76 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [July 



(^ climates has been added to the plant houses, and two ranges of frames ^) 



for rearing seeds, &c. 



2) 



The contents of the several plant houses speak for themselves, v 

 The already celebrated, though still young, collection of Rhododen- \ 

 drons, from the Sikkim Himalaya, are promising well, and some 

 showing flower ; and the accession of new plants, especially of the 

 useful kinds, is considerable. In the Palm Stove the growth and 

 vigor of the inmates attest the excellence of the structure for cultiva- 

 tion, the foliage of some of the plants already extending to 60 feet 

 from the ground. The palms and tree ferns are among the finest ever 

 reared in Europe. The crowds of visitors to the gallery of this 

 stove have necessitated the erection of a second spiral staircase for 

 their accommodation. 



The number of plants distributed by the Royal Gardens this year, 

 as shown by the books, exceeds 3,000 : many are of great rarity and 

 value. Among other recipients are the Botanic Gardens of Oxford 

 and Cambridge, the Botanic and Experimental Gardens of Edin- 

 burgh, those of Glasgow and Belfast, the College and Glasnevin 

 Gardens of Dublin, many eminent nurserymen, and numerous private 

 gardens. These plants are given on the system of exchange, but 

 when required for purposes of public instruction they are freely be- 

 stowed, whenever they can be spared. 



To correspondents abroad we have despatched sixteen Wardian 

 cases of useful plants, viz., four to New Zealand, one to Hobart 

 Town, three to Calcutta, two to Madras, one to Trinidad, two to 

 Jamaica, one to Valparaiso, one to Sierra Leone, and one to British 

 Honduras ; also various closed packages of roots and seeds to the 

 same and other places, Amono; them are the seeds of the Victoria, 

 which is now flourishing at Calcutta, in Ceylon and Trinidad. No- 

 where, however, has this splendid aquatic succeeded so well (under 

 glass, be it observed) as in the United States, and nowhere has its 

 introduction been so highly prized. The flowers have attained a di- 

 ameter of 17 inches, and the leaves of Qh. feet. "The excitement," 

 says our Philadelphia correspondent, "caused by the successful cul- 

 ture of the Victoria Water Lily on our side the Atlantic has been 

 extreme, and every one has declared that the glowing accounts of 

 its beauty are not at all exaggerated." 



The Museum of Vegetable Products has increased beyond all ex- 

 pectation, and at a most trifling cost to the country ; for the advan- 

 tages it affords in the way of information and instruction are now so 

 obvious, that many contributors who desire to make known various 

 vegetable products and preparations have sent specimens to this Mu- 

 seum, and donations have accumulated, we may say daily, for the 

 last six months. All the available space in the building is now de- 

 voted to the Museum, and fitted up with glass cases, which are rapid- 

 ly filling. For many valuable contributions we are indebted to the 

 Great Exhibition. They consist of vegetable products, raw, and in 

 various stages of manipulation, and manufactures of vegetable sub- 

 stances from all parts of the world. The exhibitors have manifested 

 great interest in the Museum, and have generously aided its collec- 

 tions. The Secretary of State for the Colonies has also placed at our 

 disposal many vegetable products from the distant possessions of the 

 Crown. 1 have likewise, with the sanction of the Chief Commis- / 

 sioner of Works, purchased an interesting collection (correctly named) J? 

 of all the Woods of Tuscany from the Tuscan Commissioners ; this (P) 



$30&s : . ^0^1 



