nil. 



ILLUSTRATION HORTICOLE. 



since the change. In one or two groups near the Entrance 

 are some fine specimens, such as Cibotium princeps , twenty- 

 two feet high, Sciaclophyllnni pt'Wirum, covered with fruits 

 (an uncommon occurrence), Dacrydium cupressinum , Aralia 

 quinquefolia, Sciadophyllum Reinicardtii, splendid Dasyli- 

 rion graminifolium and Littaea gracilis, a Botryodendron 

 (under the singular name of Aralia reticulata) and a gigantic 

 Casuarina suberosa. 



This aged tree is of a size rarely seen; its deeply 

 furrowed, corky bark and twisted trunk, and long, slender, 

 drooping branches give it a very curious aspect. There are 

 many other fine plants from this noted garden, amongst 

 them, Sobraliamacrantha, in flower, Pritchardia pacifica, 

 some very beautiful examples of Seaforthia elegans, a' 

 Cycas revoluta in fruit, Musa vittata, Araucaria Cookii, 

 Dammara australis, Phyllocladus trichomanoides , Doryan- 

 thes excelsa, Dillenia speciosa, etc. But there is one plant 

 above all others that attracts universel admiration. It is a 

 giant specimen of Ruscus androgynus with six steins, trained 

 over a large iron trellis, and covering it with its broad 

 foliaceous branches bordered with small flowers, like a Xylo- 

 phylla. San Donato preserves its reputation for Australian 

 plants with its forty-eight species of Proteaceae, amongst 

 which we were pleased to see a good number of species 

 almost lost to cultivation. 



Leaving the greenhouse plants and passing onwards to 

 the stove, situated in one of the glazed pavilions of the 

 aisle to the left, we find amongst the stove plants of the 

 same exhibition something better still. We were , indeed , 

 surprised to see the perfection attained in the culture of 

 the Crotons , Dracaenas and Marantaceae from San Donato ; 

 and Prince Demidoff deservedly gained the first prizes for 

 his plants. In the class of thirty different Marantas, we 

 particularly noticed M. roseo-picta and illustris which arc 

 of a size seldom seen. This collection also contained some of 

 the latest novelties amongst them, our beautiful M. hierogly- 

 phica. The Crotons were no less beautiful, forming, perhaps, 

 the most conspicuous group in the Exhibition in respect of 

 size and skilful culture. The best of them were C. pictum , 

 Veitchii, comntum, Hooheri, aucubaefolium augusti folium 

 (magnificent) and interruptum. The last plant, appeared to 

 us different at Florence from what we have seen it anywhere 

 else. We no longer recognised the plant we formerly named 

 in conjunction with M r J. G. Veitch, in the compact, brightly 

 coloured specimens with short leaves, of the Florentine car- 

 dens. It would be worth while investigating the matter, to 

 ascertain whether this apparent alteration is the result of 

 high cultivation, or whether we have not here a distinct 

 form under the name of interruptum , which by some chance 

 was sent out to Florence by Messrs. Veitch. This we look 

 upon as an interesting fact to clear up. 



Still keeping to the same exhibitor, we may notice some I 

 of his superb stove plants. In regard to culture they would 

 yield nothing to the best to be found in England or Belgium. 

 First of all, a splendid Adiantum Farley ense with its grace- I 

 ful weeping foliage ; then a Drymonia Turialvae (the finest 

 specimen we ever saw, and covered with flower.;) associated j 

 with Pandanus ornatus, Cyanophylh>»i mo.gnificum , Ca»i- 

 Pylobotrys Ghiesbreghtii , Dieffenbachia latimaculata , Sphae- I 

 rogyne latifolia, Anthurium regale, various species of Fit- I 



bachia Baraq 



unrivalled 



we olKervni 



■• : '-' ' '•■ ■ ■• . ..:. 



for the first 



Exhibition o 



the collect inn 



which bruu,-] 



The Aroids included nui 



tion was for 



found necessary to make th 



ties of Caladi urn, which ra 



plant of this lot la a mag 



"' l>*-'ri fJ,- t •' 



Corsi-Salviati's exhibits we 



deserve our warmest admii 



Another of the leading e 



toniu . 



. pans, Alocasia Veitchii, 



i Amazonicus, Dieffen- 



