January 1, 18ST. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
277 
The following new classes, open to all, were added:— 
Six dark Dahlias, distinct ; six light, ditto ; six tipped, 
ditto ; six striped, ditto ; and six decorative and 
Cactus varieties, distinct, to be shown in bunches of 
six blooms. In the classes for Single Dahlias the 
number of bunches have been increased to twenty- 
four and twelve ; and a new class of six bunches has 
been provided for amateurs. Five new classes are also 
added for amateurs, the means being provided by a 
vote of the Veitcli Memorial Fund Trustees ; and in 
addition there will be the competition for the Turner 
Memorial Trophy. Thus there is every prospect of 
the Exhibition of 1887 being considerably extended, 
and also be made additionally interesting by reason of 
the re-casting of some of the old and the provision of 
new classes. The proceedings closed with a hearty 
vote of thanks to Mr. Moore for his services during the 
past year, and to the chairman for presiding. 
-- 
DENDROBIUM MAOPARLANEI. 
We have pleasure in being able to present toour readers 
the first illustration of this lovely Dendrobe, of which 
there are probably only three plants at present in the 
country—viz., those at Messrs. Jas. Veitcli & Sons, of 
Chelsea. The habit of the plant is very like that of 
some of the shorter forms of D. thyrsiflorum, or it 
Auriculas and Gentiana acaulis, these making a gay 
appearance in the spring months. Along a walk 
leading to the kitchen garden a water-course intersects, 
and this is crossed by a rustic hand-bridge. At each 
end of this bridge rockeries have been built, and are 
filled with Saxifragas, Aubretias, Campanulas, &c. ; 
and the sides of the water-course are planted with 
Scilla nutans, Daffodils, Primroses and Forget-me-nots. 
The kitchen garden is bordered with herbaceous 
plants, and contains a good collection of Irises, Pmonies, 
and bulbs of various sorts. The glasshouses are situated 
at the extreme end of the kitchen garden, and it is here 
Mr. Norman Veevers devotes a great part of his energies 
in bringing to perfection his choice lot of plants. 
The first house we entered was a span conservatory. 
The centre stage has been well filled with Chrysanthe¬ 
mums, and the side stages were occupied with good 
examples of Rhododendron jasmimefiorum, Adenatidra 
fragrans, Pimelias, Aphelexis, Tetrathecas, Boronias, 
Hedaromas, Statices, &c. ; good plants of Erica ventri- 
cosa and E. Cavendishiana ; a very fine plant of Erica 
Shannoni glabra, a variety of which too much cannot 
be said in its favour, both for exhibition and cutting 
purposes. All these are exhibition plants, and have 
figured, on various occasions, at the annual show. A 
good collection of Camellias, containing such varieties 
as Alba plena, Fimbriata, Countess of Ellesmere, 
Dexoroisium Macfarlanei. 
could well be mistaken for D. chrysotoxum, as that 
species sometimes appears. The flowers, w'hich are 
borne a dozen or so on an ascending raceme, are pure 
white, the centre and side lobes of thelabellum and the 
callus being purple. In fact, the individual flower, 
when seen in a living state, recalls to mind, at first 
sight, a variety of white Lielia auceps. It is a grand 
plant, and we hope soon to see it more plentiful. Our 
illustration was taken from flowers sent by Mr. C. 
Herrin, of Chalfont. It probably comes from one of 
the many islands of North Australia, and requires the 
same treatment as D. bigibbum, D. Phaloenopsis and 
others of that group. 
-- 
SPRING- COTTAGE, NELSON. 
This, the residence of W. F. Ecroyd, Esq., is situated 
on the confines of the new and growing town of Nelson, 
Lancashire. It has, for some years, been noted as the 
chief plant-growing place in this district, and the 
success that has attended the efforts of the gardener in 
competitions at the annual show at Nelson have 
been great. The entrance is from the main road, and 
beds of hardy Heaths are planted on the sides of the 
drive. Along under the trees, and running up to the 
house, are rockeries made of freestone, and planted 
with Periwinkle, Saxifragas and Ferns. A mass v of 
Saxifraga umbrosa completely fills one bed under a lot 
of trees, and flowers freely during the summer season. 
Around the house are borders of Alpine plants, and the 
outside borders and beds are well filled with Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, Roses, &c. One border is filled with Alpine 
Bicolor, De la Reine, Triomphe de Wondelghem, 
Teutonia, Mastia rosea, Elizabeth Herbert, and Im- 
bricata, were in good condition, and some of the plants 
were flowering freely. Azaleas were well grown and 
trained pyramid fashion. An old but much-esteemed 
plant was just coming into flower—viz., Strelitza 
Regime. 
On the roof, and looking well, were good plants of 
Lapageria alba, L. rubra, Habrothamnus elegans, and 
Solanum jasminoides ; and covering the wall at the 
end was a large plant of Diplacus glutinosus, Hoya 
carnosa, Pelargonium John Gibbons, full of flower, and 
a large scarlet Cactus. At the back of this house, but 
opening out of it, is a Fernery, but the ground level 
being lower, rough stone steps have been used to get 
to the floor of the house ; a stage along the front con¬ 
tains some good plants in pots of Gleiclienia rupestris 
glaucescens, G. Mendellii, Adiantum Lindeni, A. 
capillus-veneris and gracillima, Microlepia hirta cris- 
tata and anthariscifolia, a good pan of Killarney Fern, 
and a few plants of Sarracenia purpurea. The side 
walls are filled with Selaginella denticulata, interspersed 
with good plants of Selaginella ciesia arborea and orna¬ 
mental-leaved Begonias. The back wall is covered with 
virgin cork, and large masses of rock-work are reared 
in the centre and at the back of the house. Especially 
noticeable on this rockery were grand plants of Todea 
superba, 5 ft. across, a large mass of Trichomanes 
radicans, 4 ft. by 2 ft. 6 ins. through, and patches of 
Hymenophyllum demissum. From the top were large 
clusters of Nephrolepis exaltata hanging over like a 
fountain. Twining amongst the cork on the back wall 
were plants of Tradescantia discolor, Ficus repens and 
a collection of Pteris and ornamental Begonias. Thus 
house is a Fernery in the proper sense of the word, the 
smell on entrance putting one in mind of a large patch 
of Ferns after a shower of rain in some of our woods 
and dells in the month of July. 
Early and late vineries run at right angles from 
the conservatory—the early one being ready for starting 
into growth as soon as the days begin to get a little 
longer. The late one is at present carrying good fruit 
of Mrs. Pearson, Gros Colmar, Trebbiano, Muscat of 
Alexandria and Madresfield Court. Here a little ex¬ 
periment has been tried with grafting Black Alicante 
and Lady Downes, Gros Colmar and Lady Downes, 
Trebbiano and Lady Downes together, all the varieties 
carrying fruit. 
A large and roomy stove stands away from the other 
houses, and contains some very good exhibition plants, 
also a collection of small plants for table decoration, 
&c. The entrance was gay with Poinsettias and 
Calanthes, mixed with Adiantums, many of the spikes 
of Calanthes measuring 4 ft. in height. On the roof 
were good plants of Passifiora princeps, P. Bonapartea 
and Steplianotis, Allamanda, Dipladenia Boliviensis, 
always blooming, and suspended from the roof, in wire 
baskets, are good plants of Nepenthes Rafflesiana, 
carrying twenty pitchers, and baskets of Davallias, 
Dendrobiums, &c. Amongst specimen exhibition plants 
were grand examples of Ixora Williamsii, Fraserii and 
Amboyensis plants, 3 ft. to 4 ft. through ; Rondeletias, 
Dipladenias, Anthuriurn Andreanuin, A Scherzerianum, 
Euphorbia splendens, Tabernaemontanas and great 
specimens of Gardenia intermedia make up the bulk of 
the flowering plants. Among specimen Palms were 
good examples of Areca Verschaffeltii and crinita, 
Cocos Weddelliana (several plants), Geonoma gracilis, 
Cycas revoluta, Chamrerops humilis and Stevensonia 
grandiflora. Variegated leaves were well represented 
by grand examples of Croton Queen "V ictoria, 6 ft. high 
by 3 ft., finely coloured ; C. interruptus, Wiesmanii 
and undulatus, Alocasia in variety, and Asparagus 
plumosus nanus and Paullinia thalictrifolia with their 
light and feathery foliage. 
Good plants of Adiantum Farleyense, Davallia 
Mooreana, D. Fijiensis plumosus, Selaginella amcena, 
S. erythropus, and S. africana. Small plants for table 
work were staged on the side stages, consisting 
of Aralia Kerchoveana, and Aralia elegantissima; 
Dracaena Goldieana, D. gracilis, D. splendens, and 
D. Fraserii ; Croton Warrenii, C. Joliannis, &c. Two 
splendid pots of Eucharis amazonica will be just at 
their best for Christmas, one pot having seventeen, the 
other sixteen, spikes of flowers. Mr. Veevers is very 
successful in striking many of his stove plants without 
the aid of a propagating-case. I saw such plants 
as Casuarinas, Dracaenas, Aralias, Ficus elastica, &c., 
all rooted and rooting amongst the brick rubble 
on the stages in this stove, and under the shade 
of his large plants. A small Melon and Cucumber 
house, with a few pits, complete the glass structures 
here ; and at present in these places are good specimen 
Pelargoniums and other soft-wooded plants that have 
to be grown to make up the usual conservatory 
decorations during summer and autumn.— W. G. 
-- 
THE VINES AT SPRINGHOUSE, 
HECKMONDWIKE. 
Situated in what is now known as the Spen Valley 
Division of Yorkshire, stands the thriving manufac¬ 
turing town of Heckmondwike, which is noted for the 
manufacture of blankets. Within three or four 
hundred yards of the town, on the northern slope of 
the hill opposite, can be discerned several ranges of 
glass, which are in the gardens of Springhouse, the 
residence of James Firth, Esq. Turning to the left 
from the station, a walk of a few minutes brought us to 
the gates, and passing through, we were soon introduced 
to the presence of Mr. Ives—Mr. Firth’s courteous and 
obliging gardener. I found him busy at work in an 
early vinery ; the last time I was here, the borders in 
this house were being turned over and renovated, pre¬ 
paratory to being planted with young Vines of later 
sorts. The house is 140 ft. long by 23 ft. wide and 15 
ft. high, and is divided into three compartments. The 
splendid growths, hard and well ripened, testified to 
tlieir being well treated. 
Alnwick Seedling had made growths over 20 ft. long; 
