MaiCh 2U, 1877. I 



JODBNAL OF HORTIGULTUBE AND COXTAtiE GAUiifiNEB. 



231 



leriaua. Other of the most ornamental Orchids are Vanda 

 Buavis, V. tricolor, Anguloa Clowesii, Cffilogyne flaccida, nnd 

 Ada aurantiaca. Nearly one hundred species and varieties 

 are in bloom. 



Mnsa eangninea is flowering in the Victoria honse, and so 

 exhibiting its beantifiil scarlet bracts, which make it, as re- 

 gards colour, the finest of all. It has the advantage of being 

 extremely dwarf, attaining to no more than 3 or i feet. If 

 allowed, the suckers will nearly equal the main stem, but for 

 the sake of symmetry and a fine inflorescence it is best to 

 have them removed. Like all the other Musas it delights in 

 liberal treatment at the root with a warm moift atmosphere. 

 It was received from Upper Apsam, and was made known for 

 the first time in the " Botanical MnRa/Uuo " of 187-. Few 

 plants have been distributed, and it is still extremely rare. 



In the Capo house are several plants ot intereet and beauty. 

 Moricandia souchifolia is a new and extremely pretty dwarf 

 Crucifer with violet flowers and pale foliage. Sown in autumn 

 in a cald frame it grows into neat specimens for spring decora- 

 tion. It recjuirc'S a loamy soil, and only one plant should be 

 grown in a pot. It is nearly, or perhaps quite hardy. Amphi- 

 come Emodi is an old plant of rare occurrence. It is of very 

 dwarf habit, and amidst a mass of Eurnet-like leaves appear 

 the large pink flowers, which much resemble a Bignonia. 

 Dietes Hnttoni is a new Irid with yellow Iris-like flowers ; it 

 grows about 8 feet high, and is quite distinct in its habit of 

 growth from other species. 



Xanthorrhiea minor is mnch the most important ae abotanical 

 novelty that has appeared for some time. A flourishing speci- 

 men is grown in the Succulent house, and forms a tult of dark 

 green wiry leaves. It is acaulescent, and spreads below ground 

 much the same as a Grass. The flowers are white nnd star-like, 

 collected in denpe spikes on scapes a foot long. It is native of 

 New South Wales and Victoria, and sometimes take entire 

 possession of the ground. In some years it is very abundant 

 in flower, while only few spikes can be found in other seasons. 

 This species has not been flowered in the country before. 

 X. hastile flowered at Kew in 18.>!, and X. quadrangulata in 

 187-S. These and other species with tall trunks are called 

 Blackboy and Grass Gum Trees in the Australian colonies, 

 where they form a peculiar feature in the landsrape. The 

 lower leaves get burnt off by bush fires, and they have then 

 been mistaken for black men ; the tall flower-stems help the 

 deception by seeming as spears in their hands. 



GLAZING "WITHOUT PUTTY. 



I THANK Mr. Hardcastle for his useful communication on 

 page 196. I have seen many houses glazed without putty, and 

 with the squares butted together instead of overlapping, and 

 have been assured of the efliciency of the plan. I only 

 described, however, my actual practice of glazing without top 

 putty, and have found the plan perfectly satisfactory. Mr. 

 Hardcastle has found his mode of glazing equally efficient, 

 and were I erecting another house I should not hesitate to 

 adopt the plan he has so clearly described. 



I think the cutting of the squares aslant is a good idea for 

 directing the water where it is required to be carried away. I 

 remember onco the same object was sought to be effected in a 

 range of large houses where I was then employed by cutting 

 the squares half-moon-ehaped — elliptical, for the purpose of 

 conducting the water down the centre of the glass so as to 

 avoid its saturating the putty, and as preventing the expense 

 of replacement. The object was certainly answered as to the 

 guidance of the water, for the whole of it drained down the 

 centre and the putty was consequently preserved ; but there 

 was no saving of expense, for owing to the water freezing just 

 in the centre ot the laps many of the large squares cracked 

 quite up their centres. I have been in the house during a 

 frosty night and observed them break one after the other in 

 rather rapid succession. The gla.ss used was too thin and 

 weak for that mode of cutting the squares, and my experience 

 tells me that if elliptical glazing is adopted strong glass must 

 bo used or breakages must be numerous. I mention this now 

 because my attention has been directed to a case where this 

 mode of glazing has been recommended, and there may be 

 others contemplating its adoption. It will save the putty, but 

 at the expense of the glass, unless the latter is very sound and 

 strong. My plan, however, is to save the putty by not using 

 it, and to trust to painting to protect the wood. If putty is 

 employed paint also must be need, and much oftener than 

 when putty is dispensed with. 



Those who desire to erect houses as cheaply and efiiciently 

 aa possible will do well to give some attention to the mode 

 described by Mr. Hardcastle, for I believe his plan to be both 

 simple and good. — Steward and Gabdener. 



PRinULA MARGIN ATA. 



SILTOR-EDGED AHEICOLA. 



This species differs from P. auricula in having narrow 



leaves ; from V. glutinosa in the shortness oJ its involuorum ; 



Fig. :;!.— Primula raargiiiata. 



from r. villosa in having leaves much narrower, perfectly 

 free from hairs, and in. the colour of its blossoms, which 

 approach that of the Lilac, but more especially in its dis- 

 position to become mealy, particularly on the edges of its 

 leaves between the eerratures, where it is so strong as to make 

 the leaf appear with a white or silvery edge. As this character 

 is constant to it, and not to any other species of Primula that 

 we are acquainted with, we have given to it the name of mar- 

 ginata. 



Mr. Lee received it from tlio Alps in the year 1781, and it 

 has continued in our gardens over since unaltered by culture. 



It is a very delicate pretty plant, with a pleasing musky 



