Notes and Gleanings. 27 



the stove. Sow the seed in pans filled with peat and silver-sand as soon as 

 gathered, and place a sheet of glass over the soil. When the seedlings make 

 their appearance above the surface, remove the glass, and pot off immediately 

 they are strong enough to undergo the shift. Afterwards manage them as ad- 

 vised for the specimens. 



The most distinct and beautiful species are A. acaule, A. mag7iijicu7n, A. 

 regale, A. le7iconenrinn, and A. Scherzerianuni. The first named has huge 

 upright green leaves, and in general appearance is not unlike the Birds'-nest 

 fern. When grown well it is really magnificent, but badly grown it is veritable 

 rubbish. The best specimen of this magnificent species ever exhibited in this 

 country was that contributed to the London exhibitions last season by Mr. 

 Fairbairn, the able gardener at Sion House. The second and third named 

 species have cordate or heart-shaped leaves of an immense size and great 

 beauty, the surface resembling rich velvet overlaid with lines of silver ; and the 

 last named has small green strap-shaped leaves ; but the vermilion red spathes, 

 which are of the most dazzling brilliancy, and produced in the greatest abun- 

 dance, render it one of the greatest ornaments to the stove yet in existence. 

 Although it may be had in flower throughout the year, its proper season for 

 flowering is during the winter, and as the spathes retain their freshness for two 

 or three months, it has no equal among flowering plants. When in flower it is 

 a first-rate subject for table decoration, and when it is more plentiful will un- 

 doubtedly be much used for that purpose, as good specimens can be grown in 

 five or six inch pots. J. IV. Silver, in Floral World. 



Clematis Princess Mary. — This charming new C/^w«/?>, of the florida 

 race, descended from Clematis Standishii, is one of a fine batch recently ob- 

 tained by Mr. C. Noble, of Sunningdale. It is the most distinct break we have 

 yet seen from the violets, grays, and whites, which are the ordinary colors of the 

 large-flowered forms of CleJiiatis ; and its very pleasing shade of rosy-pink will 

 render it a most welcome acquisition. 



The niche which this novelty is adapted to fill is that of an early-blooming 

 hardy or conservatory chmber. It is of free but slender growth, with quite the 

 habit of C. Standisiiii, and, like that plant, is adapted either for pot-culture or 

 for planting out in the conservatory, or against a conservative wall. As a spring 

 exhibition plant, blooming freely about the month of May, this, with others of 

 its race, is to be highly recommended. With the double v/hite C. Fortunei, the 

 double blue C. Joiin G. VeitcJi, and the hybrids Mr. Noble has introduced to 

 public notice, e. g., Miss Batevian, Albert Victor, Lady LondesborongJi, etc., a 

 very charming group might be made up. Though the exact parentage of the 

 individual seedlings has not been preserved, we learn from Mr. Noble that 

 C. Standishii, Fortunei, and Sopiiia fiore-pleno, with C. lanuginosa (the two 

 former principally the seed-bearers), were the parents of his hybrids — a race of 

 free-blooming, early-flowering varieties, which, possessing vigor of growth, com- 

 bine also fine form and unwonted substance of petal, with some exquisite tints 

 of color. We learn, moreover, that the plants are perfectly hardy. 



T. M., in Florist and Pomologist. 



