September 25, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
50 
more palateable, promoting our health and refining 
our taste and manners. 
The lecturer dwelt upon the even greater possibili¬ 
ties in the time to come, and concluded bis perora¬ 
tion amidst applause. Discussion fallowed, and a 
successful meeting was brought to a close. 
Exhibits are encouraged at these meetings, and 
certificates awarded where they arfe deserved. A 
collection of Cactus Dahlias came from Mr. Wilson, 
Belladrum, Beauly. Messrs. Thos. Methven& Sons, 
Edinburgh, sent new Chrysanthemums. A new 
seedling yellow Carnation, named Miss Alley, was 
tabled by Mr. Robertson Munro, Langside, Glasgow, 
and was accorded a First-class Certificate. The 
table decorations were kindly provided by the 
president, Mr. M. Todl, Maitland Street, Edin¬ 
burgh. 
-- 
A RUN ROUND THE NURSERIES. 
When on a visit to the North of London recently, I 
thought I could kill two birds with one stone, as 
they say. My first step was, then, to give the Messrs. 
Hugh Low & Co. a look up at their Clapton nursery. 
Calling at the office, which is situated close to the 
entrance, I was asked to step this way by the smart 
and courteous clerk, and was soon introduced to Mr. 
Ianson, who very kindly did the amiable, for it was 
the Orchids I had called to see. 
The first house we entered was a span-roofed one, 
the middle stage of which was crammed full of Vanda 
caerulea, all in grand condition, and in sizes to suit 
all parties. The price too was extremely moderate, 
Some of the pieces are marked as being flushed with 
rose. On the side stages are fine pieces of the easily- 
grown Vanda kimballiana and V. amesiana, all in 
rude health. 
In another division close by is a most wonderful 
batch of Miltonia Roezlii. This species is not always 
found in good condition, but here it grows like a 
weed, small pieces making fine specimens in a very 
short time. The house in which they are growing 
appears to be a naturally moist one, a condition of 
things which this beautiful Orchid likes. The tem¬ 
perature, too, must be brisk, and the shading fairly 
heavy. 
Phalaenopsis. —This, the Moth Orchid, is a 
speciality here, and always has been. Eighteen 
years ago, when first I entered this nursery in quest 
of a sitaiion as journeyman, the impression that a 
houseful of plants of this magnificent Orchid, with 
immense leaves without a sport, made on me has 
never been effaced. To-day they are, if anything, 
even in better order. The prices, too, are so reason¬ 
able ; even the special varieties are not put at a pro¬ 
hibitive figure. I noticed in their culture that every 
precaution is taken to keep the heat and moisture 
nicely balanced, and with this end in view the 
spaces underneath the stages are filled with clinkers 
and other moisture holding material, whilst on the 
stages under the lattice work there is a quantity of 
ballast for the same purpose. At the end of this 
division I noticed a fine piece of the beautiful 
Aerides lawrenceanum, and a grand plant of Vanda 
Lowii. In another house there is a very fine lot of 
the pretty Angraecum articulatum. 
The Dendrobium house is full of D. wardianum, 
D. crassinode, D. primulinum, &c., all in the pink of 
condition. Cypripidiums are represented by great 
quantities of C. Charlesworthii, C. Curtisii, C. bella- 
tulum, together with several of the best hybrids, in¬ 
cluding C. Alfred Hollington, Mrs. E. V. Low, &c. 
The Butterfly Orchid (Oncidium Papilio majus) is 
represented by great numbers in splendid condition. 
The pretty Bulbophyllum claptonense was to be seen 
in flower. Of Cattleyas and Laelias there is any 
quantity, including C. Mendelii, C. Trianaei, C. 
Mossiae, C. labiata autumnalis, and a fine lot of 
Laelia purpurata. There are, of course, numerous 
other Orchids of equal interest. 
The Orchids are, however, being drafted to their 
new establishment at Bush Hill, Enfield. Indeed, 
the Odontoglossums are already located there, and 
are said to be making splendid growths. This I can 
readily believe, for, being more out in the country, 
the atmosphere is much clearer in winter, and the 
air more pure that what it is at Clapton. Time, 
however, would not permit of my extending my visit 
thus far, as I had other business to transact, so with 
a hearty " good-day " to my courteous guide I made 
tracks, but next time I go on the rampage I shall 
certainly run down to the Bush Hill establishment 
of this most reliable firm.—S. Cooke. 
- 4 *- 
TO THE IVY-LEAVED TOAD-FLAX. 
Quaint little trailer 
Cresting the wall, 
Ivy-leaved Toad-flax 
Flinging thy broad, lax 
Cushions of blossom — 
Darker or paler, 
Daintily small— 
Over the kindly 
Stones that embosom 
Rootlets and roots, 
Searching so blindly, 
Feeding thy shoots ; 
List me, I pray thee, 
Homage I pay thee ! 
Old Father Time, 
Hoary and crinite, 
Weathers and crinkles, 
Hardest of granite, 
Smoothing each feature 
Over with slime; 
Old Mother Nature, 
Harvesting seeds, 
(Call them not weeds) 
Sows them and sprinkles 
Crannies and wrinkles. 
Mountain and plain, 
River and main, 
Oft and again. 
Golden-eyed wilding, 
Wall, rock, and building— 
Homes of thy choice— 
Smile and rej jice. 
When from the ledges, 
Purpling the edges, 
Springeth thy garlands, 
Studded like star-lands 
Over the stones. 
Hues, tints, and tones. 
Palate and spur; 
Fashioned demurely. 
Puzzle thee surely, 
Sage connoisseur! 
Sculptured and furrowed 
Flower of the wall, 
Savants scholastic 
Hail thee with names ; 
Encomiastic— 
Most of them borrowed— 
Just as if all 
Slighted thy claims. 
Who is thy grower ? 
Seedsman and sower ? 
Who can unravel 
How thou dost travel ? 
No one can answer, 
Save a romancer. 
— Osmunda, ist July, 1897. 
— ■ 
PATHOGENIC MICROBES ON KITCHEN- 
GARDEN VEGETABLES. 
Mr. Brandeis, of Bayonne, has called the attention 
of hygienists to the dangers for public health caused 
by the employment of human excrement for manur¬ 
ing vegetables, some of which are eaten raw. 
On the other hand, Mr. G. Roux has sent to the 
Lyons Society of Medicine a brief note on this ques¬ 
tion, in which he mentions the resistance of certain 
microbes deposited on the surface of vegetables, and 
the great difficulty found in removing them by 
repeated washings. Mr. Guiraud, of Toulouse, has 
made a series of experiments on the Toulouse 
suburban grown vegetables where human excrement 
is employed as manure. A recrudescence of typhoid 
fever having occurred some months ago at Toulouse, 
the researches of Mr. Guiraud were devoted exclu¬ 
sively to the Eberth bacillus and the coll bacillus. Less 
successful than Mr. Brandeis, he did not succeed in 
isolating the typhoid bacillus. He found, by making 
cultures with the various colonies developed on 
plates, bacilli resembling by their characteristics 
those called paratyphoid or similo-typhoid, some 
causing very slight fermentation of lactoce, and only 
turning litmus liquids red after several days, others 
which do not coagulate milk, or produce more or less 
scanty cultures on Potatos, but he never found 
colonies presenting typical characteristics of the 
Eberth bacillus. 
On the other hand, in sixteen samples various 
salads, Strawberries, &c., collected at random in the 
market the author verified nine times the presence 
in large quantities of the coli bacillus with all its 
characteristic reactions. The coli bacillus is so 
common in the exterior medium, as the most recent 
researches tend to demonstrate, that there is no 
reason to attach much importance to its presence on 
vegetables, had not the microbe thus isolated dis¬ 
played particular virulence. With three of the 
microbes thus isolated the author made intraperi- 
toneil inj j c;ians with a dose of 2 cubic centimeters 
in three guinea pigs, all op which became seriously sick. 
One died forty-eight hours later, and at ihe autopsy 
a sere-fibrinous extravasation of the peritoneum, 
marked signs of peritonitis, and acute congestion of 
the intestines, kidneys, and lungs were observed. 
Needless to add that the bacillus extracted from 
the peritoneal extravasation had preserved all its 
virulence, as was demonstrated by a series of inocu¬ 
lations. Without giving exaggerated importance to 
the presence of so ubiquitous a microbe as the coli 
bacillus in our aliments or beverages, we may say 
that it is not, doubtlessly, a subject of indifference to 
allow repeated entrance into our organism of a germ 
so markedly virulent in animals, and perhaps by 
continued researches in this direction some light 
might be thrown on what ancient medicine termed 
season constitutions, and an explanation found in the 
varying virulence of germs of the exterior medium, 
which enter one way or another into our organism.— 
Revue Scientifique, Sept. 11th, 1897. 
-- 
ATHOLE HYDROPATHIC, PITLOCHRY. 
This lovely spot is owned by Mr. William Mac¬ 
donald, a great enthusiast in gardening. The gigan¬ 
tic mansion is built of stone, and stands in a promi¬ 
nent position overlooking a fine country. The scenery 
is magnificent, the surroundings most pleasant, and 
the grounds are beautifully undulated, well laid out 
and planted with ornamental trees and shrubs. 
Rhododendrons do well; in fact, everything seems 
to flourish. There are miles of walks through shady 
glens where the bubbling water flows, the whole 
beiDg most pleasant and picturesque. The water 
fowl upon the various streams, and the beautiful 
colour of the autumn foliage, make this a most en¬ 
joyable retreat for a holiday. The place is so well 
patronised that many hundreds of people have to be 
turned away during the season. Two hundred and 
eighty guests is the average number. This with a 
staff of Over seventy servants means great considera¬ 
tion and management. Yet all works with ease and 
comfort. All regret when their time comes to leave. 
Amusements of all kinds are provided. There are 
tennis grounds, racket courts, good fishing and shoot¬ 
ing, and at night theatrical and other entertainments. 
The place is beautifully decorated with plants and 
cut flowers. Stately Palms meet the eye in every 
direction, liveried up with bright cut flowers. These 
are grown in great quantities. For instance, there is 
aline of Montbretia, 200yards long and 3 ft. through, 
a sight worthy of a long journey. Various other 
flowers, such as Asters, Sweet Peas, Heliotrope, 
Stocks, &c., are grown in great quantities for the 
decoration of the Hydro. Various kinds of bedding 
are well done, the ribbon borders specially so. Not 
only is the outside a feature, but Mr. Macdonald is 
an old Orchid enthusiast. He has a grand collection 
of Cypripediums in excellent health, noble specimens 
of good old sorts, many of the plants being 2 ft. 
through, including C. Sedenii candidulum, C. 
Charles Canham, C. vexillarium, C. insigne Maulei, 
C. Morganiae, and many smaller plants of the new 
varieties, which are grand. The stages are draped 
with Panicum and Selaginella, in narrow boxes 
(6 in.), which add much to the appearance of the 
houses. Cool Orchids are equally well done. 
Many hundreds of Odontoglossums of various kinds 
are grown, including O. Pescatorei, O. Alexandrae, 
&c., just now in flower, and a few Masdevallias. A 
grand plant of the curious Nanodes Medusae over 
2 ft. through, and having thirty-six fine growths, 
attracts one’s attention. Cattleyas, Laelias, Den- 
drobes, and Coelogynes in quantities occupy other 
houses. All seem to enjoy the treatment they 
receive. 
Palms and decorative plants are well done, also 
great quantities are daily in use for the decoration of 
the various rooms and corridors of this gigantic pal¬ 
ace. The bedding has very much suffered with the 
recent frosts. The Begonias and Heliotropes, which 
are greatly used, are perfectly black ; for on Septem¬ 
ber 13th there were ten degrees of frost, which 
likewise cut down all the Beans, Marrows, &c., in 
the kitchen garden. This is an important means of 
supply for such a place. A large garden of some 
acres is very well stocked with fruit trees in variety, 
