May 8, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
565 
Australia generally, and Victoria specially, has a 
display of native Ferns in some large half-span glass¬ 
houses, which border the central path above Old 
London, that will exibit Fern life in reality and in 
luxuriance. These forms, many of considerable height 
and dimensions—transferred from Chiswick, where, 
under Mr. Barron’s care, they have so admirably 
prospered—have been placed in irregular fashion in 
these glass erections, and will present very attractive 
features both to home gardeners and colonial visitors 
generally. Somewhat akin to this Fern display are the 
fine rocky gulches which Mr. Dick Radeliffe has erected 
at the extremity of the Victorian transept, and clothed 
so admirably with Ferns and suitable rock plants, 
added to which are the numerous quadrupeds of native 
character which people, as it were, the gulches, and a 
charming effect is produced, which will certainly 
attract public attention. Just above, and in the ad¬ 
joining courts may be seen artificial examples of native 
Grapes, which are intended to emphasize the important 
South Australian wine product. A gigantic picture of 
The Gum Trees of Australia. 
Gardeners know something of the once popular Gum 
Tree, or Eucalyptus. Here it is not hardy, and only 
when it does well is it ornamental ; but in -western 
Australia the Eucalyptus is a noble forest tree, and 
at the far end of the court of that colony is a big 
scenic drawing which shows the stems alone of some 
noble fellows that gives a very natural aspect to the 
view. But just beneath lies some samples of Eucalyptus- 
wood, and specially attractive is a huge trunk, some 
5 ft. through, of the Eucalyptus marginata. The base 
of this big stem has been clean cut through, then 
polished and varnished, showing a blood-red hue of 
the most beautiful kind, and shining like a mirror. 
This example should encourage the employment of 
this grand form of the Gum Tree for furniture and other 
uses. Just above this tree block stands, at the north 
end of the noble Canadian court, a trophy of which 
Canada may well be proud. At the farther end of this 
great transept is displayed a noble trophy of wild 
animals. The one to which we refer consists of the 
arrangements that we hope some of our leading Orchi- 
dists may take example and give to us in their gardens 
something similar, as a relief to the monstrous flat 
staging so common now. This effort of the Messrs. 
Sander will be greatly appreciated during the summer. 
We learn that the floral decorations of the entrance 
hall on Tuesday were arranged by Mr. Weeks, of 
Chelsea; they were very gay and effective, although 
the plants on the floor were materially hidden by the 
numbers of persons present. 
The Conservatory. 
Really the most charming effect in which plants 
played a part was seen in the conservatory, where the 
raised banks of seats, crowded with gaily-dressed 
people, were set in a framework of noble Palms, Ferns, 
Camellias, Rhododendrons, &c.; and although amidst 
the interest created by the moving scene below it is 
possible few noticed it, yet we thought this effect one 
of the most pleasing in the display. We must not 
omit special mention, however, of Mr. T. S. Ware’s 
The New Range of Glass in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 
A Victorian Vineyard 
Is full of interest, not only from its technical nature, 
but also because it seems to depict a life-like scene in 
this interesting colony. Some pot Vines in a stand 
near, arched over and full of growth, are not natives, 
of course ; indeed, the pots are ominously stamped with 
the well-known name of Matthews, of Weston-super- 
Mare, but they convey to the minds of visitors some¬ 
thing more of the growth of the Vine naturally than do 
the odd and stunted half-standard plants seen in the 
stand of the Chateau Tabilink Vineyard. One of these 
Vines—of course, now dead—is twenty-four years old. 
All are on stems about 2| ft. in height, and have mop 
heads, which it is easy to see are cut hard back every 
year. They present a case of hard pruning such as 
would delight the soul of the severest restrictionist ; 
but it would seem, according to colonial knowledge, 
that the plan is productive of the best results. Vic¬ 
toria also grows fine and rich-coloured Gourds, and in 
more than one huge glass case may be seen numerous 
wax models of fruits, especially Apples and Pears, 
which show that the colony is capable of competing 
with the most favoured nations in fruit production. 
Home fruitists will regard these models with interest, 
because so many are of sorts with which we are familiar. 
products of civilisation—the garden and agricultural 
products of the colony. 
Canadian Fruits, &c. 
Here, in addition to com, seeds, grasses, &c., the 
gardener will be attracted to the singularly interesting 
show of natural Apples, Pears, and other fruits preserved 
in air-tight glasses, and showing in all cases beautiful 
samples. The Dominion of Canada certainly contains 
some fine fruit-growing districts, and these may 
presently become formidable competitors with the 
United States in sending tons of their fruit produce. 
We have here referred simply to these special exhibits 
in this grand collection of products and manufactures 
of Outer and Greater Britain, which we think may 
specially interest our readers. It need hardly be said 
that there remains many more features of special 
interest, which we have been unable to note. 
The Orchid Show. 
Messrs. F. Sander & Co. have prepared in a glass¬ 
house on the west side of the Indian Court a very 
beautiful Orchid show, the plants being arranged amidst 
small Ferns on rock banks, prepared by that veteran, 
Pulham of Broxbourne. This house differs so much 
from the ordinary style of Orchid houses in its internal 
splendid collections of Daffodils, Tulips, Primulas, and 
other hardy plants—many of them rare and choice— 
which gained, as they deserved, a large measure of 
admiration. In various parts of the Exhibition will be 
found plant houses in which are placed representatives 
of the Flora of the various Colonies, and which, to a 
great extent, have been furnished by Messrs. James 
Veitch & Sons, Mr. Bull, Messrs. E- G, Henderson & 
Son, and other Nurserymen. To these departments we 
must refer more fully on another occasion. 
A more beautiful exhibition—one generally to our 
insular minds more novel, or one more interesting 
has never before been seen in this or any other country. 
We trust gardeners universally will endeavour to see 
it, and in seeing it permit their often too limited range 
of thought and political and geographical ideas to be 
broadened. The grand pageants attending the opening 
on Tuesday last, which we were favoured to see 
from a good position, was eminently worthy of a noble 
show, which should help to teach us in reality 
that like or dislike ; it is true that all men are equal, 
that one is as good as another, divergence in speech 
or colour of skin notwithstanding, we are all men and 
brethren. 
