420 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
November 8, 1888. 
hesitation, be described as far short of the reality. A grand house is 
grandly filled with plants, as all will admit who see the sight before the 
flowers fade. They will also see other large structures filled with 
Chrysanthemums in various sta.es for the production of flowers in 
abundance from now until February, and perhaps later. They will see 
such banks of Maidenhair Fern in one of the long houses as cannot 
he seen elsewhere, as much money being, perhaps, realised by the sale 
of fronds as from the Grapes above them. “ Plants cannot be grown 
under Vines ” is a very old story, only true, however, in so far as the 
wrong kinds are attempted. Ferns are the right kind, and at Chilwell 
they are better than if there were no shade from the roof, while the 
Grapes are as good as if there were no plants in the house. But the 
structure is lofty, and with more diffused light than if it were low, 
and less damp also. Be that as it may, there is the combination, and 
it is most satisfactory. It will be seen that Orchids are growing well 
and increasing in numbers, not the costly varieties, but useful kinds 
that produce acceptable flowers freely. Quite a young forest of one 
of the finest of berried plants, Ardisia crenulata, will be admired, 
enough, one would think, to stock the country, and the clusters of fruits 
will remain fresh for a year. It is one of the best of room and corridor 
plants, and will keep healthy in a lower temperature than is popularly 
supposed. There is no cessation in the work of Pelargonium raising, for 
the sufficient reason that the new “sets” of each season pass oil as 
readily as ever, and the house is always gay ; perhaps the lofty back 
wall and facing almost due north enhances, by contrast, the effect of 
the colours, for it is clothed with the dark green elegant leafage of 
Asparagus plumosus nanus, which there luxuriates, showing that it 
neither wants sun nor a high temperature for thrifty growth. The 
worst, or the best, of it is they are always cutting the leaves as the demand 
is so great for them for associating with flowers, being found to last 
much longer than Fern in dry and heated roims. Avenues of Mardchal 
Kiel Roses in pots, also Vines, show how well their culture is unde.stood 
and how great the demand for them must be. 
Some oi the finest houses in the trade, usefully occupied, are the 
characteristics of Chilwell, but it was not these alone, or mainly, I went 
to see. My chief object was to have a glance at the Improved, or as it 
is also known as the New Northern Greening Apple growing. Apples on 
plates in shows are all very well, but I have arrived at the conclusion 
that knowledge of the character of the trees is essential for determining 
the true merits of varieties. The best shovv fruits are not always the 
best to grow for profit. Some are both handsome and useful no doubt, 
but others are a good deal more tempting in appearance than they are 
serviceable and reliable. The Improved Northern Greening is not a 
“ show ’ Apple, that is, the fruits are not of enormous size and glowing 
in colour, but they are of good saleable size, uniform, faultless in shape, 
and rank amongst the heaviest according to size of any, and are long 
keepers. A dish was certificated last month at Chiswick, and having 
seen the trees and noted their sturdy growth and free spurring character 
I am satisfied this is an Apple of real usefulness, hardy, free and good. 
It has been long grown in the midlands and north, and sorts that succeed 
well there have not much the matter with them. I do not know whether 
Messrs. Pearson growmore of this than any other, but it is evidently a 
favourite. They grow both trees and fruit, having orchards in bearing 
as well as nurseries for raising trees. I had only time to visit two of 
the latter, and one, the largest, a little surprised me, for it is fifteen 
acres in extent, and the late Mr. J. R. Pearson built a wall right round 
it. It is a single brick wall 4 or 5 feet high, stability being imparted 
by its form thus — 
I did not inquire, but it was built possibly for keeping out rabbits as 
well as for the training of dwarf trees, and it certainly answers both 
purposes. Clean culture was manifest, and the routine work well done. 
And now I must leave Chilwell, calling at Beeston, and having a glance 
round the establishment of 
ME3MS.S. FOSTER & PEARSON. 
Though only twenty minutes could be spared for the glance, the time 
was sufficient for appreciating the extentand completeness of the manu¬ 
factory, but not for noting the requisite details for a full descriptive account. 
Nothing ot that kind will be attempted. Mr. Foster has retired from the 
business, and resides in a pleasant residence on the borders of the town. 
Long ranges of glass structures can be seen “over the wall,” suggesting 
that the owner of them indulges in the pleasures of horticulture. Mr. 
Henry J. Pearson, who is well known for his business activity, quickly 
pointed out the main features of the works, setting into motion with the 
turn of a handle different machines for planing, chamfering, mor¬ 
ticing, turning, boreing, &c., showing with what celerity and accuracy 
the work in wood and metal is completed. 
Almost everything seems to be done by machinery, except painting 
and glazing, these operations being still, I think, done by hand. Some of 
the machinery is very ponderous, and one contrivance for making valves 
is said to be a combination of seven patents. The number of throttle 
valves made suggests their use in other than horticultural structures, 
and in other lands than our own. Ever) thing connected with garden 
structures and their heating appears to be made on the premises, and the 
extent of the work is indicated by the provision made for its prosecu¬ 
tion. The joiners’ shop is 140 x 30 feet, and men and machinery all in 
action. The smiths’ shop is upwards of 60 X 40 feet, full of boilers 
and men and noise. Next are two foundries, a good deal larger, m one 
moulds being shaped in sand for the reception of the molten metal 
from the cupola, for making fittings of various' kinds useful and orna¬ 
mental. Cutting out flower beds in lawns is rough work in comparison 
with the intricacy and accuracy of the receptacles cut in the sand 
from patterns, and out of which the articles come sharp and clear in 
outline. Then there is yet another huge building in which hot-water 
pipes are made, and every one tested at fifty times the pressure it is ever 
likely to endure. 
Several other parts—offices, stores, fitting rooms—were passed through, 
including one in which large frames and roofs are put together before 
being sent away for erection. As may be expected, the timber stacks 
are enormous, and sheds for drying extensive, the supply being main¬ 
tained several years in advance of requirements for ensuring high 
seasoning ; indeed everything appears to be well done, and the establish¬ 
ment is well worth seeing by persons who are interested in the manu 
factories of horticulture.— A Wanderer. 
HIGHLY PRICED CYPRTPEDIUM3. 
Tiie best and scarcest of the hybrid Cypripediums still conr- 
mand large prices, and it is evident that, apart from the beauty of' 
the plants, purchasers consider money so expended as safely in 
vested. At a recent sale in Cheapside, Messrs. Protheroe & Morris 
had a plant of Cypnpedinm Marsliallianum which was sold to a 
gentleman residing in America for 150 guineas. This Cypripe- 
dium is supposed to be a hybrid, hut we do not think the parentage- 
has been satisfactorily determined. On the same occasion a small 
plant of C. leucorrhodum was sold for forty guineas. 
ORCHID3 IN NOVEMBER. 
There is quite a wealth of Orchids available during the last 
three months in the year, among these being many very valuable 
and beautiful species and varieties. Unfavourable weather in the 
metropolitan area unfortunately materially shortens the duration, 
of the bloom on thousands of plants, and in this respect the pro¬ 
vincial growers have a decided advantage. Nowhere else is this 
more apparent than at Cheltenham, and all who pay a visit at this- 
time of year to Mr. J. Cypher’s nursery in the Queen’s Road 
cannot fail to be impressed by the vigour, floriferousness, freshness,, 
and general excellence of the Orchids there grown. To me it is a 
real treat, and which I never miss if it can well be avoided. The 
lovely white flowering and very sweetly scented Angrsecum leonis- 
is most attractive, and Angrsecum sesquipedale will shortly be at 
its best, many strong spikes being formed. Aerides Lawrenci® is- 
represented by several grand plants with extra fine spikes, some 
with as many as thirty-four blooms on them. The original plant 
of this exceptionally fine variety when first imported fetched 
235 guineas. It was bought by Sir J. Trevor Lawrence and named 
in compliment to Lady Lawrence. Mr. Cypher has good reasons 
for asserting they have some of the finest plants of this Aerides in 
the trade. Neither Angrascums nor Aerides succeed well in a 
strong heat and dry temperature, an intermediate temperature and 
an atmosphere that suits the majority of exotic Ferns best suiting 
them. The same remarks apply to the Vandas, of which Mr. 
Cypher has good plants of cnerulea and insignis. flowering freely. 
The best of the Cattleyas now in flower are C. maxima and 
C. Bowringianum. The latter may be described as a winter 
flowering C. Skinneri, and both are always serviceable at this time- 
of year. Cypripediums are largely grown by Mr. Cypher, and 
there are always some good species and varieties in flower. 
At the present time the most attractive are C. insigne, C. insigne 
Maulei, C. insigne punctatum violaceum, the last named being 
very fine ; C. Spicerianum very strong and the forms good ; 
C. Harrisonianum, C. Roezli, one of the freest to flower; 
C. Haynaldiauum, and a fine form of C. Sedeni. In the same 
house there are several well flowered pans of Coelogyne ocellata, 
and C. cristata in variety promises to be as fine as usual, many of 
the specimens being extra large. 
Dendrobiums will soon make quite an imposing display. IT. 
Jamesianum is very showy and D.formosum giganteum still more so. 
There are numerous strong plants of the latter in 4-inch pans, each 
carrying on an average nine fine flowers. These and D. bigibbum, 
of which there is quite a large stock of extra strong and very 
floriferous plants in small pans, are grown suspended near the glass 
in strong heat, this treatment suiting them admirably. The lovely 
hybrid I). rhodostoma, raised by Mr. Seden, and obtained by crossing 
D. Huttoni with D. sanguinolentum, appears to be perpetual 
blooming, and is a grand acquisition. Lselia Perrini superba is very 
