56 THE FLORIST. 



would soon become pot-bound, as the Vine makes an abundance of 

 roots ; the soil should be used in a rough state. 



I have found burnt earth very good for drainage, as it will retain 

 all the food the plants want, allowing nothing but clear water to 

 pass from the pots. 



Frogmore, J. Powell. 



NOTES FROM THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, 



AND OF NEW OR RARE PLANTS 

 FIGURED IN CONTEMPORARY PERIODICALS. 



The Botanical Magazine for last month has plates of: 



Hathven's Bifrenaria, a rather pretty Orchid, resembling Steel's Seuticaria. 



The purple Roscoea of Smith, a smaller variety than that usually cultivated. 



Impatiens fasiculata, a Balsam of apparently no great beauty. 



A yellow- flowered Echi.xocactcjs, which is rather handsome, and 



Dryandra nobilis, a pretty Protead, sent by Mr. Drummond from Swan 

 River. 



In Paxton's Flower Garden we find : 



Azalea indica Calycina, a species like Phcenicea, and wanting in many of 

 the essential properties which are esteemed by Florists. 



The true Pentstemon gentianoides, which is quite a different plant from the 

 Pentstemon usually known by that name, and which is in future to be called 

 P. Hartwegii. 



Phal^nopsis rosea, which is now to be found in most collections of Orchids. 



The account of the following plants is supplied from Kew : 



Hypocyrta Gracilis. This trailing evergi-een herbaceous Gesnerad has a 

 habit similar to the trailing species of ^schynanthus. The leaves are fleshy, 

 and about an inch long ; flowers large, according to the size of the plant, be- 

 tween funnel-shaped and bell-shaped, of a creamy white spotted with orange in 

 the inside of the tube. They grow from the axils singly or in pairs. If this spe- 

 cies is grown in a basket suspended from the roof of a moist stove, where its slen- 

 der stems can hang downwards, it will soon cover the basket, and have a very 

 pretty appearance when in flower. 



Adamia versicolor. When well-gro\\Ti this species is truly beautiful, and 

 one that deserves extensive cultivation. The flowers are produced in large heads 

 six to eight inches in diameter, on the ends of rather erect branches, and are of 

 a light-blue colour, remaining for a considerable time in perfection. It grows 

 freely in the moist atmosphere of an ordinary stove, or in an intermediate house, 

 but requires to be stopped back several times while young ; then, with a liberal 

 allowance of pot and head-room, it forms a compact bush about two feet high. 

 A compost of good mellow loam, one half fibry peat, a little leaf-mould and 

 silver-sand, is best to pot it Avith. It is not a scarce plant among collections, 

 though not often cultivated so as to form a good specimen and develop its real 

 character. 



Bletia iiyacinthina. It is somewhat surprising that this hyacinth-like ter- 

 restrial Orchid should not be more generally cultivated, considering that it has 

 been introduced to English gardens nearly fifty years. It is one of the best of 

 the genus, grows about a foot high, and is easily managed in an ordinary stove, 

 while making its growth ; when the leaves are decayed, the pseudo bulbs maybe 

 kept in a dry airy situation on a back shelf or under the stage, until they begin 

 to move, when they should be repotted in a mixture of good mellow loam and 

 fibry peat. A fine variety of it has been lately introduced to Kew from China. 



"SoPHROMTis GRANDiFLORA. This beautiful little gem is one that should 

 be found in every collection of cultivated Orchids. It is the best of all the small 

 kinds ; the plant does not exceed four or five inches in height, and has flowers 

 two inches across, which are of a very deep bright red colour. It is beautifully 

 in flower at Kew now (February). It is a native of Brazil, and was introduced 

 in 1840. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlstox. 



