MARCH. 71 



been planted out for several years, has been in flower all the winter, 

 bnt it is now past its best. Theljgonum cynocrambe, with its 

 minute flowers dotted all over the surface of the foliage, if not showy, 

 is £. most singular and interesting plant. Inga pulcherrima, an old 

 inhabitant of our stoves, but very rarely seen in bloora, was here 

 very gay. The plant is apetalous, but the rich crimson stamens, 

 produced in lieads at the extremity of the short spurs, render it a 

 most beautiful object. There were several kinds of Ipomoeas in 

 flower, the best of which by far was Rubra coerulia. 



Of greenhouse plants. Camellias, Epacris, Acacias, Cinerarias, 

 Lachenalia tricolor, and Azalea indica, forced bulbs, Scarlet Rho- 

 dodendrons, and hardy Azaleas, made one of the houses in the prin- 

 cipal range as gay as it is possible to be at this season. 



Of plants worthy of especial mention, we must first take the 

 Epacrises. These were seedlings raised by Mr. Ingram, some of 

 which are great improvements on the old varieties, and being covered 

 with flowers, they were the most interesting plants in bloom, particu- 

 larly some that have been trained as standards, about two feet in 

 the stem, with full, handsome heads. After flowering, the leading 

 shoots are cut back, when new growth is made, and flower-buds are 

 formed for the next winter. At page 17 of the Florist for 1852, we 

 presented our readers with coloui'ed illustrations of three of Mr. 

 Ingram's seedlings, viz. Ingrami, elegans, and rosea alba. The 

 former is the best of these ; but the most effective are several 

 varieties between grandiflora and miniata. The large plant of 

 Acacia pubescens was at its best, being covered with its bright 

 yellow blossoms. Several seedling Ericas, not named but very 

 promising, were in flower, especially a variety between Willmoreana 

 and Linneana, which Ave think an improvement on both parents. A 

 bluish purple variety of the Ghent Azalea was very peculiar and 

 novel, and in great contrast to the other plants in bloom at this 

 season; it is worthy of more general cultivation. 



In Hyacinths, Prince Albert, single black, and Lord Wellington, 

 double blush, were amongst the finest. 



On a south wall Jasminiim nudiflorum, eight feet high, was 

 covered with its golden-yellow blossoms. The late severe weather 

 has been felt here, as well as at most other gardens. Broccolies have 

 been much injured. The varieties that appear most hardy are 

 Grange's improved, and a careftilly saved Knight's Protecting; the 

 latter is grown here largely. Cabbage- plants and Greens have suf- 

 fered considerably. Lettuces have stood tolerably well, the frost not 

 appearing to have done so much mischief as the slugs before winter 

 set in. Ceanothus on the walls, and Escallonia macrantha, are quite 

 untouched; the latter grown as a standard is much browned, and the 

 points of the young shoots quite cut back. Shrubs and Coniferous 

 plants appear to have suffered very little. 



