280 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
January 2, 1892. 
object it is to adorn and beautify the home surround¬ 
ings by the use of Nature's treasures. Gay as many 
of the villa gardens are,and pleasing, no doubt, to many 
eyes something might be done to make them more 
natural. How often in Nature do we see masses of 
vivid coloured flowers crowded together as level as 
the dinner table, in exact proportion of length and 
breadth, or in accurate curves ? Nowhere can any 
studied design or formality, such unnatural massing 
and crippling of plants be seen. Look at the 
hedgerow gay with the Honeysuckle or Wild Cle¬ 
matis, the beautiful Heather on the common, form¬ 
ing a carpet for the blazing bush of yellow Furze ; 
how easy and graceful. What a charm it has beneath 
the lovely green Bracken. Again look at the 
meadow in spring with the golden Buttercups and 
the Daisy ; see the graceful Stichwort or the Sweet 
Woodruff at the foot of the bank by the roadside in 
graceful profusion, yet no pinching is needed or given, 
it grows naturally, hence its charm. A far greater 
charm is given to our gardens, and unquestionably, 
it is more pleasant to the lover of a garden to see 
his favourites growing naturally, displaying each 
their own peculiar characteristics, than to see them 
dwarfed and stunted to obtain uniformity of height 
or to keep them in certain limits. Every class has 
its own peculiar attraction, no two are exactly alike, 
and it is this diversity of form, colour, habit, and 
cultural requirements which gives encouragement 
and interest to the ardent cultivator. 
It must be admitted that the too limited space 
allotted to most of the suburban villas prevents much 
being done, still, I think, a few plants grown natur¬ 
ally will give far more pleasure, and much better 
effect will be obtained from them, than from a 
number crowded together to form certain geometrical 
designs, and it is more profitable. If a few flowers 
are required for the rooms there can be no question 
about the advantage gained, for instance, from a bed 
of Mignonette, Nemophila insignis, or of Pansies, or 
Stocks, far more useful flowers can be gathered than 
from beds of Pelargoniums, Lobelia, &c. From a 
few herbaceous border plants, as for instance 
Aquilegias, Gaillardias, Doronicums, Wallflowers, 
Alstroemerias, Helianthus, Pyrethrum, &c., a 
constant supply can be obtained for a greater part of 
the year. 
It seems to me also, that the practice so common, 
of subjecting the trees in villa gardens to such 
severe pruning, whether in order to keep them to a 
certain height, or to form round compact heads is 
an unnatural and objectionable one. If a screen is 
required next the road, might not some suitable 
shrub be employed. The Golden Privet, Arbor-Vitae, 
Cupressus Law'soniana, Laurels, Rhododendrons, 
Berberis, Variegated Hollies and many others can 
be used and kept to a required height without such 
unnatural and severe pruning. A few more flowering 
shrubs would greatly add to the attractiveness of the 
villa garden, and could displace some of the Conifers 
which are anything but an ornament, and which it 
seems useless to plant as only a very few can with¬ 
stand the effects of the impure atmosphere. I have 
seen a pretty effect produced in spring by a bush of 
yellow Broom amongst the shrubs; the Pyrus 
japonica also forms a good bush; the Cherry Laurel 
and some of the Sumachs are very pretty shrubs ; 
also Weigelas, Cotoneasters Kerria japonica, 
Hypericum glandulosum, and H. calycinum, the 
latter a dwarf, free-flowering plant, will thrive under 
taller shrubs. Berberis Darwinii, Prunus Pissardi, 
hardy Azaleas, Daphne Mezereum, and many others 
might be mentioned ; the leaves of many of these 
assume lovely tints in autumn ; the berries of some 
are very attractive during the dull months. The 
lovely Clematis montana, with its star-like flowers, 
wdiich is commonly seen clothing the walls of houses 
in some parts of Surrey, deserves more attention as 
a climber as well as C. Jackmanni and C. Flammula. 
I have seen the first-named thriving in suburban 
districts. The beautiful Wistaria sinensis is not 
often seen. Magnolia grandiflora, owing to its stout 
leathery leaves resisting the effect of fog, is a very 
suitable plant for a wall, and when in a suitable 
aspect produces its magnificent white flowers. 
Escallonia macrantha and E. floribunda are very 
pretty. The variegated Honeysuckle forms a capital 
screen, and is invaluable for cutting from. These, 
in addition to those generally seen, viz., Crataegus 
Pyracantha, Passiflora coerulea, Cotoneaster mi- 
crophylla, etc., form a good selection. 
(To be continued.) 
ORCHID NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
Calanthes and the Fog. 
The mild, open autumn, with the absence of fog 
until the recent one, enabled the Calanthes in Lon¬ 
don and the suburbs to make a fine display, raising 
them to their former status as useful winter-flower¬ 
ing subjects. The dense, smoky fog which prevailed 
during the greater part of last week, rendering mid¬ 
day as dark as midnight, has worked havoc with 
the open blossoms, shrivelling them up, and it is 
more than probable that the unopened buds will 
never expand. As chance would have it, flowering 
Orchids are comparatively scarce just now, and 
many of them having been cut before the fog came 
on, the damage is not so extensive as it would other¬ 
wise have been. Orchid growers in the metropolis 
and vicinity will, however, wish that such visi¬ 
tations as that just prior to Christmas may be few 
and far betweea. 
An interesting little Orchid. 
The species of Stelis like those of the allied 
Pleurothallis and Masdevallia are all very interesting 
in their way, notwithstanding the small size of the 
flowers in many cases. Some, however, stand out 
pre-eminently by their distinctness from the rest by 
some peculiarity of form or structure. We saw an 
unnamed species of Stelis recently, in the nursery 
of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. The lanceo¬ 
late stalked leaves are similar to those of a Masde¬ 
vallia. The small flowers are triangular, with three 
purple segments edged with white and covered with 
long, white, woolly hairs. The latter peculiarity 
renders the flowers very interesting, and though 
small in size, they appeal to all lovers of Orchids who 
are not too thoroughly engrossed with Cattleyas, 
Odontoglossums, Dendrobiums, Cypripediums, and 
other large and showy subjects of that nature. 
Cypripedium Niobe. 
Every Orchid grower admits the beauty of C. 
Fairieanum, so must they admit the beauty 
of the several hybrids which have arisen from 
it by crossing with other species. The plant under 
notice was derived from C. Spicerianum crossed 
with the pollen of C. Fairieanum, and in looking at 
C. Niobe it is impossible not to observe the influence 
of the pollen parent. The upper sepal is white 
with a small green portion at the base, and suffused 
and veined with purple upwards, the midrib being 
well marked, thus showing the influence of 
C. Spicerianum. The petals are strongly deflexed, 
revolute at the tips, and wavy along the upper edge, 
and strongly ciliated on both edges; the upper 
longitudinal half is a greenish-yellow with purpl e 
veins, while the lower and opposite half is creamy 
yellow, lined with purple dots. In all this the 
influence of C. Fairieanum is unmistakeable. The 
lip is brown with deeper veins. The dwarf and neat 
habit of the plant, as well as the beauty of the 
flowers, are all very acceptable at this season of the 
year. We noted it in the nursery of Messrs. J. 
Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. 
Vanda lamellata Boxalli. 
The flowers of this Vanda are relatively small com¬ 
pared with those of V. suavis or V. tricolor, but they 
are much more numerous, and, therefore, pretty in 
the aggregate. The variety has paler flowers than 
the type, but the different colours are brought out 
more clearly. The sepals are pale, creamy yellow, 
with the contiguous sides of the lateral ones of a 
reddish brown tinted with purple. The petals are 
similar in colour to that of the upper sepal. The lip 
is purple, with two prominent lamellae or plates upon 
it, and some purple lines running back to the mouth 
of the spur. The racemes, which arise in the axils 
of the leaves, bear from twelve to twenty flowers. 
The usual flowering period is during the two last 
months of the year, and the plant is valuable on that 
account. 
Calanthes at Greenlands. 
Amongst many first-rate examples of cultivation to 
be seen at Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames, at the 
present time, are some fine Calanthes, such as 
Veitchii, occulata lutea, and occulata rubra. Two 
or three bulbs are grown in small pots, and they have 
as many spikes, many of w-hich carry three dozen 
expanded flowers. A house of Primulas of all the 
leading sorts, and another of Cyclamens, are seen at 
their best, many of the latter carrying two and three 
dozen fine flowers. The strain is one of the best, 
and contains a good many of the Gigantea type, 
which are very conspicuous. — Rusticity 
©IMtuaq). 
Dr. William Robert Woodman. 
"I am very sorry to hear of the death of my old 
friend Dr. Woodman.” This brief but pathetic 
message came to me from Mr. Harry J. Veitch, and 
will be re-echoed throughout the length and breadth 
of the gardening world. The worthy doctor passed 
peacefully away at Devon House, Brondesbury, on 
Sunday, December 20th, 1891, the day following his 
sixty-second birthday, and in spite of the dense fog 
we laid him tenderly in his grave at Old Willesden 
Churchyard, on Christmas eve. Dr. William Robert 
Woodman was long a prominent figure in gardening, 
and in freemasonry was a past grand sword-bearer, 
and secretary-general to the fraternity of the Rose 
Croix. In 1871 he succeeded his enthusiastic uncle 
the late Mr. R. T. Pince, of the Exeter Nursery, 
and carried on, under the familiar title of Lucombe, 
Pince & Co., that famous old concern with much 
spirit and enterprise until 1883, when he relinquished 
the business in favour of his late tenant. His long 
connection with the Exeter Nursery naturally 
brought him in contact with most of the noblemen 
and gentlemen of the western counties as well as 
with their stewards and gardeners, and many who 
remember his extraordinary floral displavs at the 
more important flower shows, will recall the gentle 
bearing and graceful manners of this kind-hearted 
gentleman. To record all his victories would fill a 
whole page, for he was first prize winner in nearly 
every competition wherever he went, and his mag¬ 
nificent collection of specimen exhibition plants was 
at that time unquestionably the finest in existence. 
During 1873 to 1877 he won in open competition 
upwards of one hundred first prizes and silver cups, 
and for some years “ swept the decks " in the open 
classes at Exeter and Taunton. After 1877 he did 
not again compete for prizes, but still continued to 
the last as an honorary exhibitor—his extensive and 
artistic displays being generally the chief feature of 
the flower shows he supported ; moreover, his own 
annual exhibitions of Hyacinths and spring flowers 
at the Exeter Nursery have given delight to thou¬ 
sands, so it can well be said that few men have done 
more then the late Dr. Woodman for the encourage¬ 
ment of high class gardening. He spent his time, 
his profound learning, and his money for the benefit 
of others, and in heroic attempts to resuscitate an 
unwieldy business, which had long before passed its 
meridian. 
Like his uncle, Mr. Pince, he was a leading mem¬ 
ber of the St. Thomas’ Local Board at Exeter, and 
was the largest ratepayer and employer of labour 
in his parish ; he was also chairman of the School 
Board there, and wr.s always first and foremost in 
every good work. He was kind to the poor and 
needy, and never turned a deaf ear to the cry of dis¬ 
tress ; in fact, he was often too generous, and I 
remember one instance in particular where a work¬ 
ing man—a widower with young children—in an 
adjoining parish and comparatively' a stranger, was 
in distress for debt, and Dr. Woodman hearing of 
it, quietly gave me his purse with full instructions to 
pay the bailiff out; and it is only' a short time ago 
that he most kindly acted as Hon. Treasurer for 
the Medland Compensation Fund. Having been a 
constant visitor at his house, and always received a 
cordial welcome, I have written this simple notice 
as a humble tribute to the memory' of an indulgent 
master and a true friend, and everyone who knew 
him will for certain join me in sincere condolence for 
his sorrowing widow and relations—IF. Napper, 
Chelsea, Christmas Day, 1S91. 
With the close of the year there also passed away 
another of our horticultural worthies in the person 
of Mr. James Williams, of Hoddesden, the father of 
the late much-respected Mr. B. S Williams, of 
Holloway'. Mr. Williams, who was born in January 
1797, died on the 24th of December. He entered 
the service of the late Mr. John Warner, at the 
Woodlands, Hoddesden, when about twenty years of 
age, and remained in the service of that family as 
gardener until a few years ago, when he retired 
through the natural failure of his physical powers. 
His mental faculties he retained to the last, and only 
a week or two before his death was able to write a 
Jong letter to his grandson, Mr. Henry Williams. 
