IIG THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



dozen distinct kinds of Eicinus suitable to the same purpose, their stately 

 growth and palmate leaves giving them a noble distinctness for the centres 

 of large beds. For ordinary uses the best are — Africanus, albidus, with 

 silvery stems ; obermanni, red ; purpureus, purple ; or better still, purpureus 

 major, and sanguineus, which produces large bunches of glowing crimson 

 fruit. Then the bold peltate-leaved Farfugium grande comes into the 

 same catalogue with only one objection, that snails and slugs will leave 

 almost eveiy plant in its vicinity to feast upon it, and utterly spoil its 

 beauty. Among large-leaved plants, the Farfugium is without an equal 

 when well grown, and offers a really tropical contrast to begonias and 

 cannas by its unique style of colouring. Where subjects of this class are 

 to be used on a systematic plan, there will be help needed from less 

 tender classes, and we shall have no difficulty in supplying any desiderata 

 among the colours required from the purple orach, Perilla INankinensis, 

 Rumex sanguinea, Chenopodium atriplicis, and purpurea, and the varie- 

 gated reeds and grasses. It may be only right to remark that in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of ordinary bedding plants, such as geraniums and 

 verbenas, tropical looking plants usually appear out of place and inconsis- 

 tent, they require a compartment detached in some way from the high- 

 coloured geometric patterns, where their peculiar beauties may be 

 enjoyed without detriment through the proximity of effects more gaudy 

 but perhaps not more refined. 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



KoYAL Botanic, Apil 24.— This was a good show of miscellaneous plants, 

 Messrs. Cutbush and Mr. Young contrii)uted hj^acinths still in fine con- 

 dition. Mr. James of Isleworth, and the Eev. G. Jeanes of Alford, sent 

 well-bloomed collections of auriculas, cinerarias, pelargoniums, azaleas ; and 

 variegated plants were plentiful and generally good. Among the novelties, 

 the following were plants of special merit — G-oniopteris reptans, a West 

 Indian fern ; Athyrium filix-foemina var. Frizellia?, a charming variety of 

 our English lady-fern ; Pteris rubro-nervia, a free-growing fern, inferior, 

 we think, to the species and varieties of Pteris of recent introduction; Auri- 

 cula Negress, from Mr. Turner, a fine chocolate-coloured self. 



HoTAL HoETicTJLTUEAL SociETY, May 1. — The anniversary meeting was 

 held in the Council Iloom, at the Garden in South Kensington. The Earl 

 Ducie in the chair : and amongst those present were Lord Llanover, Earl 

 Grey, the Bishop of Winchester, Sir J. Boileau, Bart., Eight Hon. T. F. 

 Kennedy, Colonel Higgins, Mr. W. Westmacott, Mr. H. M. Hope, Mr, 

 Wentworth Dilke, etc. etc. Mr. Murray, the assistant secretary read the 

 report which stated that — " Notwithstanding the imperfections caused by 

 many unexpected obstacles, the council feel bound to open the gardens on 

 the 5th of June. Some portions of them will not be in such a state of com- 

 pleteness as they could wish, and it may be matter for the grave considera- 

 tion of tlie new council whether, after the formal and ceremonial opening 

 and great show on the 5th and 6th of June, the gardens should not be again 

 closed for a short period, for the finishing of the works. One of the works 

 to which the council allude is the memorial of the Exhibition of 1851, now 

 executing by Mr. Joseph Durham ; which, as Fellows are already aware, has 

 been placed at the disposal of the society by the committee entrusted with 

 its supervision. Another feature which will not be ready by the 5th of June 

 IS the supply of water. After anxious consideration, the council decided on 



