242 Notes on Gardens and Nursei'ies. 



found growing in the remotest parts of Texas, Wisconsin, and 

 Maine. 



Mr. Breckenridge is now, and has been, for some time, so 

 much engaged upon the arrangement of the plants, collected 

 by the Exploring Expedition, for publication, that he has not 

 been enabled to devote as much time to the garden as usual ; 

 yet we found every thing healthy, and in good order. 



In the houses, many plants were in bloom, and presented a 

 gay appearance. The Chinese primroses, both white and 

 purple, were large, finely fringed, and beautiful; a capital 

 stock to grow seeds from, which he does in considerable quan- 

 tity. Chorizema cordata is one of the finest flowers of this 

 elegant group : small plants were quite covered with flowers; 

 this species seeds freely, and many packages have been dis- 

 tributed : its deep-colored blossoms present a fine contrast 

 with the yellow and orange tints of C. varium and others. 

 The acacias were very showy, especially A. linearis. 



In the hothouse, several pitcher-plants (Aepenthes distilla- 

 toria) were rambling about with the greatest luxuriance : one 

 planted out in the bark bed had reached the top of the house, 

 and others in boxes had made numerous shoots. These de- 

 light in a very loose soil, with plenty of drainage ; many 

 small plants have been raised from layers, and sent to vari- 

 ous parts of the country. Several orchideous plants were 

 growing with the greatest luxuriance, and an Oncidium, sp., 

 was in flower. 



The spring was yet exceedingly backward, the thermom- 

 eter indicating 10 or 12° of frost. The Tea and Noisette roses 

 had, however, wintered well, and were now swelling their buds. 

 Mr. Breckenridge has some promising seedling roses, and we 

 hope to give some account of the best after the rose season. 

 Mr. Breckenridge has an excellent plan for protecting hybrid 

 perpetual roses, and other plants which need it : this is to 

 thatch, or completely surround, th^ plants with branches of 

 cedar or other evergreens, and, drawing the tops together, bind 

 them so as to throw oflf the rain. This plan seems to suc- 

 ceed better than straw; it admits of a free circulation of air 

 and is not so liable to hold moisture as a close covering of 

 straw. It sufficiently guards the plants from the sun, which 

 is often more injurious than severe cold. 



