Review of Loudon'' s Gardener''s Magazine. 425 



undulated plain, on the left bank of the Rhine, on the road lead- 

 ing from Dusseldorf to Aix la Chapelle. This is probably one 

 of the finest gardens in Germany: the proprietor possesses great 

 botanical knowledge, and has collected together a larger number 

 of genera and species of succulent plants than can be found in 

 Europe. To convey an idea of these, the writer gives the fol- 

 lowing account: — 



" The whole collection of succulent plants amounts to about 1500 — in 

 which there are 296 mesembryantheniums, 115cereuses, 76 opuntias, 

 47 mammill arias, 28 echinocactuses, 10 melocactuses, 9 rhipsalises, 7 

 pere.skias, 196 aloes, 17 yuccas, 29 agaves, &c. Of this collection it 

 may be sufficient to say, that it has only been brought to this state of 

 perfection by great botanical knowledge and indefatigable industry. 

 As the greater number of the plants were given to His Highness by the 

 botanists who named them, it may easily be supposed they are correct, 

 which is very seldom the case, where there are collections of succulent 

 plants." 



The Prince of Salm-Dyck has published his Hortus Dyckensis, 

 which will give all the information needed in regard to these 

 plants: it may be had in both the German and French languages. 



Art. 8. " On the culture of the Solandra grandiflora. By 

 Mr. Thomas Symons." 



This writer has succeeded so well in the cultivation of this 

 very beautiful plant, that he has communicated the following 

 method of growing them: — 



" It is well known that the Solandra grandiflora will grow many feet 

 in height in one season, if under good cultivation, and left to its native 

 luxuriancy. When the plants under my care have attained the eleva- 

 tion required, which is about three and a half feet, I prevent them from 

 growing higher, by nipping off the tops of the shoots; and, Avhen the 

 plants have arrived to the size desired, all the laterals are served in the 

 same way. By adopting this mode, the plants throw out a vast number 

 of spurs, which is a great object in the cultivation of the Solandra; and 

 the plants assume a fine bushy shrub-like a])pearauce. Early in Janu- 

 ary they are turned out of the pots, a part of their balls is removed, and 

 they are repotted in compost, of one half rich loam, one fourth peat, 

 and one fourth well decomposed leaf mould. The pots used are twelve 

 inches in diameter. Little or no water is applied until there are indi- 

 cations of a movement in the sap. The plants are then slightly watered, 

 increasing the quantity as the shoots advance, Avith water kept at a tem- 

 perature nearly equal to that of the stove, which, at that season of the 

 year, is from 55° to 60°. By the middle of January, the young shoots, 

 together with the flower buds, begin to appear, Avhen regular and rather 

 plentiful watering is continued, till all the buds have perfected their 

 blossoms, always remembering to use warm water; for if cold water 

 be used, at this particular season, it will cause every bud to drop, 

 and thus ruin all. All young shoots, not bearing blossom buds, when 

 about two inches long, are shortened to one inch from their base as 

 often as they appear." 



Under this management, one plant produced upwards of sixty 

 of its beautiful blossoms; many of the spurs having two, and some 



VOL. II. NO. XI. 54 



