June 25, 1892. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
677 
reason for its superiority is that one of the finest forms 
ofD.aureumandD. nobile were selected astheparents. 
The flower is larger in all its parts with broader seg¬ 
ments. The sepals and petals are rosy-purple at 
the tips and fade to white at the base. The disc of 
the broad lip is of a rich crimson-purple surrounded 
by a pale yellow band, above which it is white, and 
the apex rosy-purple like the other segments. 
Hitherto all the crosses have been kept separate and 
under the names originally given them, although the 
intermediate forms make it difficult to distinguish 
them in all cases. Whatever may be the ultimate 
resolution, the hybrid under notice is the finest we 
yet possess and the individual which we figure has 
been well grown and well coloured. 
--j-- 
HOLLAND HOUSE, 
KENSINGTON. 
There are few London residences with grounds at¬ 
tached which have survived for so many years and 
defied the builder as Holland House, Kensington, the 
town residence of Lord Uchester. The mansion is 
now about 300 years old, a venerable pile dating back 
to Elizabethan times. The numerous large old Elms 
speak of great antiquity, 
and from time to time their 
number gets thinned cut 
during gales of wind. Last 
year three fine old trees 
succumbed in this way, 
leaving no choice to their 
removal. Upon the recent 
accessionof Lord Ilchester 
to the place, a great 
amount of planting of the 
more modern types of 
trees has been done, and 
which in future years 
will replace the old Elms 
and Cedars which had 
been the most popular in 
their day. As the times 
have changed since they 
were planted, so have 
the atmospheric condi¬ 
tions, for Conifers now 
no longer thriveon account 
of the smoke of the great 
city which has completely 
surrounded the place, and 
is certain to hug it more 
closely still. The fine 
old Cedars must succumb 
at no distant date, and 
Auracarias no longer 
thrive. 
The collection of flower¬ 
ing trees and shrubs is 
already very extensive, 
and the gardener, Mr. 
Charles Dixon, has had his hands full with their 
planting within the last two or three years. He was 
busy with his men making hay when we paid him a 
visit the other week on a fine piece of sloping ground 
now largely planted with Scarlet Chestnuts, Ameri¬ 
can Thorns, and many others of that character. 
Near by this is a fine tree of Crataegus nigra 25 ft. 
high. The Golden Ash is a fine thing, and keeps its 
colour all the summer. Quercus concordia has clear 
yellow leaves ; but Tilia dasystyla forms a strong 
contrast by its rich, dark green foliage. Along vista 
has been opened out at one place, showing the tall 
spire of St. John's Church at no great distance. One 
portion of this avenue has been planted with Spiraeas, 
including S. sorbifolia, S. Lindleyana, S. Douglasi, 
S. ariasfolia, and S. opulifolia aurea. The other end 
is planted with Weigelas in front and Guelder Roses 
behind, all upon the grass. Another avenue is 
planted with Philadelphus coronarius and P. grandi- 
fiorus alternately. 
A piece of ground planted at first with Rhodo¬ 
dendrons only has now been turned into a wild gar¬ 
den, and supplemented with various subjects annual 
and perennial. About 200 sorts of annuals were 
sown broadcast, and are now coming up all over the 
ground from which the turf was removed and a good 
top dressing of decayed manure given. Phloxes, 
perennial Sunflowers, Epilobiums, and other subjects 
will soon commence a display which will last till late 
in autumn. The purple-leaved Peach, the purple 
Beach in different shades of colour, and the cut¬ 
leaved Birch show themselves here and there over 
the ground. Near this is a bank of decayed turfy 
soil planted with Pernettyas, Rosa rugosa, Cistus 
florentinus, C. salvisefolius, C. undulatus, Lilium 
davuricum, etc. A large number of bulbs of the 
last named were planted in various positions all over 
the ground, and are now coming into bloom. Behind 
this bank is a small pond filled with the water which 
drains there, and is prevented from sinking away by 
the impermeable London clay beneath. Ferns are 
planted in some places round the sides including 
Osmunda regalis. The pond itself is surrounded 
and closely overhung by trees except at one end, and 
on each side of this entrance is a small rockery now 
gay with Saxifraga Andrewsii, Genista tinctoria, 
Veronica rupestris, Aubrietia Hendersoni.Gypsophila 
prostrata, Viola cornuta, Sedums, and various others. 
Where the three large Elms (previously mentioned) 
were blown down, a mound of soil has been raised over 
the roots and planted with golden Elders, the foliage 
of which has assumed a fine yellow colour. Annual 
Poppies have also come up thickly, and will be gay 
presently. The ornamental effect of large beds of 
line foliaged trees and shrubs has been recognised by 
Lord Ilchester, who has had five large circular beds 
DeNDROBIUM SPLEND 1DISSIMUM GRANDIFLORUM. 
cut out of the grass in front of but at some distance 
from the mansion. Some of them are edged with 
the beautiful and dwarf Spiraea Bumalda variegata, 
and filled with the purple-leaved Prunus Pissardi, 
Golden Elder, Golden Poplar (Populus canadensis 
aurea), Cornus sibirica argentea, C. Spathii, the pur¬ 
ple Hazel, the Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens), 
and various other things of that character. The last 
named is grown in the form of standards. 
A large bed or border of irregular outline, with a 
background of trees, is planted with an extensive 
and miscellaneous collection of choice, ornamental, 
and rare shrubs interspersed with Lilies. Amongst the 
trees and shrubs we noted Sambucus racemosa ser- 
ratifolia, with deeply cut leaves, the golden and silver 
variegated Elder, the variegated Symphoricarpus 
vulgaris, the flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), the 
golden Acacia, Comptonia asplenifolia with scolloped 
leaves, Daphniphyllum jezoensis, Calycanthus 
macrophyllus, Laurus Benzoin, Stephandra flexuosa, 
with fine foliage and the habit of a Spiraea, Phillyrea 
myrtifolia, and Hymenanthera crassifolia, a woody 
member of the Viola family. The noteworthy sub¬ 
jects in this border are very numerous, and must be 
extremely interesting when they get thoroughly 
established. The Golden Hop Tree (Ptelea trifoliata 
aurea), Acer palmatum decompositum, A. trinerve, 
Philyrea decora, the Osage Orange (Maclura auran- 
tiaca),Cytisus capitatus, Genista radiata, and Parottia 
persica are all interesting and beautiful, either on 
account of their foliage or flowers or both. 
A wide expanse of grass in front of the mansion 
reminds us of a botanic garden by reason of the great 
variety of trees which have been planted. There are 
no duplicates here, so that in a few years the variety 
of form, foliage, and shades of colour must be both 
interesting and instructive, as well as highly orna¬ 
mental. Amongst them we were pleased to note 
Amygdalus Davidiana, A. D. alba, and A. D. rubra, 
the new Chinese Almonds that flower much earlier 
than the common one. The purple leaved Acer pla- 
tanoides Schwedleri is also a fine thing. Besides the 
Siberian Crab, there is the Dartmouth Crab, John 
Downie Crab, and a similar onenamed Transcenaunt, 
beautiful whether in flower or fruit. The Golden 
Ash bears company with the Aucuba-leaved and 
white edged varieties. The purple Oak, purple 
Birch, Laburnum Adami, the perpetual-flowering 
Cherry (Cerasus semperflorens), Pterocarya lsevigata, 
P. caucasica, the golden variegated Beech, Koelreu- 
teria paniculata, and Arbutus Andrachne will serve 
to give an idea of the nature of the shrubs and trees 
planted, but their numbers are too great to be 
recorded here. In a year or two they will begin to 
show their true character, and then afford unlimited 
means of study. Some beds of Rhododendrons are 
flowering finely, and con¬ 
sist of choice and very 
showy kinds. 
Examination of hot 
houses is almost at a 
discount at this season of 
the year when one can 
ramble amongst trees and 
shrubs apparently as far 
removed from town as a 
private residence in some 
remote province. The 
bedding out has just been 
completed, and must 
afford considerable relief, 
considering the quantity 
of bedding plants used. 
There were about 5,000 
plants of Vesuvius Pelar¬ 
gonium alone, including 
the white variety. In one 
of the houses are Tube¬ 
roses in various stages ; 
last year they commenced 
flowering in May and con¬ 
tinued till the fog de¬ 
stroyed them at Christ¬ 
mas. Large plants of As¬ 
paragus plumosus nanus 
and A. tenuissimus, 6 ft. 
to 8 ft. high, are grown in 
pots for the sake of their 
foliage. A. officinalis is 
sown thickly in pots for 
decorative purposes when 
a few inches high. 
Heliotropes are grown into specimens in pots, 
President Garfield and Roi de Noir being considered 
best for that purpose. Amongst Orchids, Cattleya 
Mossise and C. Mendeli are flowering in a low, span- 
roofed house. In the conservatory are some massive 
climbers, including Holboellia latifolia, Habro- 
thamnus elegans Newelli, with dark red flowers, and 
two magnificent specimens of Fuchsia corallina laden 
with bloom. Large Oranges in tubs are stood in 
front of this building, and behind it is a collection of 
British Ferns in rude health, including even the 
Mountain Parsley, Osmunda regalis, Polystichum 
Lonchitis, and Lastrea dilatata dentigera, a wild find 
with graceful fronds and shortened, erosely toothed 
pinnae. 
• In the fruit houses, Vines, Melons, Cucumbers, 
and Tomatos are grown. Ham Green Favourite 
and Early Ruby are the varieties of the latter which 
find favour. The Peaches both indoors and outside 
are bearing heavy crops, and must present a fine 
appearance when they ripen. Hale’s Early Peach 
ripens about a fortnight before any other, and is 
succeeded by Early Alfred, and then by Early 
Albert. Merlin has been planted to come in between 
the first two. Other varieties grown in the same 
house are Stirling Castle, Violette Hative, Early 
York, and Barrington, all heavily fruited ; the last is 
the best late. Lord Napier and Elruge are amongst 
the favourite Nectarines. On the open wall Princess 
of Wales Peach is a picture, but most of the others 
are also well fruited, including Dr Hogg, Violette 
H 4 tive, and Barrington. The Red Roman Nectarine 
is useless here at all events, but Hunt’s Tawny and 
& Victoria do well, the latter being one of the best 
late kinds we have. 
