554 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 29, 1899. 
RHODODENDRON MRS. CURRIE. 
One of the novelties shown at the Royal Caledonian 
Horticultural Society’s spring exhibition at Edin¬ 
burgh was the cross-bred, greenhouse Rhododendron 
Mrs. Currie, figured on p. 553. 
It is from a cross with Rhododendron Countess of 
Haddington and a large white seedling Rhododen¬ 
dron, both of which were grown and operated upon 
by Mrs. Currie's head-gardener, Mr. McMillan, at 
Trinity Cottage, Trinity, Edinburgh. 
Countess of Haddington was the seed bearer, the 
white seedling having been raised from seeds of Rhodo¬ 
dendron Lady Fitz william. When the flowers of Mrs. 
Currie first appeared they were of a pale primrose 
colour, but as they expanded they became almost pure 
white. Regarding its colour in the earlier stages, 
Mr. McMillan believes the reason of it lies in the fact 
that one of its grand-parents was a primrose-coloured 
variety, to wit, R. dalhousianum. This new variety, 
when seen on a raised stage, very greatly resembles 
a flowering Lilium Harrisii. The colour, as noted, is 
pure white with the faintest of cream back in the 
throat, and it is sweetly fragrant. The petals are 
united to form a smooth and rather long tube. Alto¬ 
gether, Mrs. Currie is an advance on existing types, 
and has quite a distinct character. Mr. McMillan 
was awarded a First-class Certificate for it by the 
R.C.H.S. The illustration is from the facile pen of 
Mr. Nat. Bryson, 8, Leith Street Terrace, Edin¬ 
burgh. 
-■ ! » — 
OSWALD HOUSE, EDINBURGH. 
On a bright, clear morning, just a day or two before 
the last Edinburgh spring show, we set out to visit 
Oswald House,which for a long time wehad had reports 
of but never the pleasure of actually seeing. We soon 
located the residence, guided from a distance by the 
greater quantity of glasshouses compared with those 
of the neighbouring places. The site and surround¬ 
ing environs were just what an idealist might have 
planned to secure comfort, healthiness, and a fair 
scene. The handsome villa, built of a grey stone in 
Gothic architecture, stands on the southern side of 
sloping ground, where all around are avenues and 
trees. 
Windows are fixed at every angle—some look east, 
some look west, and others north and south—and 
from every quarter interesting territory is brought 
to view. Perhaps the finest effect of any is secured 
from the south, where a distant view of the Black¬ 
ford Hills is borne across a wide valley. But these 
same hills after the manner of the Rocky Mountains 
in America, concentrate the winds which strike upon 
them, and from between their slopes send down 
some forceful gales. 
Oswald House is surrounded by low grass terraces 
and proportionately broad lawns. The terraces lend 
much dignity to the building and its site. At the 
foot of the southern lawn runs a well-stocked border 
with H.P. Roses From the strength of the wood 
and its ripened appearance we can predict a fine line 
of colour along that border during the summer days 
to come. On the western side stands a sheltering 
screen of Scotch Plane or Sycamore trees, Limes, 
Chili Pines, Cedars, Cupressus, Hollies, Yews, 
Bays, and Box. The front-door entrance is planted 
on either side with evergreens of the same or like 
nature. But it is not in arboricultural wealth that 
Oswald House excels, but rather in the cream 
of horticultural value, to wit, the Orchids. J. 
Buchanan, Esq., has a great partiality for this order 
of plants, and gratifies his liking. 
The Plant and Fruit Houses. 
The glass range is compact and so arranged as to 
yield the maximum of return from the least space. 
All the houses are clean, airy, and well stocked. 
Entering at the West end of a hip-span fruit 
range, which enjoys the fullest of southern light, the 
first object which Mr. Wood, the gardener, who is 
so successful in his culture, pointed out was a 
vigorous fruiting American (Child's) Blackberry, 
trained to wires on the back wall. Mr. Wood spoke 
of planting more of this sort, because of its accept¬ 
ance in his employer’s household. 
The Bismarck Apple tree in pots rendered proof 
of successful culture by the set of fruits shown. A 
large plant of Iris Robinsonii occupied a corner of 
this house. It resembles a broad-leaved Typha, but 
has not, so far, flowered at Oswald House. The 
next house of the range contained Royal George and 
Stirling Castle Peach trees. They also had plenty 
of fruits. Chrysanthemums are much employed for 
various decorative uses in autumn and winter, and 
something like five hundred plants were at our visit 
housed in this section. From his general success as 
an exhibitor of such plants at the Edinburgh 
November shows, we can conclude that the young 
plants we are noting had few or no faults. The 
front stage also bore a fresh array of white Broom 
(Cytisus albus). They were raised from autumn 
sown seeds, and were but eighteen months old. On 
a back shelf were placed a batch of Nerines, so 
broad and stout foliaged as to be mistaken for young 
Hippeastrums. They are dried off in May. 
Another feature of this house was that of two pans of 
Coelogyne cristata, each a yard in diameter, and 
literally one mass of pretty blooms. Large plants of 
Adiantum Flemingii, A. speciosum, and A. con 
cinnum stood on the front stage, and were throwing 
up freely after their winter rest. 
The observant reader may here remark that the 
houses would seem to be more used as plant houses 
than as a fruit range, but in limited space it surely 
speaks well for a gardener if he can utilise without 
any serious detriment the structures meant for fruits 
to also suppeditate plants. 
Proceeding onwards we came upon a Guava 
(Psidium cattleianium), that fruiting shrub from 
Brazil, and seldom seen in private gardens. Jam is 
made from its fruits at Oswald House, and is much 
enjoyed. 
Pot Orange trees were displaying their richly 
coloured little fruits, and a fine batch of Amaryllis 
(Hippeastrums), which Mr. Wood raised from 
seeds, were promising their quota of bloom. The 
Vines were in fresh,young leaf, and.no doubt, would 
supply their owners with their luscious produce 
later in the year. 
Having inspected these houses, we left them and 
passed through a doorway to a detached greenhouse 
in the upper garden. In this span-roofed show house 
was a gay assemblage of the finer spring plants. 
Azalea Souvenir de James Welsh and Verschaffelt, 
both handsome, pyramid-trained specimens, clothed 
completely with blooms. 
The Bottle-brush plant (Metrosideros floribunda) 
is rather a rarely grown plant, but they had it here, 
and likewise Fabiana imbricata, another plant not 
to be seen in many a garden. It is a pretty ever¬ 
green, Heath-like shrub of erect growth. 
The Melon house stands on still higher ground. 
Forced Royal Sovereign Strawberries, bearing 
quantities of large and aromatic fruits were there in 
plenty, while the Melon plants, which claim the 
house as theirs,had only been planted out, though in 
a short while they will assert their presence to all 
beholders. A partitioned-off section contained 
Crotons of healthy appearance and graceful propor¬ 
tions. 
But now from these houses we go to view the 
collection of Orchids. The houses are composed of 
sections of a long, span-roofed range running east 
and west, and each compartment opens into the 
adjoining one. A central path goes from end to end, 
while on either side are 4-ft. stages. From a porch 
which joins the range at right angles, we entered the 
first division, where, very properly, the bulk of the 
spring-forced bulbs is tastefully set about. Some 
of these bulbs and plants have since our visit been 
the bearers of prizes, secured in competition at 
Edinburgh spring show. 
The single Tulips, Ophir d'Or, Cottage Maid, and 
White Pottebakker, were as fine as anything yet 
seen. Of other decorative stock, Pelargoniums, 
Clivias, Narcissi, and Primulas were in full force and 
very creditable. 
The next house towards the west was bright with 
spikes thrown out by Odontoglossums, such as O. 
crispum, O. Pescatorei, and O. grande. The red 
flowered Masdevallia ignea superba was throwing 
forth, and M. amabilis and M. harryana gave an 
additional show. Oncidium recurvum and Ada 
aurantiaca were being retarded in this cooler house. 
A graceful edging was not a-wanting, for Isolepis 
gracilis and Selaginella kraussiana were employed 
most charmingly. 
Another section brought to our notice thriving 
Cypripediums in the species C. lawrenceanum, 
growing in a deep pan, and having thirteen tall 
flower spikes ; C. villosum, crowded with flowers 
neatly staked ; C. venustum, the tip of which has 
broad green veins, as have the petals and sepals, 
with brown tips, 
Coelogyne cristata lemonianum made a sweet, wee 
picture, as did Sophronites grandiflora and Lycaste 
Skinneri. 
Pleione Lagenaria and Cypripediums were shown 
in fair abundance. On again, and in this division 
we had a note to make. Dendrobium brymerianum 
swung from the roof in a halt cocoanut shell, while 
almost belowit Dendrocbilum(Platyclinis)glumaceum 
threw up forty of its creamy-white racemes, and 
near it Coelogyne cristata alba, with perfectly pure 
white flowers displayed to the gazer its presentment 
to the world of beauty. 
Oncidium Cavendishii, with its peculiarly cringed- 
in petals tried to appear distinguished among its 
other handsome neighbours, while the common 
Cypripedium insigne looked forth honestly and hum¬ 
bly, and was quite handsome enough. 
A plant of Pitcairnia latifolia, a broad-leaved 
species, and a plant of Anthurium Wardii, having 
large and deep vermilion spathes and spadix, which 
Mr. Buchanan and his friends admire, were here 
also. Small plants of Acalypha hispida were 
flowering with such vigour as if aflame. 
In another house we spotted a scarce thing named 
Nephthytis picturata. The genus belongs to Western 
Tropical Africa, and has more of botanical than hor¬ 
ticultural interest. Cypripedium Stoneii was repre¬ 
sented by healthy individuals. Laelias, Cattleyas, 
Dendrobiums, and other Cypripediums filled up the 
stages, with fine plants which " in their season, yield 
their blooms,” &c. 
Again we advance to find other good things, and 
there are some nice Miltonias, &c. Brassavola 
glauca, the crystal-like globules of whose petals 
sparkle when seen with the sun rays glinting on 
them. Coelogyne flaccida has not such a beautiful 
flower, and certainly not so delightful an odour as 
the many others we have noted. 
The next and last house, or rather we should 
term it a dome-shaped compartment, protected a 
numerous assortment of Vandas, Cymbidiums, and 
Angraecums, with Cocos weddeliana interspersed 
among, and towering above, them. A Cymbidium 
lowianum had twelve strong spikes, and Vanda tri¬ 
color, V. suavis, V. suavis superbiens, and V. tri¬ 
colour superbiens and Angraecum sesquipedale were 
all flourishing in millenial happiness. 
Having had so much of floral brilliance put before 
us, it required a look around the Palm and Fern 
bouse to balance our appreciation for hues. Here 
all was one soft restful-green, varied in depth of tint 
and shown from many forms. Palms, 12 ft. or so 
high, occupied the central bed, while lesser members 
of the tribe were arranged effectively to form the 
lower strata of foliage. Beneath the Palms the 
Ferns in spring newness of beauty sprung up. Such 
a house must afford a delightful apropos legere on a hot 
summer day. 
Seaforthia elegans, Phoenix rupicola, Kentia 
fosteriana, and K. belmoreana were the largest and 
handsomest of the Palms. Davallia fijiensis and D. 
bullata, Nephrolepis hirta cristata, Goniophlebiums, 
and the Hare’s-foot Fern and Aglaomorpha meniscii- 
folium were the choicer of the larger Ferns. Smaller 
Maidenhair Ferns and Lycopodiums, of course, were 
here in full array. 
In all parts of the flower borders the pageant of 
bulbous flowers was blazing gaily. And from the 
names on the labels, which at this time were the 
only representation of many a thing, we can guaran¬ 
tee a fine wealth of herbaceous flowers when the 
season for them works round. 
On either side of the walks in the well-planned 
kitchen garden grew pyramid and dwarf-standard 
Apple and Pear trees. Mr. Wood furnished a list of 
varieties of these trees, and has added a verdict on 
their qualities in his part. Here is the list of Apples 
— Lord Suffield and Keswick Codlin, regular and 
abundant bearers ; Cellini is a good bearer but in¬ 
clined to canker; Ecklinville and Hawthornden are 
sure bearers here, as in the majority of other gardens 
all over the country ; Stirling Castle is another of 
the best; King of the Pippins is a sure bearer; Lord 
Derby is only a moderate fruiter; James Grieve, 
recently planted, promises well. Pears—Jargonelle, 
Williams’ Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of Jersey 
and Marie Louise are the total of the Pears, and all 
are but moderate bearers. 
Japanese Wineberries have been grown for six 
years past and bear abundantly, the jam made from 
the fruits being greatly prized. 
Before bidding good-day, Mr Wood, bn our ask- 
