50 General Notices. 



A v ja# Sal. and Haw. Ganymede* Sal. and Haw, 



cambricus Haw. concolor Haw. 



maximus Haw. striatulus Haw. 



The subgenera (for such alone do I esteem them) I'llus, Ganymedesy 

 Diomedes, and Tros, are certainly the most rare and beautiful of their 

 numerous affinities. They succeed best (particularly Ganymedes) in a 

 pure loamy soil in an open but warm situation. The two species of Ga- 

 nymedes cited above flowered with more than ordinary vigour, and are now 

 very promising for the subsequent developement of their graceful forms. 

 Diomedes Haw. Hermione Sal. and Haw. 



Macleayz'i Penny. biscrenata Haw. 



Sabini Penny. perlutea Haw. 



Tros Haw. lacticolor Haw. 



poculiformis Haw. crispicorona Haiv, 



galanthifolius Haw. Helena Haw. 



Queltia Sal. and Haw. gracilis Haw. 



semipartita Haw. Narcissus L. Sal. and Haw. 



Philogyne Sal. and Haw, ornatus Haw, 



heminalis Haw. (3 plu- 

 rifldra Haw. 

 With your permission, after the ensuing flowering season, I shall trans- 

 mit for your valuable work a complete enumeration of the species and 

 varieties, probably amounting to upwards of 150, cultivated here ; with 

 some observations on the validity of the species, and more extended 

 directions for their successful cultivation. — George Penny, A. L, S. (here- 

 tofore Alpha). Epsom Nursery, Dec. 19. 1831. 



Perfect Seeds and Culture of Lathyrus grandifibrus. — Sir, Having trained 

 the magnificent pea, the iathyrus grandiflorus, against a wall with a south 

 aspect, in the expectation that such treatment would conduce towards 

 perfecting its seed pods, an occurrence rarely, if by any chance, I am told, 

 ever happening in this country, I have to state, that, although the plant 

 grew most vigorously, attained the height of 9 ft. and upwards, and was 

 covered by a profusion of fine bold flowers, still there was no appearance 

 of fructification going on. The blossoms, after a certain time, withered, 

 dropped from their flower-stalks, and carried the germ, &c, along with 

 them. On examining the flowers, I found the keel to all of them to be con- 

 siderably distorted at the part which protects the stigma ; so much so, as 

 to entirely preclude the possibility of the pollen being brought into action, 

 towards perfecting the fructification of the embryo pod. I introduced the 

 point of a knitting needle into the opening of the keel, and slightly pressed 

 upon the underside of the flower till the stigma and anthers protruded ; 

 and at this point, provided the flower was sufficiently mature, I found the 

 anthers to discharge the pollen pretty freely. When this took place, I 

 withdrew the needle, and had the satisfaction to find the greatest part of 

 the flowers so treated leave healthy germs behind, firmly fixed to their 

 respective flower-stalks : and from their present progressive appearance, I 

 hope to have the pleasure of gathering perfect ripened pods this season. I 

 am, Sir, yours, &c. — G, C. Masham, Yorkshire, July 11. 1831. 



A sketch of the pods, exhibiting their promising appearance on the 11th 

 of July, accompanied this our correspondent's obliging communication. 

 We omit the sketch, as it will be sufficient to remark that the most 

 forward pod was 3 in. long, and of an elegant figure. We have, how- 

 ever, previously known of three pods being produced in a natural way by 

 plants of this superb pea ; but are, as our readers will be, obliged to our 

 correspondent for pointing out a means by which they can, by a little arti- 

 ficial aid, be so readily obtained. Its barrenness in seeds is, however, less 

 a matter of regret, in consequence of its numerous, spreading, sprouting, 

 subterraneous suckers, by which it can be speedily multiplied to any extent. 



