July 25th, 1885. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
745 
SALISBURY GREEN, 
EDINBURGH. 
Salisbury Green is the residence of Wm. Nelson, 
Esq., a member of the well-known publishing firm of 
Messrs. T. Nelson & Sons. It is situated in the 
southern suburbs of Edinburgh, and a more delightful 
situation it would be difficult to find in or around the • 
Scottish metropolis, secluded as it is from the busy 
city which forms its background, while in the fore¬ 
ground is presented a scene of picturesque beauty 
such as is seldom to be met with. A little to the 
north-east is the famous Arthur’s Seat, towering 
above in all its majestic splendour, with the Salisbury 
Crags and “ Samson’s Eibs ” at its base, while to the 
east are unbroken views for miles of the fertile plains 
of Duddingstone and Niddrie, greatly enhanced in 
beauty by the large sheet of water called Duddingstone 
Loch, which nestles under the eastern slope of 
Arthur’s Seat, with the picturesque village of Dud- 
looking structure in the Scottish baronial style of 
architecture, and at present important additions are 
being made to it. The large conservatory adjoining 
is also under repair, necessitating the removal of 
most of the plants. In the centre bed is planted 
out a fine specimen of the Tree Fern Dicksonia 
antarctica, with a stem nearly 12 ft. in length, carry¬ 
ing a beautiful head of fronds. The lawn in front of 
the house is to a great extent planted with Apple and 
Pear trees, which act as a screen between the mansion 
and the glass houses, the main portion of which 
forms three sides of a square, the space between being 
occupied by Roses and a flower border in front planted 
on the carpet-bedding system, which has a very 
pleasing effect. The Roses are showing the effects of 
the shelter thus afforded them from the prevailing 
east winds of last spring and early summer, by giving 
forth such a profusion of bloom as I have seen no¬ 
thing to compare with this season. Prominent 
amongst them is the new white Merveille de Lyon 
Mendelii; several good Odontoglossum vexillarium, 
0. v. rubellum, a fine autumn-flowering variety, and 0. 
Phaloenopsis, a fine plant of Vanda Lowii, and several 
good forms of V. tricolor; large plants of Dendro- 
bium thyrsiflorum and D. formosum giganteum. The 
arrangement of the Orchids here is perfection. A 
good many Orchids are not of a very prepossessing 
appearance when out of bloom, and what in some 
places is unsightly is here made very effective by the 
introduction amongst them of small foliage plants in 
the way of Crotons, Palms, and Ferns. 
The next house is a large stove containing, princi¬ 
pally, fine-foliage plants. The centre is filled with 
Palms of large dimensions, while on the side stages 
is a fine lot of Alocasias, beautifully coloured Anthu- 
rium andreanum, A. crystallinum, A. Warocqueanum 
and magnificum, Eucharis in great abundance, and the 
finest plant I have ever seen of the graceful Palm, Cocos 
Weddelliana. Overhead an Allamanda is flowering 
profusely. Next we have two vineries, span-roofed, all 
HOYA BELLA! FLOWERS WHITE, WITH CRIMSON CENTRE. 
dingstone in the background. Conspicuous amongst 
the public buildings in this village is the romantic old 
church, where is yet to be seen attached to the wall at 
the entrance-gate the iron stock or chain used in olden 
times for the punishment of moral offenders ; the pun¬ 
ishment consisted in the culprit being secured to the 
wall by the neck on the Sunday. To the south-east is 
seen the village of Liberton, which also has a church 
of ancient date, and on the same rising ground can be 
seen the fine old Castle of Craig Millar, where Queen 
Mary resided after the murder of Darnley. The pro¬ 
prietor has lately expended a large sum in restoring 
broken walls, Ac., so as to preserve this fine old relic 
of a bygone age. 
The gardens at Salisbury Green have been under 
the able management of Mr. Laing for the last three 
and a half years, during which time the place has 
been entirely remodelled, and especially the interior 
of the glass structures. The entrance is from the 
Dalkeith Road, where there is a nice lodge and 
entrance gates of immense size and richly gilt. The 
approach is a broad one, and leads up to the house 
with a sweeping curve. The mansion-house is a fine- 
in grand form, with flowers 4 ins. across, Alphonse 
Soupert, Alfred K. Williams, John Hopper, and many 
others of like merit. Entering the houses from the 
west end we find the first devoted to cool Orchids, and 
here are some large plants of Ccelogyne cristata, 
which by their luxuriant growth give promise of a 
rich harvest of valuable white flowers. Amongst the 
plants in flower were a fine form of Oncidium ma- 
cranthum, good plants of 0. Hallii, 0. Rogersii, and 
many good things in the Alexandra section. Maxil- 
larias and Masdevallias are well represented, amongst 
the latter being a small plant of M. chimiera with 
flowers from 18 ins. to 20 ins. measured from point 
to point of the tails ; and splendid specimens of M. 
Harryana and M. Veitchiana. The next is the inter¬ 
mediate or Cattleya-house, which contains so many 
good things that it is difficult to know what to name 
that will give an idea of the wealth of the collection. 
All the leading species and varieties of Cattleya are, 
however, represented, and notable among them are 
fine plants of C. Dowiana auria, C. Trianse, with a deep 
red lip, the flowers of which last year measured 9 h ins. 
across, C. Percivaliana, C. Gigas, a fine plant of C. 
planted two years ago, with the exception of one side. 
Many of the canes are exceptionally strong for their 
age, and carrying heavy bunches; the one house is 
Muscats, the other Hamburghs and Lady Downes. The 
side of old canes is carrying a heavy crop. A few 
years ago they were given up as useless, and the 
change that has taken place goes a long way to show 
the high qualities of Thomson’s Vine and Plant 
Manure, which has been so successfully applied to 
them. Mr. Laing uses it largely, not only for his 
Vines, but for all plants that are benefited by a stimu¬ 
lant, and the beneficial results of its use amongst 
potting material was at once seen on entering the 
greenhouse, 70 ft. by 20 ft. The Pelargoniums were 
all that could be desired ; Liliums were quite a show 
in themselves, L. auratum having ten to twelve 
flowers on a single bulb in 6-in. pots ; L. longiflorum 
Harrisii in great profusion, an invaluable variety 
where white flowers are in demand. Large plants of 
Azaleas occupied the centre stage, and at the back, in 
a recess filled with Ferns, is a Dicksonia similar to 
the one in the conservatory, but not quite so large. 
In this house also was a fine batch of Disa grandi- 
