October 6, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
81 
but L. tigrinum jucundum had its buds injured, as 
was also the case with L. Batemannii. L. Leichtlinii 
and L. Parryi were damaged, and had no good 
flowers; L. polyphyllum was not strong, our finest 
plant was damaged by the stem being cut to 
the ground for exhibition last year. L. giganteum 
bloomed well, L. cordifolium moderately, L. superbum 
was very fine in some situations, but very bad in others. 
L. neilgherrense has grown well, but will be too late to 
flower satisfactorily. 
The season was such a late one that I feared the 
varieties of L. speciosum (lancifolium) could not bloom 
before the frost came upon them, but the recent hot 
sun has brought them on fast; those exposed on the 
hill-side had their buds damaged by the heavy rain, 
but in most of the sheltered situations they were little 
injured and in some not at all, and are now blooming 
well. L. Krameri bloomed well; we had one of the 
very high-coloured varieties. L. columbianum and L. 
avenaceum were good .—George F. Wilson, Heather- 
hank, Weybridge Heath, Oct. IsL 
COTTAGERS’ SHOW & HARVEST 
HOME AT ENGLEFIELD HOUSE. 
On Wednesday, the 26th inst., the Squire of Engle- 
field, near Reading (Richard Benyon, Esq.), added 
another proof to the many he has previously shown— 
in fact, is constantly showing-^of the real interest he 
takes in the welfare of the workmen on his extensive 
estates. The day was observed as a general holiday, 
and every man, woman and child in the parish had an 
invitation to partake of dinner or tea at the Hall. 
Sports of every description were provided, not the least 
interesting being the presentation of useful gifts, in 
the shape of clothing, &e., to the youngsters, who did 
not mind adding to the pleasure of their seniors by 
the display of their athletic proclivities. It is, how¬ 
ever, the horticultural section of the day’s proceedings 
that most nearly concerns your readers, so that to this 
subject I will now confine my remarks. The show 
of vegetable produce, limited in competition to work¬ 
men on the estates, was by no means the least im¬ 
portant feature. The prizes were all provided by the 
liberality of the Squire, and though they were not 
large, they were ample to secure a keen competition 
in all the classes. 
The schedule is divided into two sections, one for 
mechanics and the other for labourers, an excellent 
arrangement, inasmuch as it prevents the latter being, 
as it were, handicapped by the mechanics, whose better 
wages might enable them to pay for a day or two’s 
labour. As a matter of course, Potatos were the main 
feature of the show, and of their kind no better speci¬ 
mens need be ; but, with one exception, they were all 
Americans, a fact due, no doubt, to their supposed 
superior cropping qualities, but it is only supposition, 
and the sooner the Englefieldians come to recognise 
the fact, the better will it be for their palates, there 
being no comparison in respect of quality between the 
Americans and that of an average English variety. The 
collections of vegetables were the best I have seen at 
any cottagers’show this season, Celery, Onions, Carrots, 
Peas, and Runner Beans being generally of extra fine 
quality. The effect of this department of the show 
was somewhat marred by the collections being allowed 
to be of an unlimited number—“not less than five” 
was stated—and in all, there were not less than a dozen, 
so that necessarily inferior produce detracted from the 
appearance of the good. 
Another season, those responsible for the arranging 
of the schedule would do well to state an exact number, 
and also to erase the rule which prevents the best com¬ 
petitor from winning the best prize, the rule in question 
being to this effect—namely, “that the winner of any 
prize for two years in succession shall not compete for 
the same prize a third year.” A moment’s thought 
will convince anyone that such a rule is calculated to 
cripple the energies of the greatest enthusiast. No, the 
best man should on all occasions be the winner. 
Cabbages were shown splendidly ; there was not a bad 
exhibit amongst the whole sixteen competitors. Carrots 
were still finer, Onions good, Turnips ditto, Parsnips 
poor (too early), and Cauliflowers middling. The latter 
vegetable does not appear to be appreciated according 
to its merits by the cottagers of this model Berkshire 
village. It should be added that prizes are offered for 
the best cultivated gardens, and the judges, whoever 
they are, that perform this part of the work must have 
a difficult task where all are so good. 
And now a word with regard to the gardens and 
grounds in which the show was held. My visit was 
necessarily a hurried one, but being a true brother of 
the spade, it was a matter of conscience with me that 
as soon as my judging duties were over, I must have 
“a run round,” and this I did with the gardener-in¬ 
chief, Mr. Coombes, as my guide. Our first move was 
to the flower garden, an immense terrace, laid out in 
true geometrical style ; but the beds are so large, and 
intersecting turf so wide, that there is an entire absence 
of the appearance of the slightest undue formality. 
The planting of the beds is of the colour-massing order, 
which plan suits the position admirably. On an 
elevation overlooking the flower garden is a conservatory 
of large dimensions, and furnished with plants for 
permanent effect—Oranges, Citrons, Myrtles, and 
Camellias principally—which, with the exception of 
two or three of the Oranges, are in magnificent health. 
The houses devoted to plant culture are numerous, 
and well adapted to the varied uses. The Fernery wa3 
the one house that most aroused my envy. The 
plants are placed out, and arranged on what I call the 
natural system, the undergrowth being a carpet of 
Maidenhair—Adianturn cuneatum—and various kinds 
of Selaginellas, Adian turn Farleyense, A. formosum, 
and A. gracillimum, are growing here like weeds. Stove 
plants and the more popular species of Orchids are 
grown largely, and in the stove is a grand plant of 
Allamanda Schottii, one mass of flower covering the 
entire roof of one side of the stove some 40 ft. long, 
from which plant Mr. Coombes assured me he had cut 
flowers daily for months past. In an adjoining house 
devoted to greenhouse plants, the roof climbers are red 
and white Lapagerias ; a plant of the latter has on it at 
the present time over 200 bunches of flowers, and, as 
showing its vitality, in spite, too, of such free-flowering, 
it is throwing up several extra strong new growths. 
The red variety, though not quite so floriferous, is a 
model of cultivation. 
IvENTIA AUSTRALIS. 
Calanthes are very good, and already throwing up 
strong spikes of flower ; but the feature of this depart¬ 
ment of the garden is undoubtedly the Poinsettias. A 
span-roofed pit, 16 ft. by 10 ft., is entirely devoted to 
these, and they are planted out hot-bed fashion on a 
bed of leaves and litter in light loam. The plants are 
now some 4 ft. high, with foliage to the base ; of size 
and texture near akm to Cauliflower leaves, so that if 
all goes well, of which there would appear to be little 
doubt, bracts of an abnormal size is a certainty. This 
mode of growing Poinsettias is quite new to me, but 
Mr. Coombes has practised it for years, and there is no 
doubt of the utility of the plan being of first-rate 
importance to those having a demand for cut spikes of 
these fine plants. Bouvardias for cutting are grown 
in the same fashion, and occupy a pit of like construc¬ 
tion and dimensions. Bushels of flowers might be 
gathered from the plants at the present time, which 
fact is proof positive of the excellence of the plan. 
Fruit is grown extensively, Pines, Grapes, Figs, 
Peaches, and Strawberries being in great demand. 
Some 4,000 of the latter are forced, the varieties being 
La Gros Sucree, President, Sir Joseph Paxton, and 
British Queen. Of Pines, ripening at the present time, 
there are some superb specimens of Black Prince and 
Smooth Cayenne. Mr. Coombes pots entirely in sandy 
loam, no other admixture ; but he waters freely with 
liquid manure as soon as the roots have reached the 
sides of the pots. With regard to out-door crops it is 
here as elsewhere, namely, great scarcity. The crops 
and cropping of the kitchen garden bespeak both skill 
and painstaking, and, I might add, a regard for the 
ornamental also, there being lines of plain-leaved 
Endive, then a line of curled, then Lettuce, Carrots, 
Beet, and so on ; and if one were asked why this orna¬ 
mentation, the only reply I would give would be, why 
not l—W. W. 
KENTIA AUSTRALIS. 
Like the other well-known Palms, Howea Fosteriana 
and H. Belmoreana, popularly called Kentias, that 
under notice also comes from Lord Howe’s island. 
The leaves are comparatively short considering that 
they are pinnate, with linear or lance-shaped segments. 
They also spread regularly, and the pinnse drooping at 
the upper end give the plant a graceful appearance for 
table work. On this account the plants above- 
mentioned, including that under notice, are very service¬ 
able for table and general decoration, and are used in 
large quantities, even when small, on account of their 
assuming the adult character and form of the leaves 
even when quite young. To this must be added the 
fact that Kentia australis is rather dwarfer in habit 
than its congeners mentioned. Palms for decorative 
purposes are now being ' more and more largely grown, 
and while this is the case Kentia australis will not be 
neglected. Loam and peat in equal proportions, with 
the addition of some silver sand constitute a suitable 
compost; and while making their growth stove 
temperature and copious supplies of water are requisite. 
-—>2X»- 
THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL 
GARDENS. 
A visit to these gardens at any time affords pleasure 
to anyone fond of plants. Just now one of the show 
houses is very gay ; some good well-grown early 
Chinese Primulas occupy one half of the house, the 
other portion being filled with tuberous Begonias of all 
shades and colours, beautifully grown and profusely 
flowered. These intermixed with Palms and Celosias 
of a fine strain make a grand display. I was pleased 
again to meet with the old and too much neglected 
Callicarpa purpurea, grown as standards with fine 
heads. The shoots being fully 3 ft. long, and covered 
profusely with the bunches of bright intense purple 
berries, makes this a grand plant for the decoration of 
warm greenhouses at this season of the year. 
Another good old plant, but seldom seen nowadays, 
is Odontadenia speciosa (Dipladenia Harrisi). This is 
growing upon the roof of one of the stoves, and is flower¬ 
ing very freely. It is certainly well worthy the attention 
of those growing good climbers. There are many trusses 
of flower expanded, some with as many as two dozen 
blooms on a truss, the peculiar orange-buff colour and 
blood-red veined throats rendering it very attractive. 
Grown also in the same way is the singularly beautiful 
Gloriosa superba, which is also worthy of a suitable 
place, for it flowers very freely, and the combination of 
the colour, viz., orange and scarlet, and the peculiar 
character of the flowers render it an attractive curiosity. 
The greenhouse roofs are adorned in various positions 
with Lapageria alba and L. rosea. These are growing 
side by side and are allowed to hang carelessly. The 
fine racemes of the flowers, for they are here in great 
abundance, are very showy, and they are seen to greater 
advantage than when trained in so close and formal as 
we often see them. Many good Orchids are in flower, 
and Mr. Latham, the able curator, was about to draw 
my attention to a fine healthy plant of Yanda Sander- 
iana, with two spikes, but one of them with expanded 
flowers was gone. It had been seen by him a short time 
previously, but some miscreant had limbed the spike 
off in a careless manner, and an attempt had also been 
made to steal a spike of three fine flowers of Cattleya 
Gaskelliana alba. The thief had been disturbed, no 
doubt, as the spike was cut through but not taken 
away. This variety is a very fine one, the flowers being 
of great substance, sepals and petals pure white, orange 
throat, with only just the slightest tracing of rose in 
the lip. It is a pity such dastardly conduct could not 
be detected and adequately punished. 
Mr. Latham drew my attention to his hybrid Cypri- 
pediums, some of which will shortly flower. He has 
already flowered one, the result of a cross between 
C. Spicerianum and C. villosum, and which -was named 
after him by Professor Reichenbach. He has also 
raised some hybrid Todeas, some of which will prove 
valuable additions to this beautiful family.— Rusticus. 
[We have been favoured with specimens of the 
beautiful old-fashioned plant Odontadenia speciosa by 
Mr. Latham. The leaves are large and light green, 
with crimson mid-ribs on the young ones, and a con» 
spicuous and beautiful venation. The tube of the 
large, slightly scented flowers is scarlet, and curiously 
contracted immediately above the insertion of the 
stamens, so that the lower pouch-like portion encloses 
the five toothed glands which give rise to the generic 
name, and which produce a great quantity of nectar. 
The flowers are yellow shaded with orange or scarlet, 
and are produced in terminal and axillary cymes on 
the ends of short lateral branches. —Ed. ] 
