i88i.] GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 319 



the surface. In this, growth will be free and lasting. Of kinds, each 

 has his favourite. Ours for early crops is an old sort, which many might 

 laugh at, but with which we have most reason to be pleased — the one 

 we mean is Black Prince. For pot and outdoor culture this variety is 

 an excellent one. None bears more freely, or ripens quicker at mid- 

 winter and early spring ; and out of doors it is earlier by some weeks 

 than any other sort. Here we have been gathering it from the open 

 border since the 24th of May. The fruit are about the size of the 

 berry of a Gros Colmar Grape when fully swelled, in colour very dark, 

 and flavour superb. For dessert and preserving it is highly valued. 

 Keen's Seedling is another good old sort. President is well worth 

 growing ; and James Yeitch and Dr Hogg are other useful sorts. 

 Bothwell Bank Prolific, a new sort which w^e have had lately from 

 Messrs Dicksons & Co., Edinburgh, is the best of all for exhibition 

 purposes, as in size of berry it is enormous, and its other qualities 

 good. J. MuiR. 



GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



NO. V. — THE PIMELEA. 



The plants belonging to this genus are elegant evergreen dwarf shrubs; 

 the majority of them are of a compact habit of growth, forming handsome 

 symmetrical specimens without the aid of stakes or other supports. In 

 this country their flowering season is during the spring and early sum- 

 mer months. The flowers are borne on the points of the shoots, and 

 when the plants are healthy almost every shoot will produce flowers. 



At one time several species of the Pinielea were to be seen in all 

 places where plant-growing was carried on with spirit in this country. 

 At the present time, however, it is only from a few plant-exhibitors 

 that the Pimelea receives the amount of care and attention that its 

 beauty as a flowering-plant deserves. Three or four species of Pimelea 

 rank amongst the very best of plants for exhibition purposes ; hence, as 

 a rule, we see one or other of them in the winning collections at our 

 spring and summer flower-shows. Their merits, however, are not con- 

 fined to the exhibition table, as they are very useful and highly effec- 

 tive when used for the decoration of the greenhouse or conservatory, 

 and whether of a large or comparatively small size, are valuable for the 

 latter purposes. One thing that should cause the species of Pimelea 

 named at the end of this paper to be more generally cultivated than 

 they are at present, is that they are not difficult to manage, their cul- 

 tural requirements in all stages of their growth being simple, and 

 easily attended to by any one who takes an interest in plant-culture. 

 To succeed, however, in growing these plants successfully, the culti- 

 vator must supply them in due time with whatever is essential to 

 their wellbeing, otherwise the growth of the plants will be unsatisfac- 



