November  .8,  19-1.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
491 
next  entered.  In  the  first  house  some  forty  or  more  plants 
in  Sin  plxts  of  Hydrangea  Otaska  monstrosa,  with  trusses  of 
12in  and  14in  in  diameter,  were  especially  fine,  and  much 
admired,  in  the  next  house  sixty  healthy  Gardenias  in  7m 
pots  were  on  view,  and  from  the  roof  suspended  the  lovely 
Gloriosa  superba  in  flower.  Again  in  the  next  division  weie 
a  couple  of  dozen  plants  of  Gymbidium  Lowianum  that 
attracted  attention  from  their  vigour ;  also  Cypripedium 
Harrisianum  superbum  finely  flowering.  Amongst  Cypri- 
pediums  were  C.  callosum  coloratum,  C.  giande,  and  C. 
Sedeni  ;  together  with  Oncidium  ampliatum.  A  dozen 
plants  on  blocks  of  Cattleya  citrina,  suspended  from  the  roof, 
were  in  glowing  health,  and  some  three  or  four  plants  were 
flowering,  one  of  which  had  three  exquisite  yellow  flowers. 
In  the  next  division,  such  favourites  as  Cattleya  labiata 
autumnalis,  C.  Harrisonise,  and  Lselia  harpophylla  were  in 
first  rate  health 
pointed  out.  Mr.  Taylor  has  a  stock  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
plants  of  this  Calla,  most  of  which  are  flowering  corms, 
which  stock  was  raised  from  two  plants. — F.  Street. 
Chrysanthemum  Groups. 
Finishing  Off  the  Base. 
In  the  arrangement  of  Chrysanthemum  groups  of  flower¬ 
ing  Mants  it  is  obvious  that,  if  the  plants  employed  are  at 
all  tall  in  growth,  material  of  some  kind  must  be  used  to 
finish  off  the  base.  Decorative  foliage  plants  and  Ferns 
arranged  judiciously  will  make  the  finish  as  well  as  any- 
flrinp,  and  to  a  great  extent  hide  the  stems.  I  have  seen 
roups  finished  off  with  nothing  but  a  banked-up  heap  of 
sphagnum  moss.  Should  the  plants  be  very  tall,  and  have 
Brougham  Hall, 
The  span-roofed  stove  (140ft  long)  has  recently  been 
heightened  and  re-roofed.  It  is  most  delightfully  arranged, 
the  six  arches  spanning  the  pathway  being  clothed  with 
Thunbergia  alata,  Begonia  President  Carnot. and  Phyllanthus 
nivosus.  A  fine  collection  of  Caladiums  are  in  this  house, 
some  of  the  best  varieties  being  included  and  grown  well, 
both  as  large  and  small  plants.  Andropogon  Schaenanthus 
(Lemon  Grass)  was  represented  by  a  score  of  plants,  and  fine 
decorative  stock  they  make.  Handsome  leaved  Anthuriums, 
along  with  Acalypha  musaica,  A.  marginata,  and  Panax 
Victoriae  call  for  special  not:ce,  as  also  many  fine  plants  of 
Dracena  Baptisti,  D.  hybrida,  and  Acalypha  hispid  a.  The 
stages  were  draped  with  Panicum  variegatum,  and  suspended 
from  the  roof  were  quantities  of  Dendrobium  Phalaenopsis 
Schroderianum,  Calanthe  Sandhurstiana,  and  C.  William 
Murray  all  making  free  and  robust  growth.  In  a  cool  house 
under  "the  stages,  Calla  Elliotiana  in  a  dormant  state  was 
W  estmorelancb 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  a  large  proportion  of  the  lower 
leaves,  the  moss  fails  to  hide  the  stems  for  their  complete 
length. 
In  a  group  I  once  saw  the  centre  was  a  forest  of  bare 
stems,  sticks,  and  pot  rims.  If  the  heaped-up  bank  of  moss 
in  the  front  had  been  distributed  over  the  whole  surface 
of  the  pots  a  much  better  effect  would  have  been  obtained. 
This  might  have  been  enhanced  by  a  score  of  dwarf  foliage 
plants  arranged  round  the  base  with  their  pots  buried  in 
the  moss.  With  a  plentiful  supply,  however,  of  suitable 
decorative  foliage  plants  and  Ferns  the  aid  of  moss  could 
be  dispensed  with,  though  a  supply  might  be  useful  in  the 
arrangements.  A  few  of  the  most  useful  irlants  which  can 
be  employed  in  finishing  off  a  "X’oup  consist  of  Adiantum 
cuneatum',  Acalphya,  Aspidistra,  Abutilons,  Crotons, 
Dracaenas,  Eulalias,  Isolepis,  Nephrolepis,  Panicum,  and 
Palms. — E.  D. 
