SIEBOLD'S japan plants. — BRUa>LA.N8IA. 



SIEBOLD'S JAPAN PLANTS. 



EoiTOR OF THE ITorHcuIturist. — Dear Sir : In a late number, you refer to this 

 fine collection, and, after naminj^ some of the i)rincipal, inquire "who will be the 

 first to advertise these in America ?" 



I have a suspicion that many of these arc already amonfj^st us. Of those you 

 name, I have certainly seen Catalpa Rumpferii in some catalogue, and I have now 

 before me a catalogue of one of your own neighboring nurserymen, that contains 

 Tecoma Thunbergii, and, for a new plant, at the low price of seventy-five cents. 



But you will say, why not advertise them ? I will tell you, my dear sir, as I 

 have had a little experience in that line myself. Our friends won't buy new plants 

 of us. Believe me, the few of those who care for new plants, do not wish for them 

 through a love for a beautiful rarity so much as for the false pride of possessing 

 something no one else has in the country. If a nurseryman gets it, its charm is 

 gone at once. Therefore, Euro])ean nurserymen get whatever patronage is to be 

 bestowed in this line, to our detriment. A respectable Philadelphia nurseryman, 

 and who, in spite of all lack of encouragement, yet for liis own gratification, has 

 probably imported more new plants than any other man in the States, once told 

 me that he had given up advertising new plants, as he never got any return for 

 the expense. 



If one-half of those who now import new plants direct from Europe, would 

 give us any " chance," you would soon see " what you should see" in the way of 

 advertising new things. 



Soja japonica, or Hispida, the true Soy plant, has been amongst us for three or 

 four years, having been distributed by Mr. Ernst, and the Cincinnati Horticultural 

 Society, under the name of Japan Pea (not the Japan Pea of last year, distributed 

 by the Patent OfiQce). 



Truly yours, An Eastern Nurseryman. 



BRUGMANSIA. 



At page 239, Yol. III., of the HorticiiUurist, will be found an engraving of 

 the Double Brugmansia, cultivated by Downing. In the following article is de- 

 scribed the B. sanguinea, which must be one of the handsomest objects ever 

 introduced : — 



brugmansia sanguinea. .V'- 



A noble specimen of this fine plant grows in the pleasure-grounds adjoining 

 Crom Castle, the seat of the Earl of Erne. It was planted in a conservatory in 

 May, 1845, and was then about three feet high. Notwithstanding severe annual 

 pruning, it grew too large in a few years, and was considered scarcely worthy of 

 a place under glass. In May, 1851, I planted it in the open ground, having, the 

 previous autumn, cut its roots three feet from the stem, and ever since it has at- 

 tracted the attention, and been universally admired by the numerous visitors to 

 this beautiful demesne. At the request of some ladies on a visit here, I measured 

 the plant last August ; it was then fourteen feet six inches high, and girthed at 

 the ground two feet six inches, and covered an area of one hundred and sixty-five 

 square feet. At that time it was really a beautiful plant, completely covered with 

 flowers and foliage to the surface of the ground ; I then counted one hundred and 

 eighty flowers fully expanded, with twice that number ready to open. A gentle- 

 man told me, a few days afterwards, that he had counted above two hundred open 

 on it. It would be difficult to calculate the number it produced last summer, but 



