74 General Notices. 



feet) are good for the balcony. We mention one or two : — A. pygmea, 

 grows 1 foot, 3s. 6d. ; A. clanbrasiliana, from 2 to 3 feet, about the same 

 price ; A. khutrow and A. Douglasii are worthy of being remembered. 

 The former is very attractive in spring, when commencing its growth, 

 from the delicate green of the young shoots contrasting with the older 

 foliage. The drooping character of this species renders it particularly 

 beautiful. In its native Himalayas it exceeds 70 feet in height ; but it 

 grows well in a pot. As a single specimen on a lawn it is very handsome. 

 The latter, the prince of Spruce Firs, is, of course, admired by all. It is 

 a most rapid grower, has foliage of a beautiful lively green, and succeeds 

 well in almost any situation. In its native forests, in North America, it 

 reaches near 200 feet in height. Good plants may be bought for 5s. For a 

 dwarf-growing symmetrical tree Picea pinsapo cannot be surpassed. The 

 foliage is of a very deep green. Price for a good plant 10s. 6d. Cedrus 

 deodara is too well known to require more than mentioning. Very good 

 plants can now be purchased for 2s. 6d. Taxus fastigiata or Upright Irish 

 Yew, in situations where its formal outline is admissible, is a useful plant. 

 The foliage is of the deepest green. Does well in a pot. Price 2s. 6d. 

 ■Cryptomeria japonica: Pale in foliage, rapid growing, very hardy, and 

 cheap ; a 3 feet plant may be had for 5s. Cupressus macrocarpa and C. 

 gaveniana are both desirable on account of the bright green tints of their 

 foliage. The former reaches the height of 70 or 80 feet; the latter only 8 

 or >l-0. The former is a native of the hill districts of California, and stands 

 our severer weather with impunity. This being a comparatively new spe- 

 cies, the price is higher than for many others ; 10s. 6d. will purchase a 

 good plant. Macrocarpa may be had for a third of that sum. Biotaorien- 

 talis, the Chinese Arbor-vita?, must not be forgotten. It is very cheap ; and, 

 though common, is not the less handsome. In this list we have purposely 

 avoided many desirable species ; some because of their expense, others from 

 the desire not to overcrowd the list given. We hope such as we have 

 named will meet the wishes of our correspondents. In respect to the prices 

 Iiere quoted, it must be borne in mind that the respective sums stated are 

 but approximate, since some may charge more, some less. — ( Gard. Jovr. 

 1852. p. 3.) 



Fuchsia serratifolia. — This being a favorite of mine, I am induced 

 to send you my method of cultivating it ; during this dreary season (when 

 anything in bloom is desirable) I find it one of the gayest ornaments of the 

 conservatory. At the present time I have many plants in 11-inch pots, a 

 complete mass of flower, on shoots about six inches long ; these have been 

 subjected to the following treatment : — cuttings were struck early in Feb- 

 ruary, and, after being potted off, they were repeatedly shifted into a mix- 

 ture of equal parts loam, peat, and leaf-mould, witli a little silver sand, 

 until about the middle of May, keeping them well-topped ; by that time 

 they were nice bushy plants. As soon as the weather permitted, I then 

 turned them into the open borders, where the soil was not over rich, choos- 

 ing as dry a place as possible, 'and I took no fiirther notice of them till the 

 end of September, when they began to show their flower buds. I then 

 prepared the same soil for them as before, and carefully lifted them into 



