304 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 23, 1859. 
Tlie beds are on grass, with walks running across. These 
walks are asphalt ed, and the asphalt is covered with white Derby¬ 
shire spar, which gives a lively variety to the green grass and the 
many-hued flowers. The colours in the beds were arranged 
thus—Four beds of Calceolaria, Aurea Jloribunda (the best yellow 
Calceolaria for bedding out) ; four beds of Calceolaria Prince of 
Orange , also good and well bloomed, not a decaying plant in the 
whole number. ,Purple was attained by four beds of Purple 
King Verbena. Scarlet, with two beds of Lord Paglan Verbena. 
Crimson, with two beds of Verbena Hendersonii. These were so 
placed as to compete with each other. Amongst them were beds 
of mixtures. Two were very neatly edged with Nierembergia. 
calycina, covered with its pretty, bell-sliaped, white blossoms. 
This edging is worthy of being introduced into every large 
flower garden. In order to allow visitors in dry weather to view 
these beautiful flowers at their ease, Mr. Crouch has formed all 
round the scene grassy seats something in this form— 
Borders. 
Seat. 
Section. 
Ground level. 
to the extent of nearly a thousand feet. In the centre of the 
flower garden there is a large raised bed, the sides formed with 
rockwork, and a figure of the Goddess Flora in the centre ; and 
at regular intervals there are many rustic vases, several of which 
were filled with the good horse-shoe-marked Geranium, the 
Prince of Wales, and others with Geranium Brilliant, both sorts 
in good bloom, and fine in foliage. These vases are about tlu-ee 
feet high, and, consequently, the plants and flowers are brought 
close to the eye. The elevation of such objects has the desirable 
effect of giving variety to the floral scene. 
On the south side of this beautiful flower garden there is a 
spacious span-roofed greenhouse, 70 feet long by 24 feet, wide, 
filled now with various plants in flower—the Fuchsia chiefly pre¬ 
dominating. All the best new kinds are grown, some in the 
pyramidal form, and others as weeping standards. Amongst 
them I saw some very fine varieties of Balsams, with flowers as 
double and almost as large as Roses. Also, purple and white 
Egg plants, in fruit, evidently grown to surprise many visitors, 
who never saw such curious fruit before. Also, some fine double 
Petunias, well grown and freely in blossom. These Petunias are, 
after all, well worthy of cultivation. 
The roof of this greenhouse is covered with strong young 
Vines, only two years old, yet they are bearing some six or eight 
buuchcs of good Grapes already. Throughout the whole depart¬ 
ments of these gardens the grand aim is to combine the utile with 
the dulce. 
The borders on each side of this, greenhouse are raised a foot 
and a half above the level, and they are planted with a fine col¬ 
lection of German and Ten-week Stocks, all double, and just 
now, the first week in August, in foil bloom. From the large 
number of these sweet-scented flowers a powerful perfume is 
given out, thus gratifying the sense of smelling as well as the 
sense of seeing. Beliind this greenhouse there is a very broad 
W'alk ; and then a second range of glass-houses, consisting of a 
lofty span-roofed intermediate-house, a pinery, and a warm grotto 
fernery. The border in front of this range is planted with a fine 
collection of the best kinds of Asters, including China, German, 
and Turkey varieties of every colour and form. A splendid 
effect is thereby produced. I entered first the lofty intermediate- 
house : there I found more Fuchsias, but of a taller habit, to suit 
the house. 
The roof was covered with all kinds of Gourds, trained up the 
rafters. These have a curious and novel appearance ; for they, 
when in fruit, look like so many Melons trained up, and the 
variety of form and colour is really astonishing. At the very 
apex of the roof a Vine is growing, bearing fruit the whole length. 
But I must pass on or I shall never get through the whole range. 
The Pine-stove adjoins this intermediate-house. The plants are 
healthy, but have all fruited, and the suckers are allowed to grow 
on the stools and fruit again. This is the Hamiltonian system, 
with this difference, that only one sucker is allowed to grow and 
fruit on the old stool or plant. Formerly there was a shed 
behind this Pine-stove, This is now altered, the roof glazed, and 
a pit formed. In that pit, filled with tan, there are growing a 
fine young stock of Ixoras and other stovo plants requiring 
bottom heat. Finer, bushier young plants are not to bo found 
anywhere. Mr. Crouch works by grafting the otherwise difficult- 
to-grow Ixora salicifolia on Ixora coccinea, and finds that tender 
species to grow better, live longer, and flower more freely than 
on its own roots. This is a fact, for I saw it exemplified here. 
Every grower of this delicate species should immediately graft it 
on a stock of Ixora coccinea. 
From the Pine stove I entered.the grotto fernery, and here a 
remarkable thing presents itself to the most careless observer. A 
great part of the roof is densely covered with Ficus repens , 
or, as some call it, Ficus stipulacea. Tho young shoots of this 
plant are allowed to hang down and thus form a shade to the 
Ferns below. The walls are completely hidden with various 
Ferns, especially with Nephrodium exaltatum. On cacli side of 
the path there are various pillars and arches formed with rough 
stones and clinkers, united together with cement. In the hollows 
of these materials soil has been placed, and various Ferns and 
Lycopods planted therein. Moisture is kept up by keeping the 
floors wet and frequent syringings, and well these lovely-foliaged 
plants reward the care bestowed on them. Tho effect is beautiful, 
aud is much admired by visitors. Tho plants look so green, re¬ 
freshed, and happy. T. Appleby. 
(To he continued .) 
BRITISH TOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
An ordinary Meeting of this Society was held on Thursday, 
August 18th. F, G Graham, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. 
This was a Meeting more for general business than for fruit, 
and some important matters were discussed relative to the ex¬ 
tension of the Society’s numbers and influence, and tho list of 
autumn premiums for various fruits was considered and arranged. 
The Secretary reported, that, although the circular to general 
members had been issued only two days, the following adhesions 
to the list of twenty-shilling subscribers were already recorded 
Rev. G. W. Brnikenridge; H. G. Bohn, Esq.; J. G. Chilling- 
worth, Esq.; E. W. Cox, Esq. ; Francis Davies, Esq. ; Richard 
Ellison, Esq.; Win. Everard, Esq. ; Richard Frankum, Esq.; 
W. II. Gabbett, Esq.; F. G. Graham, Esq.; J. B. Haig, Esq.; 
Robert Hanbury, Esq., M.P.; Robert Hogg, Esq.; G. N. 
Hunter, Esq.; j. R. Neame, Esq. ; W. D. Paine, Esq. ; Rev. 
R. C. Pole, Esq. ; Alexander Scrutlon, Esq. ; James Silver, Esq. ; 
R. Stains, Esq.; Henry Webb, Esq. ; R. S. Yates, Esq.; Messrs. 
R. A. Arnott; Alexander Dancer ; Francis Dancer; Wm. David¬ 
son ; James Fraser (LeaBridge) ; James Holder; JamesIvery; 
Charles Lawson jun.; John Milne; George Paul; Wm. Paul; 
Tlios. Rivers ; T. F. Rivers ; Thos. Taylor ; and C. Turner. 
The premiums to be awarded will bo stated in future ad¬ 
vertisements. 
POINCIANA GILLIESII. 
I will endeavour to lay before your readers my manner of 
cultivating this interesting plant, which, I regret to say, is not 
as common or as well known as it deserves to be. It is true 
that in our latitude it is not sufficiently hardy to stand our 
winters without protection, but by the following treatment it 
has afforded me the greatest satisfaction for several years past. 
Having often admired it in its native country (Rio de la 
Plata), 1 brought home with me some seeds that I planted in 
the spring of 1850, in a hotbed, and, when up, pricked them out 
singly in pots; and I had the pleasure of seeing my plants 
growing rapidly and developing their beauty. At the approach 
of winter,—about the 1st of November,—I put the plants in a 
tfty place,—sheltered from the frost, where they remained with¬ 
out any other care until the following spring. Towards the end 
of April I brought them out and placed them in a sheltered spot, 
well exposed to the sun. In the autumn of the second year I 
planted them in boxes of thirty-three centimetres (about thir¬ 
teen inches) square. The third year the first flowers appeared, 
and their beauty, added to the graceful foliage, produced a most 
agreeable effect. My plants have now attained the height of 
four feet with a well-rounded head, produced by pruning every 
spring about one-third of the previous year’s growth, which also 
produces an abundant bloom. On a single plant I have counted 
thirty clusters of flowers. It should be grown in au open soil, 
enriched with well rotted manure, and should be watered every 
