FOREIGN NOTICES. 



that admitting the air is quite unnecessary, but it should not be omitted, only 

 hanging cloths over the opening. 



Early Blooming Acacias. — Many plants, of which the natural season of blos- 

 soming under glass is in the winter or early spring months, acquire additional 

 value from that circumstance, because their intrinsic beauty is then heightened by 

 contrast with the "desolation that reigns without." Many of the New Holland 

 Acacias possess this desirable property, which, in some species, is combined with 

 exceeding beauty, as well as gracefulness of habit ; consequently, there are no 

 plants better adapted for ornamenting a conservatory, where they can be allowed 

 sufficient room to display unconfined their elegant growth. One of the finest 

 species for this purpose is Acacia dealbata, of which there is a splendid specimen, 

 now in the height of its beauty, in my own conservatory. I have seldom seen a 

 plant of any kind equal in beauty to this, its wide-spreading branches being com- 

 pletely covered with a garment of green and gold, or more strictly speaking, with 

 green and deep lemon color ; the latter color greatly predominates, however, for 

 the flowers are so numerous that they almost hide the pretty bipinnatifid leaves. 

 This tree roots into a border beneath the floor of the house, and its stem was 

 originally trained to one of the pillars that bear up the roof; but the stem is now 

 larger than its former support, and the branches extend in different directions to 

 a distance of several yards. It has been planted about eight years. A fine 

 plant of Acacia vestita grows against another of the pillars. This, from its pro- 

 fuse flowering and pendulous habit, is a very handsome species, and requires much 

 less room than dealbata, which precedes vestita in flowering by nearly a fortnight. 

 To these might be added other desirable kinds, as Acacia armata, a very free 

 flowering species, with flowers like gglden balls; A. Lojjhanta, with long spikes 

 of whitish Sowers; A. verticillata, with whorls of leaves like spines; A. melo- 

 noxylon, the Black Wattle of the Australians, with very curious leaves, the foot- 

 stalks of which look like leaves, with the real leaves hanging to the points of 

 them ; and A. pvhescens, a very elegant species, with drooping branches and 

 racemes of ball-like flowers, borne in the greatest profusion. Indeed, all the 

 species of this genus are highly interesting, and most of them elegant ornaments 

 for the greenhouse or conservatory, deserving of general cultivation. 



Lapageria Rosea. — This splendid plant has hitherto evaded many attempts 

 among us to cultivate it. We find the following account of its treatment recom- 

 mended in the Gardener^s Clironicle : — 



The handsome Lapageria rosea has been beautifully in flower. It was growing 

 in a wide shallow pan, in which it is found to succeed jierfectly. When the 

 proper cultivation of this plant shall have become better known, it will rank 

 among the finest of all greenhouse climbers. 



A plant of this Lapageria has been blossoming most beautifully in the nursery 

 of Messrs. Veitch, at Exeter, where it produces flowers every year in the greatest 

 profusion. Jn that establishment it is jjlanted out in the border of a cool house ; 

 a large hole was dug for it, and filled with plenty of good turfy loam and peat, 

 leaf mould and sand, all well mixed together. A particular point in its manage- 

 ment is stated to l)e that it likes jjlenty of water while in a growing state; in 

 order, therefore, to permit of this being given, the soil in which it grows must 

 be thoroughly drained. In short, efficient drainage, plenty of water, a loose 

 porous soil, and a cool house, are all that is necessary to insure this fine plant 

 "ng and flowering abundantly, as it should do. It may also be mentioned 

 the blooms will keep fresh and beautiful for a long time after being cut, even 



