JOURNAL OF HOETIGULTUllE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



of trees, leaviug the Fern alone to luxuriate; and without I Sir T. Abdy, Bai-t., the present tenant, is doing much to l;eep 

 wishing to depreciate it iu the least, I hope means will be the extensive premises in good order, and in impro-ving them 

 taken to prevent this. | by jvidicious planting. — J. Eobson. 



SELECT ALOCASIAS. 



The genus Alocasia has deservedly become very popular, 

 and although less biilliaut iu colour than their near allies 

 the Caladiums, they possess many advantages, and are charm- 

 ing subjects for the stove of an amateur, as well as that of the 



professional cultivator, or for exhibition purposes. The m.".- 

 jority of the Alocasias are not deciduous, and hence their 

 ornamental leaves and distinct characters ai'e enjoyable during 

 the dull winter months. This is a decided advantage, as thiy 



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Alocasia inteiriictl: 



contrast beautifully with such flowers as Poiusetlias, Euphor- 

 bias, Gardenias, Eucharis, and other denizens of the hot- 

 house whicii display their charms at that ungeuial season. 

 Another recoramenJatioii that Alocasias possess is the easy 

 manner m which they may be grown, which, combined with 

 the leathery texture of the leaves of most of the species, 

 renders them well adapted for the decoration of the drawing- 

 room or the dinner-table, always providing there is no gas in 

 the rooms. While upon the subject of gas, I must impress 

 upon the minds nf my amateur readers that it is utterly hu- 

 po?sible to maintain the health of plants for any considerable 

 length of time iu apartments which are illuminated with gas. 



The majority of these plants may be grown in very small 

 pots, and thus the amateur ma}- remove them from the plant 



house to the drawiug-room, plunge fhem in an ornamental 

 pot or vase, and enjoy their beauties in sucli positions for a 

 long time. A week, or perhaps two, will be suflicient for each 

 plant to stand in such positions, but if five or six plants are 

 kept (and if they are in small pots they will not take up much 

 space), their admu'ers can always have one or two in their 

 apartments during the winter months. 



The following species are all very beautiful, thoroughly dis- 

 tinct in appearance, and adapted for the piu'pose to which I 

 have before alluded. 



A. iNTEBMEDiA. — For thc illustratlon of this really superb 

 plant the readers of the Journal are indebted to the Messrs. 

 Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, in whose establishment it origi- 

 nated ; it is a hybrid between A. lougUoba and A. Veitchii, 



