October 16, 1897. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
105 
about it in your letter) you can do nothing beyond 
throwing the house wide open and thus try to induce 
the trees to mature their growth expeditiously. In 
the meantime your ’Mums must remain outside unless 
you choose to submit them to the somewhat trying 
experience that a curtailed supply of light would 
entail. Cannot you rig up a temporary shelter for 
the Chrysanthemums until a few of the leaves have 
fallen from the Peaches. Another fortnight or three 
weeks should make a great difference. 
Pear Catillac never does get soft until it is cooked, 
Merodac. It is simply a stewing variety, and a very 
good one, but of no use for dessert. 
--*•- 
ORCHIDS AT CRAIGCLOWAN, PERTH, 
N.B. 
Nestling in the hills about two miles south, and 
commanding a splendid view of the town of Perth, 
being as it is almost surrounded by the range of hills, 
with the River Tay winding its way through it, is 
situated the residence of Thomas Roy, Esq., who 
has within the last few years developed into not only 
a great lover of Orchids but one of tbe most success¬ 
ful cultivators in Scotland. 
It is not yet five years since Mr. Roy first turned 
his attention to this interesting class of plants, but 
his success has been nothing short of marvellous, as 
everyone who has had opportunities of watching the 
progress must admit. 
The bouses devoted to them are mostly what are 
termed lean-to, and three-quarter span, having esst, 
south and south-western aspects. 
Taking first the house facing east, his plants of 
Odontoglossum crispum are to be found ; and these 
are *• crispums ” indeed. They are plants which do 
one good to look at; for without exception all are 
pieces which were bought less than five years ago for 
a few shillings each, in the imported condition, with 
four and five small pseudobulbs, but now manipu¬ 
lated into specimens requiring nine and ten inch 
pots, showing by the immense pseudobulbs, each 
new one almost double the size of the last. The 
thick leathery leaves are an indication of health and 
vigour so dear to the eye of an Orchidist, from which 
may be expected fine strong flower spikes too. 
Neither are these disappointing in that respect, nor 
as some people expect, are fine growths made at the 
expense of few flowers ; for Mr. Roy informed me 
that he has had twenty good flowers on a spike. 
In the same house Oncidium macranthum is look¬ 
ing perfectly at home, making grand spikes again for 
next season. The accompanying photograph is of a 
plant exhibited this spring at the Perth Horti¬ 
cultural show with sixty-two flowers. Here also are 
fine plants of Oncidium lamelligerum, which carried 
ioo flowers on a spike last year, and O. concolor in 
teak wood baskets on the roof, with pseudobulbs as 
large as ducks' eggs. 
A nice specimen of Odontoglossum andersonianum 
in a nine inch pot with four grand growths, which is 
also a good variety, is noteworthy. O. Uro-skinneri, 
O. Edwardi and O. Halli are full of vigour, and 
O. grande is carrying spikes with five and six flowers 
each. Mesospinidium vulcanicum in seven inch 
baskets, literally covered with flower spikes, is 
showing how all these varieties revel in the treat¬ 
ment they are receiving. 
In another house facing south are to be found 
about two hundred Odontoglossum vexillarium. 
Although this species has not been taken in hand 
quite so long as O. crispum the success is even 
greater perhaps, for the plants are really a master¬ 
piece of cultivation. New growths that remind one 
of Leeks more than O. vexillarium, and not a tbrip 
mark to be seen, are a sight worth coming a long 
way to see. Mr. Roy drew my attention to a 
number of smaller plants in 4 in. pots, and 
asked if there was any difference since I saw them 
last. Although it is not more than six months ago 
that he showed me these in quite small pots and 
scarcely established, I could hardly realise that I 
was looking at the same plants again. Evidently O. 
vexillarium never was happier in its native habitat 
at Antioquia than at Craigclowan. 
In another house, this one with a south-western 
aspect, are to be found the warmer section ; though, 
no doubt, the natural condition of the climate in this 
district and the altitude, will considerably tend to 
assist the requirements of the cool species. One has 
to stop and consider when looking at these warmer 
ones ; for here we find Cattleya lawrenceana, C. 
gigas, C. Trianaei, &c., all doing well, with evidence 
of abundance of flower. Phalaeopses, in variety, are 
making most luxuriant growth and strong flower 
spikes. Dendrobiums, Cypripediums, Miltonias, and 
Brassias are just as happy, which goes to prove that 
the natural love of plants, together with the careful 
study of their little requirements, has a great deal 
more to do with the successful cultivation of Orchids 
than all the hard and fast rules sometimes laid down 
for the beginner. 
Mr. Roy is to be highly congratulated on the 
rapid success he has already attained, and which 
bids fair to make this one of the most extensive and 
interesting collections in the North, under the very 
able care of his enthusiastic and presevering gar¬ 
dener, Mr. F. Nicoll. This is another instance of 
that amicable feeling existing between employer and 
employee, which if more often seen, would, I think, 
help to make these panicular plants even greater 
favourites and a more interesting study than at 
present.— H. H. S. 
- a&m - 
BACTERIA AND LIVING PLANTS. 
Mr. Zinsser has made experiments on the eventual 
presence of bacteria in living vegetable tissues, which 
experiments are described in the N aturwissenscha ftliche 
Wochensclirift. These experiments, made with great 
care, demonstrated that the germs of plants do not 
contain any bacteria. In the case of germs, of 
which the outer surface has been thoroughly 
sterilised, in soil likewise sterilised, there are never 
bacteria in the plant. Other experiments demon¬ 
strated that infection could only be produced from 
outside, and is not possible through the living 
tissues, roots for example Mr. Zinsser also 
oberserved that bacteria introduced into living 
vegetable tissues perish, almost without exception, 
in a very short time, as also their spores. The cause 
of this rapid destruction is ascribable to secretion of 
bactericidal substances and the acid reaction of the 
cellular sap. — Revue Scientifique, September iSth, 1897. 
EARNOCK, HAMILTON, N.B. 
Earnock, the beautiful seat of Sir John Watson, 
Bart., is about two miles from Hamilton Station, and 
is one of the best kept and most beautiful spots in 
the west of Scotland. The en'rance is through a 
pair of fine gates, with a neat lodge on the left. The 
carriage drive is two miles long, and well kept. The 
graceful curves in the drive, the neatly kept grass 
edging through a beautiful park, where noble speci¬ 
mens of trees stand out majestically, and the herd of 
Guernsey and Jersey cows, all convince one that the 
owner is interested in that which makes an impres¬ 
sion upon the visitor, that everything is well done 
and well cared for. The mansion is a noble one and 
stands surrounded by large clumps of Rhododen¬ 
drons, 15 ft. to 20 ft. high, of all the best named 
varieties, well set with buds, which next season will 
give a good account of themselves. 
I once visited Earnock when Rhododendrons were 
in full glory, and the sight has never left my 
memory. Standing on the steps of the mansion a 
grand picture presents itself. The noble specimens 
of trees, of which there are some wonderfully fine 
purple Beeches, noble Chestnuts, &r , a fountain of 
water that throws up a fine plume, with the beauti¬ 
fully undulated grounds, and the splendid Coniferae 
make a glorious picture. 
In making a move to the houses, we find ourselves 
amidst many interesting objects, and grand examples 
of cultivation in the various departments. There is 
a grand stove of ornamental foliage plants. Young 
Palms, Dracaenas, Crotons, Aralias, and many other 
plants are well coloured and well grown. From the 
roof hang gracefully many well grown Pitcher 
Plants, well pitchered and well coloured. Caladiums 
make a show also. There is a large Palm bouse 
containing gigantic specimens of Kentias, Arecas, 
Rhapis, Latanias, Coryphas, Cycas, and Phoenix, 
which are useful for the decoration of the princely 
mansion. Of greenhouses there are several, which 
contain everything in season suitable for cutting 
purposes and decorative work, all in the pink of per¬ 
fection. The Fern house contains a splendid col¬ 
lection of old and new Ferns. Noticeable are 
some grand specimens of Gymnogramme 
Oncidium macranthum at Craigclowan. 
