Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. 179 



ensemble, render it, in our opinion, a charminjif plant. Several Begonite 

 were covered witii the usual curious flowers of the family. " /Jhododt'-n- 

 dron siuense" was very attractive, as was also a fine plant of " Metrosi(U>- 

 rosspi'ciJsa,besi(ie vvhicli,the usual species in green-houses,(,M. laiiceoiata ?) 

 was greatly shorn of its beauty. "Hil)bertia volubilis" was cliuibing to 

 the "crystal" roof, and expanding its glowing golden flowers, not remark- 

 able for fragrance, and therefore best seen at a distance, while the h; mble, 

 but far more splendid "Gloxinia acaulis*' displayed its rich, deep piu'ple 

 flowers in a less ostr'ntatious manner. " Pudanthes Inrta " was blooming 

 near its co-genus "Stapeha variegata," both remarkable for their peculiar 

 merits. Several other interesiing plants were coming into, or already in 

 bloom, as "CalKcoma serratifjjia," "/fiblscus sinensis" [?] "Amaryllis 

 vittata," and a graceful species of Passerina. "Streptocarpus Rexi'i " dis- 

 played, what never before fell under oiu- notice, a hijiorous charactei', two 

 distinct and perfectly formed flowers, each with its i)eduncle inserted on a 

 common scape. Was this the first development of peculiarity of a new 

 variety, — or owing to the sirength and vigorous growth of the plant? 

 " Melasioma atromtlia was just declining in beauty. Its deep j)urpie flow- 

 ers render it highly conspicuous in a collection. Why are not the 

 Melastomaceae more cultivated ? De Candoile has exhibited to the world 

 their striking meriis, in his spl'^ndid Monograph on the family. Our little 

 shining and pretty native, "iJiiexia virglnica," which is a perfect repre- 

 seiUation of the more magnificent cogenera of the tropics, may be grown 

 with facility iuajircpared peat border in every garden. ".;Y<„rium sjilen- 

 dens," was exi)anding; one flower of which measured in diameter above 

 two inches; a rival of the far filmed and universal fiivorite camellia, — we 

 mean of the rtd varieties. Let it be ;/rown with care, and fl wered in irnd- 

 winter, and heretical as may seem this opinion, we do not fear the result. 

 At any rate it will gain more admirers in such situations, and in such a 

 season, than now, when other and more gaudy plants seem to outrival it 

 by their numbers or habits. — R. L. J. 



Coimtrij residence of the Hon. T. H. Perkins, at Brookline, — u^pril ^5th. 

 We have but time to say that the plants in the houses throughout, look 

 in fijie condition ; and the quantity of fruit which is showing in the 

 different departments, is immense. In a small house in the garden in 

 which forcing was commenced about the first of January, and in which 

 the roots of the vines run into the open border, grapes are nearly ripe, 

 and on Saturday, the 30th, Mr. Cowan intends cutting several clusters. 

 We certainly think Mr. Cowan entitled to great credit for this. The 

 great severity of the climate, this season, against which he has had to 

 contend, has rendered forcing very diflicult. Mr. Cowan also cut cucum- 

 bers about the middle of March. 



Jlpril. — We have now in bloom in our collections, several fine seeding 

 calceolarias; some of them are entirely yellow, others yellow, beautifully 

 marked, with small spots of a chocolate brown ; and we have also a 

 number which show buds but have not yet expanded. We hope to be 

 able to save four or five which will jjossess sufficient inerit to be entitled 

 o names. Among the geraniums Avhich are now in flower, and which may 

 be called fine, are Napoleon, De Vere, Daniel' Webster, gloriannm, Invo- 

 lucratum superbum, Clintom'a, Brudinella, incarnatum, and several oth- 

 ers, which we have not room to name ; a new variety, but of which we 

 have lost the name, received from London, last season, will also flower. 

 Schizanthus Hooken'i is now opening its blossoms; it is a splendid spe- 

 cies, the j)etals being of a deep crimson color, instead of a pale red or 

 purple as in the common species. We believe this is the first tinje it 

 has ever flowered here. The plants are not so easily cultivated as the 

 pinnatus, they requiring more heat, and they are more likely to damp off. 

 They will however, repay all the care bestowed upon them. Several 



