MARCH. 89 



particular notice, more especially B. papillosa and B. conchifolia ; the 

 former is a very sll0^vy flowering kind, with pendulous cymes of large 

 white flowers ; the latter is of a dwarf habit similar to B. Umbilicus, 

 with less showy flowers, though much more abundant : it has been 

 recently introduced from the Continent. Niphgea rubida is a neat- 

 looking evergreen dwarf-herb, which is exceedingly pretty during 

 winter ; it has velvety leaves, with a red stalk and white floAvers, with 

 a yellow centre. It is easily cultivated in a moist stove ; several 

 specimens of it here now in flower have a charming appearance. 

 Several Orchids are in flower, among which may be mentioned an 

 Ansellia from Natal, introduced in 1852. Its pseudo bulbs are 

 similar to those of A. africana, with this advantage, that the pannicles 

 are not only produced from the apex, but all up the pseudo-bulbs ; 

 its flowers are fragrant, the sepals and petals are of a light yellow, 

 and the lip of a deeper yellow, without the Spots or markings, of A. 

 africana. Ly caste macrobulbon, a new Grenada species in the way 

 of L. cruenta, is developing its large flowers, which are yellow, and 

 spotted at the base of the column. Eriopsis rutidobulbon, Dendro- 

 bium pierardi, D. speciosum, and a few other Dendrobes ; with Pha- 

 laenopsis, Oncidiums, and a few others of minor importance, are also 

 at present in flower. 



Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. J. Houlston. 



GEOUPING TULIPS. 



It has been a time-honoured usage to arrange Tulips at planting in 

 order that their colours may be so varied and diversified that no two 

 blooms at all similar shall be in juxtaposition. To effect this, one 

 plan is to begin with a rose, then to take a bybloemen, next a 

 bizarre; and so to continue throughout the entire bed. A more 

 artistic plan, on a similar principle, is to plant the first and seventh 

 of each row with the same variety, say a rose ; the second and 

 sixth the same, a bybloemen ; the third and fifth the same, a bizarre ; 

 the fourth, or middle flower, of the same class as the first and seventh, 

 but of a taller growth ; the next row must then begin and end 

 with bybloemens ; the second and sixth Avith bizarres, the third and 

 fifth wdth roses, and the fourth or centre with a byblozmen. On 

 this plan a bed may be made to assume a well diversified appear- 

 ance at blooming time ; yet season after season do we have the same 

 monotonous arrangement, without change or novelty, except in indi- 

 vidual specimens. 



I have this year broken the time-honoured rule above alluded to, 

 and in place of this mixed style have adopted that of masses ; yes, 

 even masses in my best Tulip-bed ! A bed of one hundred rows, of 

 seven bulbs each, i. e. seven hundred bulbs in the whole, is sub- 

 divided into a series of beds of colours, by planting rows of the same 

 colour, and not simply the row ; for to produce the intended effect, 



