DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



481 



between tho window itself and the walls at right 

 angles to it. The advantages resulting from this 

 are not unimportant. In the first place, it ena- 

 bles us to place larger pieces of furniture on that 

 6ide of the room; secondly, although a more ex- 

 tensive view is obtained of the prospect without, 

 on which the window recess serves as a frame, 

 the apartment itself seems less exposed, while the 

 .sun is less troublesome in summer. In addition 

 to the recommendations already pointed out, bay 

 and oriel windows assist greatly in keeping up 

 symmetry where there are recesses, or even 

 breaks in other parts of a room. The entire win- 

 dow enlargement of bay or oriel may also be 

 shut oil" at night and in eold weather by sliding 

 doors, so contributing to the comfort and warmth 

 of those within. 



The pointed style of architecture has already 

 become popular for country dwellings on this side 

 the Atlantic; and several of first class, such as 

 " Kenwood," near Albany, N. Y., and " Walnut 

 Wood," near Bridgeport, Ct., (also from the de- 

 signs of Mr. Davis,) are fast initiating the Ameri- 

 can builders into a familiarity with its peculiar 

 features; and as these become known, so will 

 each succeeding example express more fully and 

 accurately, according to its extent, the sugges- 

 tions of an imaginative proprietor, combined with 

 talent in the architect, its manifold beauties. * * 



Supreme,) I would recommend to add the follow- 

 ing, which I consider the best of our Ameiican va- 

 rieties, viz. Briells. Jas. K Polk, Buist's Eclipse, 

 Boll's Major Ringold, and Hogg's Bicolor Grand- 

 ifiora, and, in the absence of a better white, 

 Queen. Of sixteen varieties I have, I intend to 

 throw all away, and confine myself to the ten va- 

 rieties I have mentioned, which I consider the best 

 in the country. Yours, respectfully, JohnQuinn, 

 gardener to Henry Vail, Esq., Ida Farm, Troy, 

 N. Y., March 12th, 1850. 



Notes on the new Verbenas. — Among the ma- 

 ny " floral gems." for which the horticultural public 

 are indebted to the Messrs. Thorburn for their 

 introduction, there are few that are likely to give 

 more general satisfaction than the unrivalled col- 

 lection of verbenas which they advertise in the 

 March number of the Horticulturist. It is not to 

 be denied that most of our American seedling Ver- j 

 benas are not worthy a place in our gardens, j 

 Their habit is in general too upright, the trusses j 

 of bloom are small and ill-shaped, and the foliage | 

 poor. Messrs. Thorburn advertise a collection 

 that will make sad havoc amongst them. Being 

 one of the first that was favored by Mr. Thor- 

 burn with a plant of " Robinson's Defiance," I 

 can speak from experience of its merits. Any of 

 your readers who have grown " Beauty Supreme" 

 last year, can form a pretty accurate conception 

 of Defiance when I inform them that it has the 

 same vigorous habit, the same sized truss, and 

 larger foliage, and that it is a superb scarlet. It 

 has flowered with me in February last, and is like- 

 ly to be as free a bloomer in the green-house as Beau- 

 ty Supreme; it is every way superb. Rosy Morn, 

 Anacreon and Satellite, are each of them possess- 

 ed of the same qualities. I saw the whole col 

 lection in flower in Mr. THOBnURN's grounds last 

 summer, and was charmed with them. There is 

 no one pretending to have a bed of verbenas should 

 be wiihout them. If Messrs. Thorburn would in- 

 troduce a pure white, possessing all the qualities 

 of the above named, it would have a great run. 

 To those purchasing tho above, (including Beauty 



American Camellias. — We have lately had in 

 bloom, upon plants obligingly sent us by Messrs. 

 Parions, of Flushing, N. Y., specimens of those 

 two fine Camellias, originated by Col. Wilder, of 

 Boston,— C. Wilderii and C. Abby Wilder. 



They are certainly both fine varieties; the first 

 a beautiful deep rose colour; the other white, with 

 sometimes a delicate blush stripe. 



Camelia Wilderi is perfection ; that is to say, 

 the most acute critic ol florist's flowers, can find 

 no fault with it, in form, size, arrangement of pe- 

 tals or colour. It fully deserves all the praise that 

 has been bestowed on it. 



And this reminds us to say, that the first of Ca- 

 mellia amateurs, N. J. Becar, Esq.. of Brook- 

 lyn, has raised three or four seedlings of the first 

 merit — sorts that would make the fortune of a com- 

 mercial gardener in Europe — and yet which, with 

 his characteristic modesty, he has not even pre- 

 sented to public notice in any way. We have seen 

 them several times this winter, and do not hesitate 

 to say, they are equal to the very finest varieties 

 produced abroad. 



Mr. B., who has the finest Camellias in Ameri- 

 ca, and has raised hundreds of seedlings for his 

 own amusement, is of opinion that the seed of the 

 Camellia ripens in our climate much more easily 

 and perfectly than in Europe, and that it is easier 

 to produce fine new varieties here than on the 

 other side of the water. 



Fine Collection of Plants. — Passing through 

 Williamsburgh a short time ago, we had great 

 pleasure in a hasty examination of the fine exotic 

 collection of Rev. A. P. Cummings, of that place. 



It is evidently the collection of an amateur fond 

 of rarity and variety, but still not mere botanical 

 curiosities; and contrasts favorably with some of 

 the mere show collections of jeommon species fre- 

 quent about New- York. With respect to the varu 

 ety of plants, it resembles some of the fine private 

 collections in Philadelphia. Among the pretty 

 species which we saw in bloom, were Begonia 

 manicata, B. hydrocoti/olia, B.fuschsioides, and 

 B. evecinea. Poinsetla pulcherima, that gay 

 Mexican plant, was glowing with its bright scar- 

 let bracts; Euphorbia splendens and jacquiniflora 

 were in full beauty; Crinum longifiorum was ex- 

 ceeding pretty; and that exquisite plant Epacris 

 grandijlora, was finely decorated with its parti- 

 coloured bells. Among other species in flower 



