234 NEW AND RAKE PLANTS. 



Before I use fresh dug loam, I always take the precaution to strew over it a lit- 

 tle quick lime well slacked, and in a hot state, to correct any acidity, or decompose 

 any injurious saline compounds. Lime also is an excellent application for the 

 destruction of slugs, snails, wonns, and other injurious insects, as well as for the 

 dissolution of inert vegetable matter. 



You will excuse the minute detail, which I have entered into more fully than I 

 intended when I sat down ; but as I took the pains to make the experiment, I give 

 it vou, because I have every reason to be satisfied with the success of it. 



Before I conclude, I beg to call to your recollection that I am neither gardener 

 nor florist professionally, but that I commenced the cultivation of dowers in the 

 first instance, with a view to amuse a depressed state of mind, and reinvigorate a 

 still more sickly state of body. I therefore solicit your utmost indulgence towards 

 the remarks which I have made on the cultivation of that pleasing little flower, the 

 Pink. — Horticultural Transactions. 



LIST OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS, 



Noticed since our last. 



1. Allium sicelum, Sicilian Garlick. (Brit. Flow. Gard., 349.) Natural 

 Order, Asphodeleoe ; Linmtan Class, Hexandria; Order, Monogynia. This re- 

 markable species of Garlick is grown in the Chelsea Botanic Garden; it grows 

 verv extensively in Madonia, inhabiting the shady valleys ; it is also found in other 

 parts of the kingdom of Sicily. The flower stalk rises to the height of four feet, 

 crowned by an umbel of near thirty blossoms, which, when expanded, are pendu- 

 lous ; they are of a greenish yellow colour, marked with rosy -purple and white. 

 The whole plant has a very disagreeable scent, being far more powerful than that 

 of any other species. Allium, from the Celtic word a 11, acrid; alluding to the 

 properties of the plant. 



2. Antirrhinum gland ulososi, Glandular Snapdragon. (Bot. Reg. 1893.) 

 Scrophularinie ; Didynamia Angiospermia. A very pretty flowering hardy annual, 

 introduced into this country from California by the late Mr. Douglas. The flower 

 stun rises about two feet high, branching, and each branch terminating with a ra- 

 ceme of flowers of some length. The blossoms are of a fine rose colour outside, 

 and pale yellow within. The plant blooms from July to the end of the season. 

 Seeds are produced in abundance. It merits a place in every flower garden. An- 

 tirrhinum, derived from Snoutwort, the appearance of the corolla resembling the 

 snout of some animal. 



3. Ardisia odontaphylla, Tooth-leaved Ardisia. (Bot. Reg.) Like all the 

 other Ardisias, this species is a handsome evergreen hothouse shrub. It is a na- 

 tive of Bengal, where it was discovered by Dr. Buchanan. The flowers are of a 

 pale salmon colour streaked with rose ; they are highly fragrant. Ardisia, from 

 ardis, the point of a weapon, referring to the sharp pointed segments of the corolla, 



4. Begonia sangeinea, Blood-red Begonia. This very striking species is a 

 native of Brazil, from whence it has been introduced into this country in 1832. 

 It has bloomed in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden. It requires a hothouse tem- 

 perature. The stems are of a fine red colour, and the leaves at the upper side of 

 a green, perfectly smooth, and at the underside of a very deep blood-red, produc- 

 ing a striking appearance. The flowers are white. The plant deserves a place 

 in every collection of hothouse plants. 



5. Berberis empetrifolia, Crowberry-leaved Barberry. (Brit. Flow. Gard.) 

 Berberideoe; Hexandria Monogynia. Mr. Lowe, of Clapton Nursery, recently 

 introduced this plant into this country ; Mr. Lowes collector, Mr. Anderson, dis- 

 covered it in the straits of Magellan. It is a very delicate and pretty plant, form- 

 ing a procumbent shrub with slender twiggy branches. The flowers are large, of a 

 rich orange yellow colour. This plant is offered for sale in the London Nurseries. 



6. Bletia patela, Spreading flowered. (Bot. Mag.) Orchideoe; Gynandria 

 Monandria. This very neat and pretty flowering species, is a native of Hayti, 

 and was introduced into this country in 1830. It has flowered in the stove in the 



