i379-] HIBISCUS COOPERII. 381 



mens of greenhouse Araucarias, Palms, and Tree-ferns. The roof is draped with 

 climbers. Extending along the front of the mansion and the conservatory is a large 

 flower-garden, where planting out was still being carried on. Several immense 

 pyramids of scarlet Geraniums, Heliotropes, and Clematis, is a feature in this 

 garden: the largest Geranium pyramid is 15 feet high, and proportionate in 

 breadth, and must, when in perfection, be a sight worth going miles to see. 

 The kitchen-garden is also rather extensive, the walls being placed at different 

 angles, in order to secure various aspects for fruit-trees. Of the many other 

 gardens visited in this district there is only space to notice that belonging to 

 Mrs Holland, Stanmore Hall, near the village of Stanmore. This is not an 

 extensive place, but is being remodelled to some extent under the direction of 

 Mr Sidy, the gardener there. The clumps of Rhododendrons and hardy Azaleas 

 are magnificent, though rather past when we saw them. A splendid conservatory, 

 which is also undergoing a complete overhaul, occupies a prominent position in 

 the grounds. In one of the greenhouses Tomatoes are grown in pots, the plants 

 being trained with a single stem under each rafter. When ripe, the clusters of rich- 

 coloured fruit must be exceedingly ornamental, and is one of the best examples 

 of combining utility with ornament we have seen. Vine borders are being 

 re-made, Peach trees lifted and replanted, and stove and greenhouse plants grown 

 on into specimens. Some of the healthiest plants of Adiantum Farleyense we 

 have ever seen were growing in loam. R. P. B. 



( To be continued. ) 



HIBISCUS COOPERII. 



This beautiful stove-plant, which ought to be in every collection, is 

 a native of New Caledonia. The leaves are about 3 inches in length 

 and 2 in breadth, ovate, acute at the apex, and finely variegated with 

 green, pink, and white. The flowers are scarlet, and shaped like 

 those of an Abutilon. There are few plants more deserving of culti- 

 vation than this Hibiscus; not only are the leaves beautiful, but 

 when the plant is in flower it is really magnificent. It will strike at 

 any season, provided there is a propagating-pit at command. The 

 cuttings should be taken off about 4 or 5 inches in length, prepared 

 in the usual way, and inserted in pots or pans in silver sand, plunged 

 in a gentle bottom-heat, attended to in watering, and kept shaded 

 until they strike, which is generally in about a fortnight. As soon 

 as they are well rooted they should be potted into pots 2J inches 

 in diameter, in a mixture of half loam, half peat, with a little char- 

 coal and a dash of silver sand to keep the compost open. They 

 should then be shaded from bright sun until they have taken with 

 their shift ; afterwards they should be kept near the glass, in the full 

 blaze of the sun, and liberally supplied with water. When their 

 balls are well matted with roots, their next shift should be into pots 

 4 or 5 inches in diameter, the same compost being used as previously 

 recommended, with a little well-decomposed cow-manure added. 



