February 19, l£91. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
143 
enterprise, and has thoroughly grasped its scope and importance. 
The land was surrounded by a substantial wall 14 feet high, with 
another about the centre, dividing the space into two nearly equal 
-divisions. In one of these work was commenced by an elaborate 
system of drainage, rendered especially necessary by the heavy 
'Character of the soil, but it is facilitated by a moderate slope to 
the south-east. A good portion of the soil Las also been rendered 
more useful by a “ burning,” and the ballast thus produced has 
■proved of great service for mixing with heavi'jr material for 
borders, and also in the houses for stages, upon which plants are 
arranged. A plan for covering the greater part of the land in the 
division with glass houses was next carefully considered, and ulti¬ 
mately the work of erecting the houses was allotted to Messrs. 
Messenger & Co. of Loughborough, who have performed their task 
in an eminently satisfactory manner. There are in all some 
•seventy-one structures, varying in size from IGO to 072 feet, with 
aiumerous frames, and the whole are of a light yet substantial and 
■elegant character, such as we have never seen surpassed in any 
nobleman’s garden. The houses are chiefly span-roofed, but some 
are three-quarter spans and others are lean-to’s, and throughout 
one of the distinguishing features is the avoidance of central 
pillars and supports, the rafters and roofs being strengthened by 
neat cross-ties of iron, giving them quite an ornamental appearance 
while economising space. 'The principal houses are in three great 
’blocks running south-east to north-west, a nearly equal number of 
houses being parallel in each block, with rods between the ends of 
the adjoining blocks. Spacious tanks run crossways through the 
•centre of each group of houses, and provision is thus made for an 
abundant supply of rain water, as the collecting surface is a large 
one. Beyond this, however, a tank of considerable dimen¬ 
sions is being constructed to collect the water from the roofs of 
•sheds and offices. A well has also been sunk, and with an engine, 
water tower, and tank at a good elevation, not only is a supply 
ensured, but considerable force can also be obtained when needed. 
The heating arrangements have been made with much 
judgment and care. Trentham boilers are used in pairs for the 
different blocks, so that they can be worked separately or together, 
:a3 desired or necessary. During the recent severe weather they 
liave proved quite satisfactory, and no difficulty has been ex¬ 
perienced maintaining the requisite temperature over so large 
an area. Plenty of piping has been employed, and in most cases 
the pipes instead of being in blocks are distributed over the house 
-to ensure a greater equalisation of the temperature. Ventilation is 
provided for by a lever arrangement which opens the roof ventila¬ 
tors for a good length, and side ventilation is effected by sliding 
shutters or similar contrivances. 
With regard to the houses individually and their occupants it 
'will be impossible to give a detailed description within the limits 
of an article in the Journal of Horticulture, but it may be 
■remarked that the whole of the houses are not yet filled, and 
-as their erection was not commenced until last summer the 
work must have been conducted with magical speed to have 
accomplished so much in a few months. The houses in the large 
•blocks already mentioned are principally devoted to Roses, 
■Orchids, Cucumbers, Melons, Beans, Tomatoes, Strawberries, 
Peaches, forcing bulbs, with other flowering plants, and for 
propagating stock. In the Rose houses, of which there are several 
'21Q feet long each, the varieties—Marochal Niel, William Allen 
Jlichardson, and Niphetos, all on the seedling Briar—are planted 
in borders about 3 feet wide on each side of the path, and are 
making capital growth. Much attention is being devoted to 
'Strawberries, and a three-quarter span house with a stage at the 
back, and of similar length to those just described, contains a large 
•stock of Noble, of which 10,000 are being forced ; La Grosse 
-Sucroe, Auguste Nicaise, President, Sir Joseph Paxton, James 
Veitch, Sir Charles Napier, and British Queen being the chief of 
'the other varieties grown. A lofty structure near this, 24 feet 
•■wide and 270 long, is to be filled with large Palms and other 
-specimen foliage plants ; for such it is well adapted, but at present 
•only a few have been obtained. 
A series of houses of moderate width, with roofs at a sharp 
angle, have been planted with Peaches and Nectarines in all the 
>mo8t approved varieties, and another larger lean-to against a wall 
•at the upper part of the ground is similarly occupied, from which 
-a large supply should be obtained when the trees are in full beating. 
The vinery is next reached, and that is an astonishing structure, 
a lean-to facing east by south. It is 072 feet long, really in two 
sections, but practically constituting one house in seven divisions. 
The back wall is 14 feet high, and with It) feet length of rafter 
it can be imagined that the Vines will have plenty of space to 
-extend. These are planted 4 feet apart, an inside border communi- 
•cating by arches in the front wall with a border out.'<ide, which has 
been duly concreted, drained, and prepared in the orthodox manner, 
ffn most instances a division is devoted to one variety, as Lady 
Downe’s, Black Hamburgh (two), Muscat of Alexandria (two), 
Gros Colman, but Buckland Sweetwater is associated with tie 
Black Ilamburghs in one house, and in the last of the range we find 
Alicante, Alnwick Seedling, and Gros Maroc. The houses are 
arranged for succession to cover a long period of the year, while 
for the earliest supplies a house in the lower block has been appro¬ 
priated to Vines in pots. The last named house was an extremely 
attractive one at the time of my visit, a week ago, as the Vines 
(Black Hamburgh), after some trouble, had “ broken ” very regu¬ 
larly and strongly, showing abundance of vigorous bunches, and 
being trained to the roof they formed an arched bower of fresh 
greenery of a most pleasing character. The results from this house 
are also likely to be highly satisfactory, for the present appearance 
is most promising. There, also, three divisions are arranged for 
succession. 
Now we come to the Orchids, which hold an important position 
at Hillingdon, and have proved so satisfactory that still more 
space will probably be assigned to them. Several houses are 
occupied with strong well selected plants of the most freely 
flowering and useful forms, as the flowers are in much demand at 
the Westbourne Grove headquarters. Coclogyne cristata is an 
especial favourite, the flowers of great size and substance, one 
FIG. 27.—ODONTOGI-OSSTJM TaiUMPIIAX?, W’lIITKriKY’.S VAIt. 
specimen having had 170 flowers open ; Cattleya Trianae is re¬ 
presented by vigorous specimens either in flower or showing 
abundance of sheaths, and some fine varieties have already been 
noted ; Laelias autumnalis and anceps, Lycastes, the rich orange 
Laelia harpophylla, Cypripediuras villosum and insigne, with 
Dendrobiums nobile, crassinode, and Wardianum, are all grown in 
quantity. Oncidiums in capital plants and good varieties furnished 
a beautiful display at the time of my visit, and the attraction of 
this handsome Orchid cannot be overvalued for all kinds of floral 
work. Another special favourite is Odontoglossum triumphans, of 
which there are some admirably grown plants with large flowers, 
and amongst them was found the variety which was shown at the 
last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, and duly honoured 
by the Oichid Committee as one of the best in colour, form, 
and size that has ever been exhibited. In fig. 27 is depicted a 
sketch of one flower from the strong raceme borne by the plant 
in question. Calanthe Regnieri, Odontoglossum triumphans, 
0. Alexandra, O. Sanderianum, and 0. Rescatorei are also well 
grown, and it is evident that not only do the houses suit Orchids 
exactly, but Mr. Godfrey knows just the treatment they require, 
and plants that produce blooms saleable at OJ. to Is. each are 
worthy of all attention. 
In the forcing houses Eucharises, Lilies of the Valley, Azaleas, 
Gardenias, Freesias, Deutzias, Tuberoses, Stephanotes, and count- 
loss other plants are grown in large numbers. Provision Is being 
made for a large supply of Tomatoes, Hackwood Park and Trophy 
being the selected varieties; Conference is also to be tried. Kidney 
Bjans are advancing well, considering the season ; also Cucumbers, 
