46 MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 



leaves, 15 feet in circumfeience. Elate sylvesiris, wilh a pillar-like trunk or 

 stem, 10 feet in height. In the west-front border is a small but luxuriant grove 

 of the Mandarin Orange (Citrus nobilis), many of the plants measuring 6 feet 

 in height, and from 10 to 14 feet in circumference. On the north-west end, a 

 plant of Abutilon striatum presents a fine appearance, being nearly 20 feet in 

 height, and as much in circumference, gaily ornamented with hundreds of 

 pendant bell-shaped orange blossoms. Near this were two magnificent specimens 

 cf Brugmansia suaveolens, nearly 15 lectin height, and 40 feet in circumference, 

 on each of which were several hundred flowers, each measuring 12 inches in 

 length. A portion of the west and the north-west borders is margined in front with 

 a row of the Agave Americana, relieved with occasional specimens of the varie- 

 gated variety, and with good effect. Amongst the plants on the west border, 

 which appeared well adapted for under shrubs, or for marginal effect, were 

 Justicia carnea superba, a beautiful shrub, with large terminal racemes of lively 

 rose-coloured flowers ; Stachytarpheta mutauilis, with long flower-spikes of 

 light rose and pink; Melastoma Mexicanum, a neat habited species, with white 

 blossoms ; Goldfussia anisophylla, a compact and dwarf-growing shrub, pro- 

 ducing purplish-lilac Gloxinia-like flowers in winter; Barleria purpurea; 

 Ruellia formosa, a valuable but neglected plant, which produces numerous scarlet 

 blossoms in spring and summer; and lastly, a plant which ever) body ought to 

 possess, viz., Franciscea Hopeana ; this has a good habit, is easily managed, 

 and a profuse bloomer; it is also admirably adapted for forcing. Amongst the 

 principal plants occupying the inner borders right and left of the great central 

 path, were two specimens of Dracaena fragrans, 16 feet in height; Charlwoodia 

 stricta, 18 feet; and a noble specimen of Sabal Blackburniana, extending its 

 elegant fan-shaped fronds nearly 60 feet in circumference; Bombax acideata, 

 35 feet in height ; Carolinea alba, 22 feet in height; Hibiscus liliflorus,a won- 

 derful tree-like specimen, 18 feet in height, and 48 feet in circumference, ex- 

 panding hundreds of bright rose-coloured flowers, 6 to 8 inches in diameter ; 

 Cocus plumosa, 40 feet in height, with terminal feather-like fronds, each IS to 

 20 feet in length; Cassia corymbosa, a very beautiful object, 14 feet in height, 

 and 36 feet in circumference, having large terminal racemes of golden yellow 

 blossoms, forming a fine contrast with its dark green Ash-like leaves ; Dracaena 

 draco (the Dragon tree), with a trunk or stem 18 feet in height; Crotalaria 

 laburnifolia, 18 feet in height, with drooping panicles of flowers like the La- 

 burnum, but of a larger size ; Araucaria Braziliensis, 30 feet in height. Several 

 fine specimens of Furcreea gigantea, extended their immense crowns of leaves 

 upwards of 40 feet in circumference ; Hibiscus splendens (producing large light 

 rose-coloured flowers, from 6 to 9 inches in diameter), 30 feet in height ; 

 Sterculia platanifolia, 40 feet in height ; Acacia cornigera, 12 feet in height ; 

 Krythrina arborea, a robust branching species, 12 feet; Corypha umbraculifera 

 (the Great Fan Palm), 20 feet; Corypha australis, 14 feet in height, and 45 feet 

 in circumference ; Cedrela serrata, a fine habited plant, with beautifully-winged 

 leaves, from 4 to 5 feet in length. Amongst plants of medium sized growth, 

 were Strelitzia reginaa, S. angustifolia, S. ovata, S. juncea — the last four species 

 are extremely valuable for winter decoration ; Solanum Quitense, an extremely 

 large-leaved species with axillary blue flowers, 2 inches in diameter ; Hedychium 

 Gardnerianum, one of the most ornamental of the genus; Hibiscus militaris. 

 a neat herbaceous species, 8 feet in height; the buff-flowered H. Cameronii ; 

 H. palustris, a robust herbaceous species, with large pink blossoms, 5 inches in 

 diameter; H. hirta, a fine herbaceous species, 5 feet in height; the well-known 

 Manihot, a very ornamental half-shrubby species, with red and yellow blossoms, 

 measuring from 6 to 8 inches across. A central cross-path passing at right 

 angles from east to west, has parallel borders planted with Musa sapientum ; 

 the specimens being from 16 to 25 feet in height, have a very noble and impos- 

 ing effect. From the south entrance the general view of the inner borders is 

 partially intercepted by a lofty screen, formed of Bambusa arundinacea, (the 

 Himalayan Bamboo (Jane), which is admirably adapted for the object in view, 

 on account of its immensely long and elegant reed-like stems. Returning to 

 the north entrance, attention is again arrested by the immense mound of rock and 

 tufa-stone, which is rendered not less subservient to ornamental effect, than to 



