FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Palace Gardens, Hampton Court. — Tn no previous season do we recollect having seen these in 

 better condition than they are at present; and that their noble avenues, broad gravel walks close- 

 ly shaven verdant lawns, and shady retreats, are appreciated by the public, is evident from the 

 number of visitors who daily frequent them. The flower beds are just now at their best ; among 

 them are famous masses oi hed'ajforibunda, integrifoUa, and amplexicaulisQ,a\QCo\siV\&s,; ^fountain 

 of Light, Flotver of the Day, Tom Thumb, Frogmore, and Fair Helen Gei-aniums ; the variega- 

 ted and blue Mexican Ageratums; the Globe, Rlccarton, and Carolhia Fuchsias; the dwarf purple 

 flowered Dahila zelinda, which, when grown on poor soil, does not rise above a foot in height, 

 and is very pretty ; variegated Alyssum, quite a compact mass of snow blossom ; together with 

 beds of Robinson's Defiance Verbena mixed with Mangles' variegated Geranium ; charming 

 clumps of Glove Carnations, and of Rom Dcvoniensis. The latter is found to bloom beautifully 

 here every season, and is much admired, as is also the Souvenir de Mabnaison. Surrounding the 

 lawn are several fine pillar Roses, which, when in bloom, are striking and handsome. They 

 vary from 12 to 15 feet in height. The sorts are Brennus, Chenedule, Coupe, d' Hebe, Lamarque, 

 Duchess of Sutherland, Madame Laffay, Falgens, Mrs. Elliot, and William Jesse, &c. The wall 

 along the side of the broad walk from the " Flower-pot Gate" to the river, is covered with Roses, 

 Honeysuckles, Chimonanthns, Ceanothiises, Magnolias, Jasmines, and Clematises, &c. These are 

 not so trimly trained as to render them stiff and formal ; but are allowed such freedom of 

 growth as gives them a luxuriant and graceful appearance. In the "fountain court" the basin is 

 encircled with large scarlet Geraniums in pots, consisting of To7n Tlimnb, Floicer of the Day, and 

 standard Fuchsias, which give to this quiet square a gaity which it never before possessed. The 

 way in which Mr. Neil, who is gardener here, wiuteri these specimens is as follows : — As soon as 

 frost sets in he packs them closely together in a cold frame, and keeps them perfectly dry till 

 spring, when he fresh pots them, and places them in a gentle heat, in which they push rapidly 

 and soon come into flower, and continue so all the season. 



As regards the walks, they are in beautiful order — a condition in which they are maintained 

 by means of boiling salt water applied to them, as often as they require it, from a macliine 

 something like that emjiloyed for the same purpose by Mr. Fleming. It is an oval copper cylin- 

 der encased (except the top) in iron, so as to have a flue all round it ; it holds about 37 gallons 

 of water, which is kept boiling by means of a furnace below, and it is spread over the walks 

 from a perforated pipe like that attached to carts for watering streets. It is set on low broad 

 wheels and is easily drawn by a couple of men, and all admit that its working and efficiency are 

 most satisfactory. It was made, we were informed, in Kingston, from a plan furnished by Mr. 

 Neil, and cost about 20l. 



The large Vine has upwards of 1600 bunches of Grapes on it this season, and appears to be in 

 excellent health. A new greenhouse, aerated by means of Mooue's patent ventilators, has lately 

 been put up for the accommodation of tender plants in winter, and we observed that the gold 

 and silver fish pond and canal have been cleaned and otherwise put in good condition. — Garden 

 Chronicle. 



Calyptkaria n^EMANTiiA, Planchon and Lind£n. — " This is by far tlie finest Melastomad which 

 has ever been brought fo Evlrope, not even excepting the Medinilla 7)iagniHca. The figure in the 

 'Flore des Serves' will enable the reader to judge of the merits of the plant, without render- 

 ing it neces-'ary to speak of the size and abundance of its brilliant flowers, or of the blood-red 

 color to which it owes its native name of Sangrede toro (Bull's blood.) It is a bushy freely flow- 

 ering shrub, with a rusty down all over its branches, petioles, peduncles, pedicels, caly.x, and the 

 lower sui'faee of the leaves. The leaves themselves are extremely thick and coriaceous, and are 

 remarkable for their beautifully reticulated nerves. The racemes of flowers are as much as 2 feet 

 in length, and bear each 15 or 20 flowers, with fleshy persistent petals, and a calyx opening into 

 the shape of a 8oa]i-box. 



It was discovered in 1847 by Mr. Soiilim upon the far-famed Paramo de Cachiri, and has 



been met with by the same traveller in tlie provinoe of Ocafja, whence he has sent home 



suckers and seeds. It grows in a clay soil, at a height of from 5000 to 7000 feet, and in 



