March 22, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
459 
away the surface water during heavy rains, which are 
liable to do damage, or to incommode those resorting 
there. The entrance may he by steps, or by a sloping 
walk, if the nature of the ground will permit. Throw 
up the soil on either side to any desired height, so as 
to form sloping banks. In doing so a natural gully 
may be imitated, receding behind some prominent 
object, or winding so that on entering only a portion 
will be visible at a time. If by any means a stream 
of water could be introduced, however small, provided 
always it was a running one, the effect would be greatly 
enhanced, besides providing a supply of moisture, and 
also affording the means of cultivating with much 
greater success such things as Osmunda and Struthi- 
opteris, that naturally delight in a liberal supply of 
moisture. 
You can secure elevation of the sides by the mere act 
of piling up the soil excavated. Any kind of soil short 
of actual and adhesive clay may be used for the foun¬ 
dation. Over this may be placed a layer of good 
garden soil, or loam obtained from waste ground, way- 
sides, scouiings of ditches, and from like sources, pro¬ 
vided it has lain awhile to become mellow and to kill 
the grass upon it. When the main outline has been 
determined, you can then commence to build. In 
doing this the stones may dip in various directions in 
different places : but they must be placed always in 
such direction that water given the plants may sink 
into the soil, and not run off by the surface. This may 
be secured by the use of smaller stones, which may be 
cemented together in such a manner as to form 
pockets or receptacles for the Ferns, while the large 
ones may be allowed to jut out prominently, so as to 
relieve the monotony of a flat or evenly declining surface. 
You could not get better stones for Fern rockeries than 
red sandstone, which would be obtainable in your 
neighbourhood. Rough, unhewn, and irregularly 
shaped blocks will prove the most suitable, and give 
the greatest variety. Other kinds of stone might be 
used, provided they are porous. Derbyshire tufa, 
brick burrs, and Bath and Portland oolites, are 
substitutes for sandstone, red or ■white. 
Soil is a secondary matter with most of the stronger¬ 
growing British Ferns, provided shade and moisture 
can be secured. You will find it convenient, however, 
to use some fairly good loam and peat, mixed in equal 
proportions, for filling the pockets when planting. 
Peat or leaf-soil would assist in retaining moisture, 
and keeping the soil cool about the roots. For the 
smaller kinds a good proportion of peat may be used, 
and specially sheltered positions selected. Shade from 
the sun and shelter, from winds are best secured 
by planting trees and shrubs. The Black Poplar 
(Populus nigra), or the erect growing Lombardy 
Poplar (P. nigra pyramidalis), would make rapid 
growth, and shade the Ferns until slower growing and 
more choice kinds, such as Hollies, Cupressus Law- 
soniana, or Thuja gigantea, are tall enough for the 
purpose, when the Poplars may be cut down. Any of 
the deciduous trees mostly may be used according to 
fancy or convenience, with the exception of the Ash and 
Elm, whose roots would soor impoverish the soil. 
In the absence of a nat' ,ral stream, the best plan 
would be to get a supply of ater from the main, with a 
stand-pipe, to which a hose might be connected. A 
large rockery could be given a thorough drenching in a 
short time by this means. An open cemented tank 
might be made a useful adjunct in a fernery. This 
should be supplied with clear water, and always kept 
clean for appearance sake. Besides offering a ready 
means of obtaining water for supplying the Ferns, it 
might also be utilised for the culture of Water Lilies, 
Cape Pondweeds, and other ornamental aquatics. In 
short, a ready supply of water is almost indispensable 
in a fernery—at least, until the Ferns become estab¬ 
lished in such a dry district as yours. A good watering 
should be given daily in the afternoon during the first 
summer at least, until the newly-planted Ferns get a 
foothold.] _„ > X<T . ._ 
EARLY PEAS. 
Amongst vegetables, Peas, without doubt, hold the 
first position in the estimation of all ; there is a great 
variety of likes and dislikes with regard to all other 
vegetables, but I never heard of but one or two who 
expressed a dislike for this delicious vegetable. A dish 
of good Peas seldom comes amiss, and to obtain them 
as early as possible is a great consideration with the 
gardener, as the first dish of the season is always a 
matter of interest. In order to secure this desirable 
object, each has his favourite method of practice. I 
have mine, and as I have followed it out for a good 
many years, and have never yet failed to secure a good 
crop, I will, with your permission, give a short de¬ 
scription of my method of procedure, not that it has 
the merit of anything new or novel about it, but 
because I know from experience and results obtained, 
that it is good. 
Towards the latter end of January, fresh turf from 
the pasture is cut into strips about 6 ins. or 8 ins. long, 
4 ins, wide, and 4 ins. deep, sufficient to plant about 
twenty rows across a south border ; these are placed in 
shallow boxes, grass downwards, and grooves are 
scraped out along each piece to hold a sufficient 
number of Peas to make a good row eventually, and a 
quantity of fine light soil is then spread over the whole. 
They are then placed in a warm vinery, where they 
quickly germinate. In about a week or so they grow 
about 2 ins. high, and are removed to a cold frame and 
gradually hardened off. The day for planting out on 
the border depends to a great extent upon the weather, 
but as it is so necessary that they should be planted 
out before the roots run together in one mass, the first 
fine day is taken advantage of. This year it was about 
the middle of February, and the Peas no higher than 
when they came out of the vinery—perhaps a little early, 
but the roots came out so intact that not one had 
encroached upon its neighbour’s turf. The weather was 
very fine, and therefore I did it, for when done in this 
way and at this stage of growth, they do not miss the 
shift, but appear quite at home at once. 
In planting out, the rows are 3 ft. apart, drills are 
dug across the border, the young, plants with the lumps 
of turf are laid along, and the soil firmly pressed to the 
roots. The whole are earthed up close to the top of the 
plants, and at once staked with sticks high enough to 
carry the crop. A good quantity of Laurel branches 
are cut about 2 ft. long, and thickly placed along each 
side of the row, where they remain undisturbed about 
a fortnight, when, if the weather is suitable, the 
Laurel boughs are removed on the side which will 
admit the most sun to the rows, and if severe frosts 
are expected they can be replaced at night. I have 
not yet removed the Laurels from the other side. The 
plants are now growing luxuriantly, and are at the 
present time (March 17th) fully 6 ins. high ; they were 
out during the severe weather we lately experienced 
and did not appear to receive any check whatever. 
The birds attacked one row, which was soon noticed, 
and before much mischief was done a dash of paraffin 
was mixed in a large can of water, which was syringed 
over the whole and stopped these gentlemen. —Alfred 
Gaut. __ 
DUNEDIN, STREATHAM HILL. 
By the judicious use of trees and shrubs a garden of 
restricted area even in towns may be made to appear of 
considerable size. The main body of the garden behind 
the house at Dunedin, the residence of N. N. Sherwood, 
Esq., is laid out in grass with some tall trees on either 
side, also some banks of Rhododendrons 8 ft. to 10 ft. 
high, beds of roses and of other subjects. Two 
Araucarias measure about 35 ft. high, while Cedars and 
deciduous Cypresses form fine specimens about 40 ft. high. 
At the lower end of the pleasure grounds are situated 
the hothouses, devoted to a great variety of subjects. 
Orchids are favourites, and receive a considerable 
amount of attention. In the Cattleya house C. Triame 
and G. citrina, the latter suspended on blocks, are 
flowering. On a side shelf we noted a fine piece of 
Trichopilia suavis with seven spikes of large white 
flowers, conspicuously marbled with rose all over the 
lip. Lselia harpophylla is a great favourite here, on 
account of its rich colour. Amongst Oncidiums were 
0. pubes and 0. sarcodes, the latter having a scape 
about 4 ft. long. Phalajnopsids are all grown in baskets 
suspended from the roof, including healthy pieces of P. 
amabilis, P. Schilleriana, P. Stuartiana and P. grandi- 
flora. Beneath them were healthy masses of Eucharis and 
Pancratium in No. 1 pots, where they have been for the 
last three years. 
The Odontoglossum house contained the largest 
amount of bloom. It may here be stated that large 
quantities of flowers from all the houses are continually 
being cut for indoor decoration and other purposes. 
Most of the popular kinds are grown, including 0. 
crispum, 0. Rossii majus, 0. cirrhosum, 0. sceptrum, 
0. triumphans, 0. luteo-purpureum, 0. maculatum, 
and 0. (Erstedii majus. Of O. crispum, there are fine 
forms, deeply tinted with rose. A fine variety of 0. c. 
Andersonianum was noticeable on account of the depth 
of the ground colour, and the large chocolate-red 
blotches on the broad sepals and petals. Masdevallia 
Chimrera, still in bloom, has been flowering in succession 
all through the winter. Oncidium cucullatum gigan- 
teum was very conspicuous, on account of its large, 
richly spotted lip and deep chocolate-brown sepals and 
petals. Beautifully spotted was also the lip of Lycaste 
Skinneri. Sophronitis grandiflora was suspended in 
small pans close to the glass, and were still showing 
bloom, although a short time ago the plants were 
carrying twelve and thirteen flowers each. 
In other houses, collections of stove plants for deco¬ 
rative purposes are grown, also hybrid greenhouse 
Rhododendrons and Azaleas,set with bloom or flowering. 
There were healthy batches of Lilium candidum, L. 
Harrisii, 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, Richardia africana, .3| ft., 
in a cool greenhouse. A pleasing bit of rockwork 
occupies the fernery, and is built of Derbyshire tufa. 
At the base is a winding stream of clear water, fed by 
several jets trickling down from above. The Ferns 
occupy pockets and ledges of overhanging rock. 
Amongst them were pieces of Todea superba, Cibotium 
spectabile, Davallia platyphylla, Dicksonia Smithii, 
Adiantum formosum, A. trapeziforme Sancta Cathe- 
rinese, and others. The conservatory was also laid 
out with rockwork, the rocks being much lower, 
but run out into bold prominences with Ferns planted 
between, as well as Palms in pots. Here again water 
was a prominent feature, the lower basin being supplied 
by a dripping rock, a fountain, and from other sources. 
On the opposite side of the house, flowering plants are 
grown ; and climbers, including Lapagerias, cover the 
roof. 
The kitchen garden for the culture of fruit and 
vegetables occupies a separate enclosure, and on the 
borders the C'hionodoxa Lucilire in great quantity was 
quite gay. Besides his ordinary work Mr. Jones has 
to attend to the testing of various seeds in con¬ 
siderable quantity. Dunedin is within 44 miles of 
Charing Cross, and therefore gets its due share of fog 
and smoke, notwithstanding which everything is in a 
clean and healthy condition. 
-- 
PTERIS CRETICA MAYII. 
The distinguishing characteristics of this variety, 
recommending it to the attention of the cultivator, are 
twofold. It is finely crested and very distinctly 
variegated. It may be in place here to state that there 
are three different variegated forms of the species— 
namely, P. cretica albo-lineata, P. c. albo-lineata 
cristata, and P. c. Mayii, the subject under notice, and 
the best of the three when properly grown. The lower 
fronds are short and drooping, while later produced 
ones assume an ascending or semi-erect habit, with the 
upper portion gracefully arching. All the pinnae, as a 
rule, are more or less crested, and of a bright green, 
with a distinct and broad silvery grey band down the 
centre of each. To obtain the best results the plant 
should be grown in a moderately warm, moist atmos¬ 
phere, giving it plenty of room to develop properly, 
and full exposure to light. Heat and moisture are 
highly conducive to the clearness of the variegation. 
Crowding and shading are too often permitted to 
spoil Ferns in private establishments. 
- ►>$<- - 
A KENTISH G-ARDEN. 
Situated in the very heart of the town of Ashford, 
Kent, is the residence of Dr. Wilkes, who a few years 
ago took to Orchid growing, and by judicious purchases 
from time to time, has now got a nice collection 
together. In the management of his collection, Dr. 
Wilkes is ably assisted by his gardener, Mr. Tabor, and 
it is pleasant to find master and servant working so 
cordially in harmony. When I called a few days ago 
the following were in flower Cattleya Triame, C. 
citrina, several Calanthes, their graceful spikes being 
very attractive ; Catasetum Bungerothii, Cypripedium 
venustum pardinum, C. Harrisianum, C. calurum, 
&c. ; Cymbidium Lowianum, Dendrobium Jamesia- 
num, D. crassinode Barberianum, D. Findleyanum, 
D. Devonianum, D. crassinode, D. nobile, D. luteolum, 
all nicely flowered ; the curious Epidendrum Wallisii, 
Lycaste plana, a nice variety, well flowered; the 
bright-coloured Lcelia harpophylla, Miltonia cuneata, 
Oncidium papilio, 0. p. Kramerianum, fine varieties ; 
Odontoglossum Rossii majus, 0. Cervantesii, 0. asper- 
sum, 0. maculatum, 0. Harryanum, 0. pulchellum, . 
O. (Erstedii majus, Oncidium ampliatum, two grand 
spikes; Lycaste Skinneri, and Phaius grandiflorus. 
Phalrenopsids do well here, and suspended from the roof 
in a large stove they seem to be quite at home. 
P. Schilleriana was flowering magnificently, with good 
branching spikes of between forty and fifty blooms. 
P. Luddemanniana was also in flower. Amongst 
Vandas, a grand plant of V. tricolor insignis was in 
full beauty. These are only a few amongst many in 
this young but thriving collection. 
