FOREIGN NOTICES. 



seems to require the same treatment as Roallia ciliata, and is a delightful winter blooming 

 plant. In the Orchid house the charming little Sonerila margaritacea, with its spotted 

 foliage and pale pink flowers with bright yellow stamens, was blooming freely, and the 

 various species of Anaectochilus were growing freely in a much drier atmosphere, and with 

 less nursing than we generally see adopted, and wliich seems to be quite tmnecessary. In 

 this house was the beautiful Ouvirandra fenestralis, or lattice plant, immersed in tepid 

 water, and growing luxuriantly. What an interesting plant this is ! the leaf being so 

 totally different to that of other plants. 



Close to the principal entrance of Lucombe, Pince and Co.'s home nursery, is the original 

 Lucombe Oak, now a noble tree, the trunk of which is several feet in circumference. At 

 the entrance to the show house are two superb pyramidal Irish Yews in tubs, and in the 

 show house, 120 feet in length by 18 feet in width, was a display of flowers such as we 

 seldom meet with at this dormant season of the year. Several fine plants of Fuchsia 

 Dominiana were in full bloom, as well as Primulas, Chrysanthemums, and other blooming 

 plants. Several plants of the Pampas Grass in bloom were grouped among other things, 

 and produced a very pleasing eS'ect. Close by is the Camellia house, a noble structure, 

 240 feet in length by 24 feet in width, and filled with splendid specimens of Camellias 

 loaded with buds. Passing through the Camellia house we enter upon the Rockery, 

 situated in a circle, the diameter of which is about 150 feet, and inclosed by a thick laurel 

 hedge, several feet in height. Here is to be found a piece of rockwork, arranged with truly 

 artistic skill. Wliat once was an ordinary basin for a fountain, has, by the skilful arrange- 

 ment of large blocks of stone, been converted into rocks and caverns, between which a 

 stream of water passes gently on. A natural ruggedness is thrown over the whole, and 

 various plants suitable to the locality are charmingiy interspersed. It would shame half 

 of our landscape gardeners of the present day. At one side of the rockwork is a splendid 

 specimen of the majestic Pampas Grass, about ten feet in height, and possessing twelve fine 

 spikes of silvery feathers glistening in the sunshine. AVliat a noble ornamental hardy 

 plant for a lawn, with its handsome drooping foliage ! Here, too, is a noble specimen of 

 Pinus insignis full 40 feet through, and about 50 feet in height, a fine specimen of Pinus 

 Sinclairi, 8 feet high ; Pinus macrocarpa, 15 feet high, and a beautiful specimen of Biota 

 japonica, 8 feet high. On the rockwork are Desfontania spinosa, Skimmia japonica, and 

 other new and ornamental plants. By the side of a long walk, reaching nearly half a mile, 

 are superb specimens of Pinus insignis, Abies Douglasi, Picea Nordmanniana, and various 

 other valuable Conifers, planted in large tubs composed of stout pieces of wood, banded 

 tolerably close together so as to admit of a partial egress of the roots, and to insure the safe 

 removal of the specimens, as many of the Pinus insignis and other conifers are of consider- 

 able height and size. At the end of the walk is a small Pinetum, in which we observed 

 one of the finest specimens of Picea pinsapo we have ever met with. 



This nursery is remarkable for the immense stock of conifers it contains. There are 

 large quantities of Araucarias, all handsome well grown plants from 2 to 6 or 7 feet in height, 

 large quantities of Pinus cembra, Juniperus sinensis, Irish Yews of all sizes ; and, in short, 

 the finest stock of conifers in the kingdom. Great attention has been paid to standard 

 Portugal laurels, of which a quantity is to be seen with clean straight stems, and symmetri- 

 cally trained heads. Heaths and greenhouse plants are well done and extensively grown 

 here. We noticed the fragrant and beautiful Luculia in full bloom, as well as the graceful 

 winter blooming Thyrsacanthus rutilans, with its pendent racemes of scarlet blossoms. 

 Here also was a good plant of the Bouvardia longiflora, with its clear white Jasminum like 

 flowers. It is a charming winter blooming plant, and is very valuable for bouquets ; there 

 is a fine collection of Orchids here, several of which were in bloom. — London Florist 



