‘humous work, prepared by the author under the 
23—1846. ] 
THE GARDENERS’ CHRONICLE, 375 
a collection of 12 Verbenas. Seedlings were not so nu- 
merous as at the former meeting. In Pelargoniums, 
first prize was awarded to a seedling of 1845 named 
Melpomene ; and for seedlings of 1846, Certi were 
drangeas, and other flowering plants; and the same 
a | may be said of another span-roofed house a little to the 
right of this erection.. The latter house is filled with 
1 
given to Mr. Beck for Pasha and Cruenta; to Mr. 
Hoyle for Precision, and to Mr. Gaines for Model. In 
Caleeolarias, Certifieates were granted to Mr. Stanly 
for Fair Maid of Perth; to Mr. Standish for Acme ; 
and to Mr. Gaines for Robusta. For Seedling Fuchsias, 
a first prize was awarded to Mr. Halley for a seedling 
named Empress, having a white tube, and a rosy crim- 
son corolla. We may also mention here that several 
collections of Fuchsias were produced ; but these did 
not at all meet our expectations, for the plants were far 
from being well grown, although the sorts were good. 
The best group was from Mr. Kendall, of Stoke New- 
ington. A second collection was shown by Mr. Robin- 
son, of Chelsea; and Messrs. Lane, Catleugh, and 
Gaines also showed in this class. 
Among Misceuuansous Oxsecrs, of an interesting 
but not showy kind, were collections of Ferns, several 
groups of British plants ; two collections of Alpines, in 
pots; two boxes of Iris blooms, and two Melons. 
In conclusion, we cannot but allude to some of the 
awards. A seedling Heath, a break from splendens, sent 
from the nursery of Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, pos- 
sessing large and well formed flowers, shaded with salmon 
(a colour so scarce in this tribe) was only rewarded by an 
extra prize, while a 1st prize was given to a seedling, 
shown by Mr. Pamplin, of Walthamstow, not at all 
different from others already in cultivation. The 
former was decidedly a step in the right direction to- 
wards obtaining something new, which is so much 
wanted in this class of plants. Again,a small and com- 
paratively insignificant Erica depressa, shown as a single 
Specimen, obtained a second prize, while a very fine 
E. Massoni, from the same grower (Mr. Fairbairn) 
passed apparently unrewarded. And stranger still a 
first prize for new plants was given for a Dracophyllum 
gracile, which years ago could be bought for eighteen- 
pe 
Amona the many new books with which our table is 
covered, some, from their having no relation to the 
purposes of this Journal, are necessarily passed by ; 
and others are of too slight a texture to demand more 
than an incidental notice. The following are among 
the more important. 
Johnson’s Spelling Book (Ridgway), is an adaptation 
of the common spelling book to the special purpose of 
teaching the rural population useful truths, while they 
are passing through the first process of instruction. As 
Compared with Fenning’s barbarous spelling book, that Z 
now before us is immeasurably superior ; and it is not | 
Saying too much to add, that whileit is equal to the last | 
edition of Mavor, it is advantageously distinguished even 
from that by the usefulness of the subjects from which 
the lessons are taken. To teach children their duty as 
servants, or masters, the nature of the implements and 
other familiar objects thatsurround them, general funda- 
mental truths in natural history, good moral maxims 
applicable to the state of life to which country children 
especially are called ; these, and similar subjects are 
what Mr. Johnson substitutes for idle stories about | 
Miss Rose being a good child, and how Charles went 
out to walk, and all such remnants of the days that are | 
gone. We need not say that we think his plan a great 
improvement, and that i5 is upon the whole well suited 
to the instruction of the rural population. 
Flowers and their Associations (Knight), is an agree- 
able gossiping book, which will probably find favour with 
general readers in the country. Itis instructive and 
entertaining, although not very correct in some of its 
details, which is a pity. We are surprised for example at 
Seeing no reference to the modern discoveries respecting 
the “ Lily of the Field,” and still more so at finding it as- 
Serted in a book of the 19th century that Betony pro- 
duces intoxication. We would recommend the authoress 
to avail herself of the experience of some botanist 
When a second edition of her little book is called for. 
Dodonea is a collection, in two thin volumes, of 
French treatises by Professor Morren, of Lióge, on 
various questions in Vegetable Physiology. They are 
Very elever, little known in England, and well worth 
Studying. 
Voigt’s Hortus Suburbanus Calcultensis is a post- 
eye of the late lamented Mr. Griffith, and in- 
tended for botanical students in Hindostan. It 
gives the names, scientific and vernacular, of all the 
plants found in the Botanie Gardens of Calcutta and 
Serampore, together with their medicinal or economical 
uses, The work is no doubt important to the Indian 
Student; but it would have been much more so had the 
characters of the genera and species been added. It 
forms an 8vo volume of about 800 pages. 
Mantell’s Thoughts on Animaicules is a small 
quarto, with 12 plates of magnified representations of 
Microscopical objects. It relates to one of the most 
beautiful and interesting of all the branches of Natural 
History, and will furnish a rich store of entertainment 
and instruction to persons with leisure to study the 
Wonderful phenomena of animaleular life. 
Garden Memoranda. 
Messrs. Henderson's Nursery, Pine-apple-place.— 
The show house at this establishment now presents a 
gay and lively appearance with the different varieties 
of Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Heaths, Caleeolarias, Hy- 
g lants of medium size ; among these we 
recognised an old friend in the shape of Adenandra 
amcena, a neat habited plant, with flowers of a much 
richer colour than those of A. uniflora, which is a more 
common species ; small plants of this old but compara- 
tively scarce plant flower very freely, a circumstance 
which should not be overlooked by the amateur who 
has only accommodation for a few plants, which should 
be as select! as possible. Associated with it was a double 
flowered Nasturtium (Tropseolum minus), producing 
orange scarlet flowers. Of the two small double varie- 
ties this is the brightest coloured one, and would doubt- 
less make a capital plant for bedding out in the flower 
garden, where it will form a very interesting object, 
especially on rockwork or on a dry sunny bank, where 
we have seen it in great perfection. In the same house 
was also the scarce Grevillea punicea, the best of the 
enus, with deep crimson heads of bloom, and near it a 
collection of Calceolarias, promising soon to produce a 
fine display of blossom. In the stove, the principal 
objects commanding attention were Thunbergia chrysops, 
a good plant, covered with blossom buds, the curious 
rather than beautiful crimson-flowered Hæmanthus 
multiflorus, and the gaudy Zephyranthes carinata, the 
latter producing one lilac flower, tinged with pink, mea- 
suring about 2} inches in diameter. This pretty Mex- 
ican bulb has been reported to be hardy, or nearly $0 ; 
og 
but we are not sure that this has been directly proved. . 
The large plant of Combretum purpureum trained along 
the roof promises very soon to be a mass of bright red 
blossoms. This, and the sweet smelling Stephanotis 
floribunda, though well-known plants, cannot be too 
much recommended, for they are undoubtedly two of 
the very best stove climbers we possess, the large clus- 
ters of white blossoms of the latter forming a striking 
contrast with the bright red of the former ; and even 
when divested of floral beauty, the deep green glossy 
oliage presents an ever pleasing appearance. Covering 
the surface of a pot was the interesting little blue Ly- 
copod (Lycopodium cæsium) introduced by the Horti- 
cultural Society from China, through Mr. Fortune; and 
of other plants remarkable for the singularity as well 
as beauty of their foliage may be mentioned 
Begonia digitata, said to be sensitive, and Ja- 
caranda Clauseniana, whose gracefully-drooping Fern- 
like leaves render it an object of much interest. In 
TRxnaANGHA aay mica] 
the Heath-house, several of that beautiful tribe were in 
bloom. Of comparatively new sorts, we remarked 
longiflora floribunda, a variety with long buff tubes 
streaked with brown; vestita variabilis, of French- 
white colour, tinged with pink; and vestita alba su- 
perba, also with French-white blossoms. Of older va- 
rieties in fine condition, we noticed lactiflora, covered 
with little oval white flowers; ventricosa preegnans, 
just opening into beauty; vestita coccinea, with numerous 
heads of blossoms of a most brilliant red ; and pinifolia, 
with long pink recurved flowers of considerable beauty. 
Along with these were also vasiflora, a variety some- 
thing in the way of Beaumontia, and perhaps the finest 
of its class; the deep orange-flowered grandiflora, a 
distinct sort; and favoides elegans, with every little 
branchlet ornamented with dense whorls of lilac blos- 
soms. A neat-looking greenhouse has been recently 
built in the upper part of the nursery beyond the 
Heath-house. It is a span-roofed erection, the front 
side being about 12 feet in depth, and the other about 
half that depth, the latter resting on a back wall about 
6 or 7 feet in height. he whole length of the house is, 
about 60 feet, and it is nearly 20 feet in width. The 
upright sashes in front are 2 feet 5 inches in height, and 
they are made to open and shut all at once by means of 
a crank. These, as well as the roof-sashes, are glazed 
with British sheet-glass, in panes from 2 feet to 24 feet 
in length. In this house we observed a small 
Pulteuzea retusa, a plant not often seen in collections, 
producing an abundant crop of golden yellow flowers ; 
Armeria cephalotes, with numerous large heads of 
pink flowers, elevated on long footstalks, which, if it 
were possible to shorten, would render this fine Thrift 
a worthy associate with its brethren of a dwarfer habit; 
along with it were the pretty little white blossomed 
Epacris pulchella, the latest flowering species of the 
genus; and a noble specimen of Hydrangea japonica, 
with upwards of 20 heads of bloom. This species, of 
which the accompanying sketch is a representation, 
although becoming better known than it has been, is far 
from being so generally cultivated as it deserves. This 
may be owing to an impression having got abroad that 
it is not so pretty as the common Hydrangea ; but it 
proves to be much handsomer, on account of the agree- 
able contrast between its lavender-blue central flowers 
and the pure white sterile flowers of the ray. We 
imagine that this noble-looking object only requires to 
be better known to occupy a prominent position on our 
exhibition tables as well as in conservatories. In the 
same house were Sisyrinchium cyaneum, with sky-blue 
flowers; and Azalea variegata, a large plant; reful- 
gens, a large rosy-red variety ; Apollo, and a Jarge deep 
double purple variety. Among Cinerarias in pits we 
particularly remarked Attractor, a purplish-lilae sort 
with white centre, and Formosa, a round purple, as 
being distinct and good varieties. The plants in the 
Orchid-house looked extremely healthy, but few were 
in bloom. Of the latter may be mentioned the rare 
Barkeria spectabilis, ornamenting a block with its beau- 
tiful lilac blossoms ; Brassia guttata, and several Onci- 
diums. Before closing, however, we must not forget to 
mention a pretty little plant of the silver-veined Physu- 
rus pictus, and two climbers—Clerodendron splendens 
and C. s. bicolor, planted out in the bed, and trained 
along the roof, which have been very finely in bloom. 
These appear to succeed best where, besides a tolerably 
high top heat, they can also have a pretty brisk bottom 
heat, thus approaching as near as possible the condi- 
tions under which they thrive best in their wild state. 
Miscellaneous. 
Mr. Thackeray's Tulip Sale.—At the sale of the late 
Mr. John Thackeray’s Tulips on the 27th of May, near 
Nottingham, some few of the varieties realised a good 
price, though on the whole they were disposed of at a 
low rate, many lots of really fine show flowers averaging 
not more than 2s. 6d. per bulb. This may be attributed 
to the very bad state of trade in Nottingham, and partly 
from many of the petals having fallen—in fact the bloom 
was nearly over. The sorts described in the Chronicle 
last year were most in demand, and fully sustained the 
character there given. Britannia, Maid of Orleans, 
Princess Royal, and Countess of Harrington, all new 
Byblomens, were in fine condition. La Van Dicken, 
Rose Imperial, Grand Rose, Desire, and Lady Wilmot 
slightly stained, but otherwise superb, were in much 
request; and the same may be said of Shakespeare and 
Polyphemus, which were both in excellent character ; 
the Leonotus Posthumus was sadly out of condition, 
and the same may be said of the Earl of Nottingham, 
though one on a side bed was superb. The Queen 
Charlottes were in every instance completely over, one 
only retaining its petals, and those so much suffused 
with colour, that its true character could not be ascer- 
tained. Of Feathered Bizarres the majority were past, 
\ | with the exception of a few Sidney Smiths and Royal 
Sovereigns, but these appeared of fine strains. 
Rapacity of the Hedgchog.—A gentlemen, on whose 
veracity we place every confidence, informs us that on 
Thursday last, whilst passing Gateombe- park, he heard 
the shrill and continued ery of a rabbit. His dog 
stopped at the moment, and looked wistfully at some- 
thing in the hedge whence the ery seemed to proceed. 
Being encouraged, the dog, to the surprise of several 
spectators, brought out a large hedgehog, which had 
seized the unfortunate rabbit, and was making her 
supper from him while still alive. Both of the ears 
were eaten, and the brute was in the act of knawing a 
hole iù his body just behind the ribs, when disturbed by 
the dog. Oar informant took home both hedgehog and 
rabbit. Hedgehogs are known to be very destructive 
to game and poultry, by carrying away the eggs and 
devouring them, when upon the point of being hatched; 
we were, however, until this, ignorant of the fact, that 
they could manage to destroy live rabbits.— Hants 
| surprised that one of the flags 
Independent. 5 
Extraordinary Mushroom.— On Saturday last, James 
Stubb, of Buglawton, near Congleton, was somewhat 
st within the threshold 
of his door had been so far displaced by some invisible 
agency, that it had become almost impossible to open 
or shut the door. To discover the hidden cause of this 
strange effect, the flag was removed, and underneath it 
was found a fine Mushroom, measuring nearly half a 
vard in circumference. The flag which was thus 
pushed from its place by the upstart fungus, was 2 feet 
long by 18 inches wide, and 2 inches thick !—Maceles- 
field Courier. 
Calendar of Operations. 
(For the ensuing Week.) 
Soaking Seeds to Hasten Germination.—Amidst the 
great pressure of business through the spring months, 
seed sowing is very apt to get in arrears. When such 
is the case, a fortnight may in general be recovered by 
having recourse to the steeping process ; I consider it, 
moreover, a safe plan during the prevalence of drought. 
There is sometimes moisture in the ground sufficient to 
induce the first stage of germination, yet by the time 
that is accomplished, and before the tender radicle has 
extended itself beyond the reach of such vicissitudes, 
the drought has overtaken it, and total desiccation is 
the result. Now, in these eases, if the seed is on the 
