June 7, 1890. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
633 
predicted in winter. Many perennials are found on 
the margins of the shrubbery borders, and Pansies 
are largely used as edgings ; the old self-yellow 
Cloth of Gold, raised in the neighbourhood many 
years ago—still considered as one of the best yellow 
self Pansies in cultivation—is largely grown ; so is 
George Rudd, an excellent companion to it; Lady 
Pembroke, a fine golden fancy variety ; and Thomas 
Grainger, a brownish yellow fancy variety. Many 
Violas find a congenial home there also. 
In a cosy spot in the pleasure grounds is a 
small piece of ornamental water, and in it 
is a very large mass of the double form of 
Caltha palustris, and a dense mass of deep 
golden flowers almost lies upon the surface 
of the water, having a glory of auriferous 
sheen startling to behold. On the lawn 
are various flower beds, and in these are 
seen Petunias, Phlox Drummondi, early 
summer-flowering Chrysanthemums, Stocks, 
Asters, Poppies, &e., following Daisies, 
bulbs, and other spring flowers, while round 
about are many little touches of floral 
beauty dear to the master’s eye. 
On a higher level, in a north-westerly 
direction, are the glass houses and florists’- 
flower grounds, separated from the pleasure 
grounds in part by a spacious bowling- 
green, screened by banks of shrubbery. 
What a paradise for birds is Stakehill ! 
They abound, for no nest is molested, and 
the native birds build in shrubs and trees 
so exposed, as if aware their habitations 
are sacred. The Cuckoo, among other 
migratory birds, comes here, but the trill 
of the nightingale is never heard so far 
north as this. 
The glasshouses comprise a span-roofed 
vinery in two divisions, and a span-roofed 
stove and greenhouse also in two divisions ; 
a few Orchids and other stove plants being 
found in one, and greenhouse plants.in the 
other. There is a low span-roofed house 
in three divisions, in which Tomatos, 
Cucumbers, Pelargoniums, &c., are, grown, 
and there is another low span-roofed struc¬ 
ture unheated, in which are bloomed 
Auriculas, of which Mr. Barlow has a 
unique collection, with various hardy 
bulbs, Lilies, &c.—a house that can be 
employed for many purposes, at all 
seasons of the year. A fine collection of 
hybrid early - flowering Rhododendrons ; 
one of Hellebores, cultivated in pots ; a 
fine collection of the best varieties of 
Chrysanthemums, and many other things 
in pots are also grown. There are several 
frames, all containing something of use 
and value. In one can be seen choice 
seedling Begonias, Antirrhinums, Pent" 
stemons, Marigolds, &c., growing into 
size for planting out. In another is seen 
planted out a collection of named gold- 
laced Polyanthus, which Mr. Barlow shows 
in such fine form at Manchester and 
London. These are but a few of the con¬ 
tents of the cold frames. The Tulip beds 
occupy the east side of the garden, 
screened from the cold easterly winds by 
a belt of shrubbery. There are three beds, 
each having 100 rows, and seven bulbs in 
a row. Two of the beds are planted with 
named varieties or selected seedlings, and 
the other is a bed of mixtures. I need 
scarcely state that Mr. Barlow has the 
choicest beds of Tulips in the kingdom. 
Rectified varieties alternate with beautifully 
coloured breeders, and the effect is delight¬ 
ful, looking from one end of the bed to 
the other. Mr. Barlow’s beds are always 
late. The Royal National Tulip Society’s 
Show at Manchester, on the 28th ult., was about a 
week too early for the Stakehill Tulips to be seen in 
perfection. 
Close by the Tulip beds are others of choice hardy 
perennials, and flowering now is a very deep-coloured 
variety of Trollius europsens, the true form of 
Aquilegia glandulosa, choice Pansies, &c. Then comes 
a remarkable bed of Pinks that has recently been top- 
dr s ;ed with manure ; the plants are in. the best health, 
and there is the promise of a fine head of bloom, lu 
the collection Mr. Barlow has Mr. Thurstan’s fine new 
varieties—James Thurstan, Mrs. Thurstan, John 
Dorington, George Hodgkinson, &c.—also Mrs. Dark, 
and other fine sorts. Should a show of Pinks be arranged 
to be held at Manchester in July, there is every promise 
that Mr. Barlow will be to the fore as an exhibitor. 
Here also is Mr. Barlow’s very fine collection of 
Carnations and Picotees in pots, which comprises all the 
leading varieties in cultivation, and includes also a 
number of the fine new sorts raised by Mr. Ernest 
Denary, of Erfurt. Mr. H. Pomroy, Mr. Barlow’s 
gardener, has admirably managed the Carnations, and, 
indeed, he deserves high praise for the neat condition 
in which the grounds are kept, and the excellent 
condition of his vineries, &c., and florists’ flowers 
generally. 
On the other side of the garden are beds of Carnations 
and Picotees, double Pyrethrums, choice Aquilegias, 
hardy Primulas, Hepaticas, Gladioli, &c. On an 
elevated part of the ground on the south-east side is a 
range of houses warmed by means of an underground 
flue, which conveys the smoke from the furnaces at the 
works to the lofty shaft which lifts its head to a great 
height on the top of an eminence. Here Tomatos, 
French Beans, &c., are cultivated. Here is a reserve 
garden, now shorn largely of its former dimensions in 
consequence of an extension of the works ; and there 
is also a piece of kitchen-garden on a sunny slope 
facing the south-west. 
Mr. Barlow is always pleased for visitors to walk 
about his gardens. Many who are interested in flowers 
visit Stakehill, and always find something to interest 
and instruct. The managers cf schools 
ask—and are always granted—permission 
for the children to walk about the garden, 
and it is very rare indeed—indeed, it 
scarcely happens at all—that anything is 
injured or taken. Mr. Barlow trusts his 
visitors, and they Tespeet the confidence 
reposed in them. Mrs. Barlow’s goodness 
of heart causes her to be considerate to the 
young, and the contents of a huge basket 
of Oranges is frequently distributed among 
the children, to their great joy and enjoy¬ 
ment.— R. D. 
-- 
AN ERRATIC CYPRI- 
PEDIUM. 
It has long been considered that Uro- 
pedium Lindeni is only a peloried form 
of Cypripedium caudatum, in which the 
lip has returned to its original condition, 
and, therefore, resembles the petals. The 
latter and the lip really constitute the 
inner whorl of the perianth, the outer 
whorl being formed by the sepals, the lower 
two of which are nearly always united in 
one piece in Cypripedium. A specimen 
of C. caudatum, bearing three flowers, was 
lately sent us by Messrs. Wm. Thomson & 
Sons, Tweed “Vineyards, Clovenfords. The 
lowermost flower was slightly erratic, with 
the claw of the lip greatly elongated and 
the pouch partly laid open. The lip as a 
whole measured 2* ins. in length. One 
side of the claw was much undulated, and 
the velvety band of brown hairs lining 
what should normally have been the sides 
of the pouch, was greatly reduced in size, 
while the other was simply elongated, re¬ 
vealing the infolded side lobe. The lip of 
the middle flower was the most singular of 
all, measuring 4 ins. in length, and the 
petals 16 ins. The pouch, as shown in the 
accompanying illustration, was almost 
completely obliterated, but represented by 
the infolded tip very slightly united at the 
base of the fold. The velvety bands above 
mentioned had completely disappeared, 
and the margins of the same brown colour 
as the petals were greatly convoluted 
almost throughout their entire length. 
The broad middle portion was spotted 
with brown on a pale ground, like the 
interior of the pouch. The third and 
uppermost flower was perfect. The flower 
illustrated exhibits its lip in a transition 
stage, tending to become like the petals, as 
in Uropedium Lindeni, or more properly 
Cypripedium caudatum Lindeni. We have 
since seen a specimen of the same species, 
exhibiting precisely similar characteristics, 
but with the lip 5 ins. long, in the Duke 
of Marlborough’s collection at Blenheim, 
and we have heard of other occurrences of 
the freak. 
-«>*<-- 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Among all our hardy fruits, what is more 
popular than the Strawberry ? It is prized 
alike by the noble and the humble 
artisan ; in short, all have a common 
interest in it. Commercially it wields a power in the 
fruit market second to none in its season, and may 
justly be termed la creme de la creme of all our hauly 
fruits. This is no selfish or vain conclusion, but is cal¬ 
culated by close observation and the unbiassed opinion 
of those competent to judge fruits by their merits 
outside the circle of Strawberry growers. While 
making this bold assertion, I am not ignorant of the 
fact that other hardy fruits are more highly prized 
by some people than are Strawberries. Some, for 
instance, would not exchange Gooseberries for any 
other fruit, hardy or exotic ; indeed, I have heard 
Cythipedium caupatum with a Spiral Lip. 
