May 19, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



359 



fail to give an adequate idea. It was exhibited before the 

 Floral Committee at the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society a fortnight since, and deservedly received a first-class 

 certificate. That plant, which is the subject of our illustration, 

 was grown and exhibited by Mr. B. S. Williams, of the Victoria 

 Nursery, Upper Holloway, and is the first of its kind that has 

 flowered in this country. 



The leaves are from 12 to 18 inches in length, and about 

 1 inch in breadth, tapering upwards, and ending in a fine point. 

 They are dense, sheathiDg at the base, arranged in a rosulate 

 manner and recurved, channelled above and light green, be- 

 neath tinged with rose, and streaked with fine longitudinal 



lines of reddish-brown. The scape rises from the centre of 

 the plant, and attains a height of 18 or 20 inches, the upper 

 portion broadly ovate, which is oansed by its being clothed 

 with long distichous imbricating bracts, which are light green, 

 more or less suffused with rosy-pink. The flowers, which are 

 round and of good substance, are produced from between the 

 braots, measuring nearly 3 inches in diameter, the colour is 

 rich blue, the centre being pure white. The flowers of this 

 elegant plant are very attractive, and are specially valuable on 

 account of its colour being so rare amongst stove plants. 



Tillandsia Lindeniana is a plant easily cultivated, and may 

 be grown either in a pot or basket, But when in pots it can be 



used for the decoration of the dinner-table, for which it is 

 eminently adapted. The pots must be somewhat small, and 

 well drained. The soil should be composed of two parts of 

 rough peat, one part of loam, and one of sand. This plant, 

 like many other Bromeliads which have broad sheathing leaves, 

 is adapted by nature to retain water, and the water should be 

 poured into these receptacles and not emptied out, as is too 

 frequently done in the cultivation of this class of plants. It is 



a Dative of Huancabamba, in Pern, where it grows upon the 

 branches of the forest trees. It has been called in some Con- 

 tinental gardens Tillandsia cyanea and Vriesia Lindeniana. 



In addition to the Tillandsia Lindeniana, there are now 

 at Mr. Williams's nursery the Cochliostema Jacobianum and 

 many other new plants, and a most extensive collection of 

 young Palms. Azaleas are also opening splendidly, and the 

 Orchids are making a fine show. 



THE ARCHIMEDEAN MOWING MACHINE. 

 Like " Aechambadd," I have nothing to gain by speaking in I kinds of machinery, &c, are being constantly sent out to the 

 favour of the Archimedean lawn mower. Improvements in all | public, but few are so advantageous as this mower ; it is easily 



