June 25. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
527 
The main roof is formed with the principal rafters, and the 
roof-bars are fitted with Tucker’s Patent Anti-Drip Condensa¬ 
tion, grooved and fitted with a gutter to the eaves. A wood 
bow gutter is formed at the hack, supported on strong deal 
corbels. The roof is also strengthened with ornamental C. T. 
sipandril brackets. T-iron stiffening bars and wrought iron 
tie-rods with queen posts are also employed. The sashes of 
the lantern are hung so as to open with improved lever work. 
Wrought iron cresting of an ornamental character is used 
on. the ridges. A wrought iron grill is also formed on the 
outside of the gable transept. Over the entrance porch, and 
projecting from the main roof, it has a curved transept roof. 
The gutters are well lined with lead-work, so as to 1 protect the 
wood from the moisture. The rain-water is carried into the 
tank by piping. 
The staging in the interior is fitted up with angle iron mar¬ 
ginal frame stage® with cast-iron legs. On these stages slate 
slabs are laid. Ample provision has 1 also been made for shad¬ 
ing the house by means of blinds, sixteen upright blinds of 
selected shading material with spring rollers having been fixed. 
Great attention has been given to the glass, both from a utili¬ 
tarian and ornamental point of view. The side framing con¬ 
sists of English polished plate in. thick. Tire glass of the 
side lantern: and gable is of the thickness known as 21-oz. 
English. The roof is glazed with special ribbed glass 3-16 in. 
thick. The> paint employed is that known as Carson’s, pre¬ 
pared to an approved tint. 
The general aspect of the building after being finished is 
very pleasing, while attention has been given to the welfare 
of the plants housed in the conservatory. The work is indeed 
much in accordance with that done by the firm when engaged 
in dong work for private establishments. All the' material is 
of the best, and put together with the intention of durability. 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 
Our Song Birds. 
To the Editor of The Gardening World. 
Sir,—I notice it said at page 513 of the “ S. and A. Notes” 
column that “ Thrushes, blackbirds', and starlings feed largely 
on slugs”; and we get a “song in summer” for a “fruit in 
autumn." I am not sure if any of our song-birds or birds that 
carry food to their young feed on slugs. Ducksi are credited 
with doing so; but they are not song-birds; nor yet do* they 
carry food to’ their young. I am quite sure that blackbirds 
do net feed on. slugs. For three or four years I was on friendly 
terms with a pair of blackbirds, so much so that they took 
whatever I threw to them that suited them, either for building 
their nest, or for food for themselvesi or their young. These 
birds were at liberty to' reject my friendship; as they were in 
no way confined. It was astonishing the number of creeping 
and crawling things they did eat. With the exception, of the 
earwig, which might be called a. perfect insect in the larval 
and pupal stages of their life, the blackbirds did not favour 
the perfect insects; such as moths, butterflies', or daddy long- 
legs; but took greedily the larvae of these insects. They were 
abo fond of the larvae of the click beetle (wireworm). The 
dead-like pupae of insects did not seem to excite' their appetite. 
This, was wise on their part, for it would be something like a 
gardener eating his own seed Potato's. 
During the nesting season their food consisted of the larvae 
of the larger insects' and a good proportion of earth worm®. 
They apparently just took their food as it came, as I have 
noticed three or four different kinds of larvae arranged cross¬ 
wise in their hills for their young. I tried them repeatedly 
with the grey garden, dug, but they would not take it.; it 
might- be that the slimy nature' and skin-changing habit of the 
s ug i s the cause of its rejection. If this is so; the helpless- 
'ke slug is well provided with defensive armour, and unless 
mine big bird comes along like a. duck with a bill something 
like a. grocer’s scoop, it is fairly safe. W. K. 
Spanish Iris Thunderbolt. 
That so many widely divergent colours as blue, violet, 
yellow, white and purple should be found in one species of plant 
is remarkable, yet all these colours are found qn the Spanish 
Iris (Iris Xiphium). Readers will please notice that we use 
a capital letter for the specific name, because it is an old 
generic name. Philip Miller called it Xiphium vulgare. We 
may remark, however, that different specific names have been 
given to several whose only distinction is that of colour. The 
variety under notice is an instance. It has received several 
names, the oldest of which would appear to' be Xiphion sordi- 
dum, given it by Salisbury. It ha® also been named Iris spec- 
tabilis, and in gardens we have such a name as Iris lusitanica 
sordida., but that would include the names of two so-called 
species. I. lusitanica is the name that ha® been given, to the 
yellow variety of the Spanish Iris; and both it and' the plant 
under notice a re natives of Portugal. 
Iris Xiphium sordida or Thunderbolt. 
Should our readers desire us to' give Thunderbolt a Latin 
name, w© should say Iris Xiphium sordida. This variety is 
mere robust than the type, and has bronay-brovn falls, with 
a. golden blotoh in the centre, and about, an inch wide. For 
this reason some 1 nurserymen catalogue' the variety as Gold 
Cup. The standards are' erect, about an inch broad or lees, 
and bronzy-purple. The crests of the style arms are large, 
nearly square, coloured like the 'standards, and forming no 
inconspicuous part of the flower. The stems vary from 1 ft. 
to' 2 ft. in. height, according to' the suitability of the soil in 
which the bulbs' are grown, and each bears one or two flowers, 
as may be seen by reference to our illustration. The flowers 
from which this was prepared were given us by Messrs. Richard 
Smith and Co., Worcester. 
The culture of the Spanish Iris offers no difficulties whatever, 
provided the cultivator plants the bulbs in autumn in a. rich 
and well-drained soil. If inclined to he sandy, the plants will 
like it all the better, though it should not become very dry until 
towards the close of the flowering period in June. The 
varieties are exceedingly numerous, and may be planted in 
