56 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
September 25, 1886 
type are fast coining on. The early-flowering Chiy- 
santhemums, of which Madame Desgrange is most 
liked, are similarly contributing their attractions ; and 
though we have not the same variety of colours that we 
had earlier in the season, there is plenty of interest and 
beauty in the herbaceous border. — Scolytus. 
-- 
BILLINGE SCARR. 
This is the Blackburn suburban residence of D. 
Tliwaites, Esq , and which has, at a bound, become the 
leading plant-growing establishment of the district. 
Recently a block of ten houses has been erected for the 
purpose, and the work has been performed by Mr. 
Thwaites’ own men in a most substantial manner, 
with an air of finish that is rarely witnessed from the 
hands of those unaccustomed to such work, and I was 
surprised to learn the expeditious manner in which 
everything had been accomplished, 
which is anything but characteristic of 
the usual run of estate workmen and 
Mr. Clerk of the Works’ method of 
proceeding. The potting-shed and 
other offices are on the north side of 
the main range of houses, and, like 
them, are new. The entrance to these 
—and the only outside one, as far as 
I could see—is a lofty and. otherwise 
spacious glass ridge-roofed lobby, from 
which the houses may be entered, and 
the various sheds right and left are 
approached, as also is a north house at 
their extremities. Some of the appur¬ 
tenances are reached by a well-lighted 
passage formed by the back wall of 
the houses and the inner wall of the 
sheds. The advantage of this arrange¬ 
ment is that those engaged in the 
houses can procure all they require for 
their use without going out of doors, 
which in wet weather means bringing 
a lot of dirt in with the feet. We 
have regarded it as a luxury to have 
an entrance from the houses into the 
potting-shed, and are contented to 
make frequent outside visits to reach 
the soil and pot-sheds, &c. At Bil- 
linge Scan- Mr. Thwaites has so ar¬ 
ranged matters that if the man goes 
outside he finds nothing for his use, 
and if the floor of his potting-shed is 
kept clean there is little possibility of 
those of the houses becoming dirty. 
Whether this was really the object of 
having the doorways inside the build¬ 
ing is one of the things we forgot to 
enquire. It should be stated that in 
addition to the light from the lobby 
and the passage, each room has win¬ 
dows in the usual way. 
The obj'ect of my visit was, however, 
not so much to inspect the houses and 
particulerlse on them, as their occu¬ 
pants ; and without this time giving 
even an outline of each as we pass 
through, I will note a few of the 
plants. One of the north houses contained specimen 
Azaleas in perfect health and well set with buds, but 
rather closely trained, perhaps, to suit some people’s 
tastes. Stella and Andre Bernhardt were each 4 ft. 
wide and 5 ft. high ; several others were only a trifle 
smaller. The back wall of this house was planted with 
a choice lot of Camellias that looked full of health and 
vigour. 
The other north house had in the centre elevated on 
pots that stood on the gravel bed, specimens of 
Gleichenia Mendelli and rupestris, which were pur¬ 
chased at the late Mr. Dodgson’s sale at Beardwood, 
and have made great progress in their new home under 
the care of Mr. Fergusson, who, no doubt, as an old 
Beardwood man, must be familiar with them from 
their infancy, and he evidently believes in cool treat¬ 
ment for them or, at any rate, much cooler than some 
have ventured to attempt. A stage along the front 
and ends of this house is occupied by Orchids of which 
the folloSing may be noted :—Oncidium varicosum was 
not a large plant, but it had two promising spikes, the 
largest already 4 ft. long, and others carried spikes not 
so advanced. There were also several spikes of the 
beautiful and sweet-scented 0. ornithorhyncum, also 
0. papilio, 0. Kramerianum, and 0. Rogersii, the latter 
very strong. Odontoglossum crispum (Alexandra), 
was represented by several promising plants, also 0. 
cirrosum. On the back wall there is a plant of 
Lygodium scandens, planted two years ago, that covers 
a space 6 ft. by 4 ft. ; and two plants of Asparagus 
plumosus have made similar progress. I have had one 
under my care three years that has to face the same as 
Ericas and Epacris, that is only 1 ft. high and the same 
through, and I do not think it will make greater pro¬ 
gress unless it is returned into the stove, or, at any 
rate, to a less arid atmosphere than a draughty green¬ 
house. Other instances of the benefit of planting out 
were two Begonias in the stove, a white and a rose- 
coloured that were making willow-like growth, and 
flowering abundantly ; Bougainvillea glabra covering 
Valley of Ferns in “My Garden.” 
several square yards, profusely flowered for the second 
time ; and Allamanda Cathartica. 
In the cooler houses Acacia affinis, planted four 
years ago, has covered three parts of the roof of what 
may be termed a very large and lofty house. I never 
witnessed such growth before, and I regiet that in my 
haste in going through I omitted to measure the stem. 
Bomarea Carden also covers several square yards, and 
flowers freely, lasting abouf two months. 
At the west end of the main range, and entered from 
it, are two houses running at right angles. The first 
is occupied with Musa Cavendishii, planted in tubs 
and sunk in the ground, and grown for the sake of the 
fruits, which are highly prized. Am I right in my 
contention, that we can grow these better flavoured 
than those imported to this country ? I have not yet 
tasted any so good from the shops as those grown here, 
were we have the roots surrounded with gentle 
bottom heat. After gazing on a specimen of Ccelogyne 
cristata, about 4 ft. in diameter, that stood on the 
border under the shade of the Musas, we passed into 
the second house containing a small collection of 
healthy young plants of Phakenopsis. The tempera¬ 
ture and atmospheric moisture did not strike me as 
being the place 1 should expect to see them looking so 
well. Cattleya Dowiana was in flower, and Vanda suavis 
had j'ust had the remains of eight spikes removed. 
It was, I believe, once in the possession of the late M- p 
Doagson, and it is really a fine plant. Large plants 
of Anthurium Scherzerianum occupy the centre stage 
of this house with other stove plants’ and one of them 
is said to be amongst the first six distributed and was 
in the Beardwood collection. Anthurium Andreanum 
had fine large spathes ; Dendrobium Wardianum had 
growth over 4 ft. in length, and were in a cool airy 
house. Tuberous Begonias are well grown, as are other 
flowering plants suitable for conservatory decoration 
and cutting purposes at the proper time. Houses 
that are now occupied by Peach trees in pots (about GO 
of them), will be filled with Chrysanthemums of the 
bush form, as Mr. Thwaites objects to 
tall lanky growth, neither can he 
tolerate the appearance of stakes. 
The conservatory adjoins the man¬ 
sion and is a most expensive structure 
with mosaic flooring. Flowering plants 
are confined to the side nearest the 
glass round the house, and the follow¬ 
ing and other plants are dotted about 
the floor, and are of sufficient height 
for a person to pass conveniently under 
them, as there is no defined path the 
whole is promenaded :—Dicksonia an- 
tartica, Cibotium princeps, C. regalis, 
Seafortliia elegans. Planted two years 
ago in a narrow border, near the en¬ 
trance, are Lapageria alba and rosea, 
each covering a space 12 ft. by 4 ft. 
Several of the present year’s growths 
were 8 ft. long and strong in propor¬ 
tion. "When necessary this structure 
can be lighted with gas without any 
injury to the plants, as the burners are 
enclosed in large globes from which a 
chimney proceeds through the roof to 
the outer air, and terminating with a 
revolving fan similar to those fixed on 
the tops of chimneys. Ignition of the 
gas is created by electricity, without 
having to enter the house. 
The fruit and forcing houses, except 
a long pit for Cucumbers and Melons 
are in another garden some distance 
off, with a responsible man in charge 
under Mr. Fergusson’s superintendence. 
Hero of I.ockinge is the favourite Melon 
here, and no others are grown, except 
an odd plant of any variety recom¬ 
mended for trial. IV e named several, 
but they had all been tried. The 
earliest of the second crop, from the 
same plants, were fast approaching 
maturity, and the smallest the size of a 
hen’s egg. The plants were remarkably 
healthy, with large leathery leaves, 
without any trace of spider, and grow¬ 
ing in just the sort of house I should ex¬ 
pect half the plants to canker in a season 
like this. Out of several dozens we put out annually we 
have not lost a plant through canker for five years 
previous to the present one, when it has been fatal to 
the plant to break a stem-leaf, or cut out a shoot that 
was not required. — W. P. R. 
-- 
ROCHEA FALCATA. 
This is without doubt one of the most beautiful 
succulent greenhouse-blooming plants we possess. For 
making a display in the autumn, a few well-grown 
plants give a very cheerful appearance to a greenhouse. 
The flowers are produced in trusses on strong stems, 
about 12 ins. to 18 ins. high, the colour being a bright 
orange-scarlet, they continue in perfection about six 
weeks, a considerable period for a plant during autumn. 
It is easily cultivated, and should be potted in a 
mixture of loam and broken crocks well mixed together; 
the pots should also be well drained, and every pre¬ 
caution taken to ensure the plants from damp, 
especially during the winter months. 
Ordinary greenhouse treatment suits it, but during 
