G4 CALLA .ETIIIOPICA AS A IIARDT PLANT. 



be recovered by the atmospheric current entering the greenhouse to restore the equilibrium. And I would 

 here anticipate an objection which will probably occur to some, viz. that in the " Regenerator," as applied 

 to the Caloric ship, and I may add, in Jeffries " Respirator," the principle of which is identical with that of 

 Ericsson's machine, the two currents of air are forced alternately through the series of gauze, whilst as applied 

 to ventilation, both this motive force and alternation would be wanting. To which I would reply, that 

 although the impulsion of the air through the ventilating gauzes might be less forcible than in the case of the 

 Caloric ship, it would be quite as much so as in the " Respirator," where the gentle action of the lung3 is the 

 only expelling power. That there will be two opposite currents of air through the same set of gauzes can 

 hardly be doubted, for in almost every instance ventilating apertures give passage to two diverse streams of 

 air. It would, however, be essential I think to the success of the experiment with the gauzes, that all 

 apertures and chinks should be as closely stopped as possible, in which case the vacuum caused by the escape 

 of the heated air through the gauze ventilators, could be supplied only by the entrance of cold air through 

 the same medium.' 



PEWLLA NANKIXENSIS. 

 Some of our readers may have met with the ahove name in the Seed Lists of the present season, 

 hut as no information respecting it is given, we think that the few particulars which follow may 

 prove of interest. On the authority of Messrs. Yilmorin-Andricux and Co., Paris, the eminent 

 Seedsmen, we learn that the Pcrilla Nankinensis is an annual belonging to the Lipworts, growing two 

 to three feet high, and producing, in October and November, flowers of a rosy violet colour. It is, 

 however, chieflv remarkable for its foliage, which is of a blackish purple tint, with a brilliant metallic 

 lustre, and from which peculiarity it forms a striking object, above all when contrasted with paler 

 foliage. The seeds are best sown on a hot-bed, and should be planted out in May. As it flowers 

 very late, it mav be desirable to plant it where it will receive plenty of sun, or it may fail to ripen 

 its seed. YV~e believe many of the Seedsmen have seeds of this plant, but to save our readers some 

 trouble, we will state that it can be procured of Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son, "Wellington 

 Nursery, St. John's Wood, and of Mr. Carter, 238, Holbom. 



CALLA .ETHIOPICA AS A HAEDY PLANT. 

 It cannot be too widely known that this beautiful plant, the Richardia JEthiopica of modern 

 Botanists, succeeds admirably in the open borders, and appears, indeed, to much greater advantage 

 under such circumstances, than when its roots are confined in a pot. Although a native of the Cape 

 of Good Hope, it is hardier than is usually supposed, and if planted deep (i.e. from eight to ten or 

 twelve inches below the surface), and covered with a heap of ashes in winter, its tuberous roots will 

 rarely suffer from frost. To succeed with it, whether in pots or the open border, it is sufficient to 

 remember that it cannot have too much water in summer, or too little in winter. Although, therefore, 

 it will grow in any good garden soil, it will be most luxuriant in moist localities ; where the soil is 

 dry, the roots should be planted deep, and a shallow basin, or hollow, formed around the base of the 

 stem for the reception of its daily supplies of water in summer ; and in warm weather this must be 

 given with an unsparing hand. In return for this attention it will throw up a much greater number 

 of flowers than it can ever be persuaded to do in a pot ; but they will be produced at a later period 

 than when grown under glass, as it remains dormant until the spring ; and it is important that it 

 should do so, for otherwise it would be destroyed by frost. In the opeu air it generally ripens its 

 seeds, when permitted to do so, and may be easily increased by them. In situations where it would 

 be difficult to preserve through the winter in the open air, it might be planted in a large pot, aud 

 plunged in the border, the edge of the pot being kept two or three inches below the surface of the 

 soil ; on the approach of the cold season, the pot might then be removed to any place where it 

 would be out of reach of frost, and would require no attention whatever through the winter months. 



