REFLECTIONS' ON THE APPROACH OF SPRING. 



ON THE CULTURE OF PHALOCALLIS PLUMBEA. 



Herb. Bot. Mag. t. 3710 ; Syn. CYPELLA PLUMBEA, Until ; and MARICA 

 CCELESTIS, Lehm. 



BY DAVID CAMERON, AX.S. 



This pretty and singular plant was raised in the Birmingham Horticultural 

 Society's Gardens about six years ago, from seeds received from Mr. Hunneman 

 under the name of Marica ccelestis, Lehm. It has proved to be perfectly hardy, 

 having been out in the border in the front of the houses during the winters of 

 1836-7-8 without the least protection, and sustained no injury; in which situa- 

 tion it flowered both seasons, and perfected seeds in the autumn of the year 

 1838. As it, however, flowers so very late in the season, the best method is, in 

 the autumn to take up the bulbs and pot them, and place them in the greenhouse 

 during the winter and the spring ; by this means the bulbs will be set grow- 

 ing. In May turn them into the open border, where they will come into flower 

 much earlier, and continue sending out a considerable number of flowers at 

 intervals from the same scape, and will frequently also ripen seeds, which are the 

 more desirable, as it does not appear to give much increase by bulbs. 



The seeds vegetate freely in heat, and the plant generally flowers the second 

 year. The soil for potting the bulbs in should be loam, sand, and a little peat. 

 It seems to succeed well in common garden soil when planted out of doors. 



With us the flowers open about two o'clock, and close about three o'clock 

 in the afternoon. 



REFLECTIONS ON THE APPROACH OF SPRING. 



How sweet, how refreshing is the breath of spring, when the morning sun 

 first sheds its genial warmth around, and whispers in the brightness of those 

 cheering rays the coming of its summer splendour, — when the glistening dew- 

 drops that lie enfolded in each opening bud, and the young spring flowers, and 

 the wild bird's note, tell of those radiant glowing days when the warm smile of 

 summer shall beam again upon the face of nature ! How pure ! how grateful are 

 the feelings we experience in gazing upon the first few blossoms of the early 

 spring ! We know that the cold icy blasts of winter are now pouring forth their 

 terrors over other lands, and our own sweet valleys are again reviving in their 

 wonted freshness and beauty, under the cheering influence of milder gales. 

 Again the pale snowdrop and the glowing crocus rise from their frozen slumber, 

 the lowly violet breathes forth its delicious odour from some sheltered lane or 

 mossy bank, and each succeeding day we are greeted by some new smiling face 



