1863.] REVIEWS. 569 



The Pinus filifolia ; the Norfolk Island Pine {Araiicaria excelsa), and the 

 Yucca aloifoUa of South America, were all in splendid order and fine deve- 

 lopment. The Cheirostemon platanifoUum (or platanoides), the celebrated 

 ' Hand-tree,' — so called from the resemblance which the disposition of the 

 stamens of its bright red flowers bear to the human hand, — a fruit-bearing 

 shrub from Mexico, was also noticed by the author. Among other curio- 

 sities here were some splendid plants of the Gunnera scabra, a noble plant 

 from the Pacific, with leaves of extraordinary size and roughness, and the 

 fruit or seed gathered together in a tremendous spike. 



"Jn England, people drive miles to see a specimen of the Aloe in 

 flower, and the vulgar error is very generally adopted that these plants 

 flower only once in a hundred years. Our readers, of course, do not need 

 to be reminded that the fact is that the Aloe flowers but once in its exist- 

 ence, and that after that grand eff"ort of nature has been accomplished, the 

 plant dies. In England, the crisis takes a long time to come about ; but 

 in the islands, it is effected so much more rapidly, that the sight of an 

 aloe in bloom is by no means an uncommon one. I certainly saw from 

 eight to ten during my walks about the island, and the height which the 

 major part of these had attained was not under five-and-twenty feet. 



" Cape bulbs luxuriate here. The gaudy varieties of Gladioli — the Ixias, 

 I. viridiflora, and crateroides with many other splendid kinds, are raised in 

 this island, as well as the beautiful species of Tritonia and Sparaxis of many 

 shades of colour. Great numbers of these are exported annually, and are 

 of some importance commercially. 



" The New Zealand Flax (^Fhormmm tenax) grows vigorously in some 

 spots, producing flowers and ripening seeds. Arundo Donax (or ' Canni di 

 Giardini ' of the Italians) sometimes grows twelve feet high ; Indian Shot 

 {Camioe) remain in the open ground many years. These plants, belonging 

 to this great division of the vegetable kingdom, are so exotic in appear- 

 ance as to cause the English visitor to think himself further distant from 

 home. 



" The Blue Gum-trees (Eucalypti) and Wattle-trees {Mimosa) of Aus- 

 tralia become trees here, and are very striking. 



"The Glory Pea (Cliaidhns ptiniceus), a splendid shrub from New Zea- 

 land, as well as the Veronicas from same country, grow luxuriantly here," 



finally, the author tempts the economical by the information 

 that lodgings will cost only from twelve to thirty shillings per 

 week, the price being dependent on style and situation. We beg 

 leave to second this laudable effort to help tourists to disburse 

 their spare cash in a rational way, and in a place where it is be- 

 lieved that they will get a quid pro quo, or a fair equivalent for 

 their expenditure. 



N. S. V«L. VI. 4 D 



