130 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 30, 185S. 
flowers in drooping clusters, like a Hoya, with from 
twelve to fourteen flowers in a cluster. It is Plocostemma 
lasianthum of Blume, which Sir William Hooker adopts 
in the “ Botanical Magazine.” Mr. Hugh Low, who dis¬ 
covered this plant, also speaks very highly of another new 
Bornean plant,-—a stove climber, putting one in mind of 
Iloya imperialis, with the leaves, in marking, like some 
of the new Begonias. Also, a grand new Fern, from the 
same quarter, called Lindscea decomposita, the first living 
plant of it in Europe, and its identification clearly made' 
out by Mr. Smith, of Hew. Also, a new Bornean Clero- 
dendron, which is highly spoken of. Rosmeria argentea, 
one of Linden’s fine large-leaved plants. The dwarf 
fairy Maranta and M. cenissica are both new and beauti¬ 
fully marked. Ferns, Orchids, and Lycopods still in 
great demand, but mostly in the trade. Thousands upon 
thousands of seedling Ferns, in all stages, from pots, not 
yet up, the seeds being only just sown, to the size they 
are best fit to pack and travel. I never saw the like 
before. But I only noted a few of the largest and finest 
looking to my eye. as I am not any authority on Ferns, 
the worst luck. Pteris scaberula, fine, elegant, and rare; 
Ajsplenium formosum, a rare dwarf kind ; Gleiehenia micro- 
phylla, dicholoma, and Jiabellata, my own favourites ; 
Scyathea medularis, and excelsa, a fine tree Fern, and one 
of the rarest; Marattia cicutcefolia, another fine tree; 
Ahopldla Guianensis, Davallia anileata,Todca pellucida, 
and so forth. 
Fine plants of the Arlocarpus incisa. Then on to 
Orchids—200 Phalcenopsis grandijlora. Hot quite so 
many of Brassavola Digbiana, Bark&ria speclabilis and 
Skmneri, Vanda cccrulea, and all the EasternDendrobiums 
and Vandas; the curious Platycerium stemmaria, which 
throws out sucker-like plants from the roots at a distance 
from the rootstalk ; and the last rarity on my list is a 
new greenhouse plant, from Morton Bay, called Barklaya 
syringmflora —that is, with flowers in the way of Persian 
Lilac, but of an orange-yellow colour. This is said to be 
a very fine thing indeed. D. Beaton. 
OBCHABD-HOUSES. 
Several weeks since, I had a trip for a week in some 
of our not far distant counties, and, in the course of con¬ 
versation with some gentlemen,—who have small esta¬ 
blishments in the gardening way,—had many inquiries 
concerning orchard - houses. I must confess at being 
astonished at the crudeness of the ideas of some of these 
persons, who were, for the most part, belonging to that 
class commonly called “ amateurs.” One thing I at once 
observed, that those who had not yet erected one were 
fearfully sanguine as to the results. But I met with one 
who was as grievously disappointed : he had erected one 
at considerable expense, about three or four years since, 
and it was a signal failure. This is rather lamentable on 
both sides ; it is folly to overrate on account of novelty, 
and equal folly to blame a principle, which, whatever may 
be its merits or demerits, is ill carried out, and the blame 
thrown entirely on the original inventor. 
I, therefore, intend offering a few remarks on them; 
and, in so doing,'I shall state freely, and devoid of the fear 
of the hottest advocates of orchard-houses, what I think 
concerning them. The gentleman who appeared so dis¬ 
satisfied complained that the trees, &c., soon fall offby pot 
culture. He said, that the fruit bushes, Peaches, Nectarines, 
Plums, Ac., although most promising when fresh from the 
hands' of the nurseryman, never looked so well after, 
and were very liable to insects. He wanted to know what 
he must do with those older pot plants which had become 
pot-bound and exhausted. He seemed also desirous of 
having his house heated, complaining that some of his 
fruits were no earlier than those out-doors, and not so 
large. Some other little complaints he made, but they 
were, in the main, such as apply to fruit trees out-doors. 
Before remarking on these little details, I may first take a 
glance at their construction, and the objects sought to be 
attained:— 
First, I suppose we may place a better condition for 
setting the bloom. 
Second. Higher flavour. 
Third. An agreeable recreation to those interested in 
fruit culture. 
To which may be added, perhaps, according to some 
men’s estimate, earlier productions occasionally, and a 
larger succession; the two latter somewhat doubtful, at 
least I think they should not be allowed very much weight 
in the question. In order to carry out a kind of half¬ 
forcing principle, it has been advised by some, to treat 
them artificially; but the thing would no longer be an 
orchard-house, in the original signification, but an or¬ 
dinary hothouse for fruits in pots. If such be admitted, 
any house—such as vinery, or plant-house—already exist¬ 
ing may be converted, in one week, into an orchard- 
house, and the great cheapness and simplicity of the 
original hedge-back orchard-house entirely repudiated. 
No hedge-backs for me. In the hands of such men as Mr. 
Elvers, knowing the capabilities of fruit trees, having 
every appliance, and the pick of a thousand or more trees, 
such wonders may be exhibited, as may, indeed, carry 
fully out his desires, and astonish those good people, who 
thenceforth consider the question as fairly settled. But, 
softly, my good friends; steer cautiously; there are 
breakers ahead. 
With regard to the construction of an orchard-house, 
it strikes me, that the ridge and furrow running north 
and south would be a much safer and more eligible form, 
in the hands of amateurs, than a southern lean-to,—so 
much mischief has occurred through bad glass and 
neglected ventilation. Another good form, in my opinion, 
would be the old-fashioned house, with north lights. Some 
of these still stand in various parts of the kingdom, and 
they generally have a south glass-roof of about nine or 
ten feet, and a north glass-roof of about four feet. But, 
for the orchard-house, I would almost reverse this, and 
make the back roof much the largest; but then I would, 
if possible, place this house facing the south-east, or nearly 
so. Now, in such a case, there would be much less mid¬ 
day heat,—suddenly acquired,—but a greater average 
of both heat and light, for the sun would be acting on 
the back roof from about 3 pan. until 7 p.m. most of the 
summer, &c. 
But, after all, I much fear that—although fruit trees of 
some kinds may be cultivated well, in pots, for awhile— 
the thing, as a system, will scarcely prove satisfactory in 
the long-run, in ordinary hands. Wherever the labour 
question is pared down as close as may be, it can never 
prove satisfactory long together. Whatever people may 
say or think, there will, on the whole, be required a good 
deal of extra labour in the orchard-house, if success is to 
be attained; and in many cases it may prevent other 
business. 
But, to pass by the labour part, how long shall we say 
fruit trees may be made to last profitably, in potsP To 
be sure, pots might be made as big as a barrel; but this 
cannot be thought of,—there are too many obstacles in 
the way. We will take the case of young trees from the 
nursery, just screwed rep to concert pitch, as the fiddlers 
say. The first summer they bear half-a-dozen or so, 
perhaps; the second, if well managed, they may have 
what is called a nice little crop for a bush ; the third, they 
will be getting pot-bound, if not before, and smaller fruit 
will be the consequence. After this, unless extra means 
are taken, it is probable that the fruit will much decline 
in size and quality. Disroot or not, the roots will one 
day become inconveniently large. 
Now, with very experienced persons, these evils, I admit, 
may be much mitigated; but my remarks are not intended 
for them. I would fain teach young amateurs not to be too 
sanguine, and to be on their guard against contingencies 
