690 Calls at the Nurseries 



VI. Preface, and p. 185.), as foreman of the grounds; and Mr. Scott, just 

 mentioned, as foreman of the houses. The improved appearance of both 

 departments already attests the superior skill and assiduity displayed in 

 each. Nothing can be more neat and orderly than the houses and the 

 working-sheds. 



Colvill's Nurse7-ij. — The plants of the conservatory, having become too 

 large, are removed, and their places occupied by camellias in pots, many of 

 which are now in flower. Among the rarities in the hot-house, such as 

 Barringt6nz« speciosa, Brownea grandiceps, several new theophrastas, &c., 

 are a number of the cow tree raised from Mr. Fanning's seeds. All the 

 plants noticed in Vol. VI. p. 326. are dead. In the heath-house there 

 is a very brilliant display, chiefly of the autumn-flowering variety of E. 

 gracilis, colorans, Bowiea?z«, &c. In the small propagation stove Catase- 

 tum tridentatum, one of the most curious and beautiful of the Orchideae, 

 is coming into flower. In the open air are some good phloxes, among 

 which P. reflexa is considered one of the finest autumnal species. The 

 chrysanthemums here are rather too much drawn ; this family being less 

 profitable to nurserj'^men, and consequently less cared for by them, than 

 formerly. Mr. Rieth, the intelligent foreman here, informed us of the 

 arrival of Mr. Gumming * in his own ship from South America, with one 

 of the most extensive collections of natural history ever imported into 

 Europe. 



Dennis's New Nursery, King^s Road. — The ground for this nursery was 

 only taken possession of this spring, as noticed by us (p. 352.). Its plan is, 

 in consequence, not yet fully developed ; and the ground is but partially 

 stocked with that general collection of showy plants which Mr. Dennis 

 intends to cultivate here. Preparation, however, has been made for the 

 erection of some glass structures ; and a good many shrubs and perennial 

 herbaceous plants, both in and out of pots, have already been removed from 

 the old nursery in Grosvenor Row ; and, in the interim, the new ground has 

 been rendered attractive, and we hope profitable, by a copious crop of escu- 

 lents and showy annual flowers, both cultivated for the sake of their seeds. 

 We mentioned (p. 352.) that Mr Dennis then contemplated occupying more 

 than an acre this summer with georginas : this he has done on ground 

 off which he has this year taken a crop of seed-peas, principally of the 

 two kinds. Bishop's early dwarf and the Spanish dwarf: effecting this by 

 sowing the peas quite early, and subsequently planting the georginas between 

 the rows of growing peas, which latter had become ripe enough for removal 

 by the time the georginas needed staking. The georginas are now all in 

 bloom, and some of them, perhaps, past their best. Whatever may be 

 urged against double flowers for their monstrosity and unnaturalness, it is 

 impossible not to admire the gorgeous display of floral splendour (and this 

 in colours most esteemed for their fulness and richness) which the georginas, 

 seen in a mass as they are here, at this season display. Their value, too, 

 is not a little enhanced by the remembrance of how few are the genera, as 



* We have since seen this gentleman's most astonishing collection, and 

 received from him a specimen of a plant discovered by Dr. Bertero, an 

 Italian botanist, and friend of Decandolle, resident in Chile, which he 

 has done us the honour to name Loudom'a. We should not perhaps have 

 been the first to notice our own apotheosis, were it not that we are anxious 

 to thank Dr. Bertero for the honour he has done us, and for having chosen, 

 as the medium for conferring it, so very handsome a shrub. Loudonza 

 seems to belong to Leguminosae Sophorce, and was found on the estate of 

 Palmas, eighteen miles from Valparaiso. Seeds of it have been distributed; 

 and we trust it will soon become a favourite in the green-houses. 



