in and near Philadelphia. 127 



Cdcti are In fine health, and are one of the best collections in 

 the country, containing all the finer and rarer varieties. We 

 noticed a number of frames ontside, filled with strong plants 

 of carnations, pinks, new pentstemons, pansies, &c. 



Green-houses and hot-houses of John Shenvood^ Laurel Hill, 

 (three and a half miles north of Philadelphia.)— r]\Ir. Sherwood's 

 establishment is one of the largest in the city or county of 

 Philadelphia, immediately opposite the beautiful cemetery at 

 Laurel Hill, the Mount Auburn of Philadeljihia. His col- 

 lection is varied and extensive, occupying over eight thou- 

 sand square feet of glass. We will commence with the north- 

 ern hot-house, which is over forty feet in length and facing 

 the north-east, and contains some very rare plants: among the 

 most remarkable is the Doryanthes excelsa, the largest plant 

 in America, of the most vigorous growth and character. The 

 flower-stem of this plant is thirty feet in height, crowned by 

 a corymb of the most glittering crimson. Mr. Sherwood's 

 plant will probably bloom next year. The leaves are over 

 five feet in length, and the circumference of the whole about 

 eighteen feet. The Bonapartea Jimcea, about twelve feet in 

 circumference, a fine plant of the U^pas, or poison tree of 

 Java, in fruit, a new FurcroeVt from 3Iexico, the leaves on 

 the plant exceeding four feet in length, and the plant itself 

 about fifteen feet in circumference; Poincidna Giliesu', Phoe^- 

 nix declinata. 



Among the plants in bloom, I noticed the Poinsettra pul- 

 cherrima, Euphorbia Jacquina^om, Tillandsia ama^^na, Stre- 

 litzia reginae, the Parkinsonm aculeala just displaying its buds, 

 Swietenia JMahagoni in bloom, //eliotropium intermedia, 

 which is cultivated principally for bouquets, the I'nga pul- 

 cherrima and paradoxica. I noticed likewise the Camellia ja- 

 ponica var. mutabilis, and Reevesu", in perfection. On the 

 front stage were planted out a fine lot of seedling camellias, 

 several hundred in number, of distinct character and foliage, 

 from which the fioral world may expect something rare and 

 beautiful, as they are raised entirely from the finest double 

 varieties. 



In the hot-beds, in pots, were a fine lot of the white Moss 

 rose, engrafted upon the roots of the indica, all of which have 

 finely taken, and are in vigorous growth, and also several 

 plants of the rarer Indian varieties of azaleas, engrafted up- 

 on the /Rhododendron ponticum, all of which are in fine 

 growth. 



