446 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  26,  1898. 
places,  we  would  congratulate  Mr.  Harris  on  the  condition  of  the 
plants  and  on  the  cleanliness  that  prevails  throughout  the  Orchid 
department. 
SUNNINGDALE  PABK. 
Let  us  now  go  further  afield.  This  journey  to  Sunningdale  Park 
recalls  vividly  to  mind  the  last  occasion  on  which  we  had  the  pleasure 
of  meeting  Mr.  F.  J,  Thorne  at  home.  1  remember  well  that  it  was 
on  a  hot  July  day,  two  years  hack,  when  a  start  was  made  from 
London  to  Euglefield  Green,  to  ^ee  Baron  Schroder’s  Orchids,  whence 
a  walk  of  four  miles  or  so  across  Windsor  Park  brought  us  to 
Sunningdale.  This  time  the  route  was  altered,  and  the  latter  was 
placed  first,  with  the  object  of  driving  to  The  Dell.  The  plan  was  carried 
out  successful!}^,  and  instead  of  being  broiled  in  the  sun  it  was  a  case 
of  being  drenched  in  the  rain.  The  fortune  of  war,  it  may  be  said — well, 
it  was  accepted  with  resignation,  and  both  collections  of  Orchids  were 
seen,  with  one  or  two  other  things  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  interesting. 
The  invitation  from  Mr.  Thorne  to  “come  to  breakfast”  was 
accepted  literally,  and  we  (for  I  had  a  companion)  arrived  at  the 
gardens  about  9.30.  Entering  beneath  Mrs.  Thorne’s  arch  of  Roses 
and  Clematis  montana,  the  latter  in  full  bloom,  and  having  accepted 
hospitality,  we  turned  with  continued  plersure  to  other  matters. 
Major  Joicey’s  Orchids  are  remarkable  for  quality  far  more  than  they 
are  for  quantity — indeed,  so  far  as  mere  numbers  are  concerned  it  is 
surpassed  by  many,  but  in  the  excellence  of  the  culture  none  is  before 
it.  House  space  is  all  too  limited  for  the  grand  plants  that  are  grown, 
but  the  deep  and  practical  interest  taken  in  their  culture  by  Mrs. 
Joicey  and  Mr.  Joicey,  jun.,  as  well  as  the  Major,  augurs  well  for 
future  extensions.  There  can  be  no  question,  judging  from  the 
condition  of  the  stock  now  held,  that  the  grower  will  rise  with  any 
developments  that  may  come.  _ 
At  the  present  moment  the  plants  of  Odontoglossum  (Miltonia) 
vexillarium,  of  which  there  are  nearly  100,  are  making  the  brightest 
display.  Small  plants  and  large  are  producing  spikes  of  from  seven  to 
fifteen  handsome,  shapely  flowers  of  varying  shades.  The  leaves 
are  quite  as  good  as  the  flowers,  for  they  glow  with  the  rich  hue  of 
health.  Two  sides  of  a  span-roofed  house  are  devoted  to  them,  and 
no  plants  could  occupy  the  space  with  greater  credit  to  both  owner 
and  grower.  These  are  a  specialty  of  IMr.  Thorne’s,  which  other 
Odontoglossums,  such  as  forms  of  crispum,  are  not.  Yet  the  latter 
are  admirably  cultivated  and  produce  hard  foliage  and  flowers  of  good 
form  and  substance.  0.  hastilabium  was  observed  in  splendid  con¬ 
dition,  as  was  Houlletia  tigrina  in  the  same  house. 
Foremost  in  this  collection,  from  a  purely  cultural  point  of  view, 
ought  to  be  placed  Diacrium  (Epidendrum)  bicornutum,  to  which 
reference  was  made  by  a  correspondent  in  the  Journal  on  April  21st 
last.  Several  of  the  plants  there  adverted  to  are  still  in  flower.  Then, 
too,  Anguloas  are  grand,  particularly  conspicuous  being  a  plant  of 
Ruckeri  sanguinea,  producing  several  twin-flowered  scapes.  In 
addition  to  the  few  which  it  is  here  possible  to  enumerate,  there  are 
some  capital  Cattleyas,  Lselias,  Oncidiums,  Sobralias,  Dendrobiums, 
Coelogynes,  Masdevallias,  with  several  rarer  Orchids  of  chiefly  botanical 
interest,  and  an  excellent  stock  of  Cypripediums,  comprising  species  and 
varieties  of  more  than  average  merit.  As  an  example  of  this,  it  is 
only  necessary  to  name  Major  Joicey’s  variety  of  Exul,  which  received 
from  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  a  first-class  certificate,  and  was 
figured  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  for  April  9th,  1896. 
Like  most  other  orchidists,  the  Sunningdale  grower  has  become 
bitten  with  the  fever  for  hybridisation,  and  scores  of  his  “babies”  are 
to  be  seen  on  every  hand.  The  labels  tell  of  interesting  crosses  that 
have  from  time  to  time  been  made,  and  it  can  only  be  hoped  that  the 
strenuous  efforts  that  have  been  made  will  be  rewarded  with  success. 
The  secrets  of  the  splendid  results  that  have  been  attained  to  by  Mr. 
Thorne  he  considers  are  studying  the  natural  habitats  of  the  plants, 
and  copying  them  as  closely  as  possible,  with  perfect  cleanliness  of 
plants,  pots,  and  structures.  These  points  are  so  simple  that  everyone 
ought  to  be  able  to  copy  them,  and  doubtless  they  would  be  rewarded 
for  their  efforts. 
The  Dell. 
As  has  been  said,  the  drive  to  The  Dell  was  made  in  pouring  rain, 
but  we  were  more  than  rewarded  by  the  sight  of  the  Orchids  and  the 
welcome  accorded  by  both  Mr.  H,  Ballantyne  and  his  skilful  grower 
Mr.  Clarke.  Where  such  a  collection  of  Orchids  as  that  which  is  here 
seen  can  be  found  it  would  be  difficult  to  say,  and  in  some  respects  it 
cannot  be  disputed  that  Baron  Schroder’s  stock  is  unrivalled.  Prohahly 
no  individual  gentleman  has  been  so  assiduous  as  the  Baron  in 
collating  all  that  is  rare  and  good  in  the  Orchid  world,  and  his  success 
is  nothing  short  of  remarkable.  But  his  generous  monetary  outlay 
would  have  availed  him  little  had  he  not  had  skilful  practical  support 
This  was  forthcoming  in  every  respect  from  Mr.  Ballantine  and 
Mr.  Clarke,  the  latter  of  whom  acted  as  guide  through  the  houses. 
Not  one  or  two,  but  many  of  The  Dell  Orchids  are  unique,  and 
their  value  cannot  be  estimated.  This  is  more  especially  the  case  in 
the  Odontoglossum  crispum  section.  One  has  but  to  think  of  the  half 
dozen  varieties  named  Baroness  Schroder,  apiatum,  Stevensi,  Starlight, 
nobilias,  and  Ballantinei  to  realise  the  rarity  of  the  collection, 
though  neither  these  nor  a  score  of  others  that  could  readily  be 
enumerated  can  convey  any  idea  of  the  grand  results  that  are  secured 
by  good  culture.  Splendid  spikes  carrying  upwards  of  a  dozen  flowers 
are  abundant,  while  others  with  over  a  score  of  flowers  are  not  un¬ 
common.  Another  extraordinary  point  is  the  extent  to  which  varieties 
improve  at  The  Dell.  For  example,  0.  c.  S’arlight  procured  a  year 
ago  is  far  superior  in  all  respects  to  the  flowers  shown  by  IMr.  R. 
Brooman  White  of  Ardarroch. _ 
Dendrobiums  are  now  making  a  very  beautiful  display,  especially 
such  as  Farmer!,  thyrsiflorum  in  variety,  and  others.  The  plants  are 
very  healthy  and  the  flowers  peculiarly  rich  in  colour.  Vanda  teres, 
though  not  yet  in  full  bloom,  is  very  promising,  and  the  few  in  flower 
are  of  excellent  quality.  Odontoglossum  species  and  hybrids,  with 
Miltonia  vexillaria,  are  seen  on  every  hand,  as  are  Oncidiums,  some  of 
which  are  in  flower  and  some  in  bud.  The  spikes  on  these  are  of 
immense  length  and  substance.  In  various  houses  is  a  superb  assort¬ 
ment  of  Cypripediums,  including  callosum  Sanderte,  Hyeanuin,  Stonei 
and  Stonei  platytsenium,  the  white  bellatulum,  and  grand  Ibrms  of 
several  of  the  better  known  kinds.  Sobralias,  Aerides,  Saccolabiums, 
Cochlioda  Noezliana,  Maxillarias,  Masdevallias,  Anguloas,  Calanthes, 
and  Coelogynes  are  met  with  in  force  as  the  houses  are  traversed,  and 
almost  without  exception  their  condition  is  good. 
Another  feature  is  the  stock  of  Cattleyas,  Laelias,  and  Lselio- 
Cattleyas,  which  is  nothing  short  of  wonderful  in  its  extent  and 
variety.  Many,  of  the  Cattleyas  here,  as  elsewhere  this  season,  are 
somewhat  later,  but  the  splendid  plants  will  be  resplendent  in  the 
course  of  a  very  few  days.  Of  those  in  flower,  C.  intermedia  alba, 
C.  Skinneri  alba,  forms  of  Mendcli,  and  others  are  very  beautiful, 
and  of  themselves  are  well  worth  seeing.  Add  to  these  the  Laelias 
purpurata  and  Latona,  with  Laelio-Cattleya  Digbyana  Mossiae,  and  a 
conception  may  be  formed  of  the  present  condition  of  affairs.  There 
are  many  hundreds  of  plants  of  all  sizes,  from  the  tiniest  seedling  to 
the  specimen  2  or  3  feet  through,  and  all  appear  to  revel  in  the  treat¬ 
ment  that  is  meted  out  to  them  by  the  grower. 
The  structures  at  The  Dell  devoted  to  Orchids,  as  well  as  those 
occupied  by  fruit  trees  and  flowering  and  foliage  plants,  are  all 
capitally  built  for  the  purpose,  and  the  arrangement  of  them  is  in 
all  respects  admirable.  They  vary  in  height  and  .«hape,  some  being 
lofty,  and  others  very  low,  according  to  the  requirements  of  the 
plants  within  them.  Not  only  are  the  woodwork  and  glass  kept 
scrupulously  clean,  but  the  floors,  stages,  and  pots  also  receive  proper 
attention,  while,  it  is  needless  to  say,  the  plants  themselves  are  never 
neglected.  But  no  more  must  now  be  said,  for  both  time  and  space 
are  exhausted.  In  a  future  issue  reference  will  be  made  to  other 
collections  of  Orchids  which  are  so  well  represented  at  this  moment 
in  the  Temple  Show. — H.  J.  Wright. 
A  “RECORD”  CLUSTER  OF  BANANAS. 
The  enclosed  photograph  shows  a  remarkable  bunch  of  Bananas 
(Musa  Cavendishi)  grown  by  Mr.  F.  Jordan,  head  gardener  to  John 
Corbett,  Esq.,  Impney,  Droitwich.  The  bunch  measured  3  feet  9  inches 
from  the  top  “fingers”  or  pods  to  the  bottom  one,  and  it  weighed 
114  lbs.  when  cut.  It  contained  283  “fingers,”  all  of  very  good  size  and 
uniformly  disposed  from  top  to  bottom.  The  sucker  was  planted  on 
January  15th,  1897,  and  showed  fruit  on  the  27th  last  September, 
consequently  the  fruit  has  been  developed  during  the  dark  and  cold  days 
of  winter  chiefly.  Mr.  Corbett  was  so  pleased  with  the  bunch  that  he 
had  it  photographed.  It  was  weighed  in  the  presence  of  several  men, 
and  the.  figures  given  are  correct.  The  stem  of  the  plant  girthed 
36  inches. 
Impney  Gardens  are  in  the  highest  condition  under  the  fostering  care 
of  Mr.  Jordan,  and  the  owner  encourages  him  by  ungrudging  liberality. 
The  collection  of  plants  has  been  materially  enlarged  (including  a  small 
but  choice  selection  of  Orchids),  and  a  large  span-roofed  house,  1 00  feet  by 
12  feet,  is  being  erected  for  their  accommodation. 
,  Mr.  Corbett  continues  his  benefactions  to  the  town  of  Droitwich  by 
the  building  of  a  new  hotel  (the  Park  Hotel),  replete  with  every  con¬ 
venience  and  thoroughly  homely.  It  is  surrounded  by  about  6  -  acres  of 
ornamental  and  dressed  grounds,  with  a  charming  lake,  and  has  a 
direct  outlook  upon  the  beautiful  park,  which  was  laid  out  by  Mr.  Davis. 
Mr.  Jordan  has  been  engaged  in  laying  out  the  grounds  surrounding  the 
new  hotel,  and  has  to  generally  supervise  the  park  in  addition  to  his 
