jydtes 011 Gardens and J^urseries. 107 



somewhat similar to the one called caftra, but with pale pink or 

 flesh-colored bells; it is called the garland flower, and well de- 

 serves the name: E. riibida and versicolor were in flower, but 

 the plants were not strong, and consequently not fair specimens: 

 metuheflora, a very fine one, and mammosa, have been superb 

 all the fall and early part of winter. Arborea had been pretty, 

 but the flowers were now nearly gone: plants of the caff^ra were 

 blooming beautifully; this, though one of the most common 

 about Boston, is yet one of the most pleasing — it is a rapid 

 grow-er and early bloomer, and of easy culture; some species 

 are so difficult of growth that it is almost impossible to keep 

 them alive; and when one of this kind gets into a collection, it is 

 apt to dishearten the cultivator, or give him an impression that 

 the tribe is one of difficult management: such, therefore, as are 

 handsome, and at the same time of easy growth, should be first 

 sought for, and the more delicate ones afterwards. E. baccans, 

 one of the most exquisite of all, does not seem to flourish with 

 Mr. Towne, while with us it appears to require little attention 

 to grow it well. To understand the management of heaths, per- 

 fectly, much practice and careful observation is necessary: some 

 flourish in a very sandy soil, while others require a stronger one; 

 some require but little water, while others need a more liberal sup- 

 ply. It cannot be said that the plants are as easy to grow as a 

 camellia or a geranium; but they are not so difficult of cultivation 

 but what a little experience will overcome a major part of the 

 obstacles to their successful management. 



Among the other plants in bloom we noticed Polygala cordi- 

 folia, Indigofera coccinea,? Crotalaria elegans, a beautiful plant, 

 Diosma capitata, and Gnidia pinifolia, lovely with its heads of 

 snowy blossoms. Prostranthera purpurea and Corrffi^rt pulchella, 

 speciosa and viridiflora, each of which had been superb, but 

 rather past bloom now; Lechenault/a formosa, in flower the whole 

 season ; Kennedya coccinea, monophylla and monophylla var. 

 Towneii, a seedling, from the monophylla impregnated with 

 some other variety, raised by Mr. Buist; it is very similar to its 

 parent. .Acacia verticillata, a small plant of, was covered with 

 bloom. Pimelea rosea and decussata will both be in flower by 

 the time this appears in jirint. Azalea hybrida was finely in 

 flower; Mr. Towne prefers this to the phoenicea, both on ac- 

 count of the buds expanding before the leaves appear and the great 

 exuberance of its blossoms, which give the plant the appearance of 

 being one mass of flowers. We have never seen a plant of the 

 E'pacris grandiflora so truly splendid as one in this collection; 

 some of the branches were thickly and regularly clothed, with its 

 beautiful blossoms, for more than fifteen inches in length. The 

 camellias have been handsome, but a great portion of Mr. Towne's 

 attention is devoted to the heaths, which are admirably grown. 



