NOVEMBER. 249 



native of Japan, though naturalised in Guernsey, from whence the 

 bulbs are largely imported to England ; it grows about a foot high, 

 and blossoms without leaves, in an umbel of from seven to eleven 

 moderately large flowers of a deep-rose colour on the apex of the 

 stalk ; it is a very useful plant, if cultivated in pots, for enlivening 

 the greenhouse at this season. About a dozen pots of it, with from 

 one to three bulbs in each, are beautifully in flower in one of the 

 houses here. 



Lapageria rosea, a handsome flowering evergreen shrub, with a 

 habit similar to a Smilax, is one of the most beautiful of autumn- 

 flowering plants, presenting a neat appearance, united with showy 

 flowers ; it richly merits extensive cultivation. It is a suitable kind 

 for pot culture, where it can be trained on a trellis against a pillar, 

 or it may be planted out and trained against a wall. The stems are 

 slender, branching, with smooth ovate-lanceolate coriciceous stalk- 

 leaves, from the axils of which are pendulous lily-like blossoms three 

 inches long, of a deep rose-colour, spotted with white internally. It 

 is a native of Chili, and was introduced in 1847. This plant is cul- 

 tivated at Kew in a greenhouse with a north aspect ; it is planted 

 in light compost, and trained against the wall, and is at present about 

 six feet high ; it appears to be a tolerably free bloomer, several 

 flowers are now expanded, and many more are progressing ; they are 

 very large for the size of the plant, one or two issuing from each 

 axil, of a good colour, thick in substance, and they last for a consi- 

 derable time in perfection. This is one of the most valuable plants 

 for the greenhouse or conservatory, and will no doubt soon find its 

 way into every collection. 



Gynerium argenteum (the Pampas grass of Brazil) is one of the 

 most attractive ornaments of the garden at this period of the year. 

 Many and variable as the kinds in cultivation are, none have such a 

 magnificent appearance as this gigantic grass, or are so highly orna- 

 mental. It is of a coarse habit, with a robust constitution ; it is 

 hardy in the south of England, but in the north it may possibly re- 

 quire some slight protection during severe weather. It grows freely 

 in common garden soil, and soon forms itself into large tufts. To 

 grow it successfully, so as to have it most eff'ective, it should be 

 planted on a clump, with a few dwarf-growing things around it ; but 

 it is far preferable to keep it as a single specimen on some corner of 

 the lawn, or in some situation where there is plenty of head room. 

 A splendid specimen of it is now growing here ; the leaves are narrow, 

 eight to ten feet long, and sharply serrated on both sides ; it has 

 twenty-seven flower-stems, each about the thickness of one's finger, 

 and eleven feet high; on the apex of each is a pannicle two feet long, 

 which beneath bright sunshine looks like a large feather spangled 

 with silver. 



Kew. J. HouLSTON. 



NEW SERIES. VOL. II. NO. XXIU 



