Jane 25, 1871 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



507 



Birmingham (J. Chamberlain, Esq.)> i^^ order to afford ex- 

 hibitors and horticulturiBts generally an opportunity for social 

 intercourse. As only a limited number of persons can be 

 accommodated, early application for tickets should be made 

 direct to Mr. Quilter. 



NOVELTIES IN THE BOYAL GARDENS, KEW. 



In the Succulent house, Louchtenbergia principis, the most 

 remarkable of all Cacti, is again producing flowers, of which 

 ■the position has been a matter of doubt, probably through the 

 mistake of an artist, tab. 43',)3, of the " Botanical Magazine," 

 published a quarter of a century ago, where it is also erro- 

 neously described as being axillary. Most people are rightly 

 convinced of their being borne at the top of the mamma>, a 

 little on the inner side ; but so recently as 18G8, M. Lemaire, 

 an authority on succulent plants, in " Les Cactues " repeats 

 the error of describing them as axillary, and in a foot-note 

 remarks with surprise that the flowers have been said by a 

 nurseryman and an amateur to proceed from the summit of 

 the mamma;. Ho assumes them to have been abortive, and 

 farther says that he has seen flowers, " sur des podaires du 

 CL'phalion de deux Mulocactes, et dans ce cas, et dans le pre- 

 oC'dent, la fleur est I'galement abortive." Perfect flowers have, 

 however, been produced often enough under the observation 

 of different people to show without doubt their normal 

 position, and though exceptional it is not without parallel. 

 Erythrochiton Hypophyllanthus of RutacCT, native of New 

 Grenada, bears its flowers on the midrib at the back of the leaf. 

 " The position of the flowers upon the midrib of the leaf 

 varies, as they are sometimes produced not far above the 

 petiole, and are often subtended by a second leaf, the upper 

 surface of which faces the back of that from which they both 

 spring." — (Dr. Hooker, " Bot. Mag.," vol. xcvi.) Phyllonoma 

 {Dulongia) acuminata, of Humboldt (Saxifragea;), a Mexican 

 plant, bears its flowers on the upper surface of the leaf, on the 

 midrib. Helwingia japonica (Araliaoefe) , of Japan and the 

 Himalayas, sometimes seen on garden walls, is another in- 

 stance. The Leuchteubergia may be considered analogous to 

 the above cases, though there is no relationship. The mamma' 

 of Mammillaria, &c., represent leaves according to some autho- 

 rities. Lemaire devotes a chapter to them, and says, " Que 

 toutes les Cactees out des feuilles." There is, I think, uo 

 reason why they should not support flowers in this condi- 

 tion equaUy well as in the above. Eohinopsis cereiformis is 

 another plant of interest here in flower, more common, however, 

 than the last, and more easily grown to perfection. It has 

 long been known as Stapelia cylindrica, " a genus with which 

 dt differs most widely." It was figured and described by Dr. 

 Hooker in the " Botanical Magazine " three years ago, from 

 whom the above is a quotation. M. Decaisne also about the 

 same time gave it the name Apteranthes tessellata. It has 

 long, cylindrical, green, ridged stems, bearing small campan- 

 ulate flowers near the s.-.mmit. It is an excellent mimic of 

 Euphorbia mammillaris, of which select a good branch, and it 

 would require consideration to distinguish them by sight ; 

 Cowers, leaves, and spines, of course, either absent or removed. 

 Daeylirion glaucum and D. acrotrichum (see page 422), are 

 now in bloom, the former male, and the latter female, so that 

 seed may, perhaps, be perfected. 



In the stove Hoya longifolia, a species but rarely cultivated, 

 is very pretty in a basket, and is suitable for that and similar 

 purposes. The branches are slender and pendulous, the leaves 

 long, narrow, and very fleshy, with flowers similar to those of 

 H. bella, but with less colour in the centre. Underneath, 

 Pavetta odorata, a plant of little beauty but deUcious perfume, 

 is scenting the entire end of the house. 



In the Orchid collection about one hundred species are in 

 bloom, the majority of which are chiefly of botanical interest. 

 Among others recently open are Cypripedium niveum, Dendro- 

 bium Bensouia;, Phaltenopsis cornu-cervi, and I'. Wighti, 

 Angrfecnm falcatum, and A. distichum (the latter does not 

 often find a place in choice collections ; it is in this case very 

 pretty, having numerous stems covered with green shining 

 leaves, each bearing several small pure white flowers) ; Catase- 

 tum fimbriatum, and C. mentusum ; Cattleya Forbesii, Epi- 

 deudrum cinnabarinum, Kefersteinia graminea, and Peristeria 

 pendula. 



Cypripedium spectabile is in flower at the rockwork. Of all 

 Orchids there is scarcely to be found one more lovely, with the 

 special advantage of being so easily cultivated, it requires 

 heat with good drainage, and when growing a certain amount 



of moisture. With these conditions it wUl grow almost any- 

 where, and would have a fine effect in the front of American 

 plants. Also in flower are Papaver alpiuum vai-. albuin, a very 

 pretty variety ; Dianthus vaginatus, a distinct species with 

 brilliantly coloured flowers ; the new Sempervivum tectorum 

 var. atlanticum — it was brought from the Greater Atlas by Dr. 

 Hooker in 1871, flowered for the first time last year, and was 

 figured in the " Botanical Magazine." It is one of the most 

 distinct of the hardy kinds in cultivation. The leaves are 

 hairy on both surfaces. A few rosettes have longer leaves 

 on one side than on the other, but that is probably accidental. 

 There is also Allium azureum, with a dense head of blue 

 flowers.* 



In the herbaceous ground are — Allium polyphyllum, leaves 

 and stem glaucous, with lilac flowers ; A. Moly, one of the 

 most striking, bearing a profusion of bright yellow flowers ; 

 A. sub-hirsutum, white ; and A. odorum, distinct and sweet- 

 smelling, without the usual alliaceous odour. Lilium Mar- 

 tagon var. album, is a fine companion for the species, and is 

 very ornamental. Helichrysum orientale is a valuable Ever- 

 lasting of dwarf perennial habit, bearing corymbs of numerous 

 small yellow flowers, the eye not perceptible. Campanula 

 pulla is in fine condition, and is one of the best. The flower- 

 ing branches of Hablitzia tamnoides are extremely elegant, 

 and would be very useful where wreaths of any kind are re- 

 quired. The Siberian Astragalus alopecuroides forms a hand- 

 some specimen; the long pinnate leaves are retained to the 

 base of the plant, and in the axils of aU but the lowest are 

 borne roundish spikes of yellow flowers ; the height is about 

 3 feet. A patch of Silene alpestris, about 2 feet over, is densely 

 covered with white flowers. It has a choice appearance, with 

 a most robust constitution. The new AquUegia leptoceras var. 

 chrysautha, appears to be no less floriferous than its con- 

 geners, and from its colour is a valuable acquisition. It is 

 the last figure in the " Botanical Magazine " of 1873. Kni- 

 phofia (Tritoma) caulescens, noticed last week, is a native of 

 the Storm Bergen mountains of Albany, South Africa, not 

 United States of America, as was by mishap recently given 

 in a contemporary. The genus is exclusively African. 



GLAZING WITHOUT PUTTY. 

 I INTENDED to write when first the description of " Glazing 

 without putty with the aid of cork wedges," appeared in " our 

 Journal," but illness prevented. 



A, Fillet of wootl. P., Glass. c, Groove. 



I have a house 1.5 by 11 feet, span-roofed, glazed without 

 putty. The glass is simply held in the rebates by small fillets 

 of wood bradded on to the rafters, which are 2^ by li inch; 

 the glass 20 by 14, and 21-oz. The cork would, doubtless, be 

 a great improvement. 



There is a peculiarity in the form of the rafter to which I 

 wish to draw attention, as it quite does away with the diffi- 



* Triteleia SIiiiTayana has been altered to T. laxa; it is the same precisely. 

 T. crystallina, now out of tlower, is perhaps the same also ; in any case it is 

 not a correct name. T. lasahaa a very long gynopbore, or stalk to the OTorj. 



