J^ew York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, ^-c. 305 



Passing a bed of hydrangeas in- full bloom, the difference 

 in the colors of the flowers, all from one patch of plants, 

 struck us as singular. Some were bright pink, others of a 

 purplish hue, while part of them were of a deep blue. INIr. 

 Hogg attributed the different shades to the soil, which he said 

 was affected by the drainage from an adjoining yard, where 

 cows were kept. The plants stood in a north border, im- 

 mediately against the fence, and the gradual filtering of the 

 manure through the soil may have had the effect. Different 

 soils affect the color, but we were not aware that cow manure 

 would do so. The plants, Mr. Hogg informed us, stood out 

 in the situation where we saw them all the year, with only a 

 light covering during winter. We certainly never saw finer 

 clusters of flowers. 



The beds of verbenas were very brilliant: in addition to 

 the older sorts, we noticed several seedlings, some by Mr. 

 Hogg, and others by our correspondent, Mr. Briell, of Jer- 

 sey city; a lilac one raised by Mr. Briell, and a crimson one 

 with a dark eye, by Mr. Hogg, were the two most distinct. 

 So numerous have the varieties become, that it is difficult 

 now to raise a distinct sort. Phlox Drummondu was splen- 

 did, with its deep crimson tints. Portulaca Thellusonfi was 

 also displaying its vivid scarlet corols: it is a more showy 

 species than grandiflora, and flowers abundantly. 



The green-house and hot-house plants were in good order. 

 Mr. Hogg has a large lot of Cacti, lately received from South 

 America; the species are all unnamed, but among them are 

 some singular and interesting sorts: these, we believe, he 

 intends to send to England, as soon as they are in proper 

 condition for a voyage. Poincidna Gilliesw was just coming 

 into bloom: Gardoquia multiflora is a pretty species; and 

 Diplaceus punicea deserves a place in every good collection; 

 its scarlet flowers have a showy appearance. Nirembergia 

 intermedia, with its tiny foliage and deep rich purple flowers, 

 is an admirable plant for small beds. 



In a small bed in the open ground, we noticed planted out 

 a variety of green-house and hot-house climbers, which ap- 

 peared to be doing well. They were Clematis cajrulea, flam- 

 mula, and integrifolia, Iponiffi^a Sellowu, and Solanum jas- 

 minoides. Bannisterm sp. new, with yellow flowers, trained 

 up to the wall of the house, was quite pretty. Among the 

 green-house plants, there were several new things, but as they 



