368 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTIOOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Ma; 13, 1875. 



africanum, a variety with several synonymes, is in flower, and 

 Enrrounded with a large etock of young plants. Cupania 

 filieiforme is freely growing in immense quantities. Ipomoja 

 Horefalliffi is blooming freely, and is very rich. As an example 

 in the way of Ferns are 1400 Adiantum Farleyense growing 

 without shade or artificial heat. Tabernsemontana eamassia 

 is extensively grown. It is a Gardenia-like plant, flowering 

 freely even in thumb pots. For table decoration Draciena 

 gracilis, an elegant Grass-like variety, is in great repute. 



Amongst new plants of notice are a trio of Sonerilas^ 

 S. Hendersonii, S. marmorea, and S. argentea. These have 

 large leaves, silvery, and are a great improvement in this class. 

 Bertolonias are also in the glowing colour indicative of good 

 health. A new plant of great elegance for table decoration is 

 Sonchus elegantissimus. It should be called the Grass 

 Fountain Plant by its delicate arched sprays of brit;ht green 

 exactly resembling a fountain. It is not yet in commerce. 



In the herbaceous garden Euphorbia pilosa is a mass of 

 yellow hy its golden terminal bracts. It grows about a foot 

 high. The varieties of Primula cortusoides are also in beauty ; 

 also Violas, the earliest for bedding being V. pallida, a prim- 

 rose-coloured variety. 



The Tulips, though on the wane, are still a gorgeous sight, 

 as 20,000 bulbs bedded-out must be. The best are Couleur de 

 Cardinal, dwarf, massive, and brilliant ; Proserpine, carmine ; 

 Rose Luisante, beautiful rose and fine ; Brutus, fiery scarlet ; 

 Vurbaak, ruby crimson ; Yellow Prince ; Duchess de Parma, 

 crimson and gold; Eleonore and Wouverman, violet purple; 

 Queen Victoria, white ; Bride of Haarlem, scarlet flake, dwarf ; 

 Crown of Roses, a fine double ; Extremite d'Or, like the 

 double Tournesol, and Kex Rubrorum. These are only a few 

 of this splendid collection, and the above is only a mere 

 cursory glance of this well-furnished nursery. 



NOVELTIES IN THE EOYAL GARDENS, KEW. 



Saxifraga peltata, one of the largest as well as one of the 

 most distinct and interesting of this favourite genus, is now in 

 flower in the herbaceous ground. It is the only species known 

 as having truly peltate leaves, and from this character Engler, 

 in his Monograph, formed for it a distinct section, which he 

 called Peltophyllum. The rhizome is creeping, by the division 

 of which propagation is effected. The leaves are deciduous, 

 and appear soon after the flowers ; the petioles are erect, 1 to 

 2 feet high, supporting an orbicular blade 6 inches or more in 

 diameter, depressed in the centre, six to ten-lobed, toothed and 

 laciniated. The pretty pale pink flowers are produced in 

 capitate cymes 3 to 5 inches in diameter, on scapes which about 

 equal the leaves. Though little can be said in its favour from 

 a purely decorative point of view, it must yet be considered as 

 decidedly essential to the alpine or herbaceous collection. It 

 is a native of California, and was figured in the " Botanical 

 Magazine " of January last year. So far it has proved quite 

 hardy, and is best treated as a sub-aquatic. 



Iris olbiensis, also figured iu the same volume, is in flower. 

 It is a good ornamental species of dwarf habit, being not more 

 than 6 to 8 inches in height, and with very large flowers in 

 proportion to the plant. They are dark purple, and when 

 extended measure about 4 inches across. It is a native of 

 northern Italy and southern France, and in cultivation is rare. 



The Bockwork commences to exhibit in flower many of its 

 choice occupants. Among the foremost in brilliant colour is 

 the rare liliputian Wallflower Erysimum pumilnm. It is 

 scarcely 2 inches in height, and is covered with beautiful yellow 

 flowers, much like those of Cheiranthus alpinus. It is fit for 

 the choicest company, and should have a raised position on 

 rockwork. From seed it is easily grown. A native of the Alps 

 and Pyrenees. Near this the choice Omphalodes Lucilias is 

 commencing to grow. In a suitable position it is not so deli- 

 cate as usually imagined. Like many others of similar nature 

 it is almost sure to die if planted on the ground level, but when 

 raised a few feet it is comparatively safe. 



Dwarf and pretty Alpines are always in demand ; of this 

 character are Romanzovia sitchensis and R. unalaschkensis, 

 both of which are in flower, and much resemble Saxifrages. 

 They have white flowers, the former with pale green orbicu- 

 lar-reniform leaves and succulent stems, reaching a height of 

 6 inches. It is a native of north-west America. R. unalaEoh- 

 kensis is less robust and dwarfer, with reddish stems and leaves 

 of darker green. It is a native of Russian America. They 

 have been but recently introduced, and are little known, but 

 may, however, be recommended with confidence. 



The next demanding attention is a new Lewisia, L. bracby- 

 oaljx. From all that is known of L. rediviva (see page 485 of 

 June 18th last year), another species can but be received with 

 interest and pleasure. It has a similar habit, though ap- 

 parently more robust, and producing a greater number of 

 flowers. They have a fewer number of petals, are somewhat 

 smaller and paler in colour. The leaves at once distinguish 

 the two, being in this narrowly spathulate instead of terete or 

 compressed. It is a native of the same region as L. rediviva. 



A very good tuft of Androsace imbricata is beautifully in 

 flower. The pure white flowers, from the shortness of the 

 petioles, seem to be seated on the silvery cushion of leaves. 

 This and other perennial members of the genus delight in 

 having their rosettes supported by pieces of stone, so as not 

 to be in contact with the soil. Arabis blepharophylla is JQst 

 coming into beauty. It is scarcely new, having been intro- 

 duced in 1805, though it was only figured in the " Botanical 

 Magazine" last year. Its splendid rose-coloured flowers 

 render it a worthy subject of cultivation. It is best raised 

 from seeds, when good plants are soon obtained with little 

 trouble. In passing we observe Chlorogalum Leichtlini, long 

 erroneously known as Camassia alba. 



In the Economic house Meninia turgida represents a new 

 plant, and also a new genus of Acanthaceie. It is somewhat 

 ornamental, and flowers very freely. In habit it is much like 

 Eranthemum, but is better furnished with branches. The 

 flowers are produced in dense terminal spikes or in panicles ; 

 they are short and stout, peculiarly reticulated on the inside, 

 with pinkish brown nerves. Its place in this house is due to 

 its being a celebrated febrifuge in its native country, Cochin- 

 China, where it is called Thuong-sou by the natives. It was 

 sent to Kew by Professor Decaisne, flowered in April of 1873, 

 and was figured in July of the same year. The temperature 

 of an intermediate house or stove is necessary for its cul- 

 tivation. In the Succulent house Sedum Alfredii is extremely 

 pretty in flower. It makes a good baeket plant from its free 

 growth and bright green colour, with brilliant yellow flowers, 

 about this time of the year. It is a native of China, and was 

 introduced to Kew some time ago, but has not yet been widely 

 distributed. 



Brownea grandioeps is flowering in the Palm house. In 

 colour it does not vie with B. coccinea, but far surpasses that 

 species in its immense trusses of bloom, sometimes 8 inches 

 in diameter. Dr. Lindley mentions an interesting peculiarity 

 concerning the leaves, but which this plant does not seem 

 clearly to show: " Every evening they rose up and lifted them- 

 selves from the blossoms to expose them to the dew, so that 

 each morning these beautiful objects were uncovered ; but as 

 dey advanced the leaves gradually drooped and bent down 

 over the flowers to guard them from the rays of the sun." 



LITHOSPERMUM FRUTICOSDM. 

 A coBKESPONDENT, " W.," has on page 331 directed attention 

 to the hardy evergreen trailer Lithospermum prostratum, which 

 is really a rich and elegant plant for the spring garden. I beg 

 to name L. fruticosum as still richer in colour, and in all 

 other respects equal to the species to which " W." has referred. 

 L. fruticosum is of more shrubby and erect habit, is a deep, 

 rich, full blue — unequalled in its way by any other flower of 

 the period. It is most profuse in blooming, and its bright 

 sprigs are eminently adapted for bouquets — indeed I believe it 

 is used by some bouquetists rather extensively. Grown as a 

 pot plant for indoor decoration it has a distinct and telling 

 effect amongst the usual occupants of the conservatory, aiid 

 will contribute a feature to a collection quite worthy of recog- 

 nition. It is of very easy culture and ought to become popular, 

 which it will do when better known and properly grown. If 

 " W." had seen the miaiature standard plants exhibited by 

 Messrs. E. G. Henderson at the Regent's Park Show on the 

 28th ult. he would, I think, have awarded them at the least 

 equal praise to that he justly bestowed on L. prostratum. 

 This is a genus of hardy spring-flowering plants of great merit, 

 and only requires to be known to be universally cultivated. — 

 J., Clapham. 



A MoN<Ecions AucuBA. — A friend lately directed my attention 

 to an Auouba japonica covered with berries, the blossoms of 

 which had not, he said, been artificially fertilised, nor was he 

 aware of any male plant in the neighbourhood. On examina- 

 tion I found one branch on the lower part of the tree had male 

 flowers, while all the other blossoms were the ordinary female 



