90 I r il/as. 



for the first time in this kingdom, as has likewise 

 happened with other plants at Bitton, under the care 

 of Mr. Ellacomb. 



Since the opening of Japan to intercourse with the 

 Western world, under the enlightened rule of its pre- 

 sent sovereign, that country has continuously pre- 

 sented us with varieties of ornamental plants new to 

 us, and vieing with each other in beauty and interest. 

 Amongst many whose peculiar loveliness has made 

 them much sought for are varieties of Lilies, of which 

 those called Lancifotiimi, lance-leaved, and L. aura- 

 tum, become everywhere special favourites, and their 

 suitableness for villa gardens, and ease of increase, 

 cannot be too generally known. I have seen a print 

 of one tuft of L. auratiim, in a large flower-pot, with 

 two hundred and fifty flowers. Generally, I believe, 

 hardy and half-hardy Lilies grow better in the open 

 ground or conservatory border than under pot- 

 culture ; and if required in pots, may be moved 

 carefully from the ground, to be replaced when out 

 of bloom. It may not be out of place to tell of a 

 Japanese peasant of whom we have lately read, whose 

 humble grounds attracted the attention of visitors of 

 various classes, and at last were honoured by a visit 

 from the Sovereign Tycoon, who was so pleased with 

 what he saw that he raised the grateful man to the 

 honour of the two-sworded class, as an encourage- 

 ment to all good gardeners for ever. I may mention 

 a successful experiment by Dr. Moore, "at Grlasnevin, 



