October 15, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
335 
late Mr. A. Henderson, who succeeded Mr. Fleming. Since then I 
have had it in my own care at various times, and have given it up 
on account of its not paying, it being too much like a Black Ham¬ 
burgh. It will keep, but does not improve by so doing. It is not 
particularly shy in setting, but is very faulty in stoning. The 
flavour of Trentham Black now and Alnwick Seedling would soon 
decide which is right ; the first would be in season now, but not the 
latter. 
Alnwick Seedling I had from Messrs. Osborn of Fulham, Mr. 
Robert Osborn assuring me he had the eyes direct from Mr. Bell, 
is not to be mentioned with Trentham Black only for its good 
keeping quality. In March it was a very peculiar beautiful eating 
Grape. I wish that Alnwick Seedling had the shape and form of 
bunch peculiar to Trentham Black. Having grown the two varie¬ 
ties on the same soil in the same house under the same conditions I 
can speak with confidence. —Stephen Castle, West Lynn. 
WHITE CUP. 
Nierembergia, or White Cup, is a genus belonging to the Potato 
family, and closely allied to the Tobaccos, and had long been considered 
as belonging to the sub-tribe Nicotianeae, until Mr. Miers, who had given 
much attention to the variety of structure in this family, came to the 
conclusion that Nierembergia with Fabiana were sufficiently distinct to 
be separated from the section Nicotianese, giving the name Fabianese 
owing to their having capsular fruits and other minor differences. In 
Nierembergia the divisions of the calyx are invariably upright and acute, 
not leafy, the corolla tube generally longer and more slender than in tb e 
Petunia section, although in the smaller-flowering species the differences 
are hardly patent to the general observer. The most prominent character 
by which this genus may be distinguished from the others is the shape of 
the stigma. It is like an inverted crescent, with small appendages curving 
round in front and closely adhering to, or clasping the anthers. Although 
the probable number of Nierembergias known is over twenty, there ar" 
less than half a dozen at present in cultivation, and only one of these 
may be said to be sufficiently hardy to stand our severe winters in th d 
open air. 
Nierembergia rivularis (fig. 52), was found by Miers, about the yea r 
1845, growing on the grassy banks of the Rio de la Plata, South America ) 
“ the prostrate branches creeping among the grass, above which rise its 
pretty white flowers.” Indeed, under cultivation, and when well estab¬ 
lished, there are few similar plants that contribute so much in such 
little space towards the beauty of the rockwork or border as this littl 
gem. Although it seems to prefer a rockery or a similar situation wher^ 
its roots get curbed, it will do equally well on dry banks or flats, and a 
large patch I saw on the flat fully exposed was a sight never to be for¬ 
gotten, so thickly were the large beautiful white cups studded among th 
leaves on short stalks like so many Campanula-shaped Mushrooms. Thos 
not hardy in the open air may be used with great advantage indoors in 
the shape of trailing or creeping plants. A hanging basket made with 
N. gracilis as an edging is extremely pretty, besides having the advantage 
of being permanent. Then there is N. frutescens, a strong shrubby species 
of considerable worth for a greenhouse or conservatory, as it makes fine 
bushes in a short time, flowering more or less incessantly. N. rivularis 
rarely grows more than an inch or two in height, having long prostrate 
creeping branches rooting as they spread away from the centre, which 
roquires filling up occasionally. The leaves are alternate, oblong, blunt 
at the summit, on a long slender stalk ; the corolla, shaped like a Campa¬ 
nula, is upright, about 2 inches in diameter, pure white, and very hand¬ 
some. It flowers through the summer, and may be increased by division. 
—T. Y. 
IS A TENANT’S GREENHOUSE A BUILDING? 
On September 30th I was summoned by Mr. Elkington, district sur¬ 
veyor of Penge, to appear at Lambeth Police Court on a charge of 
erecting a greenhouse, 12 feet by 8 feet, in the district of Penge, without 
having given the notice required under the Building Act. I contended 
that this greenhouse was a tenant’s fixture, and did not come under the 
Act, being made portable in every respect, boarded up to sill of sashes ; 
standing on but not fixed to another sill or frame at bottom formed of 
7 inch by 2£ inch deal. 
I was advised to have wheels put on this greenhouse to save being 
compelled to comply with the Act, which states that all buildings shall 
have 9-inch brick walls with proper footings and concrete foundations, 
which, of course, I could not comply with, being only a tenant’s fixture. 
Accordingly I had four wheels put on the bottom frame, so that the whole 
could be moved in one if necessary, or taken apart and stowed away in a 
shed if required. The result was that Mr. Chance (Magistrate) decided 
that this greenhouse, although not connected with the ground either by 
posts driven in or by brickwork under, but only laid on top of the earth, 
was a building within the Act, and gave it as his opinion that even 
Cucumber frames were not exempt. 
I report this case to j ou feeling that it is a matter not to be trifled 
with, but should be dealt with promptly and decisively, and in the inter¬ 
ests of flower growers generally I take the liberty of asking you to give 
this matter all the publicity possible. Having seen the uncertainty which 
exists among tenants and the gardening papers generally, I took the pre¬ 
caution of employing a first-class solicitor to defend the case, thus 
incurring considerable expense, the case being adjourned, and having to 
re-appear on Saturday, but it was all of no use ; I was fined a nominal 
fine of 5s. and the cost of the summons, with of course, the privilege of 
appeal. 
Now, this appeal will be of no use to me, but if your readers feel 
sufficient interest in the cause of tenants’ rights as to having a green¬ 
house of their own, and will offer some assistance towards the cost of an 
appeal against this decision, I am quite willing to join in the expense and 
allow my case to be used as a test case in the interests of tenants and 
flower growers generally. 
Should you deem this worthy of insertion, those of your readers who 
wish to help in this important matter may send their names, addresses, 
and amount they promise to contribute to Basil E. Greenfield, Esq , 
Solicitor, 17, Katharine Street, Croydon, and they will receive an acknow¬ 
ledgment in the paper they choose to name. 
In writing please write the word “ Appeal ’’ on outside of envelope.— 
A. Dent, Horticultural Builder, 118, Selsdcn Road, Croydon. 
[We insert this letter, but think it right to say we are advised that 
tenant’s fixtures come under the Building Act, and if a tenant “ cannot 
comply ” with the Act, we fear he cannot erect a greenhouse in a 
position and district to which the Act applies. Those who think differ¬ 
ently have now an opportunity of sharing in the settlement of a per¬ 
plexed question of wide interest to amateur horticulturists who reside in 
the vicinity of cities and towns where Buildings’ Acts exist. Mr. 
Chance’s “ opinion ” that Cucumber frames come under the Act is not 
endorsed by us, as we fail to see that a frame is a building. The rigid 
enforcement of Building Acts is a great impediment to the erection of 
amateurs’ greenhouses, and often presses heavily, if not unjustly, on 
nurserymen.] 
BOUVARDIAS. 
During autumn and early winter few plants so amply repay for 
labour bestowed on them as tbe Bouvardia. It is suitable alike for 
conservatory or for using in a cut state ; its neat flowers, which can 
now be had in so many varied colours, are always admired. Though 
frequently treated as a stove plant I think that is a mistake, as much 
better results can be acquired by growing it in cold frames during 
the summer months, transferring it into warmer quarters when the 
weather becomes cold in the evenings. Under this treatment it makes 
stout firm growths, and eventually produces abundance of fine useful 
blooms, much superior to those obtained from plants grown in heat, 
which are generally inclined to make soft succulent wood, the flowers 
from which are inferior both in substance and colour. 
In spring when the plants are starting into growth they should be 
taken out of their pots and all the soil shaken away from the roots, 
replacing them in pots somewhat smaller, using a compost of equal 
