December 12, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
281 
If a sufficiency of covering material is to hand the 
house or pit should be covered over during frosty 
weather. Plants placed in heat about the middle of 
December will come into bloom from the middle to 
the end of March .—A .S.G. 
-—-- 
PENTILLIE CASTLE, St. MELLION, 
CORNWALL. 
A stroll through these beautiful grounds is always 
a pleasure, and that it is much appreciated is 
evidenced by the large numbers of visitors, who. 
during the season avail themselves of the facilities at 
easy command, and by steamer from Plymouth and 
Devonport, and other calling places on the broad 
River Tamar, are safely conveyed and landed on the 
quay in the very Castle grounds. A short time ago 
I had the opportunity of visiting the place, reaching 
Saltash about noon on a clear, though cold, day. A 
five miles ride through a bracing atmosphere, 
with manifold signs of agriculture, meadows, 
moors, and hills on either hand, was calculated 
to give one at least some idea of the eastern 
side of Cornwall as well as the extreme western part 
of Devonshire. The River Tamar here divides the 
two counties, and in many respects the district is 
most interesting. 
Arriving at Pentillie, I was fortunate in finding 
Mr. W, Johnson at home, with whom I had a ramble 
over the place. It is idle to speak of the expansive 
meadows and fields, or the winding and lengthy car¬ 
riage drive, the great stretch of woods and planta¬ 
tions, or the river that runs along so large a portion 
of the estate. Time did not permit of too much 
inspection of these, though each was very interesting 
and deserving of it. Features of interest were the 
pleasure grounds, with their grand Conifers, Oaks, 
Beeches, huge branches sweeping the grass-sward 
underneath them ; again the grand plants of Azalea 
indica alba, io ft. and 12 ft. through, A. amoena in 
large bushes, Benthamia fragifera, a grand tree, and 
the picture of health, large plants of Chamaerops, 
the grand pieces of Myrtle, fine plants of Camellia, 
as healthy as the Cherry Laurel, which, in their 
season, are full of flower, and Lapageria rosea in full 
flower planted and fastened up to the Castle walls. 
The latter was a most interesting object, and though 
in the morning after my visit ten degrees of frost 
were registered, none of the things mentioned 
suffered in any way. 
In the rockery I noticed large tree Ferns,Dicksonia 
antarctica, Alsophilas and others, grand masses of 
hardy Cyclamen, with foliage of most beautiful 
marble shadings. On a border immediately below 
the terrace wall were to be seen masses of the Paper 
White as well as the Double Roman Narcissus, 
already well advanced in bloom. Chimonanthus 
fragrans on the wall was just about bursting into 
flower, whilst many late Roses flowering on the 
trelliswork over different pathways, gave one the idea 
of early autumn rather than November. 
The whole of the grounds, which are very undula¬ 
ting, the shrubberies and plantations, are full of 
interest, and if one were to have time and tape, 
many trees and shrubs might be measured, which 
would be found to be of unusual size. In the niches 
or joints in the terrace walls I noticed a large number 
of dense clumps of Asplenium Trichomanes, that 
flourished, giving some idea of at times the humidity 
of the atmosphere. 
The late vinery was still full of good useful 
bunches of Grapes such as Alicante and Lady 
Downes. The early Peach-house was already cleaned 
and tied in, ready for shutting up. Grand Melons 
were still hanging, whilst Tomatos and Cucumbers 
were very plentiful. The conservatory was gay with 
large flowering Chrysanthemums, whilst arching 
overhead and at the back wall were grand plants of 
Luculia gratissima, just about opening its lovely 
panicles of pale pink blossoms. Carnations, both 
indoors and out, in the borders are grown here in 
large numbers. The Nerines, also, with their scarlet 
flowers have been a great feature. Many large 
specimens of Dendrobiums including D. nobile, D. 
fimbriatum, D. densiflorum and D. dalhousieanum, 
are resting in the vinery and will be put into heat 
for flower as required. Calanthes in full flower just 
now with Poinsettias make several houses very 
gay. 
On many of the Apple trees in the kitchen garden 
fine clumps of Mistleto are growing, some of which 
must be 8 ft. to 10 ft. through. Many small pieces 
of but one season’s growth, are also pushing along 
nicely. The leaving on the following morning by the 
steamer, with its bustle and activity—this being one 
of the principal means of conveyance—was not the 
least interesting part of my visit to Pentillie.— W. 
Swan, By stock. 
--— 
CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR 
DECORATION. 
At the present time our 'mums are making a very 
nice display in the conservatory. As we do not go 
in for exhibiting, and have convenience for growing 
only about 200, our aim is to have a display as long 
as possible, in fact to the end of December. 
We inserted the cuttings last December, putting 
three or four round the edge of a 6o-pot, filled with 
fine soil composed of loam, leaf mould and sand. 
They were stood on ashes in a one-light box and kept 
close, covering at night with mats, and banking the 
box round with long litter. When rooted, they were 
potted off into 6o’s, returned to a cold frame, keeping 
them close till the roots had taken hold, when they 
were allowed air on all favourable occasions, and 
shifted on into 32's and 48’s before they became pot- 
bound. So soon as the weather was favourable they 
were stood in a sheltered position out-doors and kept 
well supplied with water, damping them overhead in 
the evening, following bright sunny days. They 
were cut down within a few inches of the soil in June 
ist, syringed morning and evening, as little water 
was required, till they commenced to break ; in fact 
if wet weather had occurred at that time they would 
have required the protection of a cold frame to 
prevent them becoming soddened. 
When nicely on the move, they were transferred to 
their flowering pots, 16's, and the strongest growers 
to 12’s. The soil for the final potting was coarser 
than that previously used, consisting of turfy loam 
of a sandy nature, one-fourth leaf mould, and the 
same quantity of old Mushroom bed manure, but run 
through a coarse sieve, with a little bone-meal added. 
They were potted rather firmly. The late Mr. 
Thomas Baines once wrote “ that loose potting was 
the bane of plant culture" With that I concur; 
given a good compost firm potting is beneficial; but 
too much ramming of the rubbish some people use 
for plants—and think it good enough—makes matters 
worse. The roots cannot permeate, nor the water 
percolate, and stagnation and decay are the result. 
When potted, the plants were stood in rows on an 
ash bottom in a good open position. The soil was 
in nice condition and the plants were watered a little 
time before potting, so that it was not necessary to 
water the newly potted plants for a few days; but 
they were damped overhead, early in the morning 
and evening. Staking was performed when the 
shoots became long enough, choosing the strongest, 
allowing four to a 16, and five to a 12 pot. As they 
advanced in growth they were allowed more room, 
as, if too close, they draw each other up, like a 
Larch plantation. So soon as they were nicely 
rooted they received assistance to growth and good 
foliage by feeding. Had I my choice I should prefer 
rainwater for ’mums ; but being under the necessity 
of using water from the "main," I filled a fifty- 
gallon water barrow, added some manure water from 
the cow yard, or a 32-pot full of sulphate of ammonia, 
and let it have the day’s sunshine and air before 
using. When the pots become full of roots, they 
need water twice or thrice on hot, bright days. 
Water thoroughly, for if stinted, the bottom foliage 
begins to go off. The stimulants should be mild at 
first, increasing the strength when the buds are 
" taken.” We attended to tying, and kept the side 
shoots vigorously pinched out of those we intended 
to flower on the “ crown " bud. About forty plants 
I let go of their own free will, including such varieties 
as Lady Selborne, Mdlle. Lacroix, M. John Laing, 
Source d’Or, Mrs. Nisbet, Col. W. B. Smith, Mme. 
Baco, Cesare Costa, Mrs, C. H. Payne, Elaine, and 
Fair Maid of Guernsey. They make a variety of 
style, and come in very handy for cutting. 
Some varieties come a better colour from the 
terminal bud, noticeably Mrs. C. H. Payne, and 
Etoile de Lyon. Last season Viviand Morel from 
the " crown ’’ bud came nearly white; this season 
from the same bud it is a beautiful mauve ; one may 
notice the same varieties in different shades of colour 
on the exhibition boards. 
We have now a nice lot of plants, in different 
varieties, in a cool greenhouse, coming on to take 
the place of those that go off. If we aimed at having 
a mass at once our sixty to seventy different varieties 
would require " timing” ; some would need cutting 
down a week, and others a fortnight sooner. They 
are furnished with foliage down to the pot, and are 
dwarf, W. H. Lincoln particularly so. L. Canning 
is a late white, coming on well for Christmas decora¬ 
tions. 
I have a penchant for trained specimens, but they 
require a lot of time and patience, and as I was 
limited by the former commodity, I took them in 
hand in the evenings. I grew two specimens of 
Lady Selborne, and one Mons. W. Holmes, two 
Source d'Or, one Elaine, one Fair Maid of Guernsey, 
and one late yellow I have under the name of Miss 
Mary Weightman I also have two standard trained 
specimens of Sunflower. The above varieties make 
a succession and a bold show, massed in front of the 
drawing room window. I may be accused of having 
the ’mum fever, but I certainly like to do court to 
the Golden Queen of the East .—George Potts, 
November 30 th. 
(Meanings ftrumffiq 
of Science. 
The ultima Thule of Plant Life.—Mr. W. 
Botting Hemsley, F.R.S.. and first assistant in the 
Herbarium, Royal Gardens, Kew, has been con¬ 
tributing a series of articles, entitled " Some 
Curious Facts in Plant Distribution ” to Knowledge-, 
and the December number contains the sixth article 
in which he gives some very interesting details con¬ 
cerning the extreme altitudes to which certain species 
of plants attain on the high mountains of the world, 
as well as in high, that is, Arctic or Antarctic lati¬ 
tude. 
Saxifraga oppositifolia, well known in gardens, 
has been picked up in Ward Hunt Island, 838 4’, 
and at Cape Columbia, 83° 8’ north latitude. Out¬ 
side of Arctic regions it takes to the higher 
mountains in a state of nature, both in Europe 
{including Britain) and Asia, ascending to 17,000 ft. 
on the Himalayas. 
Saxifraga Boussingaultii.—In the Andes of 
South America, this species reaches a greater eleva¬ 
tion than any other flowering plant. The locality is 
close under the Equator, and when the discovery 
was made it was considered unlikely that flowering 
plants would be found at any greater elevation in the 
world. The supposition has since been dispelled. 
The elevation where it grows in the Andes is 
16,500 ft. 
Saxifraga bicuspidata —This member of the 
genus has the honour of reaching the southern limit 
of flowering plants in Hermit Island, Cape Horn. 
It has very small flowers and appendages to the 
leaves like the forceps of an earwig. 
Papaver nudicaule, well-known in gardens as 
the Iceland Poppy, occurs all round the northern 
hemisphere, and was picked up on Ward Hunt 
Island about the northern limits of flowering 
plants. In these northern regions the plants 
diminish in size, and generally form isolated patches 
closely hugging the ground, and, as they seldom or 
never produce ripe seeds, they are regarded to be the 
remnants of a former vegetation, at some remote 
geological epoch when the Arctic flora was more 
extensive, and in all probability much more luxuriant. 
Is may be staled generally that vegetation is limited 
by the line of perpetual show. 
Sausurea tridactyla.—Dr. Thorold, accom¬ 
panying Captain Bower across Tibet from west to 
east, from Ladak to China, made a fine collection of 
high-level vegetation. The expedition passed 
through about twenty degrees of longitude, at an 
average elevation of 15,000 ft., in the course of which 
Dr. Thorold picked up only abont 100 flowering 
plants. Not a tree nor bush of any description was 
seen. Most of the plants did not exceed 2 in or 3 in. 
in height, and few reached one foot. They mostly 
formed isolated tufts and patches closely hugging the 
ground. They included Buttercups, Gentians, 
Poppies, Larkspurs, Asters, Scurvy Grass, Saxi- 
fragas, Wormwoods, Dandelions, Primroses, and 
grasses. At an elevation of 19,000 feet, Saussurea 
tridactyla, a plant belonging to the Composite 
family was picked up. It is covered with a dense 
coat of woolly hairs. No plant has yet been dis¬ 
covered at any higher attitude in the world. It is 
represented by S. alpina on the higher mountains of 
England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 
