January  6,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
EXOTIC  NUIISERIES,  CHELTENHAM. 
The  situation  and  condition  of  Mr.  .lames  Cypher’s  nursery  may  not 
be  so  well  known  as  that  of  some  of  the  great  London  establishments,  but 
its  reputation  is  unique.  Thirty  years  ago  Mr.  Cyidier  began  exhibiting 
plants,  and  he  has  done  so  annually  ever  since.  During  the  last  twenty 
years  no  show  of  any  importance  has  been  held  in  England  at  which  he 
has  not  exhibited  successfully.  The  largest  plant  classes  are  Mr.  Cypher’s 
forte,  “  twenty  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  ”  being  a  favourite  class,  and 
in  groups  of  any  extent  he  is  invincible  ;  while  in  specimens  or  collections 
of  Orchids  he  is  equally  successful.  At  such  shows  as  Shrewsbury  and 
York  he  frequently  secures  prize  money  amounting  to  upwards  of  £100, 
and  collectively  his  winnings  have  amounted  to  many  thousands  of 
pounds.  No  exhibitor  is  feared,  and  although  some  growers  may  be 
jealous  of  the  Cheltenham  exhibits,  they  are  alwa^'s  welcomed  by  show 
promoters,  as  they  give  the  gatherings  a  tone  and  interest  not  obtainable 
from  local  exhibits. 
A  legacy  on  the  demise  of  an  employer,  consisting  of  a  small  green¬ 
house  and  a  few  plants,  formed  the  origin  of  one  of  the  most  successful 
plant  growers  and  exhibitors  of  the  nineteenth  century’.  Ilis  first  appear¬ 
ance  in  the  show  tent  was  with  half  a  dozen  Azaleas,  for  which  he  received 
the  leading  honour,  and  since  then  the  prizes  won  are  innumerable,  and 
exhibits  are  frequently  sent  to  two  and  sometimes  three  different  shows  on 
one  day. 
But  to  the  nursery,  which  covers  about  8  acres.  This  is  situated  in 
Queen’s  Road,  Cheltenham,  a  most  convenient  position  in  a  desirable 
town.  Originally  it  consisted  of  the  ground  occupied  by  two  glass 
houses.  Now  the  extent  named  is  ^Ir.  Cypher’s  freehold,  and  more  than 
half  of  it  is  covercd_with  glass— a  most  creditable  memorial  to  a  self-made 
man.  Being  in  Cheltenham  now  and  again  in  times  past,  I  have  seen  the 
nursery  at  various  periods  of  the  year,  and  it  is  at  all  limes  deeply 
interesting,  as  apart  from  the  seasonable  treatment  being  given  to  the 
show  plants,  there  is  a  general  nursery  stock  of  small  saleable  plants  in 
quite  as  good  condition  as  the  large  ones. 
The  Oechid  Depaetment. 
The  Orchids  comprise  a  most  extensive  and  well-grown  collection. 
There  are  three  houses,  GO  feet  long  by  18  feet  wide,  devoted  to  Cattleyas. 
Many  of  the  plants  are  fine  specimens  in  10  and  12-inch  pots,  and  others 
in  smaller  ones.  All  are  remarkably  well  developed  and  luxuriant.  The 
l)e8t  varieties,  such  as  ^lossias,  Mendeli,  Dowiana,  anrea,  labiata,  Trianje, 
Skinneri,  Warneri,  and  Lawrenceana,  are  grown  in  quantity.  The  plants 
are  arranged  in  the  usual  way  on  a  gradually  rising  stage  in  the  centre 
and  on  side  shelves,  and  tanks  of  water  are  constructed  underneath  each 
of  the  stages.  Dendrobiums  find  a  most  congenial  home.  Four  houses 
are  given  up  to  them,  and  their  growth  and  condition  are  remarkable. 
Here  again  only  large  numbers  of  select  kinds  are  grown,  the  favourite 
varieties  being  nobile  nobilius,  thyrsiflorum,  Dalhousieanum  with  pseudo- 
bulbs  C  feet  in  length,  fimbriatum  oculatum,  Parishi,  Wardianum, 
formosum  giganteura,  Phalaenopsis  Statteriana,  P.  Schroderiana,  Ains- 
worthi,  and  many  others.  The  pseudo-bulbs  on  some  plants  of  nobile 
nobilius  were  over  3  feet  in  length  and  as  thick  as  an  ordinary  walking- 
stick.  One  plant  of  this  variety,  propagated  from  a  cutting  eight  years 
ago,  and  now  a  fine  specimen,  is  composed  of  over  100  bulbs.  These 
plants  are  grown  in  a  suitable  atmosphere  when  forming  their  growth, 
and  were,  when  this  visit  was  made,  suspended  close  to  the  glass,  where 
they  will  remain  until  they  begin  to  flower. 
Another  most  extensively  grown  section  are  the  Cypripediums.  Here 
I  first  saw  that  gem  of  the  class  insigne  Sanderm  with  its  beautiful  yellow 
bloom.  Being  late  autumn  and  winter  flowers  the  Cypripediums  generally 
were  in  the  height  of  their  beauty.  Like  all  the  other  Orchids  the  plants 
of  various  sizes  were  all  in  perfect  health,  and  the  collection  is  very 
complete  in  variety  ;  but  those  which  attracted  my  attention  most 
were  many  especially  fine  forms  of  the  old  insigne,  insigne  Ernesti, 
giganteum  Cypher!,  with  luxuriant  foliage  and  a  very  large  white  dorsal, 
green  base,  brown  slipper,  and  green,  brown-lined  petals,  evidently  a  free- 
growing  variety;  Maulei,  Chantini,  Leeanum  superbum,  Roezli,  Latham- 
ianum,  nitens  superbum,  Morganise,  Schroderae.  Spicerianum  in  fine  variety, 
T,  B.  Haywood,  and  Veitchi  superbiens.  In  all  there  were  thirty  distinct 
Cypripediums  in  flower  at  the  end  of  November,  and  their  excellent 
growth  and  profusion  of  blooms  indicated  them  as  being  especially 
adapted  for  amateur  cultivation. 
In  the  two  Mexican  houses  there  are  numbers  of  specimens  of 
Coelogyne  cristata  alba  and  several  others,  all  of  which  supply 
abundance  of  choice  cut  flowers  in  spring.  Odontoglossum  grande  was 
fine,  as  were  Oncidlum  varicosum,  Trichosma  suavis,  and  several  of  the 
L®lias.  The  Vanda  house  was  extremely  gay  with  profusely  flowered 
specimens  of  V.  ccernlea  in  different  shades  of  pale  blue,  and  some  almost 
pure  white.  What  a  charming  December  Orchid  this  is  !  The  cool 
Orchids  were  very  striking  in  their  great  numbers  and  robust  health. 
There  are  three  houses  given  up  to  them.  At  the  time  of  my  visit  there 
were  eighteen  Odoutoglossums  in  flower,  but  the  one  most  grown  is 
Alexandras,  and  a  magnificent  lot  they  are,  some  in  flower  and  others 
producing  spikes,  and  all  in  perfect  condition.  Other  favourites  are 
Pescatorei,  luteo-purpureum,  Halli,-  gloriosum,  Edouardi,  Rossi,  and 
Roezli, 
The  Aerides  have  a  small  house  to  themselves.  Lycastes  are  grown 
in  quantity,  while  Masdevallias  are  very  numerous,  and  so  are  the 
Maxillarias.  Phalaenopsis,  so  often  seen  in  indifferent  health,  are 
absolutely  at  home.  There  were  no  fewer  than  108  distinct  Orchids 
altogether  in  flower  on  the  1st  of  December,  and  the  condition  of  the 
5 
whole  of  the  extensive  collection  reflects  groat  credit  on  Mr.  .lohn 
Cypher,  who  takes  this  section  of  the  nursery  under  his  special  care. 
Misceeeaxeocts  Pr.AXTS. 
The  princii)al  Palm  house  is  90  feet  in  length  and  24  feet  in  breadth, 
and  in  it  are  located  some  of  the  grand  specimens  so  much  admired  at 
shows.  The  Kentias  are  exceedingly  fine,  especially  Eosteriana,  australis, 
and  Belmoreana.  l.,atania  borbonica  was  also  fine,  as  were  Phamix 
rupicola  and  Cocos  Weddelliana,  all  of  which,  besides  being  seen  at 
shows,  are  made  use  of  in  connection  with  the  many  public  deemrations 
Mr.  Cypher  undertakes.  The  Arum  house  contained  over  1000  plants 
all  in  flower  or  bud— an  excellent  arrangement,  as  there  is  an  endless 
demand  for  them  as  Christmas  flowers.  These  are  planted  out  and  lifted 
in  September.  Abundance  of  white  Lapageria  clothed  the  roof  of  this 
house.  The  Croton  house  is  45  feet  in  length  and  24  feet  in  width.  It 
is  full  to  overflowing  with  large  and  small  plants.  Some  of  the  show 
specimens  which  occupy  the  centre  stage  are  6  feet  high,  and  as  much 
through.  They  were  all  exceedingly  clean,  and  I  was  informed  that  this 
was  attributed  to  liberal  syringing  in  the  summer  time,  and  the  occasional 
use  of  Fir  tree  oil.  Asked  which  were  considered  the  best  varieties,  Mr. 
Cypher  replied  Victoria,  Baron  .James  de  Rothschild,  angustifolium. 
Fh;.  1. — Me.  .Ias.  Cvimiee. 
(i'huto  hi/  N.  Muy  iC  Co,  LimileJ,  Clultenham.) 
Chelsoni,  ilortefontainensis,  Thomson!,  Reidi,  and  AVarreni.  As  a  house 
of  beautiful  foliage  nothing  could  possibly  excel  what  was  witnessed. 
The  New  Holland  house  was  mainly  given  up  to  specimen  jilants  of 
Aphelexis,  Phoenocomas,  Pimeleas,  Statices,  and  others  ;  and  the  Heath  . 
house  is  also  devoted  to  specimens  of  a  size  and  in  a  condition  rarely 
seen  nowadays.  Many  of  them  are  huge  plants  0  feet  high  and  as  much 
in  diameter,  and  in  pots  18  inches  wide.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  many  of 
the  plants  are  more  amply  provided  with  root  room  than  is  generally 
seen,  and  this,  no  doubt,  helps  to  develop  their  splendid  proportions. 
The  Allamanda  house  is  30  feet  long  and  12  feet  wide,  and  contains  a 
variet3'  of  specimens  which  flower  from  i\Iay  till  October.  There  are 
many  duplicates  of  all  the  show  plants,  without  which  it  would  be  impos¬ 
sible  to  exhibit  at  a  succession  of  shows  during  three  or  four  months  of 
the  year.  Nobilis,  Hendersoni,  and  grandiflora  are  the  favourite  sorts 
grown. 
Ixoras  are  largely  grown,  many  fine  specimens  of  Williams!,  Fraseri, 
coccinea  superba,  Regina,  Colei,  and  Duffi  being  in  evidence.  Bougain¬ 
villeas  also  have  a  structure  to  themselves,  and  special  attention  is  at 
present  being  paid  to  a  new  variety  named  Cypher!,  which  produces 
flowers  hitherto  unecpxalled  in  size  and  colotxr.  Statices  are  abundant, 
as  are  Anthuriums,  and  many  fine  specimens  of  each  were  seen.  There 
is  a  general  Fern  house  70  feet  by  21  feet  ;  but  Ferns  ai'e  not  favourite 
exhibiting  plants  with  Mr.  Cypher.  He  prefers  something  more 
substantial.  It  is  to  the  skill  and  attention  of  Mr.  William  Cypher 
that  the  fine  growth  and  excellent  condition  of  these  large  plants  is 
mainly  due. 
So  far  as  I  could  learn  they  are  produced  by  ample  root  room, 
generous  treatment  during  the  growing  season,  and  a  thorough  maturing 
of  the  growth  after  that  is  over,  ns  this  is  <i»id  to  give  both  foliage  and 
flower  of  the  highest  ((uality'.  The  specimen  Azaleas  are  another  fe.iture 
