JULY. 333 



All the beds should be slightly raised in the centre, with 

 the outside no higher than the walk ; if filled up as they too 

 often are an inch or two above the ground, they have a 

 slovenly appearance. 



Keep all the verbenas and similar plants pegged down close 

 to the ground, and the garden will appear one mass of foliage 

 and flowers. 



FLORICULTURAL AND BOTANICAL NOTICES. . 



New Phloxes. — Improvement in this most beautiful hardy 

 summer and autumnal flower is continually being made by 

 foreign cultivators, as well as our own, and many new ones 

 are annually offered for sale. In onr volume for 1853, (XIX. 

 p. 412,) we gave a brief description of a few of them, copied 

 from the foreign catalogues, before we had seen them in 

 bloom. Last season our plants were stronger, and bloomed 

 freely, aff'ording a much richer treat than we had anticipated. 

 Some of them were very beautiful, and a few of them sur- 

 passingly so. We now add descriptions of several new ones, 

 the two first of which we had in bloom last year ; the others 

 were received from France this spring : — 



Alexandrina. — Flowers, dark violet ; centre, purple. Grows 

 2 feet high. 



Dr. Aiidry. — Flowers, lilac violet, darker at the base of 

 each division of the petals forming a star in the centre of the 

 flower. Plant, very robust, forming a long and enormous 

 panicle. Height, 3 feet. 



Fancy Adam. — Flowers, milk white, spotted with rose at 

 the bottom of the petals. Plants very vigorous, having much 

 the appearance of pyramidalis. Height, 2| feet. 



Marie Gros. — Flowers, pure white. Height, 2| feet. 



Madame Rendatler. — Flowers, pure violet, with a purple 

 centre , and large corolla. Height, 2| feet. 



Henriette Castelle. — Flower, bright rose. Height, 3 feet. 



Marquis de Gouvon St. Cyr. — Flowers, rose, with purple 

 centre. Height, 2>\ feet. 



