FEBRUARY. 35 



time, and should be cut away. There is some difference of opinion 

 respecting the effect that Pansies will produce when thus shewn ; 

 my belief is that they will look exceedingly well ; but I do not see 

 the reason why cut blooms should not be shewn also. Twenty-four 

 finely grown and well- arranged varieties form a beautiful and inter- 

 esting object ; and the great number of admirers usually seen crowd- 

 ing round them at the exhibitions proves this in a very satisfactory 

 manner. 



Royal Nursery, Slovgh. Charles Turner. 



NOTES FROM THE EOYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, 



AND OF NEW PLANTS FIGURED IN CONTEMPORARY PERIODICALS. 



Amongst the herbaceous plants that bloom during the winter months are the 

 various kinds of Hellebore, commonly known under the name of Christmas Roses, 

 on account of their flowers being developed about that period. They are hardv, 

 evergreen, dwarf in habit, and well adapted for beds or borders ; some of them 

 have very showy flowers, which remain for a considerable time in perfection. The 

 following are a few of the best, and aie well worth cultivation. If planted in 

 light soil and in a somewhat sheltered situation, they produce abundance of large 

 showy l)lossoms in the dreary months of the year. 



IIellebouus oi.ympicus. This species grows about a foot high, with five or 

 seven serrated radical leaves on the apex of a footstalk. The flowers are two 

 inches and a half in diameter, of a light pink, and are terminal, on an erect 

 branching leafy stem. It is a native of India. 



H. NIGER. This is a native of Austria, and is generally well known; it has 

 smooth serrated shining radical leaves, and large whitish flowers two mches and 

 a half in diameter, one or two being placed on an erect scape, which grows about 

 six inches high. 



H. RUBESCENS. A vcry pretty species, having smooth serrated radical leaves, 

 and purplish red flowers which are terminal, on an erect branching stem, about 

 a foot high. 



H. ATRORUBENs. Grows about a foot high, is very showy, and has serrated 

 radical leaves, witli terminal flowers two inches and a half in diameter, of a dark 

 red colour, on an erect branching stem. 



H. viRiDis. An ornamental species found in Germany, Italy, France, and 

 England. It grows a foot and a half high, and has green terminal flowers on a 

 branching stem. 



CiiiMo.NANTHUs FRAGRANS. This beautiful hardy Japanese shrub is one of 

 the earliest flowering kinds we possess. It is nearly allied to the Calycanthus, 

 or American Alspice. When trained against a wall, it has a charming' ett'cct at 

 this season. The flowers are produced copiously along the branches without 

 leaves, they are of a yellow and brown colour, and have a delicious fragrance. 

 This is an old plant, but it is one that merits extensive cultivation. 



Gladiolus natalensis, var. roseo-purpureus. Few bulbous or tuberous 

 pilants so amply reward the cultivator, with alnmdance of showy flowers as the 

 Corn-flag. Many of them are extremely beautiful ; and when ])lanted in beds 

 or borders of light soil, they produce a profusion of richly coloured flowers 

 towards the end of summer. The present variety has flowers about three inches 

 in diameter, of a deep rose-red marked with deeper purple-red. Oldfordiensis 

 is another beautiful variety. The flowers are aliout three inches in diameter, of 

 a delicate salmony flesh-colour marked with purple, and they are arranged in 

 a dense spike near eighteen inches long. Both these varieties were raised by 

 Mr. Cole, gardener to .F. Willmore, Esq., of Oldford. Figured in the Magazine 

 of Botany for December. 



Ouo.Nr(jGL<>s.si'M ciiuosMi'M. One of the most showy of the genus, and the 



