410 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
February 25, 1888. 
containing magnificent strong canes of Mrs. Pince, 
Gros Colmar, and Lady Downe’s, which are capable of 
producing, and should give a good account of themselves 
this season. In this house was also a large batch of 
Hyacinths, ready to place in forcing quarters as required. 
Ho. 2 is a Peach house, with fine and splendidly-set 
trees of Royal George, Early Alfred, Violette Hative, 
&c. Underneath these was a fine batch of Viburnums, 
showing flower. 
Ho. 3 is an early vinery. Hamburghs, Gros Colmar, 
Mrs. Pince, &c., are the sorts grown; they have fine 
rods, and appear to be everything that can be desired. 
Hoticeable in this house are some good Figs in pots. 
Ho. 4, or the centre division, is raised in the roof, and 
forms a sort of flowering house. The roof is festooned 
rvith Tacsonia Van Volxemii, the centre stage being 
filled with a grand lot of Humeas, forced Lilacs in 
variety, Staphylea colchica, Callas, Deutzias, Azalea 
indica (amongst which I noticed many of Deutsche 
Perle), the lovely double white Spiraeas, &c. The side 
stages were filled with double and single Primulas of a 
fine strain, magnificently-grown and well-flowered 
Cinerarias, Ericas, zonal Pelargoniums, &e., the whole 
forming a superb display, for they are here massed 
in great quantities, under the stages and bordering the 
paths. A rockery is constructed, planted with Ferns 
and other things, which fills up the space well between 
the ground and stages. 
Ho. 5 is another early vinery, and Ho. 6 also, and both 
contain fine canes of the most useful kinds. Potatos are 
grown in pots in these houses, where an early supply is 
obtainable. Ho. 7 is used as a stove ; the centre stage 
is furnished with a noble specimen of Alocasia metallica 
7 ft. through, Crotons well coloured, viz., undulatum, 
5 ft. by 5 ft; Weismannii, 9 ft. by 6 ft; Veitchii, 9 ft. 
by 10 ft ; variegatum, 9 ft. by 9 ft; pictunr the same 
size. The healthy condition of these, as well as other 
specimens, speaks well for the treatment they receive. 
Anthurium Veitchii has leaves over 4 ft. long, and A. 
crystallinum (very fine), Stevensonia grandifolia, Cocos 
"Weddelliana are also well represented by splendid 
specimens. The side stages are filled with a fine lot 
of table plants, Crotons, Palms, Dracmnas, Cossignia 
borbonica, Pavetta borbonica, Pandanus, all beautifully 
coloured and grand for the decoration of the table. 
Bertolonias and Anrectochilus are well represented ; 
nice healthy pieces are growing under bell glasses. 
There are also a few nice Cypripediums, Cattleyas, 
and Dendrobes here which flower freely. A magnificent 
well-coloured specimen of the distinct and beautiful 
Dracmna Lindenii, fully 9 ft. high, in this house should 
not pass unnoticed, for it is perfect and furnished 
within a short space of the pots—a beauty. Edging 
the side stages with Panicum, Isolepis, Tradescantias, 
puts on a nice finish. The curious and quaint Attaccia 
cristata is throwing up its weird-looking flowers, and 
will soon attract attention. Suspended in baskets from 
the roof of this house are Hepenthes Rajah and H. 
Horthiana well pitchered and doing well. The back 
wall is rock-work, and planted with Ficus repens. 
In front of this range, facing south-east, is the new 
kitchen garden, which is surrounded by a 15-ft. wall. 
It is well stocked with fruit trees of various kinds and 
best varieties suitable for dessert and culinary purposes, 
and from their appearance and the manner in which 
the trees are planted they will render a good account 
of themselves, At the bottom of this garden is 
another very fine range, which I shall denote as 
range Ho. 3, 250 ft. by 15 ft., lean-to, and in four 
divisions. Ho. 1 is a late Peach house, and is planted 
with good trees of all the leading sorts. Under these 
trees are housed a capital lot of Azalea mollis, Lilacs 
and Rhododendrons, ready at any time to be shifted 
into the forcing pit; for these sorts of plants are used 
in large quantities for forcing purposes, the demand 
for them being great. 
Ho. 2 is another late Peach house. Ho. 3 is a 
second early house, and just breaking into flower. On 
the back shelves is a fine lot of Strawberries in pots 
coming along nicely. Ho. 4 is a late vinery, which 
was only planted last April; but the Vines have made 
some extraordinary rods for the time. In this house 
Peas are grown in pots very successfully, and give fine 
early crops. 
Behind range Ho. 2 are the bothies, potting-sheds, 
office, fruit room, Mushroom house, tool shed, &c., 
arranged in a most convenient manner—just what is 
required for such an extensive place. Everything is 
well built, no expense being spared. Mr. Bruce 
is fond of his garden, and it must indeed be gratifying 
to him to find the various departments so practically 
carried out, the credit of which is due to Mr. John 
Snow, his intelligent and enthusiastic gardener,— A. 0. 
CULTURE OP ADIANTUM 
CUNBATUM, 
Beebeeis, Asparagus, Spirseas, Ivies, and various 
other evergreens are largely used by florists ; but, still, 
the greatest fault they can find against the Maidenhair 
is, that they cannot get it to produce fronds in the 
winter months that will stand. I have not often 
grown the plant extensively, but on one or two 
occasions I have grown it with such success, that it 
surprises me to see it for three or four months without 
a frond fit for use upon it. My mode of treatment is 
to keep it growing. The general opinion is that the 
Fern is like A. concinnum latum. But this is a mistake, 
as is proved by the fact that after the plant has been 
cut down, the first fronds that it throws up are short, 
those following being longer, and it always strives to 
throw each succeeding frond higher than the preceding 
one. This shows conclusively that the plant has not 
gained strength by its rest. 
Adiantum cuneatum should, if the crown be large 
enough to admit of it, be cut in two, retaining as many 
roots as possible, for each of these roots have on them 
small sappy rootlets by which the plant is fed. The 
whole of the fronds should be cut off, and the more 
heat you can supply them with the better. They 
should be sprinkled twice a day at the least, and heavy 
or light, according to the weather, and if this be very 
fine a further supply of water can be given, but always 
with the rose. All minor fronds should be removed as 
soon as the plant has filled itself out, as they prevent 
it forming a good shape, deterring them in coming up 
in the centre. You find some of the finest fronds on 
the outside spoiling the shape of the plant, and you 
are forced to sacrifice them. Those placed in the con¬ 
servatory will become rusty in time, when they should 
at once be cut down, and if they will admit of it 
should also be divided again. Shake out almost all the 
soil from them, pot up again, and if the season has 
advanced, shade them with mats, if possible, during 
the daytime. I feel sure that if this mode be followed 
the grower will have a good supply of fronds for winter 
use. I have potted a batch as late as September, and 
they have made fine plants before the winter has set in ; 
but a liberal supply of water must be given them, or 
they will not succeed well ivhen potted so late. The 
later the fronds are developed, the better they will 
stand the dull weather, as light ones soon get rusty. 
This Fern has a great liking for water overhead, 
although any humidity settling upon them will quickly 
rust them. The compost that I advise is rough peat 
and fibrous loam in equal parts, with a fair supply of 
sand, but not too much, as it causes the soil to wash 
away.— E. Warden. 
-- 
Gardening ICiscellany. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. 
1 observe that the committee of this fund are pro¬ 
posing to have an election of candidates shortly. I 
should like to learn whether it is proposed to have in 
connection with such election all the intolerable evils 
of canvassing, which is such a worry to the various 
subscribers, nine-tenths of whom know nothing of the 
merits of the respective candidates, and, further, so 
terribly demoralises applicants and involves them in 
such considerable expense. Ho doubt in the end the 
longest purse and the most persistent and annoying 
canvasser wins, as there is nothing so likely to succeed 
in such cases as rvearying, worrying applicants. That 
canvassing is found to be the bane of charities generally 
there can be no doubt, whilst the money so recklessly 
flung away in promoting it would be far better applied 
if given at once either to the needy or the various 
charities. Will the committee of the Orphan Fund 
resolve to abolish voting in the selection of candidates, 
reserving the privilege of selection to themselves ; or if 
not prepared to go so far,, will that body distinctly 
prohibit canvassing? I do not hesitate to say that in 
any case of which I have no personal knowledge of the 
candidates, I should leave my vote to the committee, 
which body, at least, have all possible information as 
to the respective merits of each applicant. At a time 
when genuine philanthropists are endeavouring to 
check the evils which flow from charity elections and 
canvassing, I hope the Orphan Fund will be found on 
the honourable and intelligent side, and against the 
perpetuation of a flagrant evil.— A. Dean. [When the 
rules w’ere being drawn up the committee very earnestly 
considered the question of the mode of election, and 
would have been pleased if they could have recom¬ 
mended the subscribers to leave the selection to the 
executive committee ; but after full consideration it was 
thought best in the interest of the fund, that election 
by the votes of the subscribers would be the best plan 
to follow, on the broad general principle that those who 
pay the piper have the right to call the tune. Previous 
to the election, each subscriber will receive a list of 
the candidates with a statement of each case, so that 
they can give their votes to which they please. 
Personally, we should be heartily glad if canvassing 
could be abolished, but do not see what power the 
executive committee has to prevent it.— Ed.] 
Orange Cultivation in England. 
At the last meeting of the Scientific Committee, Mr. 
Thomas Christy contributed the following remarks 
upon Orange growing:—“ In discussing the question 
of Orange growing in this country rvith Dr. Amadeus, 
he tells me how much has been done by grafting in 
Porto Rico. He recommends the graft to be made 
on the strong stems, and the plants do so much better 
when not grafted too young. With regard to the 
transport of the fruit, he believes that the fifteen days’ 
sea journey will be fatal to the quality and flavour of 
the thin-skinned Oranges, so that it would be better to 
send some cases of plants of the best varieties for growth 
in houses here. Since the receipt of the large shipment 
from Bahia many growers have bought stock of the 
Orange trees, with the view of so doing, and many 
correspondents have already contributed some very 
interesting information, showing how well the culture 
is understood, and it only remains for the commercial 
question to be threshed out. One grower informed me 
that he got so much juice in his fruit that it burst in 
ripening ; so this fact sets at rest the question of hard 
‘ woody fruits ’ only being produced in this country. 
Mr. H. Dixon, of Cherkley Court, Leatherhead, has 
two Orange trees, each bearing more than 200 fruits ; 
and from his Pomeloes he says that he is able to make 
a delicious preserve. With regard to foreign fruit, a 
captain in the Mediterranean trade tells me that 
from his experience in collecting Oranges from most 
parts of the world where they are grown, he believes 
the palm for delicately-flavoured varieties must be 
awarded to those from Malta. This he attributes to 
the great care bestowed on their cultivation. When 
attending the display of fruit at the Agricultural Show 
in Paris every year, 1 have been struck with the fine 
exhibitions of these fruits together with Citrons and 
Limes from Algeria ; and I was informed that the 
French Government obtained thence the best varieties 
for their botanical gardens, and that the trees were in 
full bearing.” 
Sky-blue Grape-Hyacinth. 
One of the earliest as well as one of the prettiest of this 
class of bulbs is Muscari azureum, which we noticed 
the other day in Mr. T. S. Ware’s nursery, Hale Farm, 
Tottenham. The bulbs are grown in a cold frame, and 
receive only sufficient protection to ward off rain and 
snow in foul weather. They have now been established 
for five years, and flower regularly in February ; but 
when first introduced they flowered in Hovember. 
The former month is believed to be the natural season, 
as this species is a native of Asia Minor from Smyrna 
to Palestine. The foliage accompanies the flower 
scapes, forming little rosettes around the latter, which 
rise to the height of a few inches only. The flowers 
are carried in short somewhat globose racemes, are 
individually shortly bell shaped, or pitcher shaped, 
and of the most delightful clear sky-blue colour. 
Forms of the Netted Iris. 
Curiously enough, although Iris reticulata is essen¬ 
tially an early-flowering species, it is the last to bloom 
amongst its varieties and allied forms. I. r. cyanea is 
the earliest and one of the prettiest, having bright blue 
standards and stigmas, which are, as is well known, 
broad and petaloid. The falls are violet-blue, with a 
large golden yellow median blotch. The fragrance of 
the flowers is that of Violets. I. histrio and I. Bartoni, 
which are closely allied to I. reticulata, succeed the 
variety cyanea in the order of flowering. I. histrio is 
scarce in this country, although plentiful enough on 
Mount Lebanon and similar places in Palestine, but is 
local in its occurrence. The flowers are of a lively blue, 
and darkest on the falls, where they are reticulated 
with white and golden yellow on a dark blue ground. 
The above-mentioned forms are followed by I. reticulata 
