HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 173 



time, and which lacks none of the qualities of a good rose, the 

 King of the Prairies is the only one I have had the pleasure of seeing. 



Truly Yours, James Ritchie, 



NEW OR RARE PLANTS, 



FLOWERED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT SPRINGBROOK, THIS SEASON. 



no. yi. 



Rhododendron Gibsonii. This is a very peculiar looking species, 

 The foliage and appearance of the plant are such as we might imagine a cross 

 between R. ferruginea, and Jl. punctatum to produce. The flowers are 

 larger than the finest Azalea indica alba, and so much resemble it, that we 

 have to look for its small, almost absent calix, before we are sure that it is 

 not an Azalea. There is a greenisJmess in the throat, and a pink tinge on 

 the outside of the corolla which the white Azalea has not — its habit is strag- 

 gling, and the flowers only appear in threes. It is worthy of a place in all 

 collections from its peculiarity as a Rhododendron — it thrives well with me 

 in a sandy loam with a little leaf mould, in winter kept just above freezing 

 and always in the shade. 



Eupatoriuwj Caxescens. If any recollect the old Ageratum Mexicanuin 

 they will have an idea of this plant ; it is different, from that in its foliage 

 and the flowers are more numerous and compact. It is a very free bloomer $ 

 and will grow well in any ordinary treatment. I have no doubt it will prove 

 a valuable addition to our stock of white flowering plants for bedding out — ? 

 our plant was obtained from Mr. Buist. 



Siphocampylos Nitidus. A miniature species with deep green shining 

 leaves, not over an inch in length, and flowers about the same length, ancl 

 of a bright yellow and scarlet colour, appearing from the axils of the leaves 

 of the young growth. It is not a showy plant, but when grown as a Cen- 

 tradenia, with numerous shoots and bushy, would be considered pretty. It 

 is easily grown, but is a "rare old plant" for the red spider — obtained 

 through Messrs. Hogg of New York. 



Dendrobium densiflorum. This fine orchid has lately bloomed in sever- 

 al collections in Philadelphia. The flowers come out in clusters of about 

 twelve flowers, each about the size of an ordinary bunch of grapes. Eeach 

 flower is three quarters of an inch across, of a deep orange yellow — the lip 

 is nearly circular, and finely fringed. It is easily grown in a moist partially 

 shaded atmosphere, in pots or baskets of moss, old bark, and broken char^ 

 coal, and in a temperature of 60° — introduced from Low of Clapton. 



