98 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 14, 1893. 
what after the same style. L’Idealis a very popular 
Noisette that must come under the heading of this 
article. It is grand ; being a mixture of yellow, 
orange, and red, with a coppery and metallic hue. 
It is a grand climber, free-flowerer and very hardy. 
No Rose is more highly perfumed. Qiillet Parfait 
has a red ground colour, with lilac and purple 
stripes, and belongs to the old class called Damask 
Roses ; it is very pretty.— Experience. 
-- 
THE KING OF THE DENDROBES. 
I WOULD ask for a little of your valuable space to 
say a few words about Dendrobium Phalaenopsis 
Schroderianum, which has been called the King of 
the Genus (or Elephant Moth Dendrobe), a title it 
thoroughly deserves, for, in my opinion, if its many 
good qualities. are taken into consideration, viz., 
freedom of growth and flowering, the diversity of 
shades in colour, lasting properties, the great size of 
its flowers, and the time of year it flowers, unquestion¬ 
ably it stands at the head of the great family to which 
it belongs. As most of your readers are doubtless 
aware, the variety Schroderianum is comparatively 
new, it having been introduced by Messrs. Sander 
& Co. in October, i8gi, and first flowered in Baron 
Schroder's collection, in honour of whom it was 
named. I may here mention that by some it has 
been considered to be synonymous with Statteriana, 
but it is abundantly distinct from that variety, it be¬ 
ing very much superior in every respect, having a 
larger flower, stouter growth, and much brighter- 
coloured flowers are to be found amongst imported 
plants. 
But my intention is to say something about a 
house full of these beautiful flowers (not plants, 
but flowers) now to be seen in Mr. J. Cypher’s 
Nursery at Cheltenham. When I say that in a 
house 40 ft. long there was on the day of my 
visit, the 6th inst., 2,000 flowers fully open, and 
many hundreds to follow, it will convey some 
idea of the lovely sight which is past the power 
of my pen to describe. The house in which these 
plants are arranged is a span roof with side stages, 
and on either side the spikes hang over in the richest 
profusion. They are arranged with Maiden Hair 
Ferns, and present a sight I shall not soon forget. 
This New Guinea species has put our good old 
favourites D. bigibbum and D. superbiens quite in 
the shade ; in fact, there is no comparison either in 
growth or size of flowers. The diversity of colour 
to be found in the above house is very great indeed ; 
no two appear to be exactly alike. The colours 
range from almost pure white to the deepest velvety- 
crimson, and if I had been asked to have picked out 
the colour I most admired, I must confess I should 
have been puzzled. The beautiful whites with soft 
suffusions of rose were very beautiful, as also were 
the deeper coloured ones with the still deeper crimson 
and purple lips and throats; in fact, as I have 
already said, the diversity of colour was so great 
that it defies description. I saw many of the flowers 
measured, and none of them were less that 3I in. 
across and 4 in. deep, and many of the spikes were 
from 18 in. to 2 ft. in length, and bore from twenty 
to twenty-four flowers. Again, what a useful time 
of year to have such gems to brighten up our Orchid 
houses or conservatories, for they will last if kept in 
a cool dry atmosphere, without taking harm, fully 
two months. Mr. Cypher showed me a plant which 
he exhibited in August at Shrewsbury and other 
places, and the flowers were perfectly fresh, and to 
all appearance would last many weeks longer. Mr. 
Cypher speaks in the highest terms of this Orchid. 
It will grow in an ordinary plant stove with the 
greatest freedom if placed near the roof-glass. I 
hope to be able to send you a photograph of this 
lovely sight. 
I cannot leave this subject of Orchids without a 
passing reference to a few other things which struck 
me as deserving notice. One usually sees Dendro¬ 
bium Bensoni majus with pseudo-bulbs from Sin. to 
10 in. in length, but I measured several in one of the 
houses here over 2 ft. in length. They have been 
previously described as the finest in existence. 
Another beautiful and useful plant, because it was in 
full beauty, was Dendrobium album, sending out its 
flowers all along the pseudo-bulbs in twos and threes 
—a most useful Orchid for button-holes. A magni¬ 
ficent batch of Dendrobium nobile Cooksoni was a 
treat to see ; growth 18 in. to 24 in. in length and as 
thick as one’s thumb; remarkably healthy. D. 
nobile nobilius was also remarkably vigorous. The 
rare and pretty D. Rhodostoma, a hybrid between 
sanguinolentum and Huttoni was very striking. 
D. polyphlebium, a natural hybrid (Parishii and 
Pierardi), is very useful and pretty. 
Cypripedium Nicholsonianum, a new-comer, was 
in flower, and a most striking Cypripede it is. It 
appears to be a vigorous grower. Zygopetalum 
rostratum was in flower, and not often seen. Cy¬ 
pripedium selligerum rubrum has a dark polished 
pouch and a most beautiful flower. 
A peep into the cool house revealed perfect health 
and a nice sprinkling of Odontoglots, and here the 
curious Restrepia antennifera was in flower. The mag¬ 
nificent specimen Dendrobium Dalhousieanum was in 
the best of health with growths 7 ft. long. The Catt- 
leyas were in the most robust health, and many of the 
autumn flowering species were in bloom, particularly 
noticeable being C. aurea. What a glorious Catt- 
leya this is; certainly the Queen of the autumn¬ 
flowering species. A rapid glance at Mr. Cypher’s 
New Holland plants brought a most instructive and 
enjoyable afternoon all too soon to a close, and 
"quick march” was the order for the train which 
was nearly due.—T. A. 
-- 
BOSTON HOUSE, 
BRENTFORD. 
This, the suburban residence of Col. Clitheroe, is 
still surrounded by green fields and tall ancestral 
trees, but the latter in some cases, particularly the 
giant old Cedars of Lebanon, are beginning to pay 
the penalty of their proximity to London, with its 
pestilential fogs in autumn and winter. Of late years 
they have been losing branches and twigs, and the 
loss of the corresponding foliage is evidence of 
impaired vitality. They must be very old, however, 
for the trunks of several are of great thickness. 
One specimen measures 24 ft. in circumference at 
5 ft. from the ground, but the trunk divides into five 
leaders at various heights from the base, and has 
besides various limbs which in themselves would 
constitute trees of no mean dimensions. On one 
side of the grounds, where the land slopes suddenly 
to the River Brent, are plantations of younger trees 
still in full growth. By the side of a broad walk is 
a line of Mulberry trees, which in their fruiting 
season attract hundreds of starlings and other birds 
which never leave them until entirely despoiled of 
their fruit. 
Near the lake is a mass of Clematis Flammula 
still flowering freely. Large patches of Water 
Lilies, yellow and white, grow in the water, but the 
foliage of the yellow kind has already sunk beneath 
the surface. The Reed Mace or Bulrush (Typha 
latifolia) has flowered well this year, and the stems 
extend 6 ft. or 8 ft. out of the water. On the banks 
are some broad-headed Babylonian Willows about 
18 ft. high, and more than that in diameter, 
which were planted as small twigs by Mr. Jefferies, 
the gardener, fifteen or sixteen years ago. Near the 
Bulrushes is a fine piece of the Royal Fern 
(Osmunda regalis), about 5 ft. high and 8 ft. in 
diameter. Tea and Bourbon Roses still persist in 
flowering. Of the latter Souvenir de la Malmaison 
is the favourite, and there is a long row of standards 
of it, about 4 ft. to 5 ft. high, upon the grass. They 
have occupied this site for many years and many of 
them date back to i860. The old ones previous 
to that were killed by the severe winter of 1859-60. 
A striking feature round the mansion itself is the 
old Pelargoniums, which are grown in tubs and 
fastened to the walls. Many of them are twenty 
years old or more, and run up to a height of 10 ft. or 
12ft. There are both single and double varieties, 
and some of them are so antiquated that they are 
probably unique in cultivation. They have flowered 
most abundantly this year, the sunshine furnishing 
the requirements they get in their native country. 
On the south side of the house they are still very 
gay, presenting a very unusual floral feature for 
autumn. A large number of fragrant species are 
mixed with them, including P. Radula, P. denticu- 
latum, P. fragrans, Rollison’s Unique, P. querci- 
folium. Pheasant’s P'oot, and other popular kinds. 
The spicy and aromatic air which they give out, 
even thus late in the year, is remarkable, and should 
secure for them a wide cultivation, notwithstanding 
their comparatively insignificant flowers. Plumbago 
capensis mingling with them is still flowering. On 
the shady aspects of the house they are notable for 
the huge size of their leaves. By the side of the en¬ 
trance drive are many Pomegranates in large pots. 
The larger flowering kinds flowered handsomely in 
summer, but they are now in the sere and yellow 
leaf. A small-flowered and late variety is still in 
full bloom. They were raised from seeds by Mr. 
Jefferies. 
ft is almost too late to speak of the flower garden, 
but we noted a showy bed of Lobelia splendens 
Victoriae, and several carpet beds that were neat and 
effective in their season. The Tea Roses w^e have 
already mentioned. Gaillardias have been most 
profuse in flower. Some beds of tuberous Begonias 
are still in that condition. They are in mixed 
colours, but will be separated into colours another 
year. The tubers were kept in cocoa-nut fibre 
during winter, then put into boxes of leaf-soil in 
spring, and started into growth. They were then 
potted up, but afterwards planted in cold frames 
when established, and ultimately transferred to the 
beds, where they were watered with liquid manure. 
This liberal treatment caused them to make an 
excellent growth, and they flowered most profusely 
all the summer, and will do till frost checks them. 
The herbaceous border is still gay with various 
flowers, including Chrysanthemum uliginosum. Aster 
Amellus, Anemone japonica alba, A. j. elegans, etc. 
There is a fine border of Tropaeolum speciosum 
here on a north-east aspect, but the dry summer 
was against it, and there was less bloom than usual. 
In the kitchen garden some relatively young bush 
Apple trees present a singular and unseasonable 
appearance; Amongst them are Peasegood’s Non¬ 
such, Stirling Castle, Tower of Glamis, and 
Bismarck. The shoots of the current season were 
stopped about the first week in August, and one or 
two of the uppermost buds of each have burst their 
blooms, and being surrounded by the old leaves 
produce a curious effect. The blooms of Bismarck 
are notable for their great size. 
Under glass, tuberous Begonias are grown to some 
extent, but they have partly been taken away to 
make room for other plants that are being brought 
from the outside, such as Oranges in pots, and now 
fruiting freely. The Myrtle-leaved Orange produces 
very small fruits, but flowers are borne in great pro¬ 
fusion, and are useful for cut flower purposes. A 
considerable quantity of Pancratium speciosum is 
grown, from which cut flowers are obtained from 
time to time, the flowers being large, fragrant and 
showy. Seedlings of the beautiful white Gloxinia 
Her Majesty, have come true to character, some 
having the small pink speck in the sinus of the seg¬ 
ments and some being without it. The fragrant 
species of Cape Pelargonium are grown in quantity, 
and intended for planting out like the others now in 
front of the mansion. Amongst the zonal kinds we 
noted a very fine and free-flowering, semi-double, 
and pure white variety named La Favourite. 
Brugmansia Knightii, with its hose-in-hose and fra¬ 
grant flowers, is still in bloom. It is curious to note 
that tricolor Pelargoniums are often grafted here 
upon the roots of strong growing kinds, in order to 
get strong heads. They are planted out in the beds, 
then lifted in autumn, and after being kept all the 
winter are planted out again. Some of them used in 
this way are several years old. The varieties grown are 
Mrs. R. Cox, Dolly Varden, Lady Cullum, and Mrs. 
Pollock. Altogether, 8,000 cuttings of Pelargoniums 
are required for bedding purposes in this suburban 
garden. On a wall close by the houses is the finest 
specimen of Chimonanthus praecox grandiflora 
which we have seen. It covers a space 15 ft. wide 
and 12 ft. high, and is a mass of shoots of healthy 
appearance, and laden with buds that must soon 
burst on the higher branches should the weather 
remain mild. 
Near by is another house in which a quantity of 
Chilies are grown. They consist of the variety 
Princess of Wales, and are now well laden with 
fruits, the ripe ones of which are bright yellow. 
Here also is a batch of Gardenias eighteen to twenty- 
one months old, 2 ft. to 2J ft. high, and all healthy, 
clean, and commenced to develop their flower buds. 
A batch of Eucharis is also in healthy condition. 
--J—- 
Oncidium incurvum. —A very remarkable specimen 
of this lovely old favourite was exhibited at the recent 
Edinburgh Flower Show by G. Douglas, Esq., Esk 
Bank, Dalkeith, and which somehow escaped much 
notice in the Press. It carried upwards of forty huge 
spikes and had a grand aggregate of 12 000 individual 
flowers. Everyone who saw it seemed delighted 
with it; indeed, it was truly a centre of attraction.— 
7. McNab. 
