216 



The Horticidtiirisl and Journal 



Purple Cone Flowers. — ( Echinacea pur- 

 purea) — A specimen of this plant, was culti- 

 vated in 1873, in grounds of Department of 

 Agriculture, at Washington, which from their 

 report seemed to present features worthy of 

 commendation to gardeners. " Although some- 

 what coarse in foliage, its large flower-heads 

 terminating the naked peduncles are quite 

 showy from the dark-purple, almost black, 

 conical center, and the numerous (10 to 15) 

 light-purple pendent rays. These rays are 

 about 2 inches long by \ inch wide. The 

 plant is vigorous and hardy, and is worthy of 

 trial in the flower-garden." 



Draca'nu Ainahilis. — Introduced in 

 England by Messrs. Veitch & Sons, and con- 

 sidered one of the most distinct and handsome 

 yet obtained. Is of robust habit ; leaves of 

 a narrow linear lance-shaped figure, averaging 

 from 2 feet to 2^ feet in length, and from 4 

 inches to 5 inches in breadth. The character 

 of its variegations are of a splendid ([uality. 

 The ground color of the leaf is of a bright, 

 glossy green, which, as the plant grows, be- 

 comes marked and suff'used with pink and 

 creamy white, the young leaves in large speci- 

 mens being quite rough — a charming combi- 

 nation of coloring, attractive not less for its 

 intrinsic beauty, than for its distinctness and 

 novelty. Was awarded the first prize as best 

 new foliage plant at the recent International 

 Exhibition, in Ghent. 



Daemouorops Palembraniciis. — One 

 of the most elegant of palms, and exceedingly 

 appropriate for table decoration and other 

 ornamental purposes. The leaves are broadly 

 ovate, pinnate, consisting of numerous elon- 

 gated segments, and they are supplied by leaf 

 stalks, bearing numerous deflexed spines, 

 which latter are thickened at the base. The 

 young leaves are of a bright cinnamon brown, 

 and the contrast between this warm color and 

 the deep green of the matured leaves, renders 

 the plants exceedingly beautiful during the 

 period of their development. Is a native of 



Java, and introduced into England by William 

 Bull. 



Mdrauta Seeinannil. — A desirable stove 

 decorative plant, of remarkably fine growth, 

 with leafy stems, and bold oblong ovate acu- 

 minate leaves, about a foot long, and nearly 

 6 inches broad ; of a beautiful emerald green 

 when young, and of a deeper green when 

 matured ; transversely ridged, but chiefly 

 remarkable for their velvety lustre, which 

 gives them a most pleasing effect. The 

 midrib is hollowed out, and of a whitish color, 

 while the under surface is of a rich wine red, 

 and this in the unrolled central leaves con- 

 trasts finely with the rich lustrous green. It 

 was found in Nicaragua, Central America, 

 by the late Dr. Seemann, by whom living 

 plants were sent to England, and are now in 

 the possession of William Bull. 



A True V<iric(jut.ed Rose. — The Hud- 

 son, N. Y., Republican notices the production 

 of a new variegated rose by a florist of that 

 city, and says that this is the second one al- 

 lowed to come into bloom of the cuttings from 

 which he is propagating this rare novelty. It 

 has been named the " Cora Macy," after one 

 of his daughters, and promises to become a 

 flower of great beauty and value. This rose 

 originated as a " sport " from an ordinary 

 monthly rose of deep red color in jVIr. Macy's 

 dooryard last season. It was transferred to his 

 greenhouse and judiciously forced until several 

 healthy plants have been obtained, and found 

 true to color. The form and fragrance of the 

 parent rose are fully preserved, while the leaves 

 are all beautifully variegated in red and white, 

 blending in the most perfect manner. 



Araliii VeltcUM is regarded by Messrs. 

 Veitch as entitled to the highest rank as an 

 exhibition foliage plant, and as a dinner table 

 decorative plant it is probably without a rival. 

 The plant has a slender-growing, erect stem, 

 furnished with handsome digitate leaves, com- 

 posed of about eleven narrow linear elongated 

 leaflets, which are distinctly wavy at the edge, 

 of a dark, glossy green color on the upper sur- 

 face, and dark red beneath. These standing 

 out on their long, slender, but rigid petioles, 

 have a remarkably elegant character. 



