230 THE FLORIST. 



In the Botanical Magazine for the same month we find — 



The RoscoE Curcuma (C. Roscoeana). An orange- coloured stove-plant, 

 which has been several times exhibited from Syon. 



The Wallich Meconopsis (M.Wallichii). A very handsome blue-flowered 

 plant, from Sikkim Himalaya, which is highly promising. We hope it may 

 prove hardy. 



The Greemsh-brown Calanthe (C. viridi-fusca). A not very striking 

 Orchid, from Assam. 



The Jamaica Ebony (Brya ebenus). A yellow pea-flowered stove-shrub, or 

 small tree, which must be very handsome. 



The Hairy-stemmed Calanthe (C. vestita). A pale-coloured Orchid, now 

 found in most collections. 



The Sea-shore Malcolmia (M. littorea). A beautiful hardy plant, with 

 pale green aspect and pink flowers, somewhat resembling those of a Phlox. 



The following notices are from Kew . 



ScABiosA CAUCASiCA. This is an admirable species for a border or the centre 

 of a bed ; it grows about two or three feet high, and forms a large tuft ; the flowers 

 are two inches and a half in diameter, and of a pale blue. 



ScABioSA CAUCASICA, var. ELEGANS. This variety has a very compact close 

 habit, it grows about a foot high, has narrow lanceolate leaves, and large flowers 

 of a light blue. These species of Scabious are all hardy evergreen perennials, 

 and with the others above noticed are all at present (July) in flower at Kew. 



NiEREMBERGiA CALYCiNA. Several species of this genus are in cultivation ; 

 they are very pretty greenhouse plants, of dwarf habit, and useful in pots for 

 purposes of decoration throughout the summer. The usual state of N. calycina, 

 as found among collections, is a small and rather straggling-growing ever- 

 green trailer. It is a very interesting species, and is useful as a bedding-out 

 plant, when, if properly treated, it forms one of the neatest and prettiest beds 

 that could be desired, the flowers being white, and very large for the size of the 

 plant, and the foliage small ; when in flower it has a very great resemblance 

 to a species of Dryas. To form a small bed, a dozen or eighteen plants would 

 be required ; and if well regulated and kept pegged close down, they will soon 

 cover the entire surface, and when in flower they have a pleasing eff'ect ; the 

 flowers being about an inch and a half high, and each one inch in diameter ; 

 they thickly cover the whole bed for a considerable time during the summer. 

 It is a valuable plant for the flower-garden, as there are not many bedding-out 

 plants that have white flowers. In addition to N. calycina the following white- 

 flowered plants form good beds : Rosa alba, Petunia nyctaginiflora, Campanula 

 carpatica alba, Verbena teucrioides alba. 



NiEREMBERGiA FiLiCAULis (N. graclHs of gardens) is a slender, rather erect- 

 growing, and much-branching kind ; it forms a tolerably good bedding-plant if 

 planted rather thickly, and pegged closely down, in a situation that is somewhat 

 sheltered ; being a very delicate plant, it is apt to suffer from wind or heavy rains. 

 It grows about a foot high, the flowers being lilac and white, with a yellow centre. 

 To grow it in perfection, it must be kept as a pot-plant in a greenhouse or con- 

 servatory, where the flowers will be dry ; they are then much more abundant, and 

 make a beautiful display during summer. 



AcHiMENES MULTiFLORA. This is One of the most lovely of this beautiful 

 genus ; it is familiar to most cultivators, and is found in nearly all collections, yet 

 one rarely sees a good specimen of it ; being a difficult plant to manage, it rarely 

 attains that perfection which is observable in most of the other kinds. It requires 

 a moist stove-heat until the flowers begin to expand, then it should be removed 

 to an intermediate house, kept quite dry overhead, and watered cautiously at the 

 root. It should never be kept very wet ; for if at all soddened, it is sure to damp 

 off": a watering should be given, and then it should be allowed to become nearly 

 dry before any more is applied. One plant in a 6-inch pot is quite suflScient, 

 and better than more ; for if too thick, they become crowded, and spoil each other. 

 There is a specimen of it grown under the above treatment at Kew ; it is now 

 two feet high, has nearly sixty expanded flowers upon it, with many more pro- 

 gressing, forming an erect floral pyramid of fifteen inches. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



