218 THE FLORAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



BiLLBERGiA SPHACELATA, CJiupon of Chili {Bot. Mag. t. 5647). — Bromeliaceae. 

 A handsome plant, conspicuous for its magnificent crown of leaves, each from four 

 to five feet long. Tlie flo«ers are pale, rose-red, with lung yellowish green bracts. 



STEMO^■ACA^TUus Peakcei, Mr. Feared' s Stemonacanthus {Bot. Mag. t. 5648). 

 — Acanthacoae. A splendid stove plant, native of Bolivia ; introduced by Messrs. 

 Veitch. It is an erect undershrub, with lanceolate leaves five to six inches long, 

 and axillary clusters of brilliant scarlet flowers. 



Dendkomum MACRorHVLLrM vAR. Veitchianvm, VeitcJis Variety of Broad- 

 leaved Bendrohe {Bot. Mag. t. oG49). — Orciiideje. Tbis variety differs fi*om tbe 

 true D. macrophylJiun of A. Richard only in having a smaller leaf. It is one of 

 the most splendid of the glorious family to which it belongs, but unfortunately it is 

 a difficult one to flower. 



GARDEN GUIDE FOR JULY. 



Kitelien Garden. — This is not a busy time, and the principal business is to 

 provide for winter supplies of vegetables. Lose no time, especially in showery 

 weather, in planting out winter greens of all kinds. Towards the end of the 

 month sow winter spinach, coUards, endive, lettuce, and cauliflowers. In every case 

 be guided by the traditions of the district as to the best dates for sowing these things, 

 for to be a week too early is quite as bad, perhaps Avorse, than a week too late. 



Floioer Garden. — Tliis is the time for budding roses, propagating many kinds 

 of bedding plants for next season (especially geraniums), and sowing seeds of hardy 

 herbaceous plants. Dahlias and hollyhocks need constant protsction against ear- 

 wigs, and to keep them safe from gales. Carnations, pinks, and picotees may now 

 be incx'eased by pipings. Cultivators of these beautiful flowers may find it advan- 

 tageous to read over now Mr. Kirtland's article on the subject, in the Floral 

 World of March, 1866. 



Fruit Garden. — 'S,\xA?, inserted now on plum stocks will soon unite ; this is a 

 good time, too, for summer grafting. Strawberry runners must be thinned out, 

 except where :ill are wanted for increase of stock. Where bush trees have been 

 frequently pinched, it will be well to give them one more pinching back at once, 

 and after that leave them untouched for the rernainder of the season. Bush trees 

 that have not been pinched, but have made long rods, should have the points of all 

 those rods cut off about the 25th of the month. The buds of the season will ripea 

 better for the operation, but it must not be done too early, or many of them will 

 start, and make useless sappy shoots. 



Greenliome and Stove. — To provide for winter flowers is the principal business 

 now. Look to cinerarias, primulas, Poinsettia pulcherrima, and other winter 

 subjects, which ought to be doing well now. Where many varieties of zonale pelar- 

 goniums are grown, there will now be a splendid display in the houses. Tiiis is a 

 good time to select and purchase such plants, as tiiey can be seen in flower; and 

 when the sons are obtained, they can be at once multiplied, 



*^* Past issues of the Floral World contain copious calendars of operations, 

 and the Garden Oracle has a complete and concise calendar, adapted for reference. 

 For these reasons the *' Garden Guide " will be on a contracted scale this year. 



NEWS OF THE MONTH. 



Recent Exhibitions. — This has been a good exhibition season, though in 

 nearly every case tiiC weather has been unpropltious. The Royal Botanic Society 

 has held two great shows, and there is anotlier announced for July 3rd, which will 

 make an end of the season at Regent's Park. The Royal Horticultural 

 Society has converted the great Rhododendron tent (Captain Fowkes's su'^pension 

 tent) into a showhouse, and therein a great exhibition was held during five con- 

 secutive days. Like other doings of this society, the "great" show was a great 

 failure ; there were, of course, many worthy contributions, but the gathering was, 



