BRIEF REMARKS. 179 



Erythrina crista gallii. — This noble blooming plant is worth 

 every attention that can be given to its culture. I have seen but few 

 cultivators of it who grow it as it is capable of. There are many 

 plants, which to cultivate aright require to be shifted once or more 

 during the growing season, and it is necessary to pot off into a small 

 sized pot at first. Now this kind of treatment with the Erythrina 

 crista-galli injures it, tending to check the growth of the spikes of 

 flowers, and they are thus cramped and stunted. The method I pursue 

 is: I cut down the stems a little while after the bloom is over, and 

 gradually withhold water, and but just keep it from dust, giving it a 

 season of rest till February in a greenhouse. At this period I place it 

 in a bark pit, and cause 1 he buds to push ; I then repot it into a much 

 larger pot than it grew in the previous season, and in this it blosom. 

 I "ive a liberal drainage, and the compost is of equal portions of good 

 turfy loam, turfy peat, and well-rotted cow dung and leaf mould, with 

 a liberal sprinkling of bits of charcoal, having them well chopped 

 together. [During the growing period I water well once a-week with 

 liquid manure, and the general supply is soft water from a shallow 

 pond, drawn off into a tank in the stove. I have had a plant thus 

 treated, which grew nine feet in one season, and half its length was 

 adorned with its gorgeous flowers. The best method of increasing it 

 is when the young shoots are about three inches long. I cut away all 

 superfluous ones, and cut close to their origin ; such being inserted in 

 equal parts of loam and silver sand, and having a gentle bottom heat, 

 soon strike roots. — E. Barker, W'mster Gardens. 



Nemophila maculata. — We lately saw several rows of this very ' 

 beautiful flowering annual in great vigour, and profusely blooming in 

 the garden of Mr. Lock hart, at Parson's-green. The soil is a rich 

 strong loam, and the seed was sown thinly in rows as early as 

 February. Last year we saw attempts to have large beds of it in the 

 Chiswick Gardens and at other places, but in consequence of having 

 been raised in a higher temperature, as a hot-bed, &c, and afterwards 

 planted out in the beds, it failed in every instance we saw attempted. 

 Treated, however, as our old common annuals are, and sown early, it 

 flourishes admirably, and is one of the loveliest plants. "We lately saw 

 a star-shaped bed, rilled in the following manner, which had a charming 

 appearance. The centre circle was filled with Scarlet Verbenas, and 

 the angles of the star had alternately the N. maculata and N. insignis. 

 All were in fine bloom, and had a striking effect. Mr. Beaton recom- 

 mends having a bed of the two species mixed, two of the maculata to 

 one of the blue insignis, and so disposed at equal distances. The mix- 

 of the flowers, he states, has a very pretty appearance. 



2s i out-blowing Cereus (C. grandiflorus). — This delightful plant, 

 which has for many years past bloomed profusely here, was last evening 

 quite an object of admiration. No less than seventeen fully-expanded 

 blossoms were open on it at one time. The flowers, which are very 

 fragrant, began to expand about six o'clock r.M., and by eight o'clock 

 they were fully developed. The plant occupies a pot fourteen inches 

 in diameter, and has produced annually between twenty and thirty 



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