Of New Plants. 221 



quartz sand, and usually where the soil was wet. Its culti- 

 vation is simple. It should be potted in sandy loam and 

 peat, and kept Avell watered in summer : in winter, place it 

 on a warm shelf, near the glass. It is increased by dividing 

 its large and fleshy roots. {Bot. Reg., April.) 



MarantdcecB. 



CALATH^'A 



vilI6sa Lindl. Shaggy Calathea. A stove plant ; growing a foot high ; with yellow flower; ap- 

 pearing iu July ; a native of Demarara; increased by offsets; grown in sandy loam and peat 

 Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 14. 



A pretty stove plant, having very shaggy leaves, from 

 whence its name ; and spikes of yellow flowers. It is a stove 

 species, from Demarara, requiring to be potted in sandy loam 

 and peat, and to be kept rather dry during winter. In the 

 summer, give an abundant supply of water, and shade from 

 the hot sun. It is propagated from ofl"sets. (^Bot. Reg. 

 March.) 



IriddcecB. 



Qladiohis insignis. — One of the most brilliant gladioluses 

 we have ever seen, is the G. insignis. It grows to nearly 

 the height of psittacinus, and produces one or two spikes of 

 large, splendid scarlet, flowers, with a deep shade of violet 

 purple in the centre of each petal. It is one of the finest 

 that has been produced, and should be found in every good 

 collection of this new magnificent family. 



Neio Varieties of the Iris. — Among the most interesting 

 new things in flower, we may name several varieties of the 

 English Iris, which have been greatly improved by the skill 

 of the German and French florists. We have eight or ten 

 already in bloom, which for the depth of their blue or ultra- 

 marine tints, or their delicate shades of porcelain, excel any 

 thing we have seen. They are all easy of cultivation, pot- 

 ting the bulbs in November, and placing them in a pit until 

 February, when they may be brought into the greenhouse to 

 bloom. 



