132 THE GARDENER. [March 



are pinnate, and the lower pinnfe also become pinnate. Its colour is 

 of the most vivid glossy green. A great recommendation to it is that 

 it can be grown in a cool house ; and it is singuhirly free from the at- 

 tacks of insects, such as thrips, which are so troublesome in the case of 

 many Ferns. It is also a Fern of the easiest possible growth, thriving 

 well in a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, and a little sand. J. M. 



AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS. 



The Agapanthus, or African Lily, is a plant that one very seldom sees in 

 any collection of greenhouse plants, and yet in its own way it is a very 

 useful and decorative plant for entrance-halls, lobbies, or conservatory, 

 and associates well with palms or other foliage-plants, the light blue 

 of its flowers being a very attractive colour. It only requires to be 

 protected from frost during winter, and will grow and flower freely in 

 any sheltered position out of doors during summer and autumn, but 

 generally speaking, is all the better of being under glass. It throws 

 up a strong flower-stem, about 2 feet high or so, with umbels of 

 flowers at the top, which continue to expand one after another for 

 a considerable time. The Agapanthus are strong-rooting plants, and 

 therefore they require a moderately rich soil, of which good turfy loam 

 should form the staple, enriched with some old cow-manure, and suffi- 

 cient sharp sand to keep it open. There is also a white variety of the 

 Agapanthus, named A. umbellatus albiflora, which is deciduous, and 

 of coarse should be dried off and allowed to rest during winter. 



J. G., W. 



ROYAIi HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



February 8th. 



Primulas, Orchids, and Grapes constituted the chief features at this meeting, 

 the iirst- named occupying a large s])ace, and forming an attractive group. 

 There was a large attendance of the members of the Committees. 



Fruit Committee. — W. Paul, Esq., in the chair. Mr J. Wallis, The Gar- 

 dens, Keele Hall, sent a box of Grapes consisting of Gros Colman, in fine con- 

 dition, and Golden Qaeen, which was not so good; a cultural commendation 

 was awarded. Mr G. T. Miles, Wycombe Abbey Gardens, sent samples of 

 new and old Grapes, the former being Black Hamburg, and the latter Lady 

 Downes ; the Black Hamburgs were very fine : a cultural commendation 

 was awarded. Mr Hudson, The Gardens, Gunnersbury House, Acton, sent 

 twelve bunches of very handsome Lady Downes Grape, they had been kept 

 in bottles for five weeks ; a cultural commendation was unanimously awarded. 

 Mr Miles also exhibited three very fine specimens of Lord Carington Pine 

 Apple, for which a cultural commendation was awarded. Messrs Saltmarsh 

 & Son exhibited a seedling Apple, of deep yellow colour, with an orange cheek 

 marked with broken streaks of crimson ; it had a tender flesh and an agree- 

 able sub-acid flavour. It was not of sufficient merit to obtain a certificate. 



