MISCELLANY OF NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE. 47 



its primary object — of access to the upper dome ; on its summit were specimens 

 of the Mandarin Orange, 25 feet in circumference, bearing a profusion of fruit; 

 also luxuriant plants of Anona Cherimolia (Cherimoyer). Various species of 

 Opuutia (Indian Fig), and Epiphyllura, also gave a diversified feature, whilst 

 the numerous masses of Ferns and of the still more delicate Lycopodium (Club 

 Moss), and the creeping stems of the Ficus repens (F. stipulacea P) adhering 

 to the surface, softened down the rugged outline to the harmony of natural effect. 

 In the centre of this artificial arrangement is the winding ascent to the gallery 

 and the spacious dome, which is nearly 30 feet from the ground-level, and from 

 whence a view may be obtained of the central area, where the rare and unique 

 specimens which meet the eye impress the stranger with a belief that every 

 climate under heaven has contributed its richest ornaments to adorn this mag- 

 nificent fabric." 



London Horticultural Society's Meeting, Regent Street, Jan. 20. — 

 Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, of Cheam .Surrey, obtained a Banksian 

 medal for a splendid plant of Epiphyllum truncatum, three feet high and four 

 feet in diameter, covered with bloom. This plant had been grafted on Cereus 

 speciosissimus, which Mr. Green finds to be the best stock for grafting Cacti on. 

 His treatment is, to graft in March, to grow the plants two summers in a stove 

 until they attain some size, and then to place them in an airy greenhouse until 

 the spring, when they are moved to the stove, and from thence to a warm exposed 

 part of the garden when their growth is over, which sets the flower buds ; the 

 plants are then kept in a warm greenhouse, and removed to the stove or forcing- 

 house in succession ; they are occasionally watered with guano water. Mr. 

 Green also exhibited a fine specimen of Gesnera zebrina. Messrs. Veitch and 

 Sons, of Exeter, exhibited two Collanias, upright, rigid Alstromeria-like plants, 

 which were received from Peru, and supposed to be hardy ; the flowers are 

 drooping, of a pinkish colour, tipped with dull green. Mr. Fraser, of Lea-bridge 

 road, had a new Epacris, of a deep crimson, a desirable variety named fulgens. 

 Mr. Dawson, of Brixton-hill, had a fine bush of Erica Banksii, and one of E' 

 mutabilis; the former obtained a certificate. Mr. Ivery, of Peckham, sent a 

 seedling Cineraria, named Couqueror, of excellent properties ; the colour is deep 

 rich blue, and the petals fine. 



Weighela rosea (Order Caprifoliacea). — This shrub, which is supposed to 

 be capable of enduring our climate without protection, was sent from China by 

 Mr. Fortune to the Horticultural Society. It is a shrub like a Syringa, with 

 smooth whitish stems, the young ones green, and slightly veined. The flowers 

 are axillary and terminal, three or four springing from each end of the shoots; 

 they are tubular, the mouth re flexed, and cut into five equal segments. Each 

 flower is rather more than an inch long and one and a-half in diameter ; a deep 

 rose outside and white within. Blooming so freely renders it a very beautiful 

 and showy plant. 



Floral Operations for February. 



In the Giieknhousb. — Keep everything clean and in good order, that alone 

 is a recommendation to anybody ; at this season few plants are in flower, and 

 therefore filth and confusion will be more perceptible. This department should 

 have good attendance during this month, and place every family of plants 

 together ; they grow best so classed, because the same temperature and attention 

 usually suits them all. 



The herbaceous kinds of plants will require occasional waterings, but less 

 frequent and in less quantities than the woody kinds. Succulents, as Aloes, 

 Ser] i in is, &c, should be watered very sparingly, and only when the soil is very 

 dry. When water is given it should be as much as will moisten all the soil, 

 where water is only given to moisten the soil an inch or two at the top and the 

 other kept quite dry, the result is generally certain, namely, the death of the 



