316 
THE GARDENING WORLD- 
January 15, 1898. 
It was a pleasure to the citizens to see him so hale, 
hearty, and able to discharge his important duties. 
His improved health was matter for rejoicing, and 
he hoped Sir Joseph would be spared for many years 
to come. Aid. Purnell seconded the proposal which 
was heartily endorsed. 
Sir Christopher Milward was proposed as vice- 
chairman, but to this he demurred on the ground 
that he had been ordered complete rest on account 
of the unsatisfactory state of his health. Aid. 
Border eventually consented to stand again and was 
re-elected vice-chairman. 
The other officers appointed were :—Treasurer, 
Mr. Joseph Wilkinson; secretary, Mr. C. W. 
Simmonds; and auditors, Messrs. Pearson and 
Taylor. The usual committees were also elected. 
The following members were elected on the council: 
Aid. Sir Christopher A. Milward, Messrs. R. Ander¬ 
son, G. Balmford, J. Blenkin, J. Biscomb, Aid. 
Clayton, J. W. Craven, M. Cooper, H. C. Day, Aid. 
Dale, Councillor Foster, G. Garbutt, T. G Hodgson, 
J. J. Hunt, A. Jones, G. Potter-Kirby, E. B. Kendall, 
T. M. Lambert, Aid. Purnell, E. S. Robinson, H. 
Scott, W. S. Sharp, and J. B. Sampson. 
For the ensuing gala it was arranged to spend 
£650 on floral arrangements, including the £50 as a 
Victorian commemoration prize, offered last year, 
but not awarded; also £200 for music; £100 for 
fireworks; /150 for amusements; and £50 for 
balloons. 
Votes of condolence were presented to the families 
of the late Sir Frank Lockwood, Q.C., M.P.; Mr. 
T. P. Bulmer, J.P. ; and Mr. George Dennis, all of 
whom had been associated with the gala. 
The proceedings terminated after the healih of 
Sir Joseph Terry had been proposed by Aid. Purnell, 
who congratulated him upon having attained his 
seventieth birthday, and said that no gentleman in 
the city was more esteemed. 
——« 1 «--- 
STRAW MATS. 
The use of these is very wide spread,but at the same 
time I submit they are not so much used as they well 
might be in very many instances where straw costs 
but little. They are very much cheaper than any 
other material for covering pits and frames. Many 
who might avail themselves of them fail to do so, 
not knowing how to make them. We have seen and 
practised several methods closely resembling one 
another, the materials used being twine and straw. 
The mats are made of different thicknesses to suit 
the purposes for which they are required, and being 
made to roll up, the objections to this plan are that 
unless made very thin they are, when wet, heavy to 
move about, and are at all times very littery. 
For the two reasons stated I have adopted a fresh 
method of making them. This is done by procuring 
2-in. galvanised wire netting of a light gauge, the 
width of which should correspond to the length of 
the lights to be covered. The netting should be cut 
in lengths rather more than double the width to be 
covered in order to allow sufficient material to cover 
in the two sides. This must be determined by the 
thickness the mat is purposed to be'made. In many 
instances, for the convenience of lifting about and 
storage, when not in use, it will be found preferable 
to make two mats for each light. Having the 
netting in readiness, double it over and place a straw 
band in at the bend,fastening it in position with twine, 
taking care to have the wire, when doubled, as 
straight and square as possible. Then lay in the 
straw of the required thickness,straightening and even 
pressing it firmly against the band till 1 ft. or more 
according to circumstances is filled up ; then insert 
another straw band, press the straw down firmly,and 
fasten the band tightly in position with twine drawn 
through the netting from top to bottom. Continue 
the process till the mat attains the required dimen¬ 
sions. 
The top and bottom require a little care to finish 
them off satisfactorily. The best way is to lay in a 
straw band, allowing some of the loose straw to just 
cover it top and bottom. Make all secure by draw¬ 
ing the two edges of the netting together with twine, 
enclosing the straw band at the same time and 
making it secure to the netting. This also applies to 
the finishing off at the side of the mat opposite to 
its commencement. The advantages of mats made 
in this way are greater durability and freedom from 
litter. They are readily moved about, and the 
netting gives them a certain amount of rigidity 
which admits of their being stood against anything 
where the wind can play through them and so dry 
them far more quickly than mats made in the 
ordinary way. One of the principal objections to 
these thick mats is the difficulty of drying them.— 
W. B. G. 
-- 
WESTMOUNT, GLASGOW. 
For many years past Westmount, Kelvinside, 
Glasgow, the city residence of Hugh Stevens, Esq , 
has been noted for its fine collection of cool Odonto- 
glossoms, though other sections of Orchids and 
indoor gardening generally are well cared for 
by his genial and courteous gardener, Mr. David 
Wilson, who every now and again asserts his prowess 
in the Orchid classes at various flower shows in 
Scotland. 
Mr. Wilson, like many another gardener, has been 
drawn into the fascinating operation of hybridising 
Orchids, for we noted a healthy batch of Dendro- 
bium seedlings with pseudobulbs 2 irr. to 3 in. in 
length. The seed was sown in April, 1896, and the 
plants have already made their second growths, the 
first having leaves only J in. in length, so that no 
time has been lost since germination took place. 
We happened to visit the place just after a ball 
had been held at the seaside residence of the owner, 
so that the cool Odontoglots had been severely 
punished in order to supply cut flowers. A few had 
escaped the knife, and spikes were being thrown up 
plentifully to renew the display of bloom. Odonto- 
glossum acuminatissimum seemed to be a natural 
hybrid between O. crispum andersonianum and O. 
luteo-purpureum. O. Rossii majus, O. crispum, and 
O. Pescatorei were also well represented. The 
plants were in robust health, and accomodated in a 
well-constructed, well-lighted house, the framework 
and staging of which consists of iron. A large 
number of the plants are elevated on iron, movable 
pedestals, which serve the purpose of bringing the 
plants near the glass and of keeping them out of the 
way of slugs to a large extent. O. Rossii majus and 
other compact-growing kinds are suspended in 
baskets from the roof. 
In oDe of the warm Orchid houses numerous 
Cypripediums were flowering freely, including a 
grand piece of C. Morganiae, carrying ten large 
flowers on five spikes. This same plant took the 
first prize in a class at the Edinburgh show in Sep¬ 
tember last. C. harrisianum superbum also carried 
very fine flowers, as did C. Charlesworthii, C. 
Sedenii, and various others. The floweriDg of some 
hybrid Cjpripediums is also eargerly looked for. A 
fine piece of Oncidium incurvum supported half-a- 
dozen graceful spikes Dendrobiums, in the same 
house, were finishing up admirable growths. Be¬ 
gonias of the B. corallina type and B. haageana 
also served to keep the house gay with their showy 
and attractive flowers. 
Passing into a low span-roofed house we found a 
splendidly grown collection of Crotons of a useful 
decorative size. Other fine foliage plants located 
here included Episcia fulgens, Pelionia pulchella, 
Fittonia Verschaffelti, F. argyroneura, Alocasias, 
Schizocasia sanderiana, Caladiums, in many fine 
varieties, Selaginellas and other indispensable 
things for establishments where the owners are 
really plant lovers. Being all scrupulously bright 
and clean they afforded ample testimony of the care 
bestowed upon them. 
The hothouses are peculiarly situated in being 
built on the steep bank of a glen or valley, so that 
flights of steps both outside and inside the houses 
lead from house to house on different terraces. The 
conservatory is a roomy building on one of these 
terraces, and has climbers upon the roof, including 
well-flowered Lapagerias. Large plants of Aspara¬ 
gus plumosus nanus climb to the roof upon strings, 
and are found useful in many ways. A collection of 
large-flowering Chrysanthemums was even then 
flowering from the early buds. Hydrangea pani- 
culata grandiflora, Begonia metallica, Cleroden- 
dron fallax, and other useful subjects were flowering 
profusely. 
The stove contained a collection of Ixoras, 
Crotons, Dracaenas, Ananasa sativa variegata and 
others of that class. They were clean, healthy, and 
vigorous, while many of the fine leaved subjects were 
displayed to the best advantage by being elevated on 
iron pedestals like those employed in the Odonto- 
glossum house. A large piece of Angraecum cauda- 
tum was noticeable in this house. The huge leaves 
of Sphaerogyne latifolia are always interesting. Here 
also was another old favourite, namely, Beaucarnea 
recurvata, of which there were two specimens, each 
6 ft. or more in height. 
A lengthy and lofty cool house stands on the 
highest terrace, and here again we found a great 
variety of subjects for which a cool airy atmosphere 
is suitable. Some large plants of Eurya latifolia 
variegata showed how ornamental they may be 
when well grown. The orange-scarlet flowers of 
Fuchsia Mrs. Rundle showed themselves to great 
advantage suspended from the rafters of the house 
on drooping sprays. Crinum mooreanum was in fine 
form. The long drooping or creeping shoots of 
Nepeta Glechoma variegata answer admirably as an 
edging to the benches of cool houses. Very few 
British weeds can aspire to such honourable dis¬ 
tinction. Many cool Orchids found suitable 
quarters in this house, the Odontoglossums throwing 
up many fine spikes. 
Amidst the love for flowers in this establishment, 
Vines are not neglected. One vinery was filled with 
Gros Colman, Alicante, and Lady Downes, the first- 
named being conspicuous on account of the hand¬ 
some proportions of its berries, and Alicante by rea¬ 
son of its high colour and finish. The next vinery 
contained a heavy crop of Grapes not quite finished 
at the time of our visit. The varieties grown in¬ 
cluded those already named, with the addition of 
Madresfield Court, which we considered 
exceptionally fine. Lack of time prevented us from 
inspecting the flower garden ; and having been only 
half-an-hour or less upon the premises Mr. Wilson 
accompanied us to the next place of call for the sake 
of " Auld Lang Syne,” and to make up for the brief 
stay. 
f - 
Gardening §|iscellany. 
ARAUCARIA EXCELSA. 
We were reminded of the usefulness and popularity 
of this pretty Araucaria as a pot plant on seeing a 
splendid batch of it during a recent visit to the Chelsea 
establishment of Messrs. Jas. Veitch & Sons, Ltd. 
Whilst other plants that have claims upon our re¬ 
gard were hanging out unequivocal signs of distress 
as the result of the fogs, these plants looked not a 
whit the worse. In a small state Araucaria excelsa 
makes a handsome table plant, and is alike effective 
in plant stands or windows in the dwelling house, 
since a shapely little specimen can be accommodated 
in a 48-sized pot. In its later stages it makes a 
noble occupant of the more pretentious winter gar¬ 
den, if care is taken, while it is yet young, to see that 
it is not permanently disfigured by the premature 
loss of one or more of its branches. At no time of 
its life is it difficult to grow, and at all times it is 
beautiful. 
••ORCHID HUNTING, ITS HUMOURS AND 
ADVENTURES.” 
This was the title of a paper given by Mr. G. Lee 
before the members of the Torquay District Gar¬ 
deners' Association recently. Mr. Lee dealt in an 
interesting fashion with the adventures of Orchid- 
hunters in various parts of the world. Some of them 
had spent years searching for certain plants in wild 
and desolate regions, risking life and limb amongst 
swamps, savages, and wild animals, and the story of 
their lives read like a romance. It was said that 
Roezl, and other early collectors, used to buy the 
semi-sacred plants of the priests, and what they 
could not buy they bribed the natives to steal for 
them. Mr. Lee cited a very amusing incident in the 
life of M. L. Hamalin, a French collector in Mada¬ 
gascar, who was made blood-brother to one of the 
chiefs. Whilst Orchid-hunting on one occasion 
Hamalin’s escort was under the command of a 
brother-in-law of the king’s. This young chief was 
killed by a lioness, and Hamalin was made respon¬ 
sible for his death. He was offered the alternative of 
marrying the young widow and taking the family be¬ 
longings or being greased and burnt. Hamalin took the 
widow, but found a speedy pretext for returning to 
England sans his enforced bride. The lecture was 
illustrated by some fine Orchids shown by Miss 
Lavers, Mrs. Wilson, and Lady McGregor, 
