APRIL. 109 



tion : we must commence quietly, and grow vigorously. A dinner 

 must, as a matter of course, take place, at which the dessert would 

 furnish an ample theme, without public singers or music. All the 

 details will soon follow the formation of a society ; let us therefore 

 commence at once, and all those who are favourably inclined write 

 to " Mr. Spencer, The Gardens, Bowood, Calne," as follows, or to 

 this effect, " I shall be happy to become a member of the proposed 

 Pomological Society. — (Signed) A. B. &c." 



Sawbndgworih, Herts. Thomas Rivers. 



NOVELTIES AND NEW THINGS. 



NO. I. 



A GLANCE through the various publications and catalogues periodically 

 issuing from the press will show a considerable amount of plants, &c. 

 that come under this denomination ; and now that spring is fast 

 breaking upon us, we feel induced to give a somewhat condensed 

 list of a feAv of the novelties to be brought imder notice in the forth- 

 coming season. 



New Shrubs and Trees claim a large number of admirers, and 

 foremost amongst these must be mentioned the magnificent Welling- 

 tonia gigantea (concerning which further information will be found 

 in another page), which Messrs. Veitch will have ready for delivery 

 towards the close of the year. Lithographed plates of this noble 

 tree have been circulated ; but we must confess that they convey to 

 us little idea of its being a Conifer, so few of the ordinary charac- 

 teristics of that tribe does this wonderful acquisition exhibit. Its 

 enormous size and great beauty are undoubted. There is also Abies 

 bracteata, described as the finest of Silver Firs, with leaves two 

 inches long. Podocarpus chilina, a hardy Conifer ; Podocarpus nibu- 

 gena, also hardy ; and the handsome Skimmiajaponica, which Messrs. 

 Standish and Noble state they have proved to be hardy ; it is there- 

 fore a valuable introduction. There are likewise Saxe-Gothaea gracilis, 

 Berberis japonica, said to be a handsome evergreen, with leaves from 

 15 to 18 inches in length, and hardy; Berberis Beali, with narrow 

 pointed leaves, and evergreen, also hardy ; and Embotherium lanceo- 

 latum, a large-growing evergreen flowering shrub, in habit something 

 like a Portugal Laurel, with leaves a foot long, and spikes of scarlet 

 blossoms about 15 inches in length. The hardiness of this plant is, 

 however, at present questionable. 



Amongst Stove Plants we find Achimenes cherita, a new species 

 from Mexico, with bell-shaped light blue flowers ; and Achimenes Sir 

 Trecherne Thomas (why will not people choose intelligible names ?), 

 with a colour not yet ascertained. Impatiens Jerdoniae, a handsome 

 half-stove, half-greenhouse plant, of easy culture, to be sent out by 

 Messrs. Veitch ; and Gloxinias Duke of Wellington, Lady Franklin, 

 and Leonie van Houtte. 



