December 12, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
1025 
Gunnersbury House. 
Towards the end of October last we had the pleasure of 
inspecting some of the many phases of gardening carried on; 
at Gunnersbury House. Acton, London, the seat, of Leopold de 
Rothschild, Esq., who is one of the enthusiastic supporters of 
horticulture. It was late in the season for seeing some of the 
out-door forms of gardening at their best; nevertheless, there 
was much to see and many lessons to be learnt. 
Plant Houses.—We first, passed through various hothouses., 
and in one of them noted a splendid batch of Begonia Gloirel 
de Lorraine, forming a pyramidal floriferous specimen 27 in. 
in height, measured from the top of the pots. Another 
popular variety is B. Turnford Hall, white, tinted pink. An. 
interesting form which originated here and received an Award 
of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society is Mrs. Leopold 
de Rothschild, with large pink flowers. The plant is. stronger, 
more compact and floriferous than, the type from which it 
sported. The flowers are also more persistent than those of 
the type, and deepen with age, so that it is very well worthy 
Res and similar things commonly employed for such a purpose. 
Another warm house was devoted to a variety of stove sub¬ 
jects, including hybrid greenhouse Rhododendrons, some of 
which were flowering on, the occasion of our visit. The flowers 
of Thetis were of large size, salmon-yellow, and veiy attractive. 
Other subjects growing here were floriferous and much- 
branched specimens of Celasia pyramidalis and Siphocampylus 
Humboldti, belonging to the Lobelia, family, and having scarlet 
flowers. We also, noted a, seedling Begonia having harder or 
more leathery leaves than B. Gloire de Lorraine, and indicating 
a reversion towards B. socotrana. Flowers were produced in 
great abundance. Orchids were represented by long panicles 
of Onoidium varicosum, and Cattleya Harrisoniae in a variety 
of colours. 
In a cool greenhouse was a fine batch of Salvias in full bloom, 
including Salvia splendens grandiflora, 2 ft, to. 3 ft. high. A 
variety named S. A. Ragaeneau was noted for its dwarfer and 
more compact habit, all of the shoots being upright. A very 
distinct colour is presented by S. accuminata Betheli, the 
flowers being rosy-purple on stems 3 ft. high. Chrysanthemums 
Roof Gakdening at Gunnersbury House. 
of attention in a. collection where the other forms are also, 
grown. As the raceme lengthens the flowers still remain, 
giving the plant, a more floriferous aspect than several others 
of the forms. In this same house was a batch of retarded Lily 
of the Valley coming into bloom. Very pretty was Nerine 
flexuosa, with its wavy segments of a bright rosy-pink colour. 
The next house we entered was chiefly devoted to Crotons, 
Dracaenas, Aralias, and other plants for furnishing purposes. 
The deep blue flowers of Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, made a, fine 
contrast with the dark foliage. An uncommon flower in 
gardens is Crossandra undulaefolia, with orange flowersi and 
leaves similar to those of a Gardenia. It, was raised here, from 
seeds, and the seedlings, were coming into bloom. Asparagus) 
myriocladus, ft. high, was very distinct from other species 
cultivated in private establishments. Numerous, plants, of 
Selaginella, uncinata were in very fine condition, having beep 
propagated late, in the season, for furnishing work. The leaves 
were of a rich steel-blue colour. S. Wallichi had similarly 
coloured leaves, but very tall stems, and is. generally known 
in gardens as S. caesia arborea, Caladium argyrite® is ; a 
common enough plant, but, here it was grown under unusual 
conditions—namely, on a wall covered as. for the growth of 
Ferns, but the haves had attained a large size, being 2 ft. long 
and drooping, and having a much brighter effect than, Begonia. 
are grown here chiefly in the bush forms, but a few large ones 
are also grown, as we shall mention below. The flowers of 
Source d’Or varied from golden-bronze to orange. Ryecroft, 
Scarlet, 18 in. to 24 in. high, was also- very floriferous. Soleil 
d’Octobre, being disbudded, had blooms of larger size. 
In the open air, Amaryllis Belladonna, maxima was just noav 
over. Just previous t.o that a. hundred spikes, of it were in 
bloom, and were characterised by the large size of the flowers 
and the number of blooms in an umbel. The Transvaal Daisy 
(Gerbera Jamesoni) was flowering on a, small rockery just out¬ 
side the conservatory. It was planted in June and is intended 
to be left outside. The situation is elevated and diy, the 
object being to test its hardiness in this way. Being seedlings, 
the plants, vary in the colour of the flowers. Crinum Powelli, 
C. p. alba, C. Moorei, and C. longifolium, otherwise known as 
C. capense, were still flowering in a bed close by. The bed 
had been prepared similar to that for a. Vine or fruit tree 
border, and the bulbs planted quite 3 ft. below the level of the 
ground to be safe from frost. This method of growing them 
enables them to make a. wonderful development during the 
course of the summer, and they flower splendidly during the 
early period of autumn. The leaves were 5 ft. to 6 ft. in 
length, giving a, good indication that they liked the treatment. 
Orchid Houses.—Cattleyas are grown to some considerable- 
