216 



dam and Leyden has always attained its maximnm at noon. This 

 periodical production of heat, differing in different climates and in 

 flowers of different families, has not yet been accounted for." 



Notice of'' The Gardener's Magazine of Botany^ No. 17, June, 1851. 



The interest of this really useful journal continues unabated. The 

 present number contains the following papers : — 



' Pultenaea Ericoides,' being the usual description, history, and 

 directions for culture of a beautiful although somewhat diminutive 

 papilionaceous shrub, raised from seed brought from Swan River by 

 Mr. Drummond. Its leaves and habit are very much like those of a 

 heath ; its inflorescence crowded into yellow heads. 



' The Metropolitan May Exhibitions.' 



' Visits to Remarkable Gardens ; — the suburban residence of N. B. 

 Ward, Esq., at Clapham.' This is accompanied by an illustrative 

 woodcut, and by the following particulars, furnished by Mr. Ward: — 



" The philosophy of the growth of plants in closed cases has been 

 so repeatedly before the public, that it is not necessary to dwell at 

 length upon the subject. The object I had in view in the construc- 

 tion and planting of my large closed case, was to give a representa- 

 tion (in miniature of course) of a tropical forest, in which the plants 

 were seen to be growing in something like a state of nature. The 

 ground was prepared for their reception by covering the gravelly soil 

 of the garden with a foot or two of old brick rubbish, and upon this 

 about two feet of sandy peat mould. In this soil most of the palms, 

 ferns, bamboos, bananas, &c., are planted. Some plants grow better 

 in yellow loam, some in sand or clay, &c. ; but all have their wants 

 supplied. A very great variety of different plants can be grown in a 

 house of this kind by a little management. Shade-loving plants 

 thrive in the darker parts, whilst succuleut plants of all kinds grow 

 equally well suspended from the roof. All have the benefit of an 

 atmosphere free from mechanical impurities, which might interfere 

 with the action of the leaves ; and at the same time this air is always 

 undisturbed, enabling the plants to bear without injury very varying 

 degrees of temperature. The thermometer in the winter months often 

 falls to 40° during the night, rising to 100° in the day, even in the 

 month of December, if the sun shine brightly. In summer the varia- 

 tions are still greater, the thermometer occasionally falling as low in 



