372 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER'. 
April  28.  1898. 
In  its  native  habitat  C.  pandurata  is  found  growing  “in  the 
hottest  jungles  on  tlie  banks  of  streams,  where  during  the  rainy 
season  it  is  impossible  to  collect  them,”  so  that  under  cultivation  it  is 
hardly  possible  to  keep  it  too  warm  and  moist,  as  the  habitat  is  in 
Borneo.  Heat  and  moisture,  then,  are  the  first  conditions  necessary, 
and  if  the  atmosphere  can  be  well  supplied  with  ammonia  by  sprinklit  g 
the  floors  and  stages  with  soo't  water,  or  placing  dry  soot  and  lime 
about  under  the  stages,  the  progress  of  the  plants  will  be  all  the 
better.  They  will  soon  take  on  that  deep  green,  almost  black,  tinge  in 
the  foliage  that  is  indicative  of  health  and  vigour. 
In  the  kind  of  atmosphere  induced  by  these  means  there  will 
nsuaily  be  little  trouble  with  insect  pests,  for  thrips  and  red  spider, 
though  active  enough  in  a  hot  dry  atmosphere,  are  not  at  all 
comfortable  when  plenty  of  moisture  and  ammonia  are  piesent.  But 
if  either  of  these  puts  in  an  appearance,  no  time  must  be  lost  in  setting 
about  its  removal,  for  the  insects  soon  ruin  the  fresh  green  appearance 
that  is  the  greatest  attraction  of  the  species.  C.  pandurata  first 
flowered  in  this  country  in  1853  with  Messrs.  Loddiges  of  Hackney, 
about  a  year  after  its  discovery.  It  takes  its  name  from  the  shape  of 
■the  lip,  which  is  almost  exactly  that  of  a  violin. — H.  R.  R. 
FAIR  DEVON— ENDSLEIGH. 
Gaedens  of  note  abound  in  Devonshire,  and  numerous  able  practi¬ 
tioners  at  the  present  time,  as  well  as  in  the  past,  have  furnished 
conspicuous  examples  of  what  British  horticultural  skill  can  accomplish  as 
regards  all  the  usual  produce.  But  there  are  two  characters  which 
particularly  distinguish  the  Devonshire  estates,  and  arrest  the  attention 
of  the  traveller  in  every  district.  One  is,  that  naturally  picturesque  sites 
furnish  a  most  delightful  variety  in  the  scenery,  of  which  the  “  Art  that 
conceals  Art”  has  taken  the  fullest  advantage;  and  the  other  is  the 
abundance  of  freely  grown  trees  and  shrubs,  especially  those  of  the  ever¬ 
green  type,  which  are  seen  in  nearly  every  park  and  garden.  As  regards 
Conifers,  perhaps  there  is  scarcely  a  county  in  England  that  could  show  a 
larger  proportion  of  handsome  specimens  of  the  best  or  rarest  species. 
The  temperature,  rainfall,  and  soil  are  evidently  exactly  adapted  to  their 
requirements,  and  they  luxuriate  accordingly,  notwithstanding  that  some 
of  the  tenderer  occasionally  suffer  by  frost  in  the  late  spring. 
For  early  vegetables  the  gardens  of  Devonshire,  both  private  and 
commercial,  have  long  been  famed,  the  climatal  conditions  being  eminently 
favourable  to  such  produce.  But  even  in  such  a  favoured  county  the  late 
frosts  are  sometimes  most  disastrous,  many  a  promising  crop  being 
decimated.  An  example  of  the  evils  thus  experienced  in  regard  to  bedding 
plants,  which  gardeners  in  more  northern  districts  are  apt  to  think  peculiar 
to  their  own  localities,  is  afforded  by  the  following,  in  which  the  writer  is 
only  recording  what  happened  to  many  others  :  “  In  one  season,  a  few 
years  ago,  I  completed  the  bedding-out  on  June  I6th,  and  on  the  following 
day  half  the  plants  were  killed  to  the  ground  by  frost.”  The  full  meaning 
of  this  can  be  duly  grasped  by  those  who  have  the  whole  resources  of  their 
establishment  exhausted  to  provide  accommodation  for  sufficient  plants  to 
fill  large  flower  garden  designs,  allowing  no  space  for  reserve  forces.  In 
many  of  the  counties  around  the  metropolis  it  is  customary  to  regard 
planting-out  tender  bedding  plants  as  a  risky  proceeding  until  the  third 
week  in  May  is  passed,  and  in  low  situations  it  may  not  be  safe  until  after 
that ;  but  the  second  week  in  June  would  be  thought  late.  The  instance 
given  shows  how  greatly  a  garden  is  dependant  upon  weather  conditions 
that  cannot  be  foreseen,  and  from  which  the  most  skilful  are  liable  to 
suffer  as  well  as  the  careless  or  incompetent. 
The  River  Tamar,  which  constitutes  the  boundary  between  Devon 
and  Cornwall,  presents  in  the  charming  valleys  of  the  upper  portion  of 
its  course  numberless  picturesque  sites  for  gardens  and  estates.  One  of 
the  best  chosfen  and  most  delightful  of  these  is  that  where  Endsleigh 
Cottage  is  placed,  the  Devon  residence  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  for  while 
Nature  has  liberally  endowed  the  surroundings  with  her  greatest 
attractions,  art  has  been  employed  with  accurate  judgment,  and  is  in 
consequence  nowhere  obtrusive.  The  “  Cottage  ”  itself  is  an  unpre¬ 
tentious  structure,  quite  in  keeping  with  the  scenery,  and,  standing  on  a 
site  slightly  elevated  above  the  Tamar,  it  commands  a  pleasing  view  of  the 
river  windings  and  the  tree-clad  hills  on  each  side,  at  the  same  time 
serving  to  complete  the  picture. 
Endsleigh  is  about  six  miles  from  Tavistock,  and  constitutes  one  of  the 
attractions  to  visitors  in  this  part  of  Devonshire.  By  the  liberality  of  its 
owner  the  grounds  can  be  inspected  by  all  who  ta^ie  the  slight  trouble 
needed  to  procure  a  visiting  order  at  the  estate  office  in  the  town.  The 
journey  by  road,  too,  is  one  of  the  most  varied  and  agreeable  in  the 
neighbourhood,  an  extremely  pleasant  trip  for  a  summer’s  afternoon. 
The  carriage  drive  from  the  entrance  to  the  gardener’s  house  reveals  one 
of  the  great  characteristics  of  the  place  —  namely,  the  wonderful 
vegetative  vigour  of  the  trees  and  shrubs. 
Rhododendrons  in  particular  grow  with  extraordinary  luxuriance, 
necessitating  frequent  hard  cutting  to  keep  them  within  bounds,  and  it  is 
not  an  unusual  occurrence  after  a  severe  pruning  for  the  plants  to  make 
growth  3  feet  in  length  in  one  season.  A  large  part  of  the  plantation  is 
formed  of  R.  ponticum,  but  a  collection  of  the  best  hybrids  is  also  included. 
as  w  ell  as  some  of  the  finer  species  of  the  Himalayan  group.  R.  Falconeri, 
for  instance,  one  of  the  handsomest  Rhododendrons  in  cultivation, 
succeeds  uncommonly  well,  and  has  even  been  known  to  escape  injury 
when  R.  ponticum  and  the  common  Laurel  have  been  killed  by  frost. 
This  is  an  interesting  illustration  of  how  much  the  condition  of  individual 
plants  influences  their  injury  by  frost  and  other  means  ;  there  is  often  a 
greater  difference  in  this  respect  between  individuals  of  one  species  than 
between  distinct  but  allied  species. 
One  of  the  best  points  to  which  visitors  should  direct  their  steps  for 
obtaining  a  general  view  of  the  charms  of  the  Tamar  valley  and  .slopes  is 
the  “  Swiss  Rock,”  where,  from  a  little  “  coign  of  vantage  ”  on  a  preci¬ 
pitous  height  some  200  feet  above  the  river,  a  unique  and  delightful 
prospect  is  commanded.  Upon  the  opposite  or  Cornish  side  the  hills 
rise  to  a  considerable  height,  heavily  wooded ;  the  river  is  seen  winding 
its  way  at  the  base,  broken  here  and  there  by  its  rocky  course,  and  in 
the  distance  the  “  Cottage  ”  stands  out  from  a  background  of  trees  and 
shrubs,  varied  both  in  form  and  height.  On  the  occasion  of  my  visit  the 
afternoon  of  a  short  but  brilliant  autumn  afternoon  was  drawing  to  a 
close  ;  the  sun  was  sinking  to  the  Cornish  hills  amidst  wide-spreading 
reflections  of  the  richest  crimson  and  gold,  producing  an  effect  that  would 
have  tested  the  skill  of  the  greatest  landscape  artist  to  transfer  to  canvas. 
Humphrey  Repton  was  consulted  by  a  former  Duke  of  Bedford  with 
regard  to  some  improvements  in  the  Endsleigh  estate,  and  he  prepared  a 
report  which  contained  many  interesting  passages.  From  one  of  these 
the  following  may  be  quoted  : — “There  are  hardly  two  things  in  Nature 
more  contrasted  than  a  river  near  its  source  in  a  mountainous  country 
and  the  same  river  when  it  becomes  navigable  and  spreads  itself  into  an 
estuary  like  the  Tamar  at  Plymouth.  Nothing  can  be  more  delightful 
to  those  who  have  braved  the  storms  of  the  ocein  than  to  sail  between 
the  romantic  banks  of  the  Tamar,  whose  echoing  rocks  often  repeat  the 
music  which  from  pleasure  boats  enlivens  its  peaceful  surface;  and  a 
cottage  on  the  banks  of  the  Tam  'r  will  naturally  suggest  such  tranquil 
scenery.  Very  different  is  that  of  Endsleigh.  Here  solitude  embosomed 
in  all  the  sublimity  of  umbrageous  majesty  looks  down  on  the  infant 
river  struggling  through  its  rocky  channel  and  hurrying  onwards  with 
all  the  impetuosity  of  ungoverned  youth  till  it  becomes  useful  to  man¬ 
kind.”  To  the  view  from  the  “Swiss  Rock,”  in  fact,  the  river  imparts 
life,  character,  and  relief,  widely  different  from  what  a  lake  wmuld  afford 
in  such  a  scene,  or  a  placid  river  like  the  Thames  at  Richmond  as  seen 
from  the  Terrace. 
Rich  plantations  of  trees  and  shrubs  extend  along  the  hillsides  to  the 
“  Cottage,”  and  beyond,  a  detailed  list  of  which  would  occupy  more  space 
than  the  Editor  could  spare  or  I  should  be  disposed  to  fill.  But  reference 
must  be  made  to  some  of  the  finest  specimen  trees,  especially  among  the 
Conifers,  the  majority  of  which  are  so  thoroughly  at  home.  The  Firs  are 
represented  by  handsome  giants  furnished  from  the  ground  to  the  apex 
with  vigorous  branches  and  possessing  the  distinguishing  tints  of  health. 
For  example,  Abies  Albertiana  may  be  noted,  the  height  being  nearly 
60  feet,  and  numerous  as  are  good  specimens  of  this  Fir  throughout  the 
country,  there  are  few  to  surpass  this  in  symmetry  and  condition.  At 
Castle  Menzies  in  Perthshire  there  is  a  tree  72  feet  high,  and  that  is  the 
highest  known  to  me.  Abies  concolor,  though  only  some  35  feet  high,  is 
an  excellent  specimen  of  this  beautiful  Fir,  the  same  remarks  applying 
to  it  as  to  the  preceding  ;  but  at  Linton  Park,  Maidstone,  is  a  tree  of 
the  species  64  teet  high  which  is  shown  to  visitors  with  a  great  deal  of 
pride.  _ 
Abies  Douglasi,  80  feet  in  height,  and  12  feet  in  diameter  at  3  feet 
from  the  ground,  is  superb  in  all  respects,  and  though  it  is  surpassed  by 
the  Dropmore  Douglas  Fir  in  mere  height,  which  is  estimated  at  120  feet, 
I  do  not  think  it  is  equalled  in  other  points.  Abies  grandis  is  a  magni¬ 
ficent  Fir  when  seen  like  it  is  at  Endsleigh  over  50  feet  high  and 
beautifully  proportioned.  Of  Abies  Morinda  there  are  several  specimens 
about  40  feet  in  height,  while  A.  nobilis  runs  up  to  65  feet,  A.  Nord- 
manniana  to  70  feet,  and  A.  pectinata  to  100  feet.  I  do  not  know  a  taller 
and  better  developed  A.  Nordmanniana,  and  I  have  only  heard  of  two 
specimens  of  A.  pectinata  of  greater  size  in  cultivation. 
The  Pines  are  not  so  remarkable  as  the  Firs,  for  though  there  are 
several  large  specimens,  they  have  either  suffered  in  gales  or  the  lower 
branches  have  died  away.  It  is  thought  that  the  south-westerly  slopes 
are  too  hot  for  them,  and  that,  notwithstanding  the  heavy  rainfall,  the 
moisture  drains  away  from  their  roots  too  quickly.  Still  Pinus  Strobus. 
75  feet  high,  and  Pinus  Laricio,  70  feet,  are  fine  trees  ;  while  an  old 
example  of  Pinus  Montezumae,  though  only  30  feet  high,  is  notable  and 
interesting.  The  last  named  is  a  Mexican  Pine,  which  was  introduced 
by  Hartweg  in  1839,  but  is  generally  regarded  as  not  hardy  in  England, 
though  it  appears  safe  enough  in  Devonshire  and  Cornwall.  It  is  very 
common  and  very  variable  in  its  nati  e  country,  and  to  the  latter  circum¬ 
stance  is  due  the  large  number  of  different  names  that  have  been  bestowed 
upon  it.  For  instance.  Dr.  M.  T.  Masters  gives  no  less  than  fifty -eight 
synonyms.  It  is  rather  unfortunate  that  two  supposed  distinct  Pines, 
selected  to  do  honour  to  a  former  Duke  of  Bedford  and  a  Duke  of  Devon¬ 
shire — i.e.,  Pinus  Russelliana  and  P.  Devoniana,  which  have  both  proved 
to  be  identical  with  the  protean  Pinus  Montezumse  ;  at  least,  that  is  the 
determination  of  the  authority  above  mentioned,  though  in  Veitch’s 
“  Manual  of  the  Coniferte  ”  it  is  said  the  specimen  of  P.  Russelliana  at 
