October 20, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
building within the Acts ? but, Is my greenhouse a 
building ? &c. 
As before stated, I had some difficulty with the 
district surveyor, who refused to accept my reading of 
the Acts, and a lengthy correspondence passed between 
us. He would insist upon visiting my premises a 
number of times while the building was in. course of 
erection, and when completed he sent me an account 
as follows:—‘‘For surveying one building, being a 
certain building under 400 sq. ft. in area and one 
storey in height, and being situate, &c., &c., £1.” To 
this was affixed a receipt stamp, across which was 
written, “Received the above,” and signed. A letter 
from the district surveyor accompanied the receipt, 
stating it was sent to show he was not “fighting for 
his fee. ” 
There were two things connected with this receipt 
which were somewhat amusing. In the first place I had 
never heen requested to pay the £1, and in the second 
place the Act of 1855 sets out a schedule of charges 
the district surveyor is entitled to make, as follows 
Fees Payable to District Surveyor. 
Fees for New Buildings. 
For every building not exceeding 
400 sq. ft. in area, and of one 
storey in height, the fee shall be £0 15 0 
It may be well to mention that before the tenant 
erects a greenhouse he should take every precaution, 
aa it is both expensive and annoying alter erecting 
one to find someone in a position to interfere 
and insist upon structural alterations being made or 
the removal of the house. For instance, the tenant 
should have either a clause inserted in the agreement 
or lease under which he holds his premises, or obtain 
an undertaking from the landlord, to the effect that he 
may be at liberty to erect greenhouses and remove 
them at the expiration of the tenancy, otherwise the 
tenant may find he has erected a house which his 
landlord will in all probability endeavour to insist 
upon his leaving upon the premises. In addition to 
this, if garden or other walls are made use of, the 
house should be built with gutters to catch the 
rain, so that the wet does not run off the roof upon 
the walls. If eaves or gutters are erected over a 
neighbour s land he has the legal right to have them 
pulled down without waiting for an actual incon¬ 
venience to arise, therefore it is advisable that the 
neighbour’s permission should he first obtained. 
From the above facts it will be seen that an ordinary 
greenhouse, whether on wheels or planks, is without 
doubt a building within the meaning of the Building 
Acts, and that directly an occupier commences to erect 
even one of the smallest greenhouses we find advertised 
as tenant’s fixtures, the district surveyor appears upon 
the scene and claims to have the right, under the Act 
of 1855, to compel the unfortunate horticulturist to 
put brickwork up to the sills, and then at one stroke, 
not only makes the greenhouse a landlord’s fixture, but 
brings the structure under the Building Acts, enabling 
him to claim his fee for surveying a greenhouse which 
often scarcely deserves to be called a structure.— 
Practical. _ 0 -^- i ; ii 
FERG-USLIE HOUSE, PAISLEY, 
Pleasantly situated on the top of a ridge, scarcely 
sufficiently elevated to be termed a hill, and overlooking 
the town of Paisley, is Ferguslie House, the residence 
of T. Coates, Esq. Hot only does it occupy this 
commanding position, but from the same fact we should 
consider the situation a healthy one, escaping in a 
great measure the close, smoky or unhealthy atmo¬ 
sphere, incident to low-lying and crowded localities. 
The mansion occupies the summit of the ridge, as does 
the beautiful and finely built range of plant houses. 
The flower garden and pleasure grounds occupy the flat 
table land, the slope and another level piece of ground 
facing the town. Two vineries also occupy the higher 
grounds, but some low-roofed plant houses, well cal¬ 
culated to suit the requirements of plant growing, and 
the kitchen garden occupy the opposite slope of the 
ridge. 
In both of the vineries the canes were planted only 
two years ago, and the vigorous growth and well- 
ripened wood they have produced speaks well for the 
abilities of Mr. McDonald, the gardener. The leading 
kinds grown are Muscat of Alexandria, Gros Maroc, 
White Lady Downe’s, Alicante, Gros Guillaume, Mrs. 
Pearson, and Golden Queen. Two or three bunches 
only were allowed to occupy the lower part of the rods, 
and both the bunches and the berries were of large size, 
and in the first week of September were finishing off 
very satisfactorily. The third crop of Melons for the 
season were growing away vigorously in the Melon 
house. Amongst Tomatos we noticed a red kind 
named Harefield Grove, and a yellow named Orange 
Queen, a clean, smooth-skinned, round fruit. 
One of the low span-roofed houses contained a col¬ 
lection of greenhouse plants, amongst which we noted 
Metrosideros coccinea, the deliciously scented Boronia 
megastigma, Clerodendron fragrans flore pleno, also 
endowed with the same quality, while the double 
flowers are more durable than in the typical state ; 
Pentas carnea, and Vinca rosea alba. A fine batch of 
Calceolaria Burbidgei consisted of healthy and vigorous 
specimens, 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height. This is a garden 
hybrid, whose parentage is C. Pavonii crossed with 
C. fuchsitefolia, the habit and flowers showing the 
greater affinity to the first-named. For autumn and 
winter-flowering it is very distinct and valuable. A 
quantity of Sedum spectabile in pots testified to the 
value of this Stonecrop—or, rather, Orpine—for the 
embellishment of the greenhouse. Two of the most 
popular and widely-distributed Primulas in Scotland of 
recent introduction have also found their way here, 
where they find congenial treatment and repay it. 
Orchids are well cared for, although not extensively 
grown. Healthy and strong was Vanda gigantea ; 
while the specimens of Angrjecum sesquipedale were 
not only large but branched, consisting of several 
stems each. Fine clumps of Lnelia anceps were also 
preparing for their autumnal and early winter display. 
Erica ventricosa coccinea minor. 
All were being vigorously cleaned by a staff of men. 
The principal range of glasshouses, called the con¬ 
servatory, is built in contiguity to the mansion itself, 
both the design and execution being excellent. It 
must have been built at a cost rarely expended on such 
structures at private establishments. The range was 
built about two years ago, and the various divisions 
are furnished with curvilinear roofs, stood on high 
framework with glass sides. There is much beautiful 
and ornamentally-stained glass running round the 
sides of the structures, just under the base from which 
the roof springs. As may be imagined, the houses have 
still a clean and new-like appearance. 
The chief feature of one of the divisions kept at a 
high temperature, was a considerable variety of Palms, 
including such elegant species as Thrinax argentea, T. 
elegans, Areca rubra, A. sapida, Cocos plumosa, and 
Phcenix dactylifera. They are grown in pots according 
to their size, so as to admit of their being moved about 
for different purposes and to various parts of the 
house, for the sake of introducing different effects and 
giving a fresh appearance to the whole. In contrast to 
the above, are the massive fan-leaved Livingstonia 
rotundifolia and Pritchardia Vuylstekeana, that appear 
to best effect when allowed to attain a size which would 
he inconvenient in small houses. 
Stove plants have their requirements duly attended 
to, and include Elfeodendron orientale (Aralia Chabrieri) 
and the new Aralia Reginas. The finely-variegated 
133 
Alpinia.vittata upheld its reputation as an effective 
subject at any season, on account of the decided tone 
of the creamy white variegation contrasting with the 
shining dark green of the rest of the foliage. The 
same remarks might apply to Xanthosoma (Phyl- 
lotasnium) Lindeni. Five pots of Pancratium speciosum 
and P. fragrans were flowering freely, as they do at 
various seasons, when their deliciously scented flowers 
are acceptable, although their duration is but transient. 
Large healthy plants of Eucharis grandiflora exhibited 
no signs of the Eucharis disease, which has decimated 
many a fine collection. Calathea Makoyana, C. 
fasciata, with unusually fine foliage ; and Tomelia 
fragrans (Monstera deliciosa) were also well grown. 
Three large tree Ferns, namely, Dicksonia antarctiea, 
Cibotium princeps and Cyathea australis were the most 
prominent features planted along the centre of a cool 
house. A close green carpet of Sibthorpia europasa 
covered the bed in which some of the Ferns were 
planted, forming a pleasing contrast to what ■would 
otherwise be naked ground. Two years ago were 
planted some specimens of Tacsonia Van Yolxemi and 
T. exoniensis, and these now drape the pillars and 
chains in the most attractive manner, as the lateral 
and flowering shoots droop straight down in a free 
and easy manner. The side stages were adorned with 
batches of Capsicum Little Gem, Celosia pyramidalis, 
Nerine curvifolium (N. Fothergillii majus of gardens), 
Lilium auratum, L. speciosum, the pure white L. s. 
album, and Yallota purpurea majus, the Scarborough 
Lily. 
The Camellia house was well furnished with large 
specimens planted out ; they are always more vigorous 
when so treated than when grown in pots, exhibiting 
longer shoots, finer foliage and a greater quantity of 
bloom. The roof of this house is also draped with 
Tacsonia and other climbers. Large specimens of 
Orange trees enjoy the privilege of plenty of root- 
room in the Camellia beds. A bower formed of trellis- 
work, and covered with Lapageria rosea, intermixed in 
the lower parts with the scented Heliotrope, is a feature 
we seldom have the privilege of seeing. Among Ferns 
an interesting plant was Didymochltena lunulata, other¬ 
wise known as Didymochkena truncatulum or Aspidium 
truncatulum, the fronds of which are of a fine bronzy 
colour in the young state. The Heath house con¬ 
tained a fine lot of Heaths and quantities of 
Kalosanthes coccinea. 
ERICA VENTRICOSA COCCINEA 
MINOR. 
The specific name of this beautiful little Heath is 
generally omitted in garden nomenclature, and the 
plant is well known under the two latter names. It is 
probably the smallest of all the numerous garden forms 
into which E. ventricosa has sported, and amongst the 
dwarf kinds there is no prettier ornament for the 
greenhouse, conservatory, or dwelling room, when in 
good condition, and of fair size. For all the purposes 
mentioned it is invaluable ; but those having any 
regard for the welfare of the plant, should prevent, if 
possible, its being taken to the dwelling room, where, 
undoubtedly, it is exceedingly handsome, but extremely 
liable to be overlooked in the matter of watering. 
When once neglected in this respect, it seldom recovers 
the loss of its foliage to be either useful or ornamental. 
The tube of the flower is small and pale, but this loss 
is more than compensated for by the brightness of the 
limb, which has suggested the varietal name. The 
stature is dwarf, and the habit close, branching, and 
bushy. For this reason it is one of the few that have 
survived from the once extensive collections that 
existed in this country, and is largely grown for 
market purposes. 
--—-- 
FERNS FOR TALL ROCKWORK 
AND BASKETS. 
{Concluded from p. 116.) 
Sableria cYathEoedes is grand when well cared 
for, making large leathery fronds, silvered underneath, 
and beautifully arched in character ; Polypodium 
aureum is a fine subject for the same purpose, its 
glaucous fronds standing well up on long foot-stalks, 
and arching gracefully over towards the end of the 
frond. Its rhizomes are also attractive on rockwork, 
as being thick and very woolly they look like some 
reptile laying about amongst vegetation. Hephrolepis 
davallioides and exaltata claim a share of praise for the 
same purpose, making quantities of long fronds that 
may be considered graceful, whether used on rockwork 
