1026 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 12. 1903. 
extent, especially C. labiata, the flowers of which vary con¬ 
siderably in colour. About four 1 dozen, blooms had been cut 
the same week on the occasion of the King’s visit to the place. 
Other species grown here are C 1 . bowringiana and C. Sehroderae, 
the latter being now finely in sheath. A handsomely marked 
variety of Cymbidium tracyanum was in bloom, there being 
two fine plants of it. 
The compost for these Orchids consists of leaf-sail, sphagnum 
and a little fibrous peat, but the greater portion consists of 
leaves. The plants have been grown here for five or six yea-re 
under that treatment. Cattleyas and Odontoglossums do 1 first- 
rate in it. The plants are taken out and re- 
potted every year. 
In another house were some very fine hybrid 
Orchids, including Laelia Latbna, Laelidcattleya 
Hippolyta, L. c. Phoebe, and L. o. Lady Miller, 
these being all valued for the sake of their gor¬ 
geously coloured flowers. Cattleya dowiana 
a.urea had done splendidly, and we noted a very 
fine variety of it in bloom. C. gigas, C. Men- 
delii and other useful types are also grown by 
Mr. James Hudson, the gardener. 
A fine batch of Vanda, caerulea is grown ini 
baskets suspended from iron rods, so that the 
tallest only are near the glass. Thirty spikes 
had just been cut, but a number still remained to 
show the splendid colour developed by the 
dowers;. This -species 1 is, one of Mr. Rothschild’s 
favourites. 
In a, stove house close by we noted Vanda 
hookeriana in small pans, and V. Agnes Joakim, 
the latter being a, hybrid between, V. teres and 
V. hookeriana,. The progeny is- a- much stronger 
grower than, either of its parents. In this same 
house we noted splendidly grown, Ixora, macroi- 
thyrsa,, I. Williams!, I. coccinea,, etc. They had 
made splendid growth and bloomed well during 
the summer and until the third week of October. 
There was a second crop; of dowers in, bud and 
fully expanded. The first-named is a very 
strong-growing specie® and dowers only at the 
tips of the stronger shoots, but the truss of 
dowers is immense. An uncommon, plant was 
Ceropegia, debilis, with narrow leave® and Item® 
about, 6 ft. long. Much more interesting and 
pretty was C. Woodii, with marbled and netted 
grey leaves about the size of a shilling or less-, 
and produced on, pendulous stems about 6 ft. 
long. It might be introduced to* any collection 
of note a,s ai basket plant-. 
which, although not an Orchid, might very well pass for one 
amongst the uninitiated. Its large dowers are very sweetly 
scented. 
Fruit,.—One house contained a collection of the small and 
pleasantly flavoured varieties of Grapes 1 . They are grown in 
pots, and those in fruit, at the time were Tokay, Dr. Hoo-g 
Grizzly, and White Frontignan, and the Strawberry Grape. 
The latter has a very few seeds and possesses the peculiar 
flavour of Strawberries. In another house we came to Straw¬ 
berries proper in the shape of a large batch of the perpetual 
bearing Strawberries St, Joseph, .St. Antoine de Padoue. and 
Dendrobium formosum giganteum hasi been < 
grown here for the last six or seven years, and a 
magnificent display it- produces, there being 
something like 1,000 flowers open at one time;- A plant 
obtained^ -some months ago 1 under the name of Phalaenopsisi 
reimstalfiana has flowers very similar to those of P. amabilis. 
The flowers of Cattleya, dowiana a-urea were netted with crim¬ 
son, to the very base of the lip. Splendid growth ha,si been 
made by Dendrobium Nioibe, the -stems being over 2 ft. in 
height and stout- in proportion. D. Phalaenopsis is also- well 
represented here. D. bigibbum carried twelve spikes of bloom, 
and we intend to, give' an illustration of it in a future number. 
Cattleya- amethystoglossa, has made wonderfully strong 
growth. A charming terrestrial Orchid is Habemaria militaris, 
with a, scarlet lip. V anda, sanderiana also succeeds well here 
suspended from the roof, and having its root® merely bound 
round with sphagnum. Dendrobium Phalaenopsis succeeds 
best when, suspended near the glass, as it is here where th'el 
stems 'are 2 ft. to 2J ft. long. 
The cool Odontoglo'ssum house occupies a, shady position on, 
the north side of the vineries, and is also shaded by trees, ini 
the vicinity, although not overhung by them. Epidendrum, 
viteilinum majus was still in bloom in October. Here* ,a,l.so, 
We noted a kpiehdid batch of Hymeiiocallis macrostepliana,, 
Side View of Roof Gardening a r Gunnersbury Rouse. 
Jeanne d’Arc. St. Joseph is considered the best of this race 
of Strawberries, asj> the fruits are rather larger, produced more 
freely, and are of a, rich dark colour and the best in flavour. 
The second of the three mentioned has globular fruits and 
deeply-set seeds, and is considered .second best. While the 
first two were in .flower and various stages of fruiting, Jeanne 
d’Aro was only just in bloom. 
Figs are grown extensively in pots, Negro Largo being the 
principal and best for autumn fruiting. Others we noted were 
Black Bourjassote, Ronde Vi-olette Hative, Col. de S ; gnoro 
Bianca, the latter still carrying smooth yellow fruits just about 
■ fit for use. 
As we passed through other houses we came upon laager 
and older plants of Figs. Vines in pots are first placed in 
this house in December for forcing, after which the house is 
filled with Figs, and then Vines again, so that the house is kept 
, thoroughly occupied during the whole of the year. The Cherry 
House at the time of our visit, was occupied with Figs, which 
would continue fruiting to the end of November. 
The eaiiy batches of Nectarines had just been repotted, 
this operation being carried out annually, and the trees put 
