12 
This grotto was once the fame of ‘‘The 
Briars.” When it is mentioned that it cost 
Mr. Hawker a sum well up to £1,000 for a 
specialist to build, the beauty of it can well 
be imagined even now in its present state. 
We are afraid to offer any remarks upon this 
beauty spot, further than to say that it isa 
pity that Mr. Cowell cannot be persuaded to 
forego his fixed determination not to allow 
an axe to be used in the garden under any 
circumstances. An axe is certainly a dan- 
gerous weapon in the hands of some gar- 
deners, but we are quite convinced that if it 
were laid to the roots of the Peppers planted 
on the top of the grotto, and exotics put in 
their places, the effect would be decidedly 
appropriate and in keeping with the correct 
‘idea of this work ofart as originally intended 
by the artistic architect of the structure. 
On the top of the grotto are a number of 
basins intended for water plants, all artisti- 
cally arranged with the rockery, about which 
should be grown succulents such as Agaves, 
Aloes, Echinocactus, Euphorbia, Stapelia, 
Mammillaria, Phyllocactus, Mesembrian- 
themum, Bamboos, Grasses, and the like. 
Traversing the winding path to the grotto 
underneath one can fancy himself in a corner 
of the famous Jenolan Caves, for there are 
capital representations of stalactites and sta- 
lagmites, and ideal nooks and corners for 
Begonias, Ferns, Lycopols, Aspidistras, and 
such like, which would turn the place into a 
veritable fairy dell, at very little cost. 
Leaving this charming little spot and 
crossing the lawh at the side of the Pine 
avenue on the left of the picture, but not 
shown, we come upon an octagonal palm- 
house containing some fine specimens of 
Palms, Elk horn and Tree ferns, Cannas, 
Camellias, Strelitzias, and others, with clim- 
bers of Asparagas, Clematis, Stephanotis, 
and a mass of beauty in Bougainvillea 
covering one side to the summit of the 
house on the outside. 
We find that we have lingered too long 
already in the space at our disposal, and 
must omit: the beauties to be found in the 
two fine glasshouses, if we may except one 
of the finest shows of Coleus to be found in 
a private collection. In the course of a few 
weeks the ferns and exotics here will make a 
splendid show. We would willingly stay a 
while here, but pass along through the gate 
leading to the kitchen garden. 
cursory glance through the propagating 
house, where a good variety of young stuff_ 
is coming on, our guide recapitulates his* 
catalogue of comestibles in cucumbers, 
turnips, melons, carrots, lettuce, onions, 
parsnips, raddish, cress, cauliflower, and 
other toothsome vegetables, with herbs best 
known to the chef. Here also is an orchard 
of peaches, plums, apples, apricots, and so 
on. But we must say good-day to this 
magnificent estate, which is one of the finest 
and best appointed suburban. residences in 
the State. As a parting admonition the gar- 
dener, whose hands are very full of work and 
responsibility, impressed upon us not to for- 
get to mention every weed that grows, and 
about this he was quite emphatic 
President Roosevelt has called the Pansy 
“the grandest flower I know.” 
After a ~ 
> native habitat. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
OcroBER 1, 1902. 
& SCIENTIFIC + 
PECSO HOSS =] 
GREVILLEAS. 
Oo— — 
The Grevilleas are among the showiest of 
the Australian proteads, yet only a few 
species are known to be under cultivation 
out of more than 180 which are in- 
digenous to Australia. With the exception 
of four New Caledonian species, the genus is 
limited to Australia. It is a lamentable pity 
that such an interesting genus of plants should 
be so neglected. Strange to say we culti- 
vate numerous European and other plants 
which are really not suited to our climate, 
whereas the Grevilleas will exist and prosper 
with very little attention. During the sum- 
mer months, when we have to water exotic 
plants, the Grevilleas rarely require any. 
When in a young state the Grevilleas can be 
kept in shape by pruning. Most of the vari- 
ties like a sandy soil. The following is a list 
ofsome of the showiest, which are under 
cultivation in a few gardens :— 
GREVILLEA STENOMERA is a 
spreading shrub of from 5 ft. to 6 ft., fairly 
compact. The young branches are hoary or 
silvery, with a minute tomentum. The 
adult foliage is more or less glabrous. The 
leaves are pinnate with narrow linear seg- 
ments. Racemes of flowers are solitary or 
several in a terminal panicle. 2 in. to 3 in. 
long It is found in abundance around Bun- 
bury, W.A. 
GREVILLEA CONCINNA is another 
showy species, and a few years ago used to 
be offered by nurserymen. At _ present 
it is known in a few gardens by 
those who take an interest in Aus- 
tralian plants. It is a dwarf grower, not ex- 
ceeding 3 or 4 ft. in height. The leaves 
are mostly entire, linear, or linear lanceolate, 
very shortly mucronate, 1 to 2% in. long, - 
smooth aboye, and glabrous when old. ‘The 
racemes of flowers are terminal and mostly 
pedunculate, of a reddish colour, borne in 
great profusion. It is a native of Bremer 
Bay and other places in Western Australia. 
GREVILLEA BANKSIA.—This is a 
another showy species. It grows to a height 
of from 15 to 20 ft. in suitable localities. 
The leaves are deeply pinnatifid or pinnate, 
with two to ten or more broadly linear or 
lanceolate segments, obtuse, or mucronate, 
with recurved margin, 2% t0”4 in. long. 
Racemes terminal, erect, 3 to 5 in. long, 
solitary, and sometimes two or three on a 
terminal leafless peduncule. The flowers 
are of a brilliant red, and during September 
it makes'a gay show in a garden, or in its 
In the Adelaide Botanic 
Gardens there is a nice specimen about 8 ft. 
in height. It is a native of Shoalwater Bay 
and other places in Queensland. 
GREVILLEA LAURIFOLIA is also a 
nice species. It is frequently met with in 
the Blue Mountains (N.S.W.). Usually of a 
procumbent or trailing habit. The leaves 
are ovate, oblong, or broadly lanceolate, 
obtuse, or mucronate, 2 to 5 in. long, 
glabrous above, silky beneath, racemes 
usually terminal and 1% to 2 in. long. 
Colour, red. 
GREVILLEA ILICIFOLIA.—A large, 
spreading shrub, frequently attaining a height 
from 6 to 8 ft. The branches are more or 
less silky. Leaves in the typical form 
cuneate, undulate, prickly-toothed, and lobed 
at the end. The whole leaf is 1 to 2 in. 
long. Racemes of flowers terminal, 1 to 2 
in. long, of a creamy white colour. It isa 
native of South Australia and Victoria. 
GREVILLEA ACANTHIFOLIA _ is 
rather a straggling shrub, but can be trained 
into a nice bush by cutting back when young. 
The leaves are 3 to 4 in. long, deeply pin- 
natifid. Racemes of flowers terminal, of a 
pinkish colour. Native of Blue Mountains 
(N.S.W.) 
GREVILLEA MUCRONULATA.—A 
large shrub 6 to 8 ft. in height, with rather 
slender hirsute branches. Leaves shortly 
petiolate, ovate in the typical form, and either 
rounded at the ends, with a fine point in the 
centre, flat, or with recurved margins, mostly 
about % in. long Racemes loose, short, 
few flowered on slender terminal, or axillary 
peduncles, often longer than the leaves. It 
is found growing from Port Jackson to the 
Blue Mountains. 
GREVILLEA ERICIFOLIA—This is 
another very charming low-growing shrub, 
and occasionally is to be seen in a few 
gardens. ~Although not so hardy as some of 
the species above mentioned, it is very suit- 
able for the colder districts, where some of the 
hardiest kinds cannot be grown. ‘The leaves 
are sessile, linear, or lanceolate, mucronate, 
acute, with resolute margins, % in. to 1 in. 
long. Silky pubescent, or villose, racemes 
of flowers short terminal, of a reddish colour. 
It commences to flower during the early por- 
tion of spring, when the plants are literally 
covered with blossoms. In general appear- 
ance it very much resembles some of the 
ericas in foliage, and hence its specific name 
Ericifolia. It is under cultivation in the 
Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney Botanic 
Gardens, also in several private gardens. 
GREVILLEA LAVENDULACEA is a 
a well-known species, especially in South 
Australia, where it is to be seen growing pro- 
fusely about the Mount Lofty Ranges. It is 
asmall growing shrub, seldom exceeding 2 ft, 
in height. The racemes are short and: 
loose. Solitary in the upper axils, very much 
crowded, of a pinkish red colour. 
GREVILLEA ROBUSTA, or “Silky 
Oak,” as it is generally called, is so well 
known all over Australia that it is hardly 
necessary to mention in this article. It makes 
a beautiful tree in suitable localities, attain- 
ing a height of 70 to 80 ft. It is a very 
rapid grower, and in Victoria, New South 
Wales, and Queensland it is planted very ex- 
tensively. It is a native of the northern parts 
of New South Wales and Queensland. 
GREVILLEA HILLIANA is a neat tree 
of middle size. It is to be found more or 
less plentiful about the Clarence River, New 
South Wales, and Moreton Bay, Queens- 
land. Itis one of the handsomest of the 
Greyilleas. The leaves are glossy and 5 to 6 
in. long. The flowers are borne in dense, 
