214 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 484. 



The third division, comprising the not less than sixty 

 remaining acres of the present pasture, will be devoted to 

 the general synopsis of the flora of the world, where it is 

 intended to show every family that can be cultivated in the 

 open air in this climate, omitting all that are included in 

 the North American synopsis except those that are repre- 

 sented only in the United States. Only a few hardy, deco- 

 rative and easily cared for species of each family will be 

 used. In this synopsis the classification will be accord- 

 ing to what Professor Trelease speaks of as the German 

 system, the nearest approach to which is seen in Pflanzen- 

 familien of Engler and Prantl, and it will be the first plant- 

 ing exposition of a system which brings together not only 

 those plants having evident relationship, but those having 

 a common ancestor. 



Under this dual system an object-lesson will be given in 

 two types of classification ; the vegetation of the United 

 States will be set forth so that every visitor can become 

 familiar with our native flora with the minimum of exer- 

 tion and time. Besides this, the pleasing landscape effect 

 produced by the artistic grouping of hardy native species 

 on the twenty acres devoted to native plants will teach a 

 third lesson which ought not to be lost upon the visitors to 

 these popular grounds. 



As soon as working plans are adopted the twenty-acre 

 tract will be underdrained and graded, and it is hoped that 

 this part of the work can be completed during the present 

 season, so that the trees and the shrubs can be planted 

 next spring, and the herbaceous material the year follow- 

 ing. If the walks are completed the fourth year and the 

 lawns the fifth year, by that time some five thousand spe- 

 cies will have been established. Just when work on the 

 ground for the general synopsis of the flora of the world 

 will begin it is impossible to say, but it is intended during 

 the present year to increase the greenhouse space and erect 

 a Palm-tower twenty-eight feet square, in which benches 

 will be abandoned, and everything will be planted out. 

 The management expects to build within ten years a large 

 Palm-house and conservatory, to be placed in the arboretum 

 back of the present parterre, which will be enlarged, and 

 opposite the main entrance to the garden. 

 Brighton, 111. Fanny Copley Seavey. 



Foreign Correspondence. 

 London Letter. 



Celmisia Munroi. — This is one of the handsomest of the 

 many species of Celmisia which are natives of Australia 

 and New Zealand, where they are known as " Kid-glove " 

 plants on account of the white felt which clothes the 

 leaves of most of them. Beautiful as they are known 

 to be, however, they have hitherto baffled the collectors 

 who have tried to introduce them into European gardens, 

 plants perishing on the voyage and seeds losing their 

 vitality before they arrive here. Only three species have 

 been introduced, namely, C. Lindsayi, figured in The 

 Botanical Magazine, t. 7134 ; C. spectabilis, The Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 6653, and the species under notice. This was 

 introduced by Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons a few years ago, 

 who have or had a large stock of it. A figure of it was 

 published in The Botanical Magazine last year, t. 7496. It 

 is now in flower in a cold greenhouse at Kew, the flowers 

 being three inches across, Daisy-like, with white ray- 

 florets and a small yellow disk. The leaves are lanceolate, 

 nine inches long, covered with silky hairs. It is planted in 

 sandy peat and is kept in a sunny position. The leaves are 

 almost as silvery as those of the Cape Silver Tree. 



Olearia insignis. — The Australian and New Zealand 

 genus Olearia, which is a near ally of Celmisia, is largely 

 represented in European gardens, some of the species form- 

 ing large shrubs and proving hardy in the warmer parts 

 of England. The species under notice is, however, too 

 tender for out-of-door cultivation here, but in a cold 

 greenhouse it is happy, growing very slowly, ultimately 



forming a dwarf thick-stemmed, branched, low shrub, with 

 oblong leathery leaves six inches long, the under side 

 covered with a thick whitish felt. The flower-heads are 

 produced singly on axillary peduncles six inches long ; 

 they are shaped like those of the Cornflower, Centaurea, 

 and are two inches across, the ray-florets overlapping, 

 toothed at the apex and white, the disk-florets yellow. It 

 will be seen that this species differs very widely from the 

 rest of the cultivated Olearias. It is a native of rocky river- 

 banks in Middle Island, New Zealand, whence it was intro- 

 duced about ten years ago. There is a good figure of it in 

 The Garden for 1888. It is now flowering at Kew. 



Dimorphotheca Ecklonis. — I noted this plant last year as 

 a new introduction from south Africa of subshrubby habit, 

 with large Daisy-like flowers colored purple outside and 

 white within. It was grown at Kew as a summer bedding 

 plant, and attained a height of eighteen inches, flowering 

 freely from July onward till the frost came and killed the 

 plants outright. Some plants grown in pots and wintered 

 in a cold house have been a surprising success, the stems 

 being quite woody at the base, the branches leafy and three 

 feet high, and the flowers most abundant all through the 

 spring. The leaves are lanceolate, toothed and about five 

 inches long, and the flowers, which are three inches across, 

 are an elegant white, with a pale blue disk, the reverse of the 

 ray-florets being purple. They close unless exposed to 

 sunlight, as do the Gazanias. Messrs. Veitch & Sons are 

 working up a stock of this plant for distribution. It is 

 easily propagated from cuttings. The Kew plants were 

 raised from seeds collected near Port Elizabeth. A figure 

 prepared from one of them has lately appeared in The 

 Botanical Magazine. 



Campanula Balchiniana. — This pretty little plant obtained 

 a certificate last year when it was shown by Mr. Balchin, 

 of Hassocks, who stated that it originated from a cross 

 between Campanula fragilis (hirsuta) and C. isophylla. I 

 lately saw the plant in quantity, and after careful compari- 

 son I am convinced that it is simply a variegated sport 

 from C. fragilis. Whatever its origin, however, it is a beau- 

 tiful addition to the small trailing Campanulas which grow 

 freely either in the sheltered border, on the rockery, in pots 

 or in suspended baskets. Every one knows the value of 

 C. fragilis for these purposes, and C. Balchiniana is C. fra- 

 gilis in everything except leaf-coloration, and in this it is a 

 charming mixture of creamy-white green and rose-pink, 

 the latter color being most conspicuous on the young 

 leaves. I anticipate for this plant much popularity. It will 

 probably be greatly valued for carpet bedding. Grown in 

 baskets it is a superb plant. The stock has been secured 

 by Messrs. Veitch, who are sending it out as a new plant 

 this year. 



Leschenaultia biloba. — Twenty years ago one might 

 have found half-a-dozen species of Leschenaultia among 

 the popular greenhouse plants grown in England; now 

 only one is grown, and that by very few cultivators, most 

 of those who essay its cultivation failing miserably. It may 

 be called a shrubby Lobelia, the branches and leaves being 

 soft, otherwise heath-like, and the flowers of a bright sky- 

 blue color. A well-grown specimen is one of the most 

 beautiful of pot-plants. The most successful grower of 

 this species is Mr. Balchin, of Hassocks, near Brighton, in 

 whose nursery I lately saw large batches of it in various 

 sizes. They are grown in the same kind of soil and treated 

 in the same manner as Erica hyemalis, with this essential 

 difference : Leschenaultias have fleshy roots ; they are 

 therefore able to bear drought, and Mr. Balchin says the 

 only secret there is in their management is that they must 

 be kept dry all through the winter. If they flag give them 

 a little water, but do not give them any more until they flag 

 again. In a cool house with an ash bottom they require 

 no water for months. 



Boronia heterophylla. — There is no more beautiful 

 greenhouse plant than this. Unfortunately, however, it 

 resembles its congeners in being somewhat difficult to 

 grow, although any one who can manage Epacrises can 



