1876.] 



AND HORTIGULTUBIST. 



n 



generally proved quite hardy, although of slow 

 growth, at least in its young state. Its branches 

 are alternate and verticillate, with numerous 

 branchlets ; its leaves are from 2 to 3 inches in 

 length, linear, leathery, and of a yellowish green 

 color, spreading out horizontally like the ribs ol 

 an umbrella, hence its name of Umbrella Pine. 

 Dr. Siebold considers the Umbrella Fir the finest 

 Conifer of Japan, and one which presents an ap- 

 pearance as strange as elegant, in consequence 

 of its innumerable ramifications, which always 

 end in a parasol-like tuft of leaves. 



" We have not yet had sufficient experience to 

 speak very positively as to its merits and cul- 

 ture, but have seen enough to satisfy us that it 

 will require a warm situation to induce growth, 

 and a good deep soil on a dry subsoil. It will 

 probably be found to be better adapted for the 

 Southern than the Northern parts of these 

 islands. 



"Wherever there is any chance of its succeed- 

 ing as an ornamental tree, it should be experi- 

 mented with, on account of its unique and ele- 

 gant appearance. At Castle Kennedy, and 

 numerous other places in Scotland, it has stood 

 the severity of our winters unscathed, but seldom 

 makes more than 2 or 3 inches of growth in a 

 season. 



"Messrs. Veitch report that their largest plant 

 (4 feet in height), in their rich collection of Coni- 

 • fers at Coombe Wood, near Wimbledon, last year 

 grew 9 inches." 



NEW PLANTS. 



Abies alcoquiana. — This Japanese species 

 proves as hardy in our country as the Norway 

 spruce. The under surface is as silvery as the 

 Menzies spruce, while the upper surface is of 

 a deep green. A correspondent of the Garden 

 regards it as the handsomest of the spruces. 



Improved Petunias. — The Petunia thrives bet- 

 ter in our climate than in that of the old world, 

 and hence has improved faster. Mender's strain 

 forms the subject of a beautiful illustration in 

 the^ Florist and Pomologist of London, and are 

 much like those we have seen of Vick, and oth- 

 ■ers of our leading seedsmen. 



Xanthoceras sorbifolia. — We have from time 

 to time had notices of this new tree. A recent 

 number of the Garden gives a colored illustration, 

 and shows it to be more beautiful than one I 



would suppose from the description. The flow- 

 ers are as large as an apple blossom, white on 

 the upper portion of the petals, but of a purplish 

 crimson at the base, and they are borne in up- 

 right clusters, like those of the horse chestnut. 

 The leaves are like the mountain ash, whence 

 its specific name sorbifolia. As it grows in its 

 native wilds in China, together with the Kolreu- 

 teria, which is one of our hardiest trees, we may 

 look on this as something well worthy of. intro- 

 duction into our own country. 



Pentstemon Palmeri, Gray. — This handsome 

 Utah species is of robust habit, attaining, in good 

 soil a height of from 3 to 5 feet. The lower leaves 

 are petioled, varying in form from ovate-lanceo" 

 late to spathulate, coarsely and sharply toothed ; 

 those of the stem broadly ovate, entire, and 

 semi-amplexicaul, or sometimes even connate, 

 all being of a fleshy texture, and, like the whole 

 plant, smooth and glu acescent. The flowers are 

 borne in a many-flowered naked panicle, from 18 

 inches to 2 feet long; the corolla, which is 

 peach-colored, being remarkable for its short in- 

 flated tube and gaping mouth, as well as for the 

 long reflexed lobes of the lower lip, each marked 

 by a central reddish line, and the conspicuous 

 projecting yellow-bearded sterile filament. It is 

 quite hardy, and will succeed in almost any 

 well-drained soil. — Garden. 



Brodi^ volubilis. Baker (Stropholirion Cali- 

 fornicum, Torrey). — ThisCalifornian species is re- 

 markable for its twining habit, the flower-scape of- 

 ten reaching the height of 7 or 8 feet or even more. 

 The flowers are produced in terminal umbels of 

 from fifteen to thirty each, the perianth being of a 

 light rosy-purple color, nearly 1 inch long, of a 

 tubular ventricose form, contracted below the 

 mouth. The foliage is linear, somewhat fleshy 

 in character, and from 12 to 18 inches in length. 

 It is perfectly hardy, and of the easiest cultivation 

 in any soil, but will probably succeed best in 

 sandy loam. Seedlings will bloom the third year 

 of their growth. — Garden. 



QUERIES. 



The Charter Oak. — E. says : " This, many 

 years since, was discussed and decided to be Q. 

 alba. At one time I resided in Hartford, Conn., 

 and visited the tree many times in company with 

 others." 



