190 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Hydrangeas. Mr. Mills, gardener to the Baroness Rothcbild, exhibited 

 six plants of the Hydrangea hortensis, with fine rose colored blossoms, each 

 bead of flowers being more than a foot in diameter, and six plants with 

 equally large heads of flowers of a fine blue color. They had been grown 

 to great perfection by Mr. Mills, and the contrast produced, was very 

 striking and pretty. We hope Mr. Mills will favor us with his mode of 

 treatment for insertion in the ' Cabinet.' 



Ericas. The best collection of eight plants of Ericas consisted of the^ 

 following kinds. Erica vestita alba, Harlnelli, splcndens, aristata major," 

 Ampullacea snperba, Wilmoreana, Beaumontiana, Linnaeoides superba. 



Daviesia saligna. A very pretty greenhouse plant, blooming profusely; 

 the flowers are of a pretty yellow, with a small dark centre; very much like 

 an Eutaxia. _ _ 



Cacti. — This remarkable division of the vegetable kingdom, which like 

 the Tropical Orchidaceae, has been so long neglected in this country, is now 

 commencing to assume the rank and importance in our collections, to which 

 the originality and singularity as well as beauty of its members, fully entitle 

 it. A few of the Cereus and Epiphyllum tribes, which are remarkable for 

 the brilliant flowers which they produce, have long been general favorites ; 

 but we are alluding now to to Sections, Mammillaria, Melocactus, Echeno- 

 cactus, and a large portion of the Section Cereus, which are distinguished 

 rather for their peculiar shape, and the varied colour and position of the 

 spines with which they are clothed, than for the beauty of their flowers. 

 We recently saw a large importation of these interesting plants, which had 

 been received at the Clapton Nursery, from one of the collectors of that 

 establishment, stationed in South America. The collections consists chiefly, 

 with the exception of a large quantity of Melocactus communis, and pyra- 

 midalis, of Cereus, among which are several which it is supposed are new to 

 the country. We particularly noticed several plants of a strong erect 

 Cereus, most densely clothed with long, compressed, and brilliantly white 

 spines. Some of the plants were from four to five feet long, and apparently 

 in most excellent condition. But the most interesting species in the import- 

 ation appeared to be a Cereus, which is likely to prove a rather, formidible 

 rival to the justly admired C. senilis. The specimen we saw, was about ten 

 inches lout;, of a clear light green, with yellow spines, and clothed from the 

 base to the summit with a substance resembling the finest wool, and of the 

 purest white. The contrast between the vivid green and yellow, covered as 

 it were with a delicate net work of pure white, is remarkably pleasing. We 

 believe this specimen to be perfectly unique. We lately saw the fine col- 

 lection of Messrs. Mackie's, at the Norwich Nursery, which very far exceeds 

 all other collections that has come under our notice, both as to the number of 

 kinds, and in superior specimens. Persons fond of this singular tribe, 

 would be highly delighted with a sight of the stock at Messrs. Mackie's. 



REFERENCE TO PLATE. 



Diplacus ruNtCEUS. We were so struck with this very ornamental plant, 

 that we purchased a stock of it some time since; it has the habit of the 

 old and generally well known Mimulus glutinosus. The plant is a very free 

 grower, and blooms profusely, it has been kept in the greenhouse since its 

 introduction, but is now found to be nearly hardy, and in the open ground 

 during summer is highly ornamental. It deserves a place in eTery green- 

 bouse, or flower-border. The plant, like M. glutinosus, continues to bloom 

 from May to November. 



Isotropsis striatus. This very pretty flowering plant we saw in the 

 greenhouse at the London Horticultural Societies' garden ; it is of prostrate 

 -habit, but is conveniently tied up, or trained, so as in each instance to be 

 neat. '1 he plant appears to bloom freely, the flowers are produced singly 



