1018 
THE HARDENING WORLD 
December 19, 1903. 
and use for exhibition or other purposes. In the class for 
fancies, Lottie Hutchins has been displaced by Graeie Green¬ 
wood in the first-prize audit, so that in another year or two it 
will be necessary to determine which of these are most likely 
to give most satisfaction. In the classification list, George 
Gordon and Captivation received an equal number of votes, 
but the first-named has now entirely displaced captivation. 
The only colour that has ever been placed under the colour 
cerise was Coccinea, and it has not yet' met its rival in that 
particular shade. 
Thirteen of the varieties out of nineteen still hold the 
highest position in their respective colours, thus showing how 
nearly the Classification Committee of the society singled out 
the best of each colour. Some of thee* as we have indicated, 
have been displaced by new or littlehknown varieties that have 
since asserted their superiority. 
There were a few cases of what might be termed the vagaries 
of exhibition. Mrs. Dugdale and Venus are usually very 
popular varieties at exhibitions, but, singularly enough, neither 
of them appeared in a, first-prize' collection on this occasion. 
Less Avell known are 1 Catherine Tracy, Lemon Queen, and 
Modesty, and they only appeared once in the whole competi¬ 
tion,, but, as if to show the irony of the situation, they turned 
up in first-prize exhibits. 
The variety which took precedence of all others this year 
was Miss Willmott. a grand Sweet Pea, classed amongst the 
orange shades. It was shown in. no less than forty-four ex¬ 
hibits, this being the highest number for any one variety. 
Navy Blue, which came next,, was shown thirty-five times. 
Dorothy Eckford, as might have been, expected, came well to 
the front, having been, shown twenty-eight times, hut if it had 
been more widely distributed, it would no doubt have been 
more often shown. As it was, it took the place of Blanche 
Burpee as the best White Sweet Pea. In like manner, Hon. 
Mrs. Kenyon has come to the front a,s a yellow. 
Conservatory at Howberry Park. 
(See Supplement.) 
Most conservatories are built in close proximity to the 
mansion or residence, but this is not always favourable to the 
best welfare of the plants grown therein, as the end or the 
side of the conservatory usually abuts on the dwelling-house. 
In some instances the conservatory is considerably elevated, so 
as- to be in connection, with the room on the first floor, and 
this arrangement is more suitable for the 1 cultivation of plants 
in the matter of light. 
Our illustration shows a different arrangement, inasmuch as 
the conservatory is at some distance from the mansion, but 
connected by a corridor and a smoking-room with the mansion. 
The illustration, of our supplement is that of the mansion and 
conservatory at Howberry Park, Wallingford, Berks, the 1 seat 
of Harvey du Cros, Esq. 
The conservatory itself in. the neighbourhood of the large 
tree is built of red deal, with oak sills and plates. The rafters 
are moulded on the inside, and, generally speaking, there is 
a great amount of detail in the joinery work, as may be 
seen in the interior view shown at the base of our supplement. 
The roof is glazed with Hartley’s rolled plate glass. Tire 
gable front and frieze are of very ornamental design, being- 
glazed with leaded lights of an ornamental pattern. The 
structure is built on a brick base with a stone plinth. 
The floor is of mosaic paving. Central staging can be used 
■when required, but everything is movable, so that the floor 
can be entirely cleared at pleasure. The' very large tree Fern 
in the centre and the Palm and Cycad in the' same line are 
in ornamental tubs, and therefore capable of being removed 
or replaced by any other plants. The side staging on which 
the smaller plants axe grown is also portable. 
Underneath these side stagings are borders for the cultiva¬ 
tion of Ferns, these borders being protected by champered 
heavy stone edgings. At the back of the conservatory and 
below ground is a large reservoir for the storing of rain water 
The range is heated throughout with expansion joint pipe,' 
for hot water. 
In another column we give an illustration of the smoking- 
room, which is close to the dwelling-house, and forms part of 
the corridor or covered way to the conservatory proper. This 
alone will show the ornamental character of the woodwork 
and moulding employed in the construction of this range. It 
shows also what may be done at private residences to ensure 
the convenience and pleasure of the inmates without making 
the conservatory unsuitable for the wellbeing of plants. It is 
only necessary to have a few temporary subjects here in order 
to render it pleasing as a retreat from the dwelling-house when 
it is desired. 
The third illustration shows a range of glasshouses in the 
kitchen garden. This includes an early and a late vinerv, 
with border back and front, and an iron grating path-wav. 
The Chrysanthemum house is also a beautiful structure, with a 
tiled floor and side and central staging, all of which are 
portable. The propagating house has an iron grating floor. 
Provision is also made for top and bottom heat in this 
structure. There are also two plant bouses with side and 
end stages', on. v-hic-h Orcliids, etc., are grown, all being 
portable. Besides these, there is a fruit room, Mushroom- 
house, pot ting-sheds and oilier necessary accompaniments, 
making altogether a very complete range. 
The heating and ventilating arrangements are under the 
most perfect control, and an accurate thermal balance of the 
houses is thus always obtainable. The range is, in fact, heated 
by a 7-ft. Trentham boiler. The ventilating gearing acts 
simultaneously throughout the roof for regulating the ven¬ 
tilators. The side ventilators also act in the same way from 
another set of gearing, so that the amount of air to be admitted 
can be regulated to a nicety by the shifting of one lever. 
The scheme of construction is both comprehensive, well 
thought out, planned, and completed. Every detail of con¬ 
struction give® evidence of the careful attention which the 
builders pay to the minute as well as to the tout ensemble of 
their- undertakings. Tire extensive ranges shown in our illus¬ 
trations, including the conservatory, were recently erected for 
Harvey du Cros, Esq., by Messrs. Win. Wood arid Son, Limited, 
Royal specialists in horticulture, Wood Green, London. 
In the conservatory; besides the large' tree Ferns and Palms 
which we mentioned, there are some plants of Asparagus Spren- 
geri and A. deflexus in baskets. Flowering plants are well 
represented by Begonia Globe de Lorraine and B. Turnford 
Hall, which may he seen by reference to tire illustration. Other 
plants grown now, or to be presently introduced, are Poinsettia 
pulcherrima, Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora, Primula sinensis in 
considerable variety, P. floribunda, Bouvardias in variety. 
Cyclamen, Salvia splendens, Freesia. refracta alba, and Roman 
Hyacinths. Good use lias been, made of the large flowering 
Chrysanthemums during their season, and at present there is 
still a good display of the late flowering varieties. A few may 
be seen in the 'building which were present when our photo¬ 
graph was taken some weeks ago. Catt-leya labiata has been 
very fine, and is still very good. 
The side staging of one of the houses is devoted to Cinerarias 
of the' ordinary garden races, as well as C. stellata., which look 
very promising at the present time. It' will thus be seen that 
Mr. D. J. MaoFarlane, the gardener, makes abundant- provision 
for a supply of all the more useful conservatory flowers for 
keeping up an interesting display during autumn, and winter, 
after which spring flowering subjects come in more abundantly 
to 1 brighten the bouses. Altogether, this: establishment is a 
very fine one, and reflects great credit on all concerned. 
Ax Odd Street Name.— Hull enjoys the unique possession of 
a very queer name to one of its streets—namely, “ The Land of 
Green Ginger.” Various theories have been advanced as to the 
origin of the name, the most plausible being that Henry VIII. 
had a penchant for “green ginger cured with lemon juice,” and 
that there were spacious gardens adjoining his palace at Hull 
where °Teen ginget was cultivated and dug for the king s use. 
