382 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAO^iARDENER. 
[ November S, 1887. 
Gros Colman. The Vines are planted about B feet apart and 6 feet be¬ 
tween the rows. They are to be grown on upright wires, and stopped 
when they reach the roof. It will be interesting to know how that 
system will answer. Between the Vines are planted Tomatoes, which 
were bearing enormous crops. One of the brothers alone has fifty-two 
houses, ranging from 80 to 120 feet long, principally planted with 
Grapes, Tomatoes, and Cucumbers.” 
- A Lawn Tennis Ground. —“ G. W. C.” states that ■ “ at 
Canwick Hall, Lincoln, there is a tennis ground made two or three 
years ago by Mr. William Harris, the gardener. When the soil had 
been wheeled out to the required depth, the rough stones were placed 
back again in the bottom to the depth of 9 inches, then about 
3 inches depth of coarse cinders was put on, the whole well rolled in, 
and finished off with 2 inches of binding ashes from a brickyard. 
It is occasionally rolled, and has a fine even surface. The size i s 
123 feet by 100 feet. It is so porous that a game may be played a 
few minutes after a shower, and in the winter by allowing it first to 
become hard with frost it may be flooded to a depth of 3 inches, which 
then forms a sheet of ice, and thus makes a safe place for skating. 
The lawn is extensive, and is sometimes used in addition to the above 
for tennis courts. There are some splendid specimen trees growing 
on it, noticeable very fine Cedars, Picea Pinsapo, the Weeping Elms 
and Beech, an enormous drooping Ash, and in the shrubberies around 
are several grand specimens of Ailantus glandulosa.” 
ORCHIDS AT LINCOLN. 
East Ci.ifte House, the residence of N. Clayton, Esq., has 
been celebrated for some years in the neighbourhood for the collec¬ 
tion of Orchids and other valuable plants grown so successfully by 
Mr. A. Wipf. Although the new and rarer plants are added the 
grand old ones are not forgotten, as may be seen in the large healthy 
specimens of Cypripedium insigne, numerous Coelogyne cristata, 
well flowered pieces of Lycaste Skinneri, a plant of which last year 
bore thirty-two blooms, and which promises to carry as many or 
more before long. It is surprising that this does not become a more 
general favourite ; few Orchids last longer in perfection. I have 
known an individual bloom to remain fresh for six months, and 
some of the varieties are very beautiful. 
Dendrobium nobile is represented by some good plants, and their 
season of blooming is extended by hastening some into early growth 
and retarding others. The lovely D. Dearei is flowering freely, one 
small plant carrying twenty charming white blooms ; this, too, 
remains quite fresh for a long time. D. infundibulum close by is 
an admirable companion to the above. A fine specimen of Cattleya 
Aclandne, 24 feet through, must be a sight worth seeing when in 
bloom. It is grown in a large pot, well drained, and potted in good 
fibrous peat, with a little fresh sphagnum. Cymbidium eburneum 
is grown well and blooms very freely every season. Of Odonto- 
glossum Phalcenopsis and of 0. vexillarium there are some clean 
healthy plants. Cypripedium niveum and C. Spicerianum are grown 
in quantity. The Phakenopses, some of which are flowering, look 
at home. Aerides Lobbi, Saccolabium Blumei majus, and S. retusum 
are in bloom, the latter having three spikes of waxy white, spotted 
with pink, flowers. These are only a few of Mr. Wipf’s favourites. 
Nepenthes and Sarracenias also come in for a large share of attention, 
and there are many interesting hybrids of the latter rapidly forming 
good plants. 
CANWICK HALL. 
This is one of the country seats belonging to C. C. Sibthorp, 
Esq., and although the Orchids are not numerous (for they only 
occupy part of the plant stove) there is something to give the . 
amateur an idea of what may be grown satisfactorily associated 
with other plants. The first to command notice is the old but 
lovely Oncidium fiexuosum, which is grown in quantity. The 
plants are in 48-sized pots, the compost being equal parts of 
good peat and sphagnum moss. The variety is larger than the 
ordinary form, bright yellow, spotted with brown. Some of the 
plants were carrying four spikes each, producing abundance of 
flowers that will last a long time. Another favourite of easy culture 
is Odontoglossum grande. This annually yields a grand display of i 
flowers in the dull autumn days, rendering it doubly valuable to the 
owners, who are so fond of flowers, and it has the advantage of 
remaining a month or more in beauty if the flowers are kept dry. 
Another plant which is grown remarkably well is the old Zygopeta- 
lum Mackayi. There are many specimens which flower during the 
winter months and last a long time in perfection. Oncidium 
Papilio, a fine healthy plant, has not been disturbed from a block 
that it was placed on ten years ago, and it continues blooming from 
the old flower stems. This is rooting freely, and during the growing 
period receives a liberal amount of water. Some Cattleyas and 
Dendrobiums, &c., are grown in the same house. The gardening 
management throughout reflects much credit on the painstaking 
chief, Mr. W. Harris, who has been in charge for so many years. 
SUDBROOKE HOLME. 
This is another residence of C. C. Sibthorpe, Esq., and is about 
six miles from Lincoln. The gardens are in charge of Mr. George 
Gray, who is a skilful plant grower and a good all-round gardener. 
His plants are tastefully arranged. In one house are principally 
Ferns and Orchids. The iron supports and roof are furnished with 
light and graceful-growing climbers, such as Asparagus plumosus, 
Lygodium scandens, and Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, the latter blooming 
very freely with flowers somewhat resembling an Oncidium. Half 
way between the stages and the floor a long narrow box about 
4 inches wide and the same depth runs the entire length. This is 
filled with Panicum variegatum, and adds greatly to the charm of 
the house. Mr. Gray is a great believer in the free use of guano, 
and judging from the freshness of his plants he evidently knows 
how to use it to advantage, although he does not make a practice of 
administering it direct to his Orchids. Acropera Loddigesi in large 
plants with many pendulous racemes is very interesting. It suc¬ 
ceeds best well elevated above the rim of the pot and grown in a 
warm house. Another plant requiring similar treatment is the old 
but handsome Gongora atropurpurea, for when in flower it is very 
interesting. Oncidium ampliatum majus and O. incurvum are well 
grown, the latter flowering freely. The blooms are small, but are 
produced freely and remain a long time in perfection. It is useful 
during the autumn and winter months. Calanthes are sending up 
good stout spikes, which will succeed the Odontoglossum Alexandra 
and 0. grande now in bloom. 0. citrosmum is making strong 
growths, which will make a fine display in the spring, and Cattleya 
crispa, C. Mossise, and C. Trianfe are likewise promising well for 
the future ; they are all large plants. The fragrant Lycaste 
aromatica in good specimens is much admired. L. (Maxillaria) 
Harrisoni and L. II. alba are well worth growing, especially when 
the plants attain the size of these at Sudbrooke. Other good 
plants of easy culture are Brassias, various sorts of Epidendrums, 
Cypripediums, C. Boxalli is exceptionally well done, Stanhopeas, 
and Zygopetalums. In one of the vineries at rest are some Den¬ 
drobiums, and in another house are good plants of the pretty 
Anoectochilus Dawsonianus. Many fine species of this genus have 
been introduced, but some are so difficult to manage that one seldom 
has the pleasure of seeing a good collection. I believe the most 
satisfactory manner of growing them is to pot them in peat and 
sand, with a little fresh sphagnum moss and potsherds broken small 
and placed on inverted pans or pots in a large pan of water, taking 
care that the water does not touch the pots containing the plants, 
the whole being covered with a large bellglass, mounted an inch or 
two above the water to allow a sufficient amount of air to pass 
under. The leaves of the one under notice are very attractive, 
and the flowers, which are white, are very useful for cutting.— 
G. W. C. 
INDIAN EXPERIENCES. 
(Continued from page 359.) 
The Government botanical garden of the Nilgiris is situated on the 
slopes of the Dodabetta Mountain at Ootacamund, and, as previously 
stated, was first laid out by the late Mr. W. G. Mclvor in 1848. Since 
that date it has undergone considerable change and improvement, and 
is now under the direction of Mr. A. M. Lawson, late professor of 
botany at Oxford, who was appointed some few years ago director of 
Government Chinchona plantations, parks, and gardens, with Mr. Jamie¬ 
son, the former superintendent, as curator. The garden, since the time 
of its first formation, has gradually developed into one of the most 
beautiful, and, on account of the climate, one of the most enjoyable 
spots on the face of the globe. Beautiful trees, shrubs, plants, and 
flowers, collected from many lands, may be s en and studied in their 
fullest development in the open air all the year round. Originally the 
site of the gardens was a thickly wooded ravine with a range of altitude 
of from 200 to 250 feet. Mr. Mclvor, with great skill and taste, con¬ 
trived, by preserving portions of the natural forest and large individual 
trees, to lay out, by : paths, terraces, parterres, and pieces of water, a 
garden at once beautiful and picturesque, a veritable queen of pleasure 
grounds. Above and around the garden the slopes of the Dodabetta 
Mountain are clad with splendid specimens of Australian and Tasmanian 
trees, including many examples.of the Blue Gum and other species of 
