, hut every corner was 
utilised to the best advantage, with excellent vegetables and small fruits 
in abundance. The same may be said of Plums and Pears on the wall 
trees.—A. Smith. 
CODONOPSIS (GLOSSOCOMIA) OVATA. 
As far as we are at present aware, only two species of this somewhat 
rare genus are in cultivation, although specific names are rather abundant. 
The plant represented in the annexed cut, and which is the showiest of 
the two, was first introduced under the name of Glossocomia, but which 
has been superseded by that of Codonopsis in the “ Genera Plantarum.” 
It is easily cultivated, indeed as easily as any of the Campanulacere, after 
the seedling stage has been passed, our plan being to sow the seed in pots 
in a heated frame, pricking out the young plants as soon as they are large 
Fig. 21.—Codonopsis (Glossooomia) ovata. 
enough in boxes or pans, planting them out the following spring, the 
utmost care being required to guard against breaking the very brittle 
roots. 
The choice of position will be the next consideration; the sunniest 
and most exposed that can be selected will be the best, planting them 
6 inches apart, and the roots must not be disturbed by digging. The 
flowers are large, as may be seen, but are best viewed at a distance, the 
odour being anything but agreeable, and resembling somewhat that of the 
Aristolochia ; the colours inside the flower are very pretty and curiously 
blended. This is one of the few flowers, we believe, that are self- 
fertilising, that process being accomplished before the flower opens by a 
cuiious movement of the anthers. It ripens seeds freely, and is readily 
increased by that means. It is a native of Northern India, flowering 
June and July. 
The other species C. lurida, generally grown under the name of C. 
o tundifolia, but differing widely from Royle’s plant of that name, which 
