27—1846.] 
THE GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
447 
now, who sent fine speeimens of British | 
Victoria, Raspberry eame from Mr. Corn. | 
Strawberries, Raspberries, and Black and 
Uu Currants, from Mr, Lydiard; and Mr. Bennett showed 
these, with the addition of White Currants. Mv. senta 
iU 
Bray 
uavas, Cucumbers were shown by Mr. Butcherand 
pc Ree 
ui RRATA.— Two errors-have crept into the report of the Hor- 
Geultuval Exhibition, p, 407 ; for ‘Champion Cucumbers were 
shown by Mr. Street,” read “by Mr. Mills; And for Mr. 
cott, of Poole,” read “M: ton." 
36 New Garden Plants. 
. Azstea ovata. Ovate Azalea. Hardy Shrub. 
(Heath worts.**) China,—From Chusan, where Mr. 
ortune found two varieties; “the one with white. 
the other with pink or lilac flowers; both spotted 
o very beautiful." 
ene the early despatches from Mr. Fortune was 
ceived a drawing of this beautiful shrub, which, 
According to the Chinese artist, has most delicate 
ie flowers of the size and form of the Davurian 
a ododendron. — The original plants did not sur- 
AS the voyage; but a packet of seed has furnished 
m abundance of young plants, which have been 
acm extensively to the Fellows of the So- 
i y under the name of “ Azalea 274.” The dried 
eee received from Mr, Fortune enable the spe- 
m 2 z be positively determined. It is entirely different 
me MES from all the other Chinese Azaleas ; for in- 
Era of the pale-green eolour and abundant hairs which 
un toria them all, this has perfectly hairless leaves, 
pem. in the seedling state, and they are of a very dark 
of EN Their form, too, is quite distinet ; for instead 
d d gradually io the stalk they are abruptly 
tintin even in some cases almost heart-shaped. ‘The 
of it has been too recently acquired for any knowledge 
R th true habits to have been acquired : but seedlings 
it e open air have borne-the frost of last autumn, and 
suf s Considerable on two occasions, without having 
P ered in the least; and if, as seems probable, the 
ho nt should not be inclined to push early, it will not 
ed Y be a hardy evergreen, but one ‘of the finest in the 
untry.— Journal of the Hort. Soc. 
37. Acunnxus PATEN 
house Herbaceous Plant. 
‘Re of the first objects to which Mr, Hartweg directed 
Tecovery of this beautiful plant, which he had found in 
bs rse of his former researches, but which had not 
idus NL in the garden of the Society. Although the 
witha Sp so far advanced that herbage had all become 
Wers da , he sueceeded in discovering zome roots, which 
this pomeBiately sent home by the post, and proved tobe 
Ha io. Nor does it disappoint the expectations that 
A. 05 eee of it; for with the habit and foliage of 
noart Ora it bears flowers of so intense a violet that 
AE colours can imitate them, This most re- 
iito 6 3 tint fades away on the outside of the corolla 
d c! kap l purple, and is renewed on the tübe 
th © corolla in an intermediate tint. The border of 
‘he'corolla is slightly notched, and its tube is extended 
Into a singular blunt horn, which projects beyond the 
Calyx, and is more or less lobed at the sides. The 
Corolla measures about.an inch and a. half across the flat 
border, and the tube is rather larger. Achimenes 
Patens, like most of the other kinds, may be treated so 
as to flower nearly at all seasons of the year, and only 
ees to be kept ina dormant state and quite dy 
peus at rest. It should be started gradually, and grows 
or ina soil composed of a small portion of well de- 
YU posed cow-dung and half decayed leaf-mould, in.a 
ae ee state. It is easily increased by the scaly 
"a and requires a close atmosphere, but not a very 
me ae hot one, Tt is a very handsome kind, being 
oe, the finest both for colour and foliage.—Journalt 
38 ort. Soc. 
T QARDENTA FLORIDA, L, ; var. Forruniana. Mr. 
N rtune's Gardenia. G house Shrub. (Ci ds.* 
mph of China, 
m aed single and double varicties of this plant 
eee to every one. That which is now noticed 
whi Merely in the extraordinary size of the flowers, 
llo " ToS ` 
ae are nearly 4 inches in diameter, and in hav 
" 
The oad leaves sometimes as much as 6 inches long. 
they lowers are pure' white, changing to light buff as 
ee off, and not unlike a very large double Camell 
Specie calyx has the long broad lobes of the orig 
S, instead of the narrow lobes, at least twice as 
Hi a5 the tube of the corolla, of G. radicans, by which 
cH is technieally known. It is one of the very 
Ds “a Sus in eultivation, aud ranks ona level with 
of nous white'Camellia, which it equals in the beauty 
délia; owers and leaves, and infinitely excels in its 
cous odour. — Journal of Hort. Si 
0C. 
CN Garden Memoranda. 
We eal Society's Garden, Turnham Green. 
ll sued. at this blist in the green! 
fue he Orchid-house, a specimen in bloom of the old, 
Well T orely, neglected Chironia floribunda, a plant 
ASH serena a place inevery collection ; possessing, 
Beit, es, rich sink flowers of considerable size aud 
t TA anda good foliage, it is a matter of surprise 
Tt is we do not oftener see it on our exhibition tables. 
potter plant of easy cultivation, requiring only to be 
need za a mixture of turfy loam and peat, and to be 
suk where it has plenty of light and room. In the 
ouse were Cedronella pallida, a plant from the 
#19, " ri 
these to in ley's “ Vegetable Kingdom” for an explanation of 
north of Mexico, producing racemes of labiate flesh- 
coloured flowers, and Mr. l'ortune's Indigofera decora. 
The latter forms a dark-green ‘bush, with somewhat 
glaueous branches and pinnate leaves, ‘from whose axils 
are produeeü racemes of beautiful light rosy flowers ; 
indeed the whole appearance of the plant is very hand- 
some, fully realising all that has been said of it. Near 
it was another of Mr. Fortune's plants in bloom in the 
shape of Rhynchosp jasminoides,a pretty sweet- 
scented greenhouse twiner, with-snow-white flowers 
something like'those'of-the white Jasmine. It will, no 
doubt, form p valuable addition to this class of plants. 
On a front shelf was a Lysimachia, producing racemes 
of small white flowers ; if hardy, this may ‘possibly be 
a good plant for bedding out. It ‘was raised acci- 
dentally from seeds which had been deposited among 
the ‘mould with which Mr. Fortune ‘packed one of ‘his 
Chinese importations of plants. On the same shelf was 
Calandrinia umbellata, a beautiful object, either for 
ornamenting the shelves of our greenhouses, or for 
planting out in pátches on yockwork. The flowers are 
produced in tolerable abundance, and the colour (a deep 
purple) is the most lovely imaginable. We may here 
mention a little experiment which has been made on 
the growth of Caeti in water. On the 11th of June, 
1845, a plant of Mammillaria pulehra in a 3-inch pot 
was placed in a 6-ineh pot, which, having the hole at 
the bottom stopped up, has been kept full of water, and, 
singular as it may appear, the plant is growing very 
luxuriantly under this anomalous treatment, although 
it has been constantly kept in the water, from the above 
date to the present time, and fully exposed to the ever 
varying temperature of a greenhouse. This being quite 
the reverse of the treatment such things generally re- 
eeive,would seem to offer a useful hint to the growers of 
thisinteresting tribe, and it further shows that the nature 
of Cacti under cultivation is but imperfectly understood. 
In the range of pits in front of this house was Mr. 
Fortune's last importation of plants from China. They 
are all in good condition ; the Preonies are just begin- 
ning to break, the Camelliasand Roses also look well, 
more especially the Camellias, and some Caprifoliaceous 
plants. In the same range was Achimenes patens, the 
lovely new species lately received. from Mr. Hartweg : 
with the habit and foliage of A. longiflora, it bears 
flowers of an exceedingly beautiful violet colour, 
changing on the outside of the corolla into a clear 
bright purple. The tube is extended into a singular 
blunt spur which projects beyond the ealyx. It is, per- 
haps the most beautiful of all the species yet intro- 
duced, fully realising the high expectations formed of it. 
In this pit was also an Arabian production like a 
Plumeria, with a large fleshy stem swelling out at the 
base, and with gnarled Ceradia-like branches bare of 
foliage, except at the ends, where a tuft of tolerably 
lange, shining, dark-green, obtuse ovate leaves sur- 
round the flowers. “The blossoms themselves are 
very handsome, something like those of an Echites ; 
the tube being about an inch in length, of a pale yellow 
outside, spreading out io five delicate pink petals, 
edged with deep rose. Associated with it was the Naras 
fruit, a production about which as yet little is known. 
Tt was found growing on little knolls of sand by Captain 
Sir James Alexander, when he visited the country near 
Walwich Bay, on the south-west coast of Afriea, form- 
ing bushes 4 or 5 feet in height, without leaves, aud 
with opposite thorns on the light and dark green striped 
branches. The fruit is stated to have a coriaceous rind, 
rough with prickles, and to be twice the size of an 
Orange 5 the inside resembling a Melon as to seed and 
pulp. When ripe it has a sub-aeid taste, very agreeable 
in that hot country; and without it the natives could 
not remain near the coast. Inhabiting as it does that 
excessively dry, hot, and barren region, it was consi- 
dered that the plants would succeed without water; 
but this is a mistake ; for it has been found that out of 
all'the plants that germinated from seeds sown in the 
garden, those only which have reeeived plenty of water 
havesurvived. ‘Two plants in a pot, receiving a co- 
pious supply of water every morning, with a slight 
shade and a moist heat of about 80°, are now nearly a 
foot in height, producing spiny-looking stems, rising 
from between ‘two cotyledons, exactly like those of a 
Melon or Cucumber. What the result, however, may 
turn out to be, it is as yet impossible to foretell. 
In the large stove we remarked a variety of Justicia 
carnea, named superba, which appears to be in all re- 
speets better than carnea, the flowers being larger and 
better coloured, and produced in greater abundance. 
Along with it was the useful ‘Turnera elegans, which 
has been in bloom all the season, aud which no stove 
should be without. It does best when grown quickly 
in a moist atmosphere. The span roofed house re- 
cently erected in the hardy department was gay with 
Jaleeolarias and Pelargoniums ;.among the latter we 
noticed Queen Victo: which has been shown at our 
late metropolitan exhibitions. It is a lovely variety, 
well worthy the attention of the amateur, being a most 
profuse bloomer, whose petals do not fall off readily like 
those of the other sorts. In the same house was Statice 
Jal 
eximia, a very handsome, rather robust, hardy species, 
introduced by Dr. Fischer from the Chinese limits of 
Tartary ; it produces.a large panicle of bluish purple 
and white flowers. Along with it was Maurandya Bar- 
elayana, scrambling over a twiggy branch (inserted in 
the pot), which it closely covered with deep green 
leaves, with which the snow-white flowers agreeably 
contrasted. By this mode of growing it, all trouble of 
tying and training is dispensed with. Associated with 
it was the handsome but transitory blue-flowered Helio- 
ad 
i. with 
ii, wit! 
double pink ‘flowers, whose petals are arranged with 
the irregularity of the Rose; indeed, the whole blossom 
Tf it 
slender branches terminate in long one-sided racemes 
length, and 3 inches across. 
irididora has likewise been in blossom. In the 
border in front of the Council-room has been planted 
a collection of new and rare shrubs, with a view 
to test their respective hardines Among them 
we remarked Mr. Fortune’s beautiful pink-flowered 
Weigela a, and various Tree Pæonies ; Lonicera 
discolor, Spiræa Lindleyana, Syringa Emodi, Phila- 
delphus Chinensis, Eleagnus florus, and the Japan 
Ilex latifolium. The experiments, made with the view 
to ascertain the effect of different kinds of artificial 
manure on Wheat, have been repeated this year for the 
fifth time, ‘and the erop looks better than it has done in 
any byegone year. The salts of am nia have been 
found most beneficial, more especially the muriate 5 
3.ewt. of the latter to an acre has been found to be 
more than is necessary, inasmuch as it ha 
to produce over-luxuriance, causing the crop to be 
easily laid. 
In regard to Mr. Bickes’ experiments on steeping 
seeds, which occupy the plot of ground on the opposite 
side of the walk, we can only say for the present that, 
on the whole, the plants from the steeped seeds are not 
at all superior to those that were not so orepared. 
The real result, however, cannot be ascertained 
till after the erops are taken up and weighed. 
—In the orchard, along a south wall border near the 
walk, has been planted a row of Indian corn, in orde: 
to ascertain the earliest of the dwarf ids. Although 
it is not probable with our short summers that Indian 
corn can ever be grown for the purposes of human food 
in this country, yet it becomes a question whether or 
not it cannot be ei ated as green fodder for cattle. 
t-contains much sugar, its growth is very rapid, and 
now that weave got cheap glass abundance of plants 
could be raised and prepared for planting out, as soon 
as the spring frosts were over, ata trifling expense. 
In conclusion, we may-mention that the Potato erop 
in the kitchen garden, although to all appearance in the 
most luxuriant health above ground, is diseased at 
the root; every plant examined being deeayed and 
dried up from its connection with the old set to near 
the surface of the ground, where the few roots that exist 
as yet are healthy, but insufficient to support the plant 
for any length of time, far less to produce a crop. The 
only remedy, therefore, is to speedily adopt the earth- 
ing-up system recommended in the Leading Article of 
last week, ii nas been practised 
are throwing out roots rapidly, and if the disease does 
not extend upwards perhaps a portion of the crop may 
by the timely application of this means yet be saved. 
px 
Calendar of Operations. 
(For the ensuing Week.) 
Ripening of Fruits.—This is a subject worthy of 
some consideration, more especially as to fruits grown 
in structure a artificial heat. Tt is a well established 
fact, that hurried ripening is accomplished at the ex- 
pense of flavour. Plenty of sunlight, a free circulation 
of air, with a moderate temperature, and a considerable 
diminution of atmospheric moisture, are the essential 
conditions whereby flavour is obtained. For Grapes, 
Melons, Pines, Figs, Peaches, &c., under (glass, I would 
say, let 80° by day, of sun-heat, and 60° by night be 
your maximum ; whereas, in a cloudy period, 60° to 
65° by day will be sufficjent. Although root-moisture 
should be somewhat diminished, yet a healthy action of 
root is essential in obtaining both flavour and plumpness 
in fruit ; without such a root a healthy leaf eannot be 
maintained: in the absence of which, I need scarcely 
add, all other means will prove in a great degree abor- 
tive. Slow ripening, without starvation, is therefore, 
the point by which the highest amouut of flavour can 
be obtained. 
CONSERVATORIES, STOVE, &c. 
Conservatory.—W here a due amount. of attention 
can be spared to this structure, all will be neatness and 
gaiety. Fuchsias in large specimens, Pelargoniums, 
Liliums, Thunbergias, Euphorbias, and a variety of 
other showy and highly cultivated plants, will, of course, 
take the place of the New Holland tribes, Oranges, 
Camellias, &e. See that all such stock has due atten- 
tion in regard to watering, using constantly liquid 
manure, according to former directions, viz, clear and 
weak. Stove and Orchids.—Endeavour from this 
a 
