January 15, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
313 
plants. Phalsenopsis aie done well and are quite at 
home ; there are fine specimens of P. Schilleriana and 
P. amabilis, the latter having nine leaves over 1 ft. long, 
and throwing a fine branching spike, as well as the 
former. Dendrobium heterocarpum, suspended in 
baskets, was conspicuous by having over 200 flowers 
expanded, which filled the air with their rich perfume; 
a showy variety of Cattleya superba, well-flowered, is 
also represented. The fine growths made by Dendro¬ 
bium Wardianum, D. crassinode, D. Devoniana, and 
others will ensure a fine show in the future. The Calan- 
thes are well done and nicely flowered. These, mixed 
with Poinsettias, Euphorbias, Begonias and foliage 
plants, produce a charming effect at this dull season. 
The next house to this is an intermediate one, but 
at present is occupied by specimen Ixoras, Allamandas, 
Clerodendrons and Gleichenias. A specimen of Glei- 
chenia dichotoma here is 6 ft. through, and Anthurium 
Scherzerianum is 4 ft. through, these occupying the 
centre stage. The side stages are filled with healthy 
plants of various Orchids, such as Cattleya Trianae, 
C. Mendelii, C. Mossite, C. Percivaliana, C. gigas, 
planted with Ferns and mosses. The surface is covered 
with spar where the cool Orchids are grown, and 
these are doing well, and include some fine plants of 
Odontoglossum, and various Sophronitis. Around the 
recesses to the tanks in this house filmy Ferns are 
planted, which seem quite at home, giving the house a 
very nice appearance. Another range, 60 ft. by 12 ft., 
in three divisions, is used for forcing, and Cucumbers, 
Melons and Strawberries are grown in great profusion. 
Conveniently arranged alongside the corridor are the 
garden offices, comprising a good potting shed, packing 
shed, sheds for storing soil and pots, Mushroom house, &c. 
Large tanks conveniently arranged for supplying rain 
water have also been provided ; and, in fact, every 
convenience on the most approved principle has been 
secured. The place is well kept, and the practical 
manner in which the various departments are managed 
reflects great credit on the abilities of Mr. B. Cromwell, 
the gardener, under whose superintendence all these 
arrangements have been carried out. It must be a 
source of great pleasure and satisfaction to Mr. Timmis, 
to have so unique a place, and which is so well 
fruit as at present; but this is noticeable in most parts 
of the country—-at least, if the numerous notes in our 
public newspapers be anything to go by. 
The fruit of the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is, for 
a considerable length of time in autumn and winter, of 
great value for decorative purposes, and being usually 
produced in abundance and in conjunction with the 
racemes of bell-shaped flowers, is rendered particularly 
interesting and well suited for cutting purposes, its 
lasting qualities making it valuable in this way.— 
A. D. Webster, Llandegai, Bangor. 
-->X<-- 
THE TUBEROUS BEGONIA. 
Its History and Cultivation. 
( Continued from p. 266 ). 
Tiie first hybrid raised in this country, perhaps the 
first that was ever raised anywhere, and certainly the 
first put into commerce of which we can find any record, 
was Begonia Sedeni, sent out by the Messrs. Veitch in 
1870. It was raised hy their foreman, Mr. John Seden, 
and originated from a cross between B. Boliviensis ( see 
fig. on p. 264.) and a species which the Messrs. Veitch 
Begonia Queen of the Whites. 
Lfelia anceps, many Ccelogyne cristata and its variety, 
Lemoinei, all showing a fine lot of flowers. Cypri- 
pedium insigne is grown in quantity. These useful 
Orchids are in fine condition and bid well to make a 
fine display at their periods of flowering. Suspended 
from the roof of this house is a fine mass of a good 
variety of Laelia anceps, on a teak raft, with over 500 
bulbs flowering for the first time. 
No. 3 range, in two divisions, consists of vineries, 
an early and a late one. These have carried fine useful 
crops of well-coloured highly-finished Grapes, giving 
every satisfaction. In these houses I noticed good 
specimens of Dendrobium nobile, 3 ft. through, which, 
from their appearance, were anxious to burst into 
flower. 
No. 4 range is in two divisions, one of which is used 
as a Muscat house, in which the Vines are remarkably 
well done. The other is used at present as a Peach 
house, but is intended for Madresfield Court Grape. 
No. 10 is at the extreme end of the corridor, and is 
devoted to cool Orchids. In the place of stages rock- 
work is substituted, planted on the side with Ferns 
and Begonias. The back wall is wired, packed and 
managed in every department.— Alfred Outram, Vic¬ 
toria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper Holloway. 
--- 
BERRY-BEARING PLANTS. 
Seldom, indeed, have our woodlands presented such 
a cold and unattractive appearance as during the present 
winter, for, indeed, the Privet, Yew, Euonymus and 
Skimmia, berry-bearing shrubs, were more the exception 
than the rule. Skimmia japonica has been and is 
at present particularly attractive, for the dull red 
berries intermixed with the pleasing evergreen foliage, 
and pretty, though inconspicuous flowers, have a fas¬ 
cination that is certain to be quite their own. 
The Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), although seldom a 
word is said in itspraise, is yetachaste and distinct berry¬ 
bearing plant; indeed, I have more than once been in 
raptures of delight over good-sized breaks of these plants 
when laden with their ebony-like fruit. For mixing 
amongst cut flowers, berried spikes of the Privet are far 
too much neglected, hut wdiere once tried they will 
more than likely ever afterwards he used. Hollies of 
all kinds, plain and variegated foliage, yellow and red- 
berried, have not for many a year been so destitute of 
then had, but which was never named or sent out. In 
what year Mr. Seden commenced crossing the tuberous 
Begonia we do not know, nor have we any knowledge 
of the number of hybrids he raised, from which were 
selected B. Sedeni, and the seventeen other sorts sub¬ 
sequently sent out by the Messrs. Veitch. Suffice it to 
say then, here, that considerable numbers were raised 
and grown on to the flowering stage, and then rigor¬ 
ously selected, and all but the favoured few destined 
to he named and propagated, were burnt, “seedling 
Begonias” being not so valuable then as now. 
Begonia Sedeni was first introduced into public notice 
in June, 1869, when it was awarded the silver Flora 
Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society, as “ the best 
new plant shown for the first time in bloom.” Its 
pretty rosy crimson flowers it need scarcely be said 
were greatly admired, and Mr. Seden used his treasure 
with good effect, both as a seed-bearing and pollen 
parent. It may be convenient hereto place on record 
an authentic list of the varieties raised hy Mr. Seden 
for his employers, showing the order in which they were 
raised, their parentage, and the year in which they were 
sent out. 
