THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 15, 1859. 
364 
highly valued here for its early and productive bloom. 
Besides these hard-wooded plants, there were plenty of 
forced flowers, Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocuses, Cyclamens, 
which altogether made cpiite a gay appearance. 
From the pleasure-ground we made our way, between 
some rockvvork, to the kitchen and fruit garden. I ob¬ 
served a trellissed walk, six feet wide, covered with the 
best kinds of Pears, very healthy, and full of fruit-buds. 
To walk under this arched trellis in summer, when the 
trees are full of luscious fruit, must be a treat indeed. 
The mild winter has had the effect of bringing the buds 
very forward. Some Jargonelle Pears were quite ready 
to burst forth into blossom. I much fear that fruit 
blossoms this year will suffer from late frosts. Every 
gardener ought to take Mr. Errington’s advice, and re¬ 
tard the flowering of his wall trees as much as possible. 
The wall trees at Summer field are all tied to wires 
fastened in lines to the walls, and have a neat, clean 
appearance. Ho shreds of cloth (often a harbour for 
insects), are to be seen; neither are there any nail-holes 
in the wall. Every way, this method is greatly preferable 
to the older and common one of using nails and shreds in 
training the trees. 
The above is a brief and general description of this 
beautiful and interesting place. I took a few notes of 
the most interesting plants there, with which I must 
conclude ray report. 
Hydrangea Japoniea variegata. —There are two distinct 
varieties of this fine variegated plant. One is the common 
one, with blotches of white on its leaves; the other has 
blotches of a golden hue, and margined with the same 
colour. 
Maranla vittata. — This is a large-growing hardier 
variety than ulho lineata, and is far more effective. 
Aralia lepidophylla. —A fine-foliagecl plant, with the 
veins and midrib tinged with rose colour. 
Vriesia splendens. —A bromeliaceous plant, with the 
leaves banded with dark purple. It has, when in bloom, 
a tall spathe formed of scarlet bracts, out of which spring 
white blossoms. It is a handsome variegated plant, in¬ 
troduced from Rio Janeiro in 1847. 
Dijfcnhacltia pi eta. —This variegated plant has the 
colouring more vivid here than I have ever seen it else¬ 
where. The reason, I was told, is, because the plant is 
grown in almost pure sand. 
Solatium piupuraiiun.— This is a quick-growing, flne- 
foliaged plant; the underside of the leaves being of a 
rich purple, and very spiny. 
Ancectochilus (many species).—They are here exceed¬ 
ingly well grown; and are cultivated in wide, shallow 
pans, covered with bell-glasses, in sphagnum, sand, and 
fibry peat. The latter had been dried, and all the earthy, 
dusty parts sifted out. 
Bilbergia Morelliana. — Introduced from Brazil by 
Morel Iveteler, of Paris, in 1848. The leaves are long 
and drooping, and broadly barred with silver. The fine 
bracts are red, and the flowers purple, tipped with yellow. 
It is the finest of the tribe as a fine, variegated-foliaged 
plant. 
Besides these, I noted fine specimens of the handsome 
Crotons, Dracamas, and other variegated plants. 
Among the Orchids were the Calanthe vesta a, in both 
varieties, grown here in rich loam; and finer pseudo¬ 
bulbs I never saw anywhere. Many of them are as large 
as a goose-egg. Iam certain Mr. Baines’ way of manag¬ 
ing them is a good one. 
The hue species, Lycaste Shinn eri, in three varieties, 
was in bloom, and was remarkably strong; caused, I was 
told, by mixing dried cakes of cowdung among the peat. 
I saw an import ed specimen of the PItaleenopsis grancli- 
flora —the Bornean variety. Three plants were on the 
native block. This is the finest plant of the kind in 
Great Britain. Mr. Baines prefers the method of 
glowing it on a block; setting the block among moss, 
which is practised by most cultivators. 
There is also a fine specimen of Ansellia Africana, 
grown in a large pot. I counted fifteen spikes, all much 
branched ; and every branch thickly covered with flowers. 
It really is a fine winter-flowering Orchid. 
Ctvlogyne cristata. —A large plant, with many spikes of 
its beautiful white blossoms. 
Jjcelia purpurata. —Mr. Mieholls has imported a large 
number of this beautiful species, and has many large 
specimens now in fine health : they flower abundantly at 
the proper seasons. The East Indian Orchids, such as 
Aerides, Vandas, Saccolabiums, &c., are grown, as they 
should be, in a house by themselves. Vanda suavissima 
was in flower. 
Many more plants are worthy of notice ; but my 
allotted space is full. I can only say, I was highly grati¬ 
fied with all I saw ; and anyone desirous of seeing plants 
well grown should pay a visit to Summerfield. 
T. ArrLEBY. 
DIOSCOREA BATATAS AND ITS COOKERY. 
I grew a root of the Dioscorea in 1857 and 1858, but my 
system of culture was so nearly like Mr. Weaver’s, that it would 
only be a repetition of what has been already stated ; but, unlike 
his, the roots were quite straight, and measured three feet one 
inch in length, and weighed 1( lbs. The soil is a stiff clay ; has 
been trenched two spades deep, four years ago, but below that 
it has never been known to have been moved ; notwithstanding 
which, the Dioscorea had gone down into the hard yellow-day 
subsoil eighteen inches. So hard was the clay, that I was obliged 
to grub the root out with a pickaxe. Tims showing that it is 
not very particular as to soil, but what surprised everyone who 
saw it was, how such a fleshy tuber could penetrate such a hard 
subsoil. 
I have no doubt many persons who grew this about four years 
ago, were disappointed with it ; as, owing to the smallness of the 
tubers sent out, many of them did not grow at all, and others did 
not reach the size the cultivators were led to. expect: so that it 
is not so much known as it deserves to be. 
1 think that it is equal, if not superior, to the finest Potato, 
either baked, steamed, or boiled, and may be put in the water 
cold, or boiling, just the same as a Potato; and, I think, nine 
persons out of ten would not know the difference when cooked, 
if they were not told. 
As I have not seen any directions in The Cottage Gardener 
how to cook it, I beg to hand you the following:—- 
As said before, it may be steamed, baked, or boiled; but the 
litter is the most simple. Wash and scrape, clean, or peel, the 
tuber ; put it in a saucepan with cold, or boiling, water ; set in on 
the lire and boil about ten minutes ; try it with a fork, and, when 
soft, strain off the water. Tilt the lid on one side ; set it on the 
hob to allow the steam to go off; and then serve like mashed 
Potatoes, with, or without, butter. Every one who has tasted 
it here lias pronounced it equal, if not superior, to the finest 
Potato they ever tasted. 
The only question is, whether it will pay for growing. This 
must be expensive, on account of the deep trenching : but I think 
this would be paid for in the superior crops that would follow, 
as, once in the ground, you must dig deep to get them out. As 
good roots can now be had cheap, 1 would advise everyone to try 
them. They do not blight, and keep well, may be stacked away 
in a cellar like cord wood, and are said to be quite hardy.— 
W. Salcombe. 
ASCERTAINING THE HEIGHT OF TREES. 
Observing in your Number (February 22), an answer to a 
question of “ X. Y. Z.,” as to the mode of ascertaining the height 
of a tree, I beg to offer you a plan far more simple, and being 
available whenever there is any shadow. 
Insert your walking stick into the ground ; measure the length 
of the shadow made by it, and see what proportion it bears to 
the height of your stick. Then measure the length of the tree’s 
shadow, and in the same proportion it will give you its height. 
For instance : suppose your stick is two feet long out of the 
ground, and the sun should be in such a position as to make the 
length of the shadow six feet, or three times the length of your 
stick. Then measure the tree’s shadow, and suppose it to be 
ninety feet, the tree will be thirty feet high.—W. A. E. 
