280 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 1, 1887. 
personal and somewhat commonplace in my similes, I 
may observe that if a warming-pan was held on the top 
of my head it would not in the least degree increase 
the warmth of my feet ; hut I think common-sense 
and experience tells us if we cau keep our lower ex¬ 
tremities warm, we are more likely to ensure circulation 
throughout the entire system. It would he an extra¬ 
ordinary innovation to introduce the roof-system in 
warming our public buildings, knowing from long 
experience that in crowded halls, &c., where there are 
large gatherings, that the heat, without such additions, 
is, as a rule, oppressive ; and to attempt to reverse our 
kitchen arrangements, would, I am sure, appear in most 
minds absurd. 
Warmth judiciously applied is a very important 
agent in the maturation of almost every living thing, 
both animal and vegetable, and it is well to examine 
the laws that influence the successful working and the 
perfecting of nature’s great work in whatever sphere it 
may appertain to. 
In vegetable growth, we have from time to time ac¬ 
cording to the seasons, plenty of evidence as to what 
warmth and moisture will effect ; in fact, we very ma¬ 
terially depend upon a genial atmosphere and tempera¬ 
ture combined to bring our fruit and vegetable crops to 
perfection, both as regards bulk and flavour. A cold 
sub-stratum either inside or outside never leads to 
satisfactory results ; but let the earth receive warmth, 
either naturally or artificially, and vegetation responds 
in a very perceptible manner. Gardeners know well 
the value of bottom heat, as they term it, whether 
obtained by hot air, hot water, or by fermenting material. 
Ask the successful propagator if he could dispense 
with bottom heat, and rely entirely on that generated 
from the roof of any given structure. What is it that 
induces a healthy free root action in the earth, but the 
warming influence of the sun which is absorbed and 
stored during the summer months. That there is 
abundant scope for improving upon our various systems 
and appliances I readily admit, but at the same time 
I do not see that the roof system can be brought into 
general use, although a very novel way to keep out 
Jack Frost. As an old blue apron, I fail to recognise 
the merits of the system, and am disposed to seek for 
improvements in the science of artificial heating a little 
nearer to the earth’s surface.— G. Fry, Lewisham. 
Your able correspondent, “A. D.,” in his interest¬ 
ing remarks, on p. 230, asks for the consideration of 
this subject. We have lately had the opinions of 
various correspondents on the subject of deep stoke¬ 
holes, and had “A. D. ” then contributed his article, 
it would have thrown a new light on the matter, as by 
the system advocated by him, stoke-holes may almost 
be dispensed with. I have some recollection of read¬ 
ing an article on the same subject some few years 
since in a contemporary, but the subject was not then 
discussed, and since that time I do not think very 
rapid strides have been made in the system of top¬ 
heating ; at all events I have not seen any structure so 
heated. 
“A. D. ” complains of the practice of placing the 
pipes on the floor, under stages—in fact, anywhere but 
in the coldest place, and this sounds well; but I have 
my doubts as to whether if a stove, for instance, were 
heated on the principle he advocates, the plants in the 
centre of the house would enjoy the same amount of 
warmth as they do on the present system. “ A. D.’s ” 
theory seems to be that the inside is hot enough, and 
that we need only keep the cold out; but such is not 
the case, we have to supply our plants with a tempera¬ 
ture as near as possible to that of their native habitats ; 
hence, by our pipes being placed underneath, the 
warm air ascends, and thereby causes the house to be 
of as even a temperature as possible. 
Again, I fail to see how a vinery—in fact, any house 
with foliage near the roof—can be benefited by the 
system, for, as a rule, we all like our pipes as far away 
from the foliage as possible, as being so conducive to 
the breeding of thrips, red-spider, &c. ; and pipes 
suspended from the roof must exclude a certain amount 
of light, and would also appear unsightly. I consider 
that a great amount of heat is lost by inferior glazing, 
and if our horticultural builders can only make houses 
a little more airtight, the tops of the houses need not 
be much colder than the bottoms. I trust “A. D.” 
will tell us a little more about this new system of 
heating, and I should much like to have the experience 
of those who have tried it. We are continually dis¬ 
cussing our present system of heating, and as this 
seems to me to be a new departure, I think it may be 
discussed with advantage.— Wales. 
-->X<-- 
MORTON HALL, MIDLOTHIAN. 
Morton Hall, the residence of Colonel Trotter, i3 
most beautifully situated about two miles south of 
Edinburgh, and on the occasion of a recent visit I was 
indeed gratified to find that, from a horticultural point 
of view, great improvements had been carried out ; a 
new range of glass having been erected last spring. 
The fruit houses, put up some years ago, stand at the 
top of the garden, and running down the west side are 
the new erections, on a slope of about 1 in 12. They 
consist of a corridor 125 ft. long by 9 ft. wide, with 
four substantial span-roofed houses projecting into the 
garden ; a lean-to Fig house at the upper end forms 
the connection between new and old, and the space 
between the spans is neatly laid out with flower beds. 
The corridor has a 4 ft. stage next the glass, the back 
border being intended for a selection of stove and green¬ 
house climbers, but at the time of my visit it was 
economically utilised, being filled from end to end with 
Tomatos. As it is in three divisions, the temperature 
can be regulated so as to suit the requirements of a great 
variety of plants. The first portion is almost ex¬ 
clusively devoted to Adiantums of sorts, a grand plant 
of Farleyense being noticeable, over 4 ft. in diameter, 
and only in a 10-in. pot ; there are also some excellent 
specimens of gracillimum. The middle division contains 
exotic Ferns in great variety, Eucharis, Pancratiums, 
&c. : and the upper portion is filled with half-hardy 
Ferns, and the hardier sorts of foliage plants suitable for 
house decoration. 
The first of the span-roofed houses is a stove 30 ft. by 
16 ft., with a 3 ft. passage in the centre. I took exception 
to the extreme width of the side stages, and suggested 
instead, a centre bed with 2^ ft. stages at sides, but 
Mr. Bell, under whose supervision the whole work had 
been carried out, was equal to the occasion, and pointed 
out that for the requirements of the establishment his 
plan gave more available space ; large specimen plants 
not being wanted, head room was of no moment. The 
house is well stocked with a good assortment of 
Crotons, Dracfenas and Palms, all growing in pots, 
suitable for table and drawing-room purposes. The 
second span is a Cucumber house, 30 ft. by 14 ft., and 
a serviceable one I feel certain it will prove to be. The 
beds are of slate, and are only 6 ins. deep, this being 
considered by Mr. Bell quite sufficient for either 
Cucumbers or Melons, and he grows Cucumbers all the 
year round. The top heat is supplied by square pipes, 
which at the same time act as a coping for the walls. 
One side has six rows of 4 in. piping, and can be 
utilised as a propagating pit. 
The Melon house comes next in order, 30 ft. by 
13 ft., the internal arrangements being similar to the 
Cucumber house. The last span is a greenhouse, 30 ft. 
by 18 ft., and used principally as a feeder to the con¬ 
servatory. Here we have the stage in the centre, with 
side tables all round ; the staging is all substantial 
"Welsh slate, and at the sensible height of 18 ins. from 
the floor level. The Fig house, which forms the con¬ 
necting link between new and old, is 41 ft. by 14 ft., 
and is trellised back and front. The front trellis being 
drum-shaped, all the back wall becomes available. 
The house has just been planted with all the most 
approved sorts. Continuing our tour, we entered the 
late Peach house, 44 ft. by 14 ft. ; this has been nine 
years planted, and contains fine healthy trees of Royal 
George, Stirling Castle, Lady Palmerston, and Pine 
Apple Nectarine. The early Peach house, 36 ft. by 
14 ft., is two years younger. Among the varieties 
grown, I noticed a fine tree of Early Beatrice ; this 
variety is highly esteemed here, and comes into use 
fully three weeks before Royal George. 
Occupying the centre of this range is a handsome 
conservatory, octagon-shaped, 32 ft. by 21 ft., and well 
filled with the usual assortment of flowering plants ; 
the Carnation, Souvenir de la Malmaison, is a great 
favourite here, judging from the quantity grown ; 
hanging baskets are suspended from the roof, and 
climbers luxuriate in great variety. An extra fine 
variety of Lapageria rosea covered one half of the back 
wall. 
"We then entered the early vinery, 32 ft. by 16 ft., 
seven years planted, principally with Black Hamburgh. 
I understand that Gros Colmar does remarkably well 
in this house, and colours to perfection. Mr. Bell 
believes in growing it with a slight shade in order to 
preserve its naturally tender foliage as long as possible. 
The late vinery, 28 ft. by 16 ft., has been planted 
ten years, and at the time of my visit there were still 
to be seen good examples of Mrs. Pince and Black 
Alicante plump and fresh. On the west wall outside 
the kitchen garden there is a lean-to orchard house, 
and another devoted to Tea Roses. Roses are grown 
in immense numbers, one double border 109 yds. long, 
running down the centre of the kitchen garden, is 
stocked with over 800 plants in all the finest varieties 
of Hybrid Perpetuals. 
It may be mentioned that the heating arrange¬ 
ments are carried out on the most improved prin¬ 
ciples ; the boiler in the new range is a tubular 
saddle, and is connected with over 1,700 ft. of 4-in. 
piping ; there are plenty of water-tight valves, and the 
heating being thoroughly under control, none goes to 
waste, every joint is exposed and clear of walls, so that 
in the event of leaking no heavy excavations are 
necessary. 
On another occasion I may have something to say 
about the outside beauties of Morton Hall. Flower 
gardening is well done, and I am glad to state that 
whereas in many places in Scotland the herbaceous 
border had to make room for the ribbon border, ac¬ 
commodation has been found at Morton Hall for both. 
The collection of herbaceous and Alpine plants is a 
most noteworthy one, and has never been allowed to 
suffer from neglect.— D. P. L. 
-- 
THE TANGIER XIPHIUMS. 
There are two distinct species of Xiphium growing 
in the neighbourhood of Tangier, and as I believe I 
was the first to introduce them to English gardens and 
to flower them, I wish to say a few words about their 
differences, especially as one of them was figured under 
a wrong name in the Botanical Magazine. 
In 1869 I introduced Xiphium filifolium from 
Gibraltar, and this was figured in Vol. xcvii., plate 
5928, of the Botanical Magazine. In 1871, when I 
visited Morocco with Sir J. D. Hooker and Mr. Ball, we 
found it in cultivation in Sir J. D. Hay’s garden from 
bulbs obtained near the coast ten miles south-west of 
Tangier where I again collected it ; and it was again 
figured in the Botanical Magazine, Yol. xcvii., plate 
5981, under the name of Xiphium tingitanum. These 
two plates certainly refer to the same species—Xiphium 
filifolium, the dark purple flowers of which readily 
distinguish it from the pale sapphire-blue flowers of 
Xiphium tingitanum. I believe we also collected some 
bulbs of X. tingitanum during the expedition of 1871. 
It grows in extraordinary abundance in the fields 
south of, and close to, Tangier, and I again collected 
it in November, 1883, and. flowered it in the spring of 
1884. It was also flowered at Kew from bulbs of my 
collecting, and subsequently figured in the Botanical 
Magazine, tab. 6775, 1884. 
Xiphium filifolium I have successfully cultivated 
and flowered in a cold frame. X. tingitanum, though 
more robust in habit, growing freely and multiplying 
rapidly, is an extremely difficult species to flower ; and 
out of many hundred bulbs I have had in cultivation— 
both under glass and in the open border—I have only 
once flowered it .—George Maw, F.L.S., Benthall, 
Kenley, Surrey, Dec. ‘loth, 1886. 
-->X<--- 
DECORATIVE PLANTS FOR 
ROOMS. 
Now that we are in the depth of winter, attention is 
given by many householders to plants that are attractive 
for room decorations, to brighten up and enliven the 
dull and dreary winter that falls on all alike, and puts 
an end to the many pleasures that are to be derived 
from the invigorating influences of outdoor gardening. 
It is at this time of the year that the benefit of plants 
in rooms and halls are appreciated by a great number 
of our townspeople. Ladies are especially fond of the 
pleasures to be derived from the attention that has to 
be bestowed upon these beauties of nature, and the 
taste for plants in rooms should be encouraged by all 
who have it within their power to push the matter 
forward. 
If the householder has the use of a warm greenhouse 
attached to his garden, so much the better, for by 
means of this useful structure he can continually 
change his plants, and so renovate those that he has 
