General Notices. '4"9 



plant of each, and a plant of Calceolaria YoungH, for two guineas. C. 

 - Yoiing/i is a hybrid of great magnificence, and is figured in tlie Botanical 

 Register for October (1831), tab. 1448., whence we learn, " it was raised 

 last year from [seed of] a plant of C arachnciidea imjji'egnated with C. co- 

 rynibosa." Its blossoms are of the size of those of C. corymbosa, their 

 ground-colour yellow, with a large deep purple spot upon the centre of 

 each inflated slipper or lip ; creating a contrast, by the vivid richness of the 

 colours, that is singularly striking and beautiful. C. Youngii in habit 

 appears to assimilate closely to C. corymbosa, and to have obtained little 

 or none of the caulescence of its female parent, C. arachnoidea. The Bo- 

 tanical Register contains the following directions for the successful culti- 

 vation of the superb C Youngw: — " It grows freely in rich soil, and is 

 increased by division of the roots. It reijuires an airy situation in the 

 green-house throughout the winter. Early in the spring, care should be 

 taken to observe the progress of its growth, so as always to give it ample 

 pot-room, shifting it as soon as its roots reach the outside ; by wliich means 

 much luxuriance of growth, and an astonishing abundance of flowers, are 

 insured. But the greatest display of its beauty is to be obtained by plant- 

 ing it (in rich soil) in the open border, in May, where it will uninterrupt- 

 edly increase in strength and splendour until October." 



The height of the specimen figured is not stated ; but, from a friend who 

 saw a plant in blossom, we have learned it was 2 ft. or more in height. It 

 will be seen (in p. 509. of Volume VII.) that Messrs. Young have suc- 

 ceeded in growing C. corymbosa itself to the height of 3 ft., by treating 

 it with manured water ; and it is probable that, by the same means, C. 

 Young/i even may be so invigorated and magnified as to farther enhance its 

 excellence. Besides the hybrid calceolarias above mentioned, Mr. Dennis 

 has raised one or two ; and we have heard that there are others about. We 

 shall be happy to receive accounts of them. 



" For a long time [Professor Lindley remarks, Bot. Rcgisfcr, t. 1454.] 

 the only colours that were known to exist in calceolarias were yellow or 

 orange. The first purple kind that was raised, C. purpurea, is a plant so 

 impatient of cultivation, that it still remains extremely scarce ; but C. 

 arachnoidea [the second purple one, and which is almost hardy] is not only 

 a common ornament of all choice gardens, but has become the parent of 

 many very remarkable hybrids." 



On the culture of the shrubby calceolarias, it is needless to remark their 

 affection for a warm humid atmosphere. Mr. Thomas Bridges of Valpa- 

 raiso, collector and vender of the productions of nature there, in his first 

 letter thence, a few years since, remarked that in his earliest rambles he 

 found the shrubby calceolarias thriving and luxuriating in damp situations 

 at the bases of the hills about Valparaiso. — J. D. 



Narcissinean Plants having been long peculiar objects of my attention, 

 and having, under the auspices of my employers, Messrs. Young, been gra- 

 ciously permitted to form an extensive collection of these precocious and 

 fragrant beauties ; and as among them exist new and noble species, amply 

 testified in the recent monograph of my learned friend A. H. Haworth, Esq., 

 (a second edition of which is just published with an English preface, em- 

 bracing a historical view of the tribe and a detailed mode of culture, 

 thereby rendering it the fullest and best account that has hitherto appeared,) 

 I hereunder append the names of a few of the rarer or more interesting 

 kinds, which yielded their flowers in fine strength and consequent beauty 

 during the past season : — 



A'jaj? Sal. and Haw. A^ja.i Sal. and Haw. 



nanus Haw. cernuus ft flore pleno. 



albicans Haw, serratus y radians Haw. 



tortuosus Haw. lobularis Haw. 



cernuus Haiu. ft ? amplicorona Haw, 



Vol. VIII. — No. .36. ^ 



