April 15, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
295 
another house are exceedingly fine varieties of Odontoglossum Alexandra 
and gloriosum, also of Masdevallia ignea and Oncidium macranthum. 
The Vines which were planted in May, 1884, have made wonderfully 
strong rods in addition to maturing last summer three or four bunches 
each of very fine fruit. One, a Poster's Seedling, carried ten large 
bunches last year. Throughout all the houses excellent management and 
skilful culture are appirent, and show the love of horticulture and 
judicious liberality of the proprietor, with the skill and industry of his 
gardener, Mr. Herriot.—W. K. W. 
ORCHIDS AND SPRING FLOWERS AT UPPER HOLLOWAY. 
Mr. B. S. Williams has provided an extensive display of bulbs and 
miscellaneous forced plants in the large conservatory at the Victoria and 
Paradise Nurseries this season, while in the numerous other houses the 
Orchids are contributing greatly to the attractions. Of the bulbs the 
Hyacinths are particularly fine, the spikes and bells large, the colours 
its place amongst the most useful and popular species ; it is very distinct, 
free flowering, the colour is extremely good, and a sufficient number has 
been imported to render the price moderate, though the better varieties 
will command good prices. The petals are 11 to 1^ inch in diameter, the 
sepals are narrower but of similar colour—namely, a soft purplish crimson 
hue, the lip being somewhat tubular, of an intensely rich crimson tint, 
with a white throat. Two to four flowers are borne in a spike, and one 
plant in Mr. B. 8. Williams’ Cattleya house is showing twenty spikes, 
justifying the comparison between this and C. Skinneri as regards 
floriferousness. The |illustration (fig. 52) was prepared from one of the 
Holloway plants, aDd gives a good representation of the form of flowers 
and habit. 
It would be unnecessary to enumerate all the Orchids in flower at these 
nurseries now, but a few may be mentioned. Lycaste Skinneri is still 
attractive, the variety amabilis with pale pink flowers being especially 
good, the Chatsworth variety of Coelogyne cristata, the orange-coloured 
Lrclia harpophylla, the useful Sophronitis grandiflora, Phakeaopsis 
Fig. 52.— Cattleya Lawrenciana. 
clear and bright, and all the best varieties are represented. Tulips are 
exceedingly bright, and Lilies of the Valley are wonderfully fine ; very 
rarely indeed are such good examples seen. With these are associated 
Azaleas, Deutzias, and other plants, a suitable proportion of foliage being 
furnished by the Tree Ferns and Palms, of which such handsome speci¬ 
mens are included in this spacious house. 
In the Orchid houses visitors find abundance to admire, al 1 looking 
remarkably healthy, and Cattleyas and Lidias are showing hundreds of 
sheaths, in addition to the numerous spikes of flowers now expanded. 
Cattleyas Warneri and Trianas are beautiful, the latter in several varieties. 
C. Mossi® is also showing well, and of this with C. Mendeli there are 
about 500 sheaths, giving promise of a grand display a little later. The 
magnificent Lidias of the L. purpuraia type, of which there is so large a 
stock and so many fine varieties, are looking well, and will furnish many 
hundred flowers in a few weeks. Very notable amongst many others is 
the new Cattleya Lawrenciana that has been certificated this year at South 
Kensington, Regent’s Park, and the Crystal Palace, a trio of honours which 
it well deserves. Some of the earliest flowers produced were rather 
disappointing, and unfavourable opinions were expressed concerning it; 
fortunately these doubts have been removed as the plants became stronger 
and other flowers have been produced. This Cattleya will probably take 
Stuartiana, P. grandiflora, and Schilleriana are also flowering freely. The 
Vandas are in capital condition. There are several beautiful Cypripediums 
in flower, and in the cool house there is a choice collection of Odonto¬ 
glossum Alexandneland O. Pescatorei, varieties comprising some of the 
best in cultivation. There is also a large stock of Masdevallias of the 
principal species. 
Another great specialty at Upper Holloway are Imantophyllums and 
Amaryllises, which have houses devoted to them, where they afford a 
brilliant display. The Imantophyllums are extremely showy, and they 
well deserve more attention in gardens, especially now so many improved 
varieties have been obtained. They are easily grown, flower abundantly, 
and their bold dark green foliage renders them ornamental even when not 
in flower. The Amaryllises have been special objects of Mr. Williams’ 
care for many years, and a valuable strain has been gradually formed, 
with flowers remarkable for their neatness of form and brilliant colours, 
in which respects they are unsurpassed. The house devoted to these plants 
is very gay now with the innumerable spikes, and varieties present a wide 
range of scarlet and crimson tints. In other houses the Rhododendrons, 
Camellias, Ericas, and hardwooded plants are yielding their flowers 
freely, while the stoves occupied with miscellaneous foliage plants include 
much that is interesting and beautiful. 
