December 3, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
487 
catalogue under the Japanese heading. It is one of the deepest 
built flowers I know, close in the petal, and very solid, while the 
colour is yellow, shaded and speckled with reddish crimson. 
• ^ e ^ an ' e Fabre, soft rose flamed with a darker shade, I 
saw in Mr. Davis’ collection. When better known I fancy this will 
prove to be a good reflexed variety. 
Marguerite Yillageoise is the only good new kind produced this 
season among the Anemone Japanese section. This is one of 
Messrs. J. Laing’s introducing. It is extra large and full in the 
centre, having what is termed plenty of “ stuff ” in it. As it is so 
distinct from any other variety it will be a useful addition. It is 
a deep lilac, tipped with a much lighter shade. If Messrs. T. 
Jackson & Son, Kingston-on-Thames, can bring out perfectly the 
White Fabian they have in hand they will do good service in this 
family, which is very interesting. 
Bacchus is a variety exhibited this season as Anemone Japanese, 
and a good one it would be if it had a better centre. Its colour is 
very rich claret colour. Perhaps it was not in good form when 
staged ; if so it may improve by culture. I noticed nothing new 
among the ordinary type of large-flowered Anemones, nor did I 
amongst the Anemone Pompons. The latter is a very interesting 
class, either grown for single flowers or in bunches, in which -style 
ey are very useful and effective in a cut state. Among the 
ompons we have a very fine addition in Black Douglas, sent out by 
i r ' nne .• As its name implies it is the darkest of the whole 
am H7> particularly full flower, good round form, and, as the petals 
are thin, it is devoid of all coarseness sometimes existing in some 
varieties of Pompons. 
, ^ * s y er y pleasing to notice the general improvement throughout 
the country of the groups composed wholly of Chrysanthemums 
now that the system is becoming more studied and put into effect— 
a system taught and explained and forcibly illustrated by the 
n°? PS .n a ^ anged at several of the Kingston Shows by M•. C. 
ichili d, The Gardens, Coombe Warren ; but I venture to say that 
ie best group yet staged was one this year at the same Exhibition 
,7 "- Buss, gardener to A. S. Price, Esq , Parkside House, 
veil, so dwarf were the plants, such healthy foliage and excellent 
ooms, and above all the arrangement of the colours was charming, 
so happily were they distributed. 
Specimen plants are much better trained now than they were. 
ew years since the object was to get them as flat and as large as 
possible ; now they are not nearly so stiffly tied. The quality of the 
owers, too, is studied more than mere quantity. At exhibitions 
w ich have not long been in existence there is a great want of skill 
m the specimens, simply because no opportunities have been 
o see which is the best way to grow them. After a year or two 
a vast difference is discernible—the old-fashioned plants 5 feet high, 
a forest of stakes and leafless stems tied together reminding one of 
as many birch brooms, and the flowers so produced scarcely show- 
mg the true character of each variety ; many that ought to be full- 
centied have large yellow eyes resembling single varieties more 
an anything else. These quickly make room for those dwarfer- 
grown plants, which can be seen somewhat more comfortably with¬ 
out the aid of step ladders, each plant representing the true 
c ameter of each variety. This new state of things requires a 
ittle time and some study and careful handling, but when achieved 
e results are much more satisfactory both to the general observer 
and to the cultivator. —E. Molyneux. 
FRUIT AND PLANT HOUSES. 
(Continued from page 445.) 
Siructures with flat eave plates allow the water passing down 
the rafter to lodge, and this is sucked up by the rafters, especially 
when the joints are not tight, which causes speedy decay ; indeed, I 
have seen the rafter decayed at the under side for a yard or more up, 
whilst the external surfaces were comparatively sound, and this within 
se\en years afeer erection. The woodwork ought to be so contrived 
that water will not lodge upon it either outside or inside the house. 
J.his is effected by chamfering off the right angles of the wood, and 
in a pleasing manner by the skilful horticultural builder. The 
sloping of the woodwork is also commendable through allowing a 
freer access of light to the interior, and it to some extent is useful as 
a preventive of drip so inimical in fruit and plant houses ; indeed, 
they ought to be drip-proof, to effict which desirable result various 
expedients have been employed, such as strips of zinc on the under 
side of the rafters with the edge turned up so as to form a gutter on 
each side and convey the water to the bottom of the rafters. This is 
only a cobbling business and objectionable from obstructing light. 
Messrs. Foster & Pearson, Beeston, Notts, have the rafters or sash- 
bars with a groove on each side near the lower edge, which entirely 
prevents drip ; at least, I failed to find a single drop of drip in a 
house constructed by them 54 feet long by 15 feet wide during the 
dripping murky weather of this November. There is nothing so un¬ 
pleasant as the drip, or rather miniature shower bath greeting those 
entering a house where moisture condenses and lodges over the door¬ 
way, and which is overcome by a very simple contrivance of a strip 
of metal inserted in the lintel, which prevents the water lodging over 
the door. 
These are, it may seem, trifling matters, but they, notwithstanding, 
form the very foundation of the structure as regards economic and 
cultural value. 
Before quitting the woodwork I ought, 1 think, to mention a letter 
I received from a firm of horticultural builders taking exception to 
my recommending pitch pine, as they find it subject to “ dry rot,” 
which I have to some extent noticed when this wood has been used in 
stables, but I have not noticed it when creosoted and used for houses 
that were kept at a uniform heat and moisture as that of moist plant 
houses. Nevertheless, 1 readily grant there is no objection to be 
taken to sound well-seasoned red deal. At the same time I would 
prefer teak for all structures, especially where the temperature is 
high and the atmosphere moist, but it is considerably dearer, though 
cheap in comparison with the materials used in many structures. 
There is as much difference in the appearance and wear of a houso 
constructed of the best material in a proper manner compared with 
the showy and cheap (?) as there is in the textile fabrics between 
wool at first hand in broad cloths, as compared with the taking 
prices of shoddy. I am thankful for the above opinion, and only 
wish those holding different views would favour us in these columns 
with their observations and experiences. 
The next most important matter is glass. I have used polished 
plate such as is silvered for mirrors, of various thicknesses, also the 
same ground on one side, rough or rolled plate, and glass of varied 
tint, without any remarkable discovery. The only ray that I have 
found of any benefit is that of the sun passing through glass slightly 
tinted green ; the glass found in all our very old houses in tiny 
panes, as thin as a hard-worn sixpence, and known as crown. This 
has gone out of date, as it was too fragile and too uneven in thick¬ 
ness. For its thickness it was the toughest of all glass from the care 
exercised in annealing. This has given place to sheet glass—the best 
unquestionably if only it be good, and the only good is English, the 
foreign being unreliable both in quality and thickness. 1 prefer it 
with a green tint scarcely perceptible' to the eye, nevertheless 
apparent in all our best English makes. Without prejudice to other 
manufacturers I may mention that of the Hartley’s, Sunderland, as 
what horticultural glass should be. Fifteen or sixteen-ounce sheet of 
the quality known as thirds serves for ordinary purposes, but in the 
size of panes now employed it certainly ought not to be less for the 
roof than 21-oz., whilst for the sides and ends the lighter description 
answers. Twenty-six ounce, and even 32-oz., I have used without 
any advantage over the 21-oz , and as for plate it is only going to a 
great expense for no object only to parade extravagance. Thrift is 
wanted without abatement of utility. I have not seen any beneficial 
result accrue through the employment of plate glass or even of thick 
glass, provided that used is of sufficient strength to resist ordinary 
storms of wind, rain, snow, and hail. 
Thick glass is supposed to prevent the radiation of heat more 
than thin ; but I never found any sensible difference in houses glazed 
with plate from a quarter to three-eighths of an inch thick to what 
were the results in those glazed with 21-oz. glass. It made no 
difference in the heating surface required, consequently none in the 
fuel consumed ; besides, I consider the solar rays pass more entire 
through thin glass than through thick. The rays being deflected in 
passing through the glass the diffusion must be greater in passing 
through thick than thin, and the rays are effective or defective in 
proportion to their directness. Bough plate is an example of this ; 
the rays, though they may not be less, are more diffused—the same 
light, but broken, and less effective on plants in respect of evapora¬ 
tion, elaboration, and solidification—the essentials of fruitfulness. 1 
readily grant plants will grow quicker under a roof of rough plate, 
attaining more ample foliage ; still, it is not desirable glass for 
general purposes, and where a maximum of fertility in flowers or fruit 
or both is desired it is absolutely unsuitable. It may and does answer 
for foliage plants such as Ferns and Palms, but for those even that 
require light for the perfect colouring of the foliage such as Crotons, 
&c., it is positively inimical ; indeed, it is questionable if the glass 
for all purposes ought not to be smooth and clean, depending upon 
temporary shade for protection against scorching rays, which, by the 
way, I may state are more due to inattention to early ventilation than 
any defects of glass. Even rough plate should have a green tint, as 
white, or, worse stiil, yellow, takes the colour out of Ferns and Palms, 
giving them a sickly yellow hue instead of that deep pleasing green 
so desirable. 
As to glazing I do not propose to trouble your readers with the 
many different modes. I have no fancy for the tempting bait novelty 
or change, as 1 find nothing better th^n the old-fashioned putty 
