December 24, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
537 
breadths of common Laurels, kept closely cut, forming an even surface of 
green, which served as a foil to the brightly coloured Pelargoniums in 
the beds. A long winding border, the centre of which is filled with 
choice evergreens, is ornamented in the front on both sides with 
useful summer and autumn flowering plants, such as Anemone japonica 
alba, Phlox, Poeonies, and so forth, in all making a bright display, and 
at the same time providing the means of filling the flower vases in the 
house. A capital effect was produced with Clematis Jackmanni growing 
over some tall and wide arches on which Eoses were trained, the dark 
purple of the Clematis was fine in the extreme. A good sized con¬ 
servatory adjoins the west end of the house in which is a fine plant 
of Passiflora violacea flowering in profusion. Salvia Betheli made a fine 
display; some good plants were in full flower, healthy Palms in the 
centre, and the usual flowering plants around the side stages were to be 
seen. 
The kitchen garden and glass houses are situated some distance from 
the house, and, liko the latter, are well appointed. There are numerous 
vineries, and serviceable crops of fruit had been cut or were hanging of 
well tried varieties. One range, span-roof, running east and west, 
contained the best examples I have seen of combined Grape and Peach 
culture. The latter were in perfect health, reaching quite to the ridge of 
the house, covering the whole northern side, and had borne splendid 
crops of fruit. The Vines were late kinds, a circumstance in favour of 
the Peaches. Substantial crops of fruit of the latter had been gathered 
from the trees in the regular Peach house, one Royal George giving 
sixteen dozen handsome fruits. Figs are well grown, a lean-to house 
being specially devoted to them, Brown Turkey and White Marseilles 
being the favourites. Pine Apples were represented by splendid fruits 
of Queens, weighing fully 5 lbs. each. 
Benham Park has been long noted for Melons. This year large crops 
have been gathered. At the time of my visit some splendid examples 
of Countess were hanging. The flavour of this variety is excellent ; it 
is also a good grower, and sets abundance of handsome fruit. Straw¬ 
berries in pots were a feature. Next spring should be no exception to 
the rule. The plants now being grown look as promising as the most 
exacting could wish. The houses devoted to plants were filled with 
those best suited to house decoration, which is the main object in their 
growth. 
The kitchen garden is spacious, having a gentle slope to the south, 
and is surrounded by a wall fully 14 feet high, a good part of it fitted 
with Parham’s wall coping, which is found serviceable in procuring a 
full supply of fruit annually, especially of Apricots and Peaches. 
Sweet Cherries are not a success. Growing as they are against the eastern 
wall the trees look anything but happy, and they are gradually being 
supplanted by cordon Pears, which succeed satisfactorily, and so do the 
horizontal trained trees on west and north walls ; the branches were 
exceptionally thickly hung with some sorts, Pitmaston Duchess especi¬ 
ally so. Hacon’s Incomparable had extra fine fruits. Full crops of 
Morello Cherries were borne by trees trained against a north wall. 
Plums were a heavy crop, particularly Coe’s Golden Drop. The hardy 
fruit trees on the walls, with the exception of the Cherries referred to, 
are a credit to the planter and trainer. A fair sprinkling of Apples 
was to be seen, magnificent fruit of Tyler’s Kernel were noted on a small 
bush tree. The highly coloured and popular Bismarck was fruiting 
freely, and so was Potts’ Seedling as a half standard, an old tree, which 
had a full crop of fruit. The vegetable crops were all that could be 
desired, quarters well kept, and absolutely free from weeds. The whole 
garden reflects credit on its custodian, Mr. Howard.—A Rambler. 
Dendrobium Leeanum. 
With the beautiful variety of Dendrobium Phalmnopsis, named 
in honour of Baron Schroder, and which has attracted so much 
attention recently, Messrs. Sander & Co. of St. Albans succeeded 
in importing a plant from New Guinea of a distinct species of 
Dendrobium. This has been named D. Leeanum, in honour of 
W. R. Lee, Esq., 33, Fountain Street, Manchester, who makes a 
■speciality of Dendrobiums, and when a plant was shown at 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s meeting on November 10th 
last a first-class certificate was awarded for it by the Orchid 
Committee. 
Dendrobium Leeanum produces pseudo-bulbs about 3 feet long, 
rather stout, somewhat compressed, and bearing gracefully drooping 
racemes near the apex. The flowers (fig. 97) are very pleasing in 
form and colour, the sepals and petals tapering white, white at the 
base, tipped and tinted with rich rosy crimson, somewhat deeper in 
the petals, which are also slightly narrower than the sepals. The lip 
is broadly margined with a similar colour, green at the base, and 
with three prominent ridges in the centre. 
One excellent character possessed by the Dendrobium is the 
length of time the flowers last, for the only plant received at 
St. Albans has been in flower for over six weeks, and the three 
racemes are still fresh. It will no doubt prove a useful and 
popular Orchid. 
Orchids at Penllergare. 
On a recent visit to the famous gardens of Sir John T. D. 
Llewelyn, Bart., at Penllergare, Swansea, the following were the 
most noticeable among the Orchids in bloom :—Cypripedium 
Spicerianum, several very good forms ; C. Leeanum and C. L. 
superbum, C. callosum, C. Haynaldianum, C. Harrisianum, nigra, 
FIG. 97.— DENDROBIUM LEEANUM. 
C. insigne, C. insigne Chantini, and C. insigne punctatum, 
C. Arthurianum, C. Sedeni, candibulum, and others. Of Den¬ 
drobium superbiens there were several fine plants. Why is this 
not more frequently grown ? Vanda coerulea, V. Amesiana were 
represented by healthy plants, only imported last spring. Phalse- 
nopsis in variety, showing plenty of robust spikes, and the plants 
in rude health — the exception now rather than the rule. A 
houseful of Calanthes, too, were very fine. They are especially 
well grown there, and amply do they repay the liberal treatment 
they receive. , _ ,, 
Jn one of the stoves we found a very fine plant of Nepenthes 
Rafflesiana, evidently at home, and carrying a large number of its 
fine pitchers. Odontoglossums and Dendrobiums are promising a 
fine display later on 5 and in addition there are no end of stove 
and greenhouse plants to do duty in their several seasons in the 
production of floral treasures for those favoured to enjoy them. 
Lapagerias rosea, superba, and alba are at home on the roof of one 
greenhouse 5 and Rhododendrons of all classes, which are special 
favourites, need an article to themselves. Everything in his charge 
reflects great credit upon Mr. Warmington, Sir Johns gardener, 
who spares no pains in bringing about such fine results. 
Calanthes at The Hendre, 
The Calanthes at The Hendre at present are particularly fine, 
C. Veitchi is handsome, C. vestita is also good, and the hybrid 
forms equally so. Mr. Coomber has been successful in raising 
some hybrids himself, which, whether distinct from others already 
in commerce or not, are at least really good and valuable additions 
to the collection. Mr. Coomber is equally successful in their 
culture as in the possession of good forms, the spikes large, and 
carrying a profusion of well developed blooms. Further, they are 
shown off to the best advantage in various positions. In a con¬ 
servatory adjoining the mansion we find them arranged among 
Ferns and foliage in the recesses of a Fern rockery in a most grace¬ 
ful manner, and a house in the gardens is made exceedingly bright 
by an arrangement in which Ferns do duty as a ground, and the 
