342 J^Totices of new and beautiful Plants 



loam; and if both peat and loam contain a good portion of sand 

 in themselves, little besides need be added. In some instances 

 it is not necessary to use loam in the composition at all, and it 

 now and then happens that less peat than loam is required; but 

 whether the proportions are necessarily equal or unequal, it is 

 always best to incorporate such a quantity of sand as will be suf- 

 ficient to keep the whole from binding or setting in the pot. In 

 potting it is essential to pack the soil close down by the side of the 

 old ball, by pressing it with the hand or potting stick; for if suf- 

 fered to remain hollow or slack, the roots do not thrive. The 

 pots should always be well drained at the bottom, in order to let 

 the water pass freely. Water should not be administered when 

 the soil appears full of moisture, or when it feels in the least 

 soddened, especially during winter." These excellent hints ap- 

 ply to all the delicate fibrous rooted plants, such as ericas, &c., 

 and should be read and re-read, to impress upon the memory the 

 importance of judicious repotting and watering. 



The drawing was taken from a fine specimen furnished by 

 Messrs. Lucombe, Pince & Co., of Exeter, in whose collec- 

 tion it flowered, in February last. (Pax. Mag. Bot.^ June.) 



The purple Laburnum. — Much has been written in the Eng- 

 lish periodicals within a year or two in respect to a new variety 

 of the laburnum, with purple or scarlet blossoms, sent from France 

 under the name of Cytisus Z-aburnum coccineum. Like all new 

 things, everybody was eager to get it, so much was expected 

 from it. Those who knew the tricks of foreign dealers cau- 

 tioned their friends against allowing their expectations to be too 

 sanguine. Plants sold rapidly, and the flowers from them were 

 looked after with great interest. Dr. Lindley states that it is 

 "needless to describe the disappointment that was felt" when 

 the scarlet laburnum first produced its dull, dingy, dirty purple 

 clusters. " And yet, what else could have been anticipated? 

 for it was well known that the origin of the variety was between 

 C. purpureus and C. Laburnum. Surely nothing better ought to 

 have been expected from an intermixture so monstrous in regard 

 to the habit of the two parents, and so unpromising as their col- 

 ors." The specimen figured is pretty, having long pendant ra- 

 cemes of dull purple and yellow flowers. It certainly would be 

 an ornament to the pleasure ground, though not equal to the C. 

 Laburnum. [Bot. Reg., June.) 



F.uphorbvdcedd. 



POINSE'TT/.4 Graham (In compliment to the Hon. J. R. Poinsett, of South Carolina, who 



introduced it from Mexico to the gardens of this country.) 



pulcherrima Beautiful Poinsettia. A stove shrub ; crowing six or eipht feet high ; with 



brilliant scarlet brnctes ; appearins in January or February; pri)pai'ated by cuttings ; grown 



in snndy loam and vegetahle ninuld ; a native of Mexico. Pax. Mag. But., Vol. IV, p. 97. 



Synonynies : i=;uph6ib/a pulcherrima IVilld. £. Poinsettia of the gardens. 



Information respecting the new generic name of this beautiful 



