178 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



RAJJSOMES POCKET FILTER. 



Mr. Ransome has applied his patent 

 siliceous stone to the manufacture of filters, 

 with decided success. When at Cannon-row 

 lately, inspecting some of the ornamental 

 stone-work for gardens, we saw, and secured 

 for our own use, one of the pocket filters, 

 made for the use of the troops in India. It 



consists of a small stone cylinder, to which 

 is attached an India-rubber tube, and ivory 

 mouth-piece. By placing it in water, and 

 drawing through the tube, a pure and re- 

 freshing draught is obtained, however muddy 

 the supply may be, the water being thoroughly 

 filtered in passing, by the force of suction, 

 through the stone. — [Price 3s. 6d.] 



SEEDLING FUCHSIAS— PLANTS FOR COOL GREENHOUSE. 



Some time back, you suggested that the 

 Fuchsia would be a good subject on which 

 the amateur might try his skill at cross- 

 breeding. I have been in the habit of 

 raising seedlings for some years past, but 

 have never been rewarded with a really fine 

 flower, although I. have saved seed from the 

 best; but that is not very much to be 

 wondered at, because the whole race has so 

 much improved during the last six or seven 

 years, that the best variety of one season 

 is eclipsed, and out of date in the following. 



I now want to know what is the best 

 treatment to cause seedlings to bloom as 

 soon as possible, and the best varieties from 

 which to save seed. 



I have about two hundred plants raised 

 this spring from seeds saved from " Prince 

 Albert," "Prince of Wales," "Venus di 

 Medicis," crossed with pollen of " Empress 

 Eugenie," and vice versa. I discard all 

 varieties not first-rate form, good habit, and 

 hardy constitutions. " Mrs. Storey," for in- 

 stance, I and many others cannot get to hold 

 its blooms at all, and what is the use of a 

 flower, however beautiful, with such a fault, 

 and with so tender a constitution? Again, 

 there is " Queen of Hanover," which is, I 

 think, the most profusely blooming light 

 flower out, but it does not reflex, and has 

 a long tube. I hope the day is near when 

 these long tubed dirty whites, and dull reds, 

 will be driven out of the Floral World, and 

 be replaced by a race of tubeless, reflexed, 

 wide sepalled, cupped, and double corrolla'd 

 ones. I believe we have F. Fulgens, and F. 

 Globosa, to thank for the mischief, for, 

 although good enough of themselves, yet, 

 like the produce of many animals of the 

 same species, their seedlings are mongrels, 

 and worse than their parents. 



Few who saw the Acacias at the Crystal 

 Palace in the spring, would not wish to be 

 possessors of similar ; and it struck me that 

 we have rather neglected these tall spirv 

 kinds. I noted down the names of two or 

 three, hoping to be able to get them, but 

 cannot succeed. Is it against your rule to 

 inform me where I can obtain them, at a 



reasonable price? Among them were dodnnae- 

 folia, virgata. and others with long foliage, 

 and pendant shoots; these kinds I prefer to 

 the pinnated bushy sorts, as growing much 

 more gracefully, and giving an agreeable 

 variation to the usual flatness and formality 

 which our plant-houses usually present in 

 winter and spring. 



To the subjoined list of greenhouse plants, 

 I wish you would add a few notes to assist 

 me in a selection, by giving me the numbers 

 of those which may be safely trusted in a 

 house where the average winter temperature 

 of 38 to 40 clegs, is aimed at, but which fre- 

 quently, from my absence from home till six 

 o'clock p.m., falls to 35 degs. 



1. Acacias, all the kinds 



2. Abutilon venosum, and striatum 



3. Aphelexis 



4. Boronias 



5. Bossioea 



6. Burchellia Capensis 



7. Aotus graciliana 



8. Correas 



9. Coleonema rubra 



10. Dillwynia 



11. Eutaxia myrtifolia 



12. Eriostemons 



13. Hibbertia 



14. Indigofera 



15. Linum tryginum 

 16 Magnolia fuscata' 



17. Mirbelia 



18. Pimelea 



19. Polygala 



20. Witseuia corymbosa 



21. Kennedyas 



22. Mauraltia 



23. Mitraria coccinea 



24. Podolobium 



25. Pultenia 



26. Tetratheca 



CLIMBERS. 



27. Kennedya nigricans 



28. Bignouia Capreolata 



29. Mandevillea suaveolens 



30. Dolichos lignosus 



31. Tacsonia mollissima 



32. Tecoma jasminoides 



