Jane 6,1895. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
503 
look over the Calceolarias, which are growing aa they should be, with 
foliage stout, deep green, and destitute of insects ; stems stiff, strong, 
and requiring no stakes to keep them upright; and large trusses of 
handsome, shapely, and heavy flowers. The colours are exceptional— 
here for their sohness, there for their intensity, and yonder, again for 
their translucency. For several years this able gardener has been 
working on Calceolarias with the object of improving them in texture, 
habit, and range of colouration, and well he has succeeded. An 
inquiry as to when the seeds were sown elicited the reply of “July 
last, and the plants have never once been allowed to stand still 
since that time.” Constantly progressing is, in this grower’s opinion, 
the way to make the most of these plants, for says he. Once allow them 
to receive a check, and all hopes of attaining to perfection may be 
promptly relinquished. On placing the rule to one plant growing in a 
4J-inch pot we found it to measure 2 feet across, and a count showed 
fourteen trusses of bloom. 
Leaving with reluctance the Calceolarias, we pass to the next house, 
that contains some grand Palms arranged in the centre with a general 
collection of flowering and foliage plants on the side stages, and all 
evidencing the best cultivation. Amongst these Justicia carnea with its 
peculiarly shaped flowers was very attractive, while on the roof was 
growing a splendid Stephanotis floribunda that was carrying great 
numbers of its deliciously fragrant flowers. Another point worthy of 
remark about this plant was its absolute cleanliness in regard to 
insect enemies. In another structure red and white Lapagerias were 
making splendid headway. These were a few of the many plants seen. 
Before leaving the flowers, however, mention must be made of the 
Gloxinias that are grown so well. The plants are from seeds secured 
from a crossing of two of the finest strains in commerce, and as the best 
of culture has been accorded, the plants are now carrying large numbers 
of delicately hued blooms. 
Fruits under glass are well grown, the Peaches and Nectarines being 
especially worthy of note. All the trees are producing good crops of 
fruit, and of course in various stages. The growth and cleanliness of 
the trees were alike excellent features, creditable both to the treat¬ 
ment and to the grower. Strawberries in pots are a feature indeed, 
for they are to be seen everywhere, large numbers being cultivated. 
They are principally kept on shelves in the various houses, and the 
quantity of fruit, with its perfect colouration, is proof that here again 
an excellent system of culture is followed. Melons look remarkably 
well, as also do the Cucumbers (if we can be excused for bringing them 
under the category of fruits) each of which is carrying very satisfactory 
crops. The Vines are somewhat too limited in numbers, and con¬ 
sequently have to do a great deal of hard work in the form of heavy 
crops year after year, despite which they are in fairly good condition, 
and are now showing some really good bunches. 
From the fruits we quickly made our way to the Orchid houses, 
which, if limited in number, are stocked with a finely diversified collec¬ 
tion of plants in the best of health. As a criterion of quality, readers 
might refer back to the splendid Cattleya citrina, figured in the Journal 
of Horticulture for May 9th, and which emanated from this collection. 
Numerous plants of Cattleya Mossise are grown, and on some the flowers 
are of distinct merit. In the same house were noticed Phalseaopsis 
grandiflorus, Lycaste aromatica, L. Deppei ; a very fine form of Cypri- 
pedium Wallisi, with its long petals ; Brassia verrucosa, Oncidium 
concolor, and many others. In a small house of recent erection Odonto- 
glossums of various kinds find a congenial home. Several charming 
forms of 0. crispum were particularly noticeable, as also were 
O. cirrhosum, 0. cordatum, and 0. Pescatorei in variety. Brightening 
the display were plants of Epidendrum vitellinum majus and Masde- 
vallia Harryana, while interest was added with a plant of Masdevallia 
nycterina, growing in a 6-inch pot, and on which were upwards of four 
dozens of flowers. To do justice to the Orchids much more should be 
said, but time forbids, and it is necessary that we go on, or we shall not 
see all in the allotted time. 
Out of doors neatness is the prevailing feature, and it extends over 
the kitchen and fruit as well as the flower garden. Vegetable crops are 
all looking remarkably well. Peas being especially fine. Asparagus is, 
and has been for some time, providing good dishes, while all other crops 
in season are well represented. Potatoes and Lettuces in frames 
have been very fine, but are now rapidly getting past. Weeds are at 
a minimum, as the gardener believes in allowing useful vegetable and 
fruit crops to derive all possible advantage from the soil, instead of 
being robbed, as is often the case, by useless and untidy weeds. Fruit 
trees, young and old, are to be seen in numbers, some carrying fruits that 
are readily perceptible, others, of course, being very much later. Bush 
fruits also find a place, and with those previously named receive the 
best possible attention in every way, as, in fact, is the case with 
everything on the place. The flower and pleasure gardens, where Roses 
revel, are all admirably kept, and the same may well be said of the 
soft, springy lawns. But time forbids more lengthy mention, so with 
pleasant thoughts we return to the station and London.— Nomad. 
GROS COLMAN GRAPE. 
'•Mr. Thomson’s euloaium (page 476) of this fine Grape is well 
deserved. So far as ih: ueed for good heat to develop flavour is 
concerned doubtless he it right so far as Clovenfords is in question, 
but I have tasted fr m Fordingbridge the bast flavour this Grape 
can give, as grown by^M'-. S. Castle when there, and his treatment 
was comparatively |c ol. There are some Grapes,; and this is one, in 
which really capital flavour is found apart from deepest colour. 
Still, Gros Colman generally coloured very well. It would be very 
interesting were Mr. Castle to give a short outline of his Hampshire 
treatment of Gros Colman. Whether he may find it suitable at 
Nottingham has to be shown. If not the best flavoured Grape in 
cultivation it is one of the pleasantest to eat, because its flavour, unlike 
that of the Muscat, does not soon kill {the palate, and a more refreshing 
Grape for ordinary use or for invalids does not exist.—D. 
CELMISIA SPECTABILIS. 
This is the name of the flower of which “ A. B.” sends us a fine 
specimen. It is a very rare plant, and is comparatively new, having 
been exhibited for the first time only about five years ago. ^The 
FIG. 91.—CELMISIA SPECTABILIS. 
woodcut (fig. 91) will convey to those readers an idea of what this 
little composite is like. This plant usually grows to a height of about 
6 inches, and has narrow lanceolate leaves, white and woolly on the 
under surface. The flower heads are 2 inches in diameter, with 
closely set. narrow, pure white ray florets and a golden disk. Being 
very compact, it is well adapted for culture in pots in a cool house, or 
it may be found useful out of doors when more plentiful. 
THE PLANTING OF WELSH CROWN LANDS. 
Any reflective traveller, whose business leads him over a large extent 
of the United Kingdom, must be surprised as the train whirls him over 
mile after mile of hill and dale, to see the large extent oi hillsides, too 
bleak or too short of soil to be profitable to the farmer, lying idle and 
unproductive. When he considers that our foreign timber bill amounts 
to nearly £20,000,000 per annum, and that we have thousands of acres 
of land quite as capable of producing this timber as those abroad from 
which our supplies are drawn, oqr reflective traveller will probably 
consider that the nation’s immense expenditure abroad, for what it 
could in great part produce at home, is a fact adverse to the practical 
spirit that it is sometimes credited with. If he seeks after causes he will 
conclude they must either be indifference, ignorance, or want of capital. 
