8 THE FLORIST. 



valuable winter-blooming conservatory plant, but somehow or other it 

 is sadly mismanaged at times. It should be grown freely early in 

 summer, and then checked, and its wood ripened early in autumn, so 

 as to induce freedom of blooming in winter. Two or three houses 

 devoted expressly to new and rare plants, many of which are not yet 

 proved, are of the greatest interest, as well as one or two pri-vate 

 gardens, in which new shrubs, herbaceous plants, &c., are planted for 

 proving. In one of these, we noticed the true Embothrium coccineum, 

 which has a broad leaf, and was well set with flower buds and is quite 

 hardy. We have however seen another species with a narrow leaf, 

 under the same name, but the latter seems to be Embothrium salici- 

 folium, and is not liardy. We also noticed a new hardy herbaceous 

 plant named Phygelium capense, which of course was not in bloom at 

 that late season of the year, but we were told it vvras a welcome addition 

 to this very useful class of plants, as was a new scarlet hardy Delphi- 

 nium cardiiiale, the entire stock of which is in the hands ot Messrs. 

 Veitch and Son. Will not this plant indeed be a valuable acquisition ? 

 The beautiful little Leptodactylom cahfornicum was blooming freely, 

 and seen.s to require the same treatment as Roellia ciliata, and is a 

 delightful winter blooming plant. In the Orchid house the charming 

 Utile Sonerila margaritacea, with its spotted foliage and pale pink 

 flowers with bright yellow stamens, was blooming freely, and the 

 various species of Ansectochilus were growing freely in a much drier 

 atmosi here, and with less nursing, than we generally see adopted, and 

 whicli seems to be quite unnecessary. In this house was the beautiful 

 Ouvirandra fenestralis, or lattice plant, immersed in tepid water, and 

 growing luxuriantly. What an interesting plant this is ; the leaf being 

 so totally different to that ot other plants, and a woodcut of which shall 

 be given in our next number. 



Close to the principal entrance of Messrs. Lucombe, Pince and Co.'s 

 home nursery, is the original Lucombe Oak, now a noble tree, the 

 trunk of which is several feet in circumference. At the entrance to the 

 show house are two superb pyramidal Irish Yews in tubs, and in the 

 show house, which is 120 feet in length by 18 feet in width, w-as a 

 display of flowers such as we seldom meet with at this dormant season 

 of the year. Several fine plants of Fuchsia Dominiana w'ere in full 

 bloom, as well as Primulas, Chrysanthemums, and other blooming 

 plants. Several plants of the Pampas Grass in bloom were gi'ouped 

 among other things, and produced a very pleasing effect. Close by is 

 the Camellia house, a noble structure, 240 feet in length by 24 feet in 

 width, and filled with splendid specimens of Camehias loaded with buds. 

 These are all carefully thinned to one bud at the point of each shoot. 

 Passing through the Camellia house we enter upon the Rockery, situated 

 in a circle, the diameter of which is about 150 feet, and enclosed by a 

 thick Laurel hedge, several feet in height. Here is to be found a piece 

 of rockwork, arranged with truly artistic skill. What was once an 

 ordinary basin for a fountain, has, by the skilful arrangement of large 

 blocks of stone, been converted into rocks and caverns, between which a 

 stream of water passes gently on. A natural ruggedness is thrown over 

 the whole, and various plants suitable to the locality are charmingly 



