April 25, 18C5. ] 



JOITKNAL OF HOBTICCTLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



319 



Pacing the other entrance to the Nursery are two small 

 houses, in which are some fine specimens of Azaleas, com- 

 prising^ some of the newest and best kinds. 



The Paradise Nnrsery still retains a large number of those 

 valuable plants for which Mr. Williams's establishment is 

 so famous. Tims in his intermediate-house were fine plants 

 of Zamia Lehmanni, Cjcas circinalis in fruit, Croton picta, 

 Cyathea elegans, Cyathea Smithii, and some very fine plants 

 of the very useful Statiees — macrophylla, Holfordi, and pro- 

 fusa, together with a new one not yet named. Here also 

 were some of those curious half-standard French Epiphyl- 

 lums, which, however, were a failure. They ai-e apparently 

 grafted on a stove stock, and hence they will not do, aa they 

 were promised, in a ^freenhouse. The Orohid-house. as might 

 be expected from Mr. Williams's high repute as one of the 

 first cultivators in the kingdom, was exceedingly rich in 

 kinds, though, save in a few instances, one does not expect 

 to see the fine specimens wliich are to be seen in such esta- 

 blishments as Mr. Eucker's, Mr. Warner's, or Mr. Day's ; 

 while the vigorous health of the plants bore ample testi- 

 mony to the success which both Mr. Williams and his in- 

 telligent foreman, Mr. Burton, have attained in the culti- 

 vation of this beautifal and popular tribe of plants, for now 

 that the cool-house treatment has proved to be so successful, 

 it has brought their culture within the reach of a number 

 of persons who never before thought of it. Bletia sp,, very 

 pretty and sweet; Cypripedium biflorum ; Sophronitis gran- 

 diflora, with bright scarlet flowers ; Vanda tricolor and 

 suavis ; Dendrobium Dayanura, quite new, with purple lip ; 

 Cattleya quadrioolor, figured in the last Number of SirWm. 

 Hooker's " Botanical Magazine;" Phalajnopsis Schilleriana, 

 amabilis, and grandiflora; Dendrobium intermedium, very 

 delicate in its colouring, were amongst those in flower. 

 Besides these, there were Vanda gigantea and Batemani, 

 Onoidium sarcodes, and other new a.nd rare kinds. Some 

 of the healthiest plants of AniEctochilus that I have seen 

 were here, and not grown in a case as generally. Fine 

 plants of setaceus, cordatus, Lobbii, and a new one allied to 

 Roxburghii, were amongst the most remarkable. The very 

 fine collection of Sarracenias which Mr. Williams exhibited 

 at the Royal Horticultural Society's meetings were also to be 

 seen here, and some fine-foliaged plants, such as Peperomia 

 arifolia. Chameranthemum retioulatum, and others. 



Mr. Williams's collection of Ferns is a very rich one ; and 

 from the tiniest Fernlet (if we may use such a term) to the 

 gigantic tree Ferns of New Zealand and Australia, they 

 are to to be seen here in every condition. The beautiful 

 Gold Fern, Gymnogramma Laucheana, has produced some 

 fine seedlings, many of wliich promise to be very distinct ; 

 while the beautiful young fronds of Lomaria L'Herminieri 

 show that bright colour is to be had in this beautiful tribe, 

 for they are of a bright rosy pink. Gleicheuia microphylla, 

 and a new species allied perhaps to pubescers; Alsophila 

 latebrosa, a very rich orange green; Platyceiium. biforme ; 

 and Davallia aculeata, with very graceful foliage, were 

 amongst some of the most remarkable that I noticed. 



It were tedious to enumerate the large collection of fine- 

 foliaged and decorative plants that Mr. Williams has con- 

 gregated here ; but a few I would fain notice, such as 

 Nidularia picta, a Bromeliaceous plant, with fine foliage, 

 and producing a spike of bright scarlet flowers; Jacaranda 

 filicifolia; Oreopauax dactylllblium, with its curious, broad, 

 deeply notched leaf; Tradescantia odoratissima, with bright 

 blue-tinted flowers ; Maranta striata and Van den Heckei, 

 and Pachyceutra Walkeri, a fine basket plant. 



It is well known that Mr. Williams is a diligent caterer 

 for the novelty-seeking public in every way. Be it an Or- 

 chid or an Arabis, a botanical curiosity or a simple florists' 

 flower, he is glad to avail himself of it to please those 

 Athenian characters, who ever want some new tiling. Thus, 

 he has a very curious Fuchsia, in which the flowers, instead 

 of being pendant, stand upriglit, m.aking it not only a re- 

 markable object, but also very desirable for bouquets; a 

 beautiful-striped Petunia from Mr. Holland, who is well 

 known as such a successful raiser; and a brilliant-flowered 

 Calceolaria, called Bird of Paradise. He has also a very 

 curious Azalea, unlike any of the striped kinds in cultivation, 

 called Splendidissima, of which I hope to see more by- 

 and-by. Mr. Williams hag also largely imported Lilium 

 anratum, and, besides that, four or five varieties of a Lily 



which the gentleman who sent it to him from Japan says is far 

 beyond what we have come to regard as the queen of Lilies ; 

 if so, the lovers of this beautiful tribe have a rich treat in 

 stoi-e for them. 



I have endeavoured to give a passing glance at the many 

 treasures contained in Mr. Williams's two establishments, 

 and I know have tailed to convey anything like an adequate 

 notion of their value and beauty; but any one who is de- 

 sirous of seeing with his own eyes is sure to meet a courteous 

 reception, and if he is at all ail'ected with the floral mania in 

 any form or shape, it cannot but be that he wUl catch the 

 virus in some way or other. — D., Deal. 



EOTAL HOETICULTIJEAL SOCIETY. 

 Apeil 18th. 



Flobal Committee. — The Committee assembled on this 

 day, and made the following awards. Mr. Turner, Slough, 

 exhibited a very superb collection of Azaleas, one mass of 

 brilliant flowers, which fully occupied one corner of the 

 council-room. For this the Committee awarded a special cer- 

 tificate ; and having recommended that one of the Society's 

 medals should be given for the same, the Council readily 

 acceded to the proposal, and awarded to Mr. Turner the 

 silver Banksian n.edal. Mr. Turner also sent a new Bou- 

 gainvillaja with pale pinkish red bracts, forming a pleasing 

 contrast with the mauve-coloured varieties — first-class cer- 

 tificate, and four seedling Auriculas selfs. One named 

 Godfrey, a dark mulberry purple, a fine flower, received a 

 first-class certificate ; Auricula Harry, a lighter shade of 

 the same colour, a second-class certificate. From the same 

 exhibitor came also a Hybrid Perpetual Rose General de 

 Hantpoult, and Cineraria Herbert, a nice flower with bright 

 blue margin. 



Mr. Bull, Chelsea, exhibited a great curiosity in the form 

 of a double Mimulus. The varieties Mimulas duplex Ander- 

 soni and Mimulus National were awarded a first-class cer- 

 tificate. The double form of this Mimulus resembles the 

 Polyanthus known as Hose-in-hose, having the appearance 

 of one flower being placed in another, the calyx forming a 

 second flower, and exactly resembling in colour and markings 

 the true flower. When the flower falls the calyx remains 

 for some time, the plant having the advantage of appearing 

 still in full flower. Among the other plants sent by Mr. 

 Bull were Sedum villosum (?) variegatum, a useful plant 

 for conservatory decoration — second-class certificate ; Azalea 

 President Victor Van den Heoke, a small white flower with 

 briaht pink stripes, but too rough in the outline ; and Sal- 

 vadora persica, supposed to be the Mustard plant of Scrip- 

 ture ; but from the remarks made by the Kev. Mr. Berkeley 

 there seem to be great doubts as to the identity of the plant. 

 Hibiscus feros was too young a plant for its merits to be 

 de::idtd upon; and Camellia Cocchi was a pretty white- 

 striped variety, resembling but not equal to many known 

 sorts in cultiration. 



Mr. Jackson, Kingston, sent two Pelargoniums for early 

 forcing, but of no merit; and W. W. Saunders, Esq., a col- 

 lection of interesting plants, and some cut; spikes of three 

 beautiful Aloes, never seen before by many of those present, 

 who seemed astonished that what are generally supposed 

 to be uninteresting plants could produce such attractive 

 flowers. Mr. Saunders gave some hints on the cultivation 

 of the Aloes. He likewise sent Amaryllis sp., one of those 

 discovered and sent home by Dr. Welwitch ; Eemusatia vivi- 

 para, an old plant long known in this country, tliough but 

 rarely seen, remarkable for its one solitary gigantic leaf; this 

 is one of the curious family of Aroids ; also Eulophia sp., a 

 dark chocolate-flowering Orchid from Brazil, and SciUa 

 nataleusis, with broad green foliage, and a tall spike of 

 light blue flowers, for which a label of commendation was 

 awarled. 



Mr. Wm. Paul sent Hybrid Perpetual Roses Madame 

 Emile Boyau and Princess of Lichtenstein, new light va- 

 rieties, nearly white. Both of these Eoses will be a great 

 acquisition to every collection. Mr. Osborne, Fulham, had 

 Bietia sp. from .Japan. This pretty purple-flowering plant, 

 with its graceful foliage, supposed to be nearly hardy, was 

 discovered by Mr. Fortune, who speaks most highly in its 

 praise. It received a fii-st-elass certificate. Mr. Osborne 



