230 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 9, 189§. 
grandiflora, Rhododendron McNabiana and R. 
fragraotissima, the latter a hybrid with fragrant 
while flowers and hairy leaves. Useful subjects 
also are Clianthus puniceus, Ibe common Myrtle, 
with its variegated form, and seedling plants of 
Retinospora squarrosa, often mentioned as Juniperus 
birmudiana. 
On a lower terrace are two blocks of span roofed 
houses, in one of which we noted a fine lot of 
Crotons. A fine variety is C. Mdme. Ernest Berg¬ 
man, with yellow and red leaves. C. Hawkeri 
reminds one of the Caricature Plant C. latimacu- 
lata is an improved Hawkeri, with large, golden- 
yellow blotches. Others which may be familiar to 
those who grow Crotons largely are C. Veitchi, C. 
Thomsoni, C. Mortei, C. Baron James Rothschild, 
Golden Queen, Aigburth Gem, Golden Ring, Princess 
of Wales, and C. desfontaineanura, the latter of 
which may be likened to C. roseum pictum. C. 
Russelli is one of the best of the broad leaved sorts, 
an improvement upon C. Disraeli. Thirty varieties 
were shown in an exhibition group recently, and 
altogether there are fifty varieties in the collection. 
The Crotons were repeated in the next house by 
different varieties. All the best varieties of Caladiums 
are grown here. Pteris ludens has the largest leaves 
found in the group of Ferns to which it belongs. The 
bronze and silvery leaves of Tillandsia zonale are very 
pretty. Good stove fine foliage plants are Pellionia 
daveauana and P. pulchra. Princess May, Duchess 
of York, Mrs. Laird, and Marchioness of Lothian 
are fiae narrow-leaved Dracaenas. A very pretty 
new Caladium, raised here, is Laird's seedling, with 
silvery leaves and red and green veins. Elsewhere 
a house was gay with Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. 
Ferns in variety were also conspicuous. Epiphyllums 
are grown as standards. Fine foliage plants were 
the feature of another house, and included a fine 
batch of Ruellia Portellae, Acalypha Sanderi, A. 
godseffiana, Phrynium variegatum, and Zingiber d’ 
Arcyi, having leaves all along the stems, instead of 
feeing crowded at the tcp. They are variegated. 
The popular species of Asparagus are well repre¬ 
sented by A. plumosus, A. tenuissimus, A. retroflexus, 
and A. SpreDgeri A quantity of Dracaena Sanderi 
is well grown, healthy and cleau. Palms, Ferns, 
Aspidis'ra lurida and A. 1 . variegata occupied 
another structure. 
The Palm house proper is a large structure, 
occup'ed wi h ail the large old plants, which are so 
much used for decorative purposes. Amongst them 
we noted huge specimens of Caryota urens, and C. 
mitis. A rare species is Kentia kersteriana Very 
pretty is a species of Daemonorops with arching 
leaves and a dwarf habit. The largest plant of 
Kentia fosteriana variegata we have seen, is 
here. There are aLo massive specimens of 
Paoenix rupicola, one of the neatest of the 
Date Palms. Licuala grandis, also known as 
Pritcbardia, makes handsome specimens. One of the 
most useful Palms for decorative groups is Cocos 
piumosa. The long, ma-sive, ribbed leaves of 
Stevemonia grandifolia are not often seen in private 
establishments. 
Oa the upper side of the great western road the 
oldest part of the establisment is situated, including 
some ranges of glass. The first into which we 
peeped was devoted to young Roses in pots and 
Tomatos, the latter being trained under the roof. 
Laird's Supreme and Stirling Castle were varieties of 
repute, being grown for seed purposes in the next 
house to the above. Young Coryphas and Aspidis¬ 
tras were grown beneath them. A similar structure 
accommodated young Vines in pots, with Cocos 
weddeliana and Ferns beneath them. Further on 
we came upon Palms of various sizes for decorative 
purposes, Eucbaris and Coelogyne cristata, the two 
latter being grown for the sake of cut flowers. A 
very pretty fan Palm is Corypha rotundifolia, which 
was accompanied by Areca Baueri, Phoenix re- 
clinata, Kentias and other Palms in fine condition 
and of a useful size. Close by we noted some of 
the largest specimens of Livistona rotundifolia which 
had come under our notice. Kentias of various 
sizes kept them company. Thirty to forty varieties 
of Japanese Maples in pots are kept in stock here. 
A tnousand or more of seedling Retinospora squar- 
rosa (Juniperus bermudiana) met our eye in another 
house. They are popular for decorative purposes in 
pots. On the shelves were Tomatos again. 
A very large cool house gives accommodation to a 
great variety of subjects, such as Tree Ferns, large 
plants of Cycas revoluta, good fruiting Vines in 
pots, Ampelopsis Veitchi, Clematis indivisa, large 
specimen Camellias, which afford a good harvest of 
blossom from which to cut; also Acacia iongifolia 
floribunda, Euonymus japonicus, and the broad¬ 
leaved and variegated forms. Many seedling 
Rhododendrons, crosses between R. argenteum and 
R. Falconeri, prove interesting as they come into 
bloom successively upon attaining the floweriog 
size. About 200 to 300 young Camellias, 12 iD. to 
18 in. high, prove useful in supplying orders. Fig 
trees in pots are stocked in all the leading varieties, 
but curiously enough Brown Turkey is always most 
in demand. 
A collection of Ivies has long been cultivated at 
Pinkhill, the most popular variety for pot work 
being Madeiriensis variegata. Next we came upon 
a collection of all the leading varieties of zonal 
Pelargoniums. Areca Baueri and cool Orchids 
monopolised another house. White and blue 
flowered Ophiopogons and Clivias were the features 
of another structure, while thousands of seedlings 
of Amaryllis raised here next came under observa¬ 
tion. Thousands of Alpine plants and Conifers in 
pots filled another structure. Frames were also 
filled with young Conifers, seedling Pernettyas, 
Ivies, Escallonias, and other choice shrubs. 
In the open ground Dahlias were still in full 
bloom, including the popular Cactus varieties, also 
pompon, single, show and fancy sorts, the two latter 
being also grown in stock pots. Seedling Pentste- 
mons were in full bloom, as were Antirrhinums and 
Lobelias of the Queen Victoria type. Other florists' 
flowers are represented by perennial Phloxes, show 
and fancy Pansies, Violas, Carnations, Pyrethrums, 
Potentillas, &c. Herbaceous plants are abundant. 
Shrubs are represented by large quantities of 
Rhododendrons, Cherry Laurels, Olearia Haastii, 
Pernettyas, hardy Heaths, and a fine collection of 
shrubby Veronicas, of which V. Traverffi is one of 
the most reliable and useful. 
Conifers. —Ornamental species and varieties of 
Conifers are grown in great variety in the wide 
borders on either side of the main walk. Choice 
and uncommon subjects are Podocarpus andina, P. 
koraiana, and Prumnopitys, allied to the Yew. 
Batter known and very useful are Retinospora 
filifera, R. f. aurea, R. pisifera aurea, R. piumosa 
aurea, C. squarrosa, R. tetragona aurea, R. 
hypnoides, and R. leptoclada, all neat shrubs for 
restricted areas, either singly or in groups in borders 
or upon the lawn. Junipers are numerous, some of 
the finest being Juniperus chinensis aurea, J. 
j aponica aurea, with their variegated forms, J. excelsa 
stricta, J. communis hibernica, &c. Fitzroya pata- 
gonica is seldom seen in collections. 
The Cypresses include Cupressus macrocarpa, C. 
lawsoniana, and C. nutkaensi=, with a host of varie¬ 
ties, many of them very choice, belonging to the 
two latter. Space forbids mention of the many 
beautiful varieties to be seen here ; but a mention of 
the more important may be taken to mean that the 
more common are also grown here. C. nutkaensis 
aurea, C. n. compacta glauca, and C. n. lutea should 
find their way to every collection. 
C. lawsoniana is a host in itself, the seediing varia¬ 
tions simply marvellous. They keep their colour 
well in winter. Such as C. 1 erecta viridis, C. 1 . 
lutea, C. 1 . Allumi, C. 1 . Fraseri, C 1 . aurea, C. 1 . 
glauca, C. 1 . Silver Queen, C. 1 . Youngii, C. 1 . 
argentea, and many others should be introduced to 
every garden where pleasure grounds and 
shrubberies exist. Both in colour and form they 
add greatly to the beauty of the landscape. All the 
Cedars are grown, including the silvery Cedrus 
atlantica glauca. 
The Arbor Vitae types of Conifer are simply a 
little less numerous than the Cypresses. They in¬ 
clude the golden Biota otientalis elegantissima, B, 
o. aurea, and B. o. semperaurescens. Very bold 
types are Thuyopsis dolobrata and T. Standishii. 
Very - fine also are Thuya occiaentalis lutea, T. 0. 
vervaeneana, T- o. lutea, T. o. ericoides, &c. The 
Yews include Taxus baccata adpressa, T. fastigiata 
aurea, T. baccata aurea, T. b. argentea, and T. b. 
elegantissima. 
Spruces (Picea) are very numerous, the more 
uncommon being P. ajanensis, P. Engelmanni, 
P. E. glauca, P. Morinda, P. excelsa aurea, P. e. 
pendula, and other fancy types. Amongst the Hem¬ 
lock Spruces, Tsuga hookeriana, and T. canadensis 
may be noted. Beautiful Silver Firs (Abies) are A. 
concolor, A firma, A. nobilis glauca, A. magnifica, 
A. Veitchi, A. Pmsapo, and many others. The true 
Pines include Pinus aristata, P. benthamiana, P. 
lambertiana, P. sylvestris aurea, P. Cembra, P 
Bolanderi, P. jeffrejana, P. ponderosa, and others. 
Interested planters should pay a visit of inspection. 
Begonia Gloire de Lorraine. —The plants when 
used in the dwelling-house or mansion for decoration 
are apt to be upset a little, and to lose a quantity of 
blooms from various causes. Some growers may be 
inclined to prune off the flowering shoots rather 
than have bedraggled specimens. This Begonia is 
a winter-flowering species, however, and to cut off 
the flowering shoots at so early a date as this is 
equal to spoiling the plants as producers of cuttings. 
The basal shoots which spring up after the cutting- 
back process, almost certainly will produce flower 
buds, and such short flower-bearing shoots can 
hardly be expected to withstand any detrimental in¬ 
fluence whatever. They do not develop into sturdy 
and serviceable plants either. What is proved to be 
the better plan is to let the plants flower on and on 
until their strength in this direction is spent. Then 
cut them back, slightly rest them for a fortnight and 
restart them. If the old plants are to be grown on 
again into larger specimens they may be shaken 
from the old pots and repotted. Stout cuttings with 
a strong foundation from which to start, are then to 
be obtained. Leaf cutt ings and stem cuttings pro¬ 
duce plants of quite distinct habits. The plants 
from leaf cuttings are by far the most graceful, their 
flowers being larger, though paler, and the shoots 
themselves longer. From stem cuttiDgs very bushy 
and floriferous plants develop, but they lack the free 
style of those grown from the leaf. 
Stephanotis floribunda. —According to the 
needs of the household for white flowers at Christ¬ 
mas-time or later, will the period for flowering this 
fine stove climber be determined. The Chrysanth¬ 
emums all over the land are going to be early past. 
Of course precaution will be taken to have a later 
batch of bush Chrysanthemums, &c., to supply long- 
stalked, large flowers to go along with the white or 
crimson, or pink Bomardias, Cyclamen, Pelargo¬ 
niums and Roses. Stephanotis floribunda can 
always be put into service and is never present with¬ 
out our having a use for it. Plmts which have been 
rested may now be started, the means taken to 
quicken root-action being the use of tepid water 
containing weak artificial manure in solution. A 
rich topdressing may at the same time be given. 
The oil spent wood will have been taken out and 
new shoots will have been laid in. Insects, bugs or 
scales must not be allowed a footing ; and to keep 
them off use the syringe and the sponge frequently, 
paraffin and soft soap solutions bsing a grand means 
cf suppression. 
Eranthemum pulciiellum. —As one of our out¬ 
standing brilliant blue flowered stove plants,the above, 
which is now correctly known as Daedalacanthus 
nervosus, ought to be grown in batches for stove 
decoration. An intermediate house temperature 
suits it well. Prune the plants back after the flower¬ 
ing period. Cuttings may be taken about May. 
Selaginella Willdenovii. —In this species of 
Selaginella we have a very pretty stove or fernery 
climber. It may be trained to a pillar or to a beam 
or trellis by the side wall of a warm house. At this 
period of the year its medium sized beautifully dis¬ 
sected fronds are tinged deeply with a lilac-pink 
colour, which when suffused or contrasted with the 
light creamy-green of the other portions, is sweet and 
effective. YouDg plants may be got at any time 
from cuttings or by division. A temperature of 65° 
in winter will suit it. 
Conservatory. 
Roman Hyacinths, Lily-of the Valley, 
Freesias, and other forced bulbs and roots, have be¬ 
gun to delight us with the fragrance and the charm 
which they bring. Now a days, before winter sets 
in, we have spring with us! Salvia splendens 
grandiflora in 6-in. pots is at this peiiod one of the 
chiefest glories of the conservatory. The Cinerarias 
too have just begun to pop along to fill the vacancies 
made by the dwarf Chrysanthemums. Roses which 
were started in September will be in fine condition 
by Christmas. The Chinese Primulas, and Primula 
