Calls at the Nurseries. 2 L 2 1 



Lobelia senecioides, a species a good deal like L. coronopif'olia, also from 

 New Holland, and the following species, sent home by Mr. Baxter, a col- 

 lector who has been in Australasia on Mr.Mackay's account for several years, 

 are coming into flower: — Kennedia coccineaof Ventenat; a beautiful new 

 species of Hovea, a little in the way of H. celsii, but much less in all its 

 parts ; a species of Boronia, with entire lanceolate leaves, and a decandrous 

 papilionaceous plant, abundantly covered with fine carmine flowers, and 

 which has not yet received a name. There is a propagating shelf or ele- 

 vated bed of sand for striking cuttings in one of the hot-houses of this nur- 

 sery, which well deserves the attention of cultivators, and which we shall 

 on a future occasion describe at length. 



In the show-house of the Belgrave Nursery, King's-road, belonging to 

 the same individual, is a good collection of common showy things in 

 bloom, for the decoration of apartments ; and in the hot-house many hybrid 

 amyryllidea and orchidae in bloom. 



ColviUes Nursery, Feb. 25. — Here is the finest show of forced flowers 

 about town ; including rhododendrons, azalias, purple magnolias, kalmias, 

 lilacs, roses, double peaches, cherries, dwarf almonds, and other shrubs ; 

 and hyacinths, narcissi, and other bulbs, with pinks, violets, and a variety 

 of herbaceous plants. The new conservatory and hot-house look re- 

 markably well at this season, and the latter is set off* to great advantage by 

 the forced articles, which occupy the front shelf, and are distributed along 

 the curb of the bed of earth. In the hot-house a great variety of hybrid 

 amyryllis are in full flower, and in both departments numerous plants of 

 different species coming rapidly into that state. As many greenhouse plants 

 are now producing young wood, the operation of putting in cuttings, which, 

 in so extensive a concern as this, is never entirely at a stand, goes on with 

 increased rapidity at this season. 



Knight's Nursery, King's Road, Feb. 25. — Mr. Knight has recently 

 completed the erection of a large conservatory or Camellia-house, with a 

 curvilinear iron roof, which we shall, on a future occasion, describe and 

 figure. This house forms the termination to an extensive range of show- 

 houses, which differ from all others about London, in having side walls of 

 brickwork, higher than the glass roof, and a broad gutter over the pathway 

 in the centre ; the general effect of the arrangement on entering from the 

 road may be compared to that of looking through the tube of a telescope : 

 a greater apparent depth could not easily be produced, or more plants kept 

 in a healthy state, at so small an expence of transparent roof. Mr. Knight 

 judiciously adapts the sort of plants to this arrangement; keeping there 

 chiefly camellias, oranges, tree rhododendrons, and similar evergreen 

 thick-leaved plants, which, when not in a growing state, require less 

 light and air than most others. The new plant habitation which 

 forms the termination of this range, is glazed with green glass, the 

 manufacture of which is now so much improved, that in this case it appears 

 very little inferior to the quality known as crown glass, while the price is 

 not much more than one-half. This to nursery-men must be an object of 

 considerable, importance. 



The principal thing which struck us in Mr. Knight's exotic collection, 

 was the excellent state of his heaths, diosmas, and other similar Cape plants. 

 They were of a vivid green, and in luxuriant growth. This he attributed 

 chiefly to the excellence of the air, which is doubtless better on the south- 

 west side of London than on any other side, and to the use of rain water. 

 For five or six years after he took this nursery he used well-water, which, 

 though pronounced from analysis to be excellent for every domestic pur- 

 pose, he yet found to be injurious to plants, and especially to heaths. He 

 has since erected cisterns, and made arrangements to collect the whole of 

 the water that falls on his numerous roofs ; he waters his plants in pots with 

 nothing else, ani since he did so, he thinks he has found a decided su- 

 periority in their thriving. He remarked that though he grew heaths with 



