August 2 1W. J 
93 
f 1 5 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
X 
-on the soil. Melons and Cucumbers are grown with these plants, and it 
is astonishing how much is done with the limited space suitable for 
growing Various kinds of plants. 
The shrubberies are well stocked with a choice assortment of deci- 
•duous trees, Conifers, and evergreens, and lawns and walks kept in the 
best condition. A groujl of the Golden Elder and Purple Nut (Corylus) 
at the entrance is particularly effective, the former being cut back 
yearly, and in July the green points are picked from the young growths, 
"the bushes themselves being a mass of clear yellow. It is surprising how 
greatly they are improved by the simple process of pinching in the sum¬ 
mer. The most effective flowering shrub a fortnight ago was Philadelphus 
grandiflorus, densely covered with flowers much larger, purer, and 
dess powerfully scented than those of the old Mock Orange. P. coronarius. 
The large-flowered variety might be planted more freely with advantage 
to the appearance of pleasure grounds in summer. The flower garden is 
rendered cheerful by variety—hardy herbaceous plants, subtropical 
mixtures, and carpet bedding being well represented. Tuberous Begonias 
•are also remarkably well grown in masses, the beds surfaced with Sedum 
glaucum. This has a very neat appearance, and contrasts well with the 
rich flowers above, while it prevents the soil being dashed upon them 
■during heavy rains, and arrests evaporation in hot weather, but ill that 
respect was more useful last year than this. A rockery dell made a few 
years ago is now furnished, and is a charming feature of the grounds. 
It is worthy of description, but this cannot be given at the present 
lime. 
The crops in the kitchen garden are too luxuriant, the wet weather 
and strong soil forcing them out of character. The Red Currant bushes 
are worthy of special note. S ; x or seven branches have been chosen and 
.summer-pinched as cordons ; these extending some 6 feet long are 
densely clustered with fruit their whole length, and as there is a clear 
.space of a foot or more between them, the crop is quickly and easily 
gathered. Gooseberry bushes are borne down with fruit, as usual, and 
are seldom pruned, but the bearing branches are thinly disposed, and 
the fruit is taken off in handfuls. It is not tco much to say that everj'- 
■thing attempted indoors or out is done well at Swanmore, and beyond 
the gardens Mr. Molyneux has planted about 250,000 trees during the 
.past three or four years, so it will be apparent be has something else to 
think about and attend to besides Chrysanthemums. His assistants 
work under his personal instructions in all the departments, hence he 
holds himself responsible for the failure of whatever may be in hand, 
and correspondingly he must be credited with the success achieved, 
though he does not hesitate to speak approvingly of the good and will¬ 
ing services of his helpers. All appear to work well, cheerfully, and 
happily at Swanmore. It is felt that the head of all deserves their best 
-efforts, as he is generous, appreciative, and kind.— A Wandeeee. 
BLUE GUM TREES. 
The remarks of “ F. H.” at p. 77 in reference to the Blue Gum of 
Australia (Eucalyptus globulus) not being often met with in a flourish¬ 
ing condition planted out of doors in this country, induces me to say 
■that one is growing in a border and trained up the wall of the south 
part of the Hotel Ilfracombe, in the picturesque seaside town of that 
name. The tree occupies a central position, is from 30 to 40 feet high, 
-having a large trunk and a good spread of luxuriant foliage. I have 
-also noticed several other Blue Gum trees of smaller size in different 
parts of Ilfracombe, and, if I remember rightly, in the village of 
■Clovelly, ensconced on the face of a steep chasm in the seacoast 23 
miles thence and 10 miles from Bideford. But if your correspondent 
will refer to the Journal for June 16th, 1887, p. 482, he will find that 
there is a much larger specimen than the one recorded above in the 
beautiful grounds at Whittinghame, Prestonkirk—nearly 600 miles 
farther north—and which is probably the largest Eucalyptus in Great 
Britain. The dimensions are—trunk, 10 feet 4 inches in girth ; main 
limb, 5 feet; other two, 3 feet 7 inches each, and some of smaller 
•dimensions ; height, 60 feet. It may not be out of place to state that 
the sod at Whittinghame overlies the old red sandstone formation, the 
subsoil being mostly of sand or gravel ; the atmosphere is consequently 
■ dry, and to this fact is attributed thi immunity from severe frosts, and 
f rost does not do the same amount of daipage as it does in low-lying 
districts, where the air is more moist. Whittinghame is but a few miles 
from the German Ocean, its elevation being about 320 feet above sea 
level. -H. W. Wabd. 
HUME A ELEGANS. 
This half-hardy biennial is of graceful habit. It attains a 
height of 5 or 6 feet when w|ell grown, the large fragrant leaves and 
feathery inflorescence being very telling in a border, the centre of 
a mixed bed, or mixed with less tall-growing plants on the centre 
stages of greenhouse or conservatory. The seed should be sown at 
once in a 6-inch pot or small pan filled with sandy soil. Cover 
lightly, water, and place on a shelf in the greenhouse with a piece 
of glass and a little moss over it. As soon as the little plants 
appear the moss should be removed. "When large enough they 
should be pricked out in thumb-pots, one in the centre of each, 
using a mixture of light sandy loam and sweet leaf mould, three 
parts of the former to one of the latter ; water through a fine rose. 
Place them near to the glass in a cold frame. Shade and keep 
close until the plants have recovered from the slight check which 
they experienced through having their roots disturbed. After¬ 
wards they should be shifted into larger pots, as they require more 
room at the roots, and be grown on in a position near to the glass 
in a dry airy greenhouse.—H. W. 
SOBRALIA LEUCOXANTHA. 
At a recent sale in Messrs. Protheroe’s Rooms, Cheapside, a plant 
of Sobralia leucoxantha from Messrs. Seeger & Tropp was sold 
for 30 guineas after a very spirited competition, “ thus showing,” as 
a correspondent remarks, “that good Orchids realise full value.” 
This Sobralia, which is one of the most beautiful species in the 
genus, is very rare, and I have heard of but three good examples— 
the one recently sold, as already stated ; a second, which is or was 
in the possession of Mr. Grose Smith, who is said to have refused 
75 guineas for it; and a magnificent plant in Mr. R. H. Measures’ 
collection at The Woodlands, Streatham. The list named has been 
flowering well this season, and its owner has kindly forwarded the 
Fir;. 10 .—30BRALIA LEUCOXAXTIIA. 
flower from which the woodcut (fig. 10) has been prepared, but 
the drawing has been slightly reduced below the natural size. 
In the flower sent the sepals were nearly 3 inches long and 
1 inch broad, massive, pure white, and recurving. The petals were 
of similar length and breadth, slightly recurving, not quite so thick 
as the sepals, but very pure white. The lip is partially tubular, 
the tube 2 inches long, the limb rounded one half to three-quarters 
of an inch across, and beautifully frilled, rich orange yellow in the 
throat fading to the margin, which is pure white ; the base of the 
lip and the column are also white. The flower is very neat in form, 
the wax-like substance and purity being beautifully relieved by the 
dash of orange in the lip. 
The plant is dwarf in habit, the slender stems 1 to 2 feet high 
bearing plicate leaves like those of other better known Sobralias, 
and the flowers are clustered near the apex of the stem. It is 
related to S. macrophylla, but must not be confounded with S. 
xantholeuca, also a rare, valuable, and handsome plant, bearing pale 
yellow flowers. 
