April !), 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
287 
this district in constant succession, and we wo ild willingly linger 
still more on the way. But February days are short, and we must 
hurry on—that is, we get out and walk while our interesting quad¬ 
ruped follows meditatively ; and after various directions, mis¬ 
directions, and mutual misunderstandings, the ascent was at last 
commenced that leads to the heights of Gouville. There the Comte 
de Germiny and his gardener were awaiting our long-delayed arrival. 
The coachman was severely reprimanded, some much-needed 
r freshment lightened our spiiits, and an inspection was shortly 
cammenced of 
The Chateau de Gouvii.ee Gardens. 
The Chateau (fig. 52) is situated at an elevation of several 
hundred feet, overlooking a spacious valley with park-like, densely 
wooded expanses beyond on the opposite hillsides, while at the 
hase is a lake of considerable dimensions, the apparent source of 
■the stream which runs through the long valley in the direction of 
Rouen. The gleam from the water imparted a welcome brightness 
to the landscape, bghtirg up the depths cf the val’ey and con- 
ti ibuting an important item to the picture. The view from the 
•open lawn slopes in front of the Chateau is, in fact, most varied 
and beautiful, quite English in its chief characteristics, and every¬ 
thing is in accord, the building itself being a substantial, handsome 
structure, evidently built for convenience as well as for ornament. 
The shrubberies and tree plantation around are all in due propor¬ 
tion, heavily in'^ss^d for effect, and not thinly scattered with a 
meagre hand, nU nfortunately the winter has left disastrous marks 
upon many va’ued shrubs, and much reduction, with replanting in 
.some cases, will be necessary to restore the wonted condition. 1 he 
Gouville estates cover a large extent of land, and are exceedingly 
well managed, one speciality beyond the arboricultural department 
being piscicultur’e, which is one of the Comte deGerminy’s hobbies, 
and he has made a systematic study of the subject, as evidenced by 
the experiments undertaken on a large scale in ditfererjt parts of 
the valley. We cannot stay, however, to refer to these row,for the 
girden and the Orchids are the principal objects of the present visit, 
and we tbe’-efore hasten to the range of g''ass houses to inspect the 
treasures they contain. 
On this side ef the Channel we are famibar with genCemen’s 
gardens where plants are extensively cultivated under glass, but on 
the Continent they are much less numerous, and as a general ru’e 
Ihe best examples of plant cultivation are to be found in nurseries. 
Well-grown large private coTections are the exception, not the 
rule as here ; and the Gouv lie plants must take high lank amongst 
the exceptions both as to culture, number, and value. Throug' out 
the whole establisbmmt it is evident that the 
first requirement is the healthy condition of 
the plants. It has not been the object, as is 
so frequently the case in such places, merely to 
form a botanical collection ef as many spee'es 
or varieties as p ssible. S lection has been 
made of the more drstinc*’, at*^ractive, and 
Interesting ; and the endeavour has been to 
obtain these in their best concit’en as fully 
developed specimens. In pursuit of th's object 
a large share of success has been achieved, and 
some of the results wid now be briefly noted. 
There are three large blocks or series of 
houses, two of these being occupied with 
Orchids and other plants ; the third range 
(fig. 53) comprising the fruit houses. The 
structures are of various s’zes and shapes, 
several of iron framework with curvilinear 
foofs which seem to be the favouiite form on 
the Continent ; others are neat compact spins 
of the usual plant-growing type, but all ahke 
are light and elegant, and two or three are 
exceptionally spacious and well constructed. 
Passing through s me smaller houses filled v ith 
capital specimen Cinerarias and Cyclamens cf 
excellent varieties, one of the piincipal struc¬ 
tures is reached devoted to Orchids arranged 
in a mest artistic manner. It is a lofty wide 
span-roofed house with stages at the side, but 
the centre is covered with Selaginellas, Ferna, 
and Bromeliaceous plants, amongst which are placed the larger 
specimen Orchids ; some are raised on pedestals, and many others 
are suspended in baskets from the roof. Associated with the 
Orchids are some fine Ntpecthes and Anthuriums, and it can 
be readily imagined that with abundance of Orchid flowers ex¬ 
panded the effect produced is extremely beautiful. Besides, the 
conditions are exactly those required ; the Fern rockeries, streamlets, 
fountains, and undergrowth cf Selaginellas maintain a uniform 
diealthy moisture which is corstantly reaching the foliage and roots. 
The plants as a result are thriving vigorously and flower just as 
freely. Very conspicuous were Driidrobium nobile majus with 
i si.xty flowers and D. Leechiinnm with forty, both excellent types. 
, A distinct D. Freemani and many other Dendrobiums were also 
flowering. Coelogyne ciistata albr, Lycaste Skinneii alba with 
I eleven large flow'ers, the elegant Saccolabium illustre, the remark-, 
^ able Vanda Cathcarti, Angrmeum sesquipetale, and with Aerides 
! Phalienopses, and scores of other handsome plants contributed 
liberally to the floral display. In the central bed an unusually fine 
specimen Vanda Batemani, 8 feet, was a perfect giant amongst its 
relatives, and was evidently thoroughly at home in a b.asket, stand¬ 
ing amongst the moist Ferns and rearing its stem nearly to the glass. 
Scarc^’ly less noticeable, too, suspended fnin the roof was Vanda 
suavis, the roots of which had descended in a dense thicket, some 
(1 or 7 feet to the bed beneath. A stately Bromeliaceous plant, 
j Chevallietia Veitchi, was also noticeable in the central bed, and had 
a fine spike of its richly coloured scarlet bracts. This plant had been 
ill flower for over a year—a sufficient indication of its usefulness, 
and it is surpri.‘-ing that so many valuable decorative plants in this 
family are neglected in England. Another Bromeliad of quite a 
different type but not less beautiful is Schlumbergeria Lindeni, 
which celebrates in i‘s generic title the name of the Comte de 
Germiny’s son-in-law, M. Schlumberger, a resident in the district, 
and fully as enthusiastic a lover of horticulture as the Comte 
him-elf. This plant has finely tessellated leaves, 2 or 3 feet long 
and about 4 inches broad, the transparent green lines on a bright 
green ground colour having a ckarming effect. 
The tropical Bromeliads succeed well under the same conditions 
as the Orchids from the hottest regions. The Anthuriums thrive 
in the same house, two specimens of A. Veitchi having thirty 
or forty weU developed leaves ea^h ; Anthurium Andreanum, too, 
is a special feature both in the large house and in a warm porch, 
and this hand.-ome plant first flowered at Gouville. They are 
grown very strongly, and it is frequently necessary to behead them, 
the stems producing roots quickly, and from thirty to forty fine 
spathes are produced on each large specimen every year. Upon 
the shelves are abundance of smaller plants, with Pba’senopses in 
capital condition, an example of P. amabilis having eleven grand 
leaves, each 5 inches in diameter. In an adjoining house of this range 
there was a brilliant display of Ada aurantiaca, and in contrast with 
these Odontoglossums Pescatorei and crispum, Cy pripediums villosum 
and in«igr.e are profusely flowered, at a time too when flowers are 
always scai-ce. Coelogynes, Sobralias, Odontoglossums, Cymbi- 
diums, Masdevallias, and Laelias fill neighbouring houses, many 
large specimens of choice varieties being represented. 
Clivias, Camellias, large specimen Azaleas, Acacias, and various 
hardwooded plants have much space devoted to them, and unlike 
specimens of the ordinary exhibition character these are not so 
rigidly trained as to destroy their natural habits ; and they are, 
moreover, in the freshest and most healthy condition imaginable. 
In still other Orchid houses there is a wonderful collection of 
Cattleyas, especially rich in varieties rf C. Triaum, C. Mendeli, and 
C. Mossise—a trio of most useful types. Odontoglossums, including 
O. vexillarium, are remarkably well grown, and the hot continental 
FIG. r)3 .—gouville gardens. 
