154 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
L February 2?, 1888 
connecting divisions of the conservatory are filled with Ferns, 
Palms, and miscellaneous decorative plants, the central octagon 
containing the principal plants of interest. One of the most 
remarkable of these is Bambusa arundinacea planted out in a large 
bed, and so vigorously has it grown that it now forms quite a 
tropical forest, twenty huge stems 6 to 9 inches in diameter rising 
to the roof and almost filling the dome with their leaves and 
branchlets. A gigantic specimen of Cereus hexagonus is also 
secured to one of the columns, and has several stems nearly 60 feet 
high. An old trunk of the Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera, having 
reached the roof has been beheaded, and though now bearing no 
leaves it is retained as a curiosity. At the base of the stem is a 
large conical mass of roots or fibres, and several feet above this is 
another globular mass of a similar character, imparting a strange 
appearance to the stem. The Guava, Monstera deliciosa, and 
other tropical fruit-bearing plants are grown in the same house 
with a fine specimen of the Gaffer Bread, Encephalartos Caffra, 
Brosimum macrocarpum, and Sterculia nobilis. In one of the 
wings there is an old and large Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, which 
has occasionally flowered, but cannot be induced to perfect its fruit. 
One occupant of the house, which is rarely seen in gardens, 
is Cunonia capensis (fig. 21, page 157), though it is one of the most 
beautiful flowering trees that can be grown in a conservatory, 
greenhouse, or similar structure. Probably one reason why it is 
scarce is that the propagation has been found rather difficult, yet 
the tree is of free growth, and attractive even when not flowering, 
and would well repay for any attention bestowed upon it. The 
specimen at Syon is believed to be unrivalled in this country, and 
when bearing some dozens of its long close racemes of white 
flowers the effect produced is really magnificent. I was fortunate 
enough to call upon Mr. Woodbridge some time ago when the tree 
was in its best condition, and though it did not occupy the most 
favourable position, being partly hidden by other trees and shrubs 
in front, it was yet surprisingly beautiful. The specimen is about 
15 feet high in a large pot, and beai-s pinnate glossy green leaves, 
with racemes in some cases nearly a foot in length. The species is, 
as its specific name implies, a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; it 
has been in cultivation for over sixty years, and the genus con¬ 
stitutes the type of a natural order allied to the Saxifrages. The 
following extract from Burchell’s Travels in Africa may be of 
interest:—“ This is a handsome tree, with fine shining green 
foliage, contrasted by numerous, dense, elongated bunches of small 
milk-white flowers, and twigs of a red colour, having the habit 
rather of a tropical than of a Cape plant. Its colonial name is Rood 
Elze (Red Alder), although the tree has not, in any point of view, 
the least resemblance to the Alder of Europe ; but the waggon- 
makers say there is some similarity in their wood. I am inclined, 
however, to believe that the name was given rather in consequence 
of their growing in similar situations.” 
THE KITCHEN GARDEN AND HOUSES. 
The kitchen garden is some distance from the conservatory, 
being situated nearer the Brentford Road, and adjoining a public 
footpath leading from there to Isleworth. Between three and four 
acres are enclosed within high walls, and outside these about another 
acre has been recently taken under cultivation, the whole being 
closely cropped with the best vegetables. The walls are clothed 
with fruit trees, fine collections of Cherries, Peaches, and Pears 
being included, all admirably trained. The surface of the walls 
was for some years covered with cement, but the trees were so 
unsatisfactory that it has been removed, the walls re-faced or re¬ 
pointed, and the trees have since succeeded as well as could be 
desired. Morello Cherries are grown in large quantities, and after 
the Pear Conference at Chiswick a collection of the best varieties 
there observed was added, and these are now grown as single 
upright cordons on one of the walls. Bush and other Apple and 
Pear trees are also planted in the lower portion of the kitchen 
garden near the walks, and yield useful supplies of fruit. 
The principal glass houses are in one range extending across the 
centre of garden from west to east, and nearly 400 feet in total 
length, but all the houses are not connected. Most of these formed 
part of the first great range constructed in this garden in 1826 
under the superintendence of the gardener, Mr. Forrest. They 
have a metallic framework, and were originally heated with flues, 
though of course that method has long since been superseded by 
hot-water pipes. It is said that the houses were completed and 
planted within eight months, and Loudon states that in the 
second year ripe Grapes were cut in the early vinery on April 19th, 
“ when they were worth in London a guinea and a half per pound,” 
ripe Peaches being gathered in May weighing 7 to 9 ozs. each. The 
houses were built for Pine pits and forcing purposes generally, but 
Pine culture has now been discontinued for many years, and they 
are used as vineries. Peach, Fig, and Rose houses. The first of 
three divisions at the west end of the range is an old vinery, the 
Vines (Black Hamburgh) having been planted in 1851, and several 
times cut down or lifted ; they still produce strong canes from the 
base, and have hitherto fruited well, but cannot be relied upon, and 
will be superseded another season by young Vines. The second 
division is also a vinery, which has been renewed, and the front 
raised so as to allow of ventilation there. Roses occupy the third 
section, the trees being planted outside in a good border, and the 
stems taken in through the walls just like Vines. Madame Berard, 
William Allen Richardson, Niphetos, Gloire de Dijon, and Cheshunt 
Hybrid are the favourite varieties, and of the last-named there is 
an uncommonly large specimen that has been lifted and replanted 
with considerable advantage, the tree being now in fine condition and 
showing flowers freely. In an early Peach house the blooms are 
setting well, especially on a very old Elruge Nectarine, and the 
back wall is covered M'ith Camellias trained to a trellis. This is 
found to be a convenient arrangement, as the plants make an early 
growth and come into flower about Christmas time when Camellias 
are valuable. A late Peach house in another portion of the range 
contains some well-trained, healthy, fruitful trees, and there Roses 
are trained to the back wall, giving a succession to the house already 
mentioned. Royal George Peaches, with Elruge and Lord Napier 
Nectarines, are mainly relied upon under glass, while of Figs, to 
which a house is devoted, abundant crops are obtained from young 
and old trees of Brown Turkey planted out in borders. Several 
other varieties complete this range, and then comes a series of 
lean-to pits employed for forcing Beans, plants, and temporary 
Vines. The latter are managed in a very simple manner. They 
are planted in a central bed and trained to the roof, both up and 
down, leaving clear spaces over the front and back shelves, and 
after one good season’s growth they are fruited freely for one or 
two years. An adjoining pit is worked alternately with this, so 
that as the Vines are cut out in one those in the other are fruited, 
and this is found to answer better than growing Vines in pots. 
Amongst the miscellaneous plants forced in these pits the old 
Sprekelia, or Amaryllis formosissima, is very notable. Three to 
four bulbs are grown in a 32-sized pot, and at the present time are 
producing their rich scarlet flowers freely. 
At the back of this range are the potting sheds. Mushroom 
house, bothy, and various offices, all conveniently arranged. In the 
Mushroom house the shelves are formed with iron plate fronts and 
T-iron supports, upon which tiles are placed to hold the beds, the 
lower space covered with wooden shutters on hinges being devoted 
to Seakale and Rhubarb forcing, with any salading that needs 
blanching. The bothy is a convenient one, a bath room and lava¬ 
tory heated with hot water being attached; and not only is the 
personal comfort of the young men considered, but provision is 
also made for their educational improvement, as a schoolmaster 
attends several evenings a week during the winter to give courses 
of plain instruction on useful subjects. Too seldom do employers 
recognise the benefits they can confer upon those in their service 
by such consideration and assistance, and the advantages they gam 
themselves by the greater interest manifested in the work of the 
establishment. 
HYMENOCALLIS MACROSTEPHANA. 
In the northern portion of the kitchen garden within the walls 
are numbers of useful houses, forcing pits, and frames devoted to 
Cinerarias, Primulas, and miscellaneous plants for decorative pur¬ 
poses. Amongst Orchids there are some large specimens of Ccelogyne 
cristata, Cymbidium Lowianum, Cypripediums, Aerides, and excel 
lent pans of Pleiones. Anthurium Schertzerianum is represented 
by numbers of healthy plants, but a most remarkable feature is 
afforded by a house full of Hymenocallis macrostephana for which 
Syon is celebrated. It is about nine years since this plant was 
brought prominently into notice, but even now it is unknown in 
many gardens where it would be greatly valued when its qualities 
were known. The origin of the plant is unknown, but it is believed 
to have been first sent to this country from a continental nursery 
as Pancratium fragrans, and Mr. Baker has hinted that it is possibly 
a garden hybrid between Hymenocallis carribsea and Ismene cala- 
thina. In 1879 specimens were sent to Kew by Sir Philip Egerton, 
who stated that his gardener, Mr. William Muir, had recognised its 
distinctness from Pancratium fragrans two years before, and by Mr. 
Woodbridge; it was also exhibited by the latter at South Kensington, 
being first awarded a botanical certificate and subsequently a first- 
class certificate. The plant was fully described under the name 
given above, and an excellent coloured plate was published in the 
“ Botanical Magazine” for July of the same year (t. 6436). The 
flowers are much like a Pancratium, but with a broad funnel-shaped 
corona 3 inches across, and, like the long linear segments, is pure 
white. They are produced m umbels of six to twelve, the majority 
of these open now averaging eight or ten each, and the fragrance 
is peculiarly sweet and distinct. Another advantage respecting the 
plant is that though it naturally flowers in February, yet it can be 
