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U' I N D FA L L S . 



strength will make it a fine exhibition rose. Lady Arthur 

 Hill is another of Dickson's new roses ; the form of the 

 flower is rarely equaled, the color rosy lilac, and it appears 

 to be a free bloomer, — IVm. H Spoonet\ before tlie Society 

 of American Florists. 



Azaleas for Forcing. — Vervaeneana bears a large 

 double flower of a rich, rosy pink color, broadly margined 

 with white and with a carmine blotch. It is very distinct 

 and free flowering, and it forces well ; indeed, it is one of 

 the best of its class. Imperatrice Victoria is perhaps the 

 most beautiful of the double-flowering azaleas, with flowers 

 of rosy pink, banded with pure white. The plant requires 

 careful attention during the hot summer months, or the 

 foliage will turn brown and drop. Madame Louis Ver- 

 vaene is a most distinct variety, with flowers pure white, 

 striped and spotted with rosy carnation tints. Triomphe 

 de Mont St. Amand bears very large double flowers of a 

 clear rose color, with pure white ribbon and a bright 

 carmine spot on the upper segment. The best of the 

 older varieties are Madame Vandercruysen, Simon Mard- 

 ner, Empress of India, Emperor of Brazil, Bernhard An- 

 drea, Sakuntala (if Easter is late), and Deutsche Perle 

 (if Easter is early). — fames Dean, before the Society of 

 Aiiieriran Florists. 



Aristolochia Grandiflora is now finely in flower at 

 Kew, a plant of it having been kindly presented by Mr. 

 Sturtevant, who found it two years ago in a garden on 

 the Hudson river under the name of A. pelicaua (see 

 Garden &' Forest, Vol. III., p. 596). Until Mr. Sturte- 

 vant's plants came I do not believe the true A. grandijtora 

 had been in cultivation in England for many years, the 

 commoner A. or)iit/iocep/ialahemggenerz\\y grown under 

 that name. 



In the house here devoted to Victoria regia there is a 

 very vigorous plant of A. grandiflora with about twenty 

 flowers and buds upon it, and the large, long-tailed, ex- 

 traordinary-looking blooms hanging from the roof over 

 the great tray-like leaves of the Victoria have a particu- 

 larly striking effect. As a stove climber for large houses 

 this aristolochia has quite exceptional claims. It grows 

 very freely in a moist, unshaded house. — Garden 

 Forest. 



Spirea Thunbergii as a Flowering Shrub. — In 



the article, "The Gardens of Newport," page 517, I 

 notice that the writer, speaking of that most charming 

 Japanese shrub, Spirea Tliiinbergti, describes it as a 

 beautiful species of low growing foliage shrub, which it 

 certainly is, and then goes on to say that its blossoms, 

 which appear in early spring in advance of the leaves, 

 are of little account. With due respect to the opinion 

 of Mr. Davis, we must ask him to once more look upon 

 this beautiful shrub when in blossom and then reflect. 

 We class it among the foremost group of flowering 

 shrubs, as it is one of the most valuable. Graceful as 

 is its foliage, which your correspondent so well describes, 

 so are its pure, snowy white masses of flowers, 

 which appear very early in spring; in fact it is the first 

 white flowering shrub of the season. When the forsyth- 

 ia with its golden blooms, and the Pyrus Japonica, or 



flowering quince, with its fiery crimson blossoms, an- 

 nounce that spring is at hand, then this unique and 

 most charming spirea makes up the glorious trio. Not 

 enough can be said in praise of this plant with its two 

 distinct charms ; viz., its distinct character as a flower- 

 ing shrub and again as a foliage plant. Our motive in 

 calling attention to these facts is not to criticise, so much 

 as to defend the true merits and value of one of our 

 noblest hardy shrubs, and to correct what we think is 

 an error, though perhaps Newport is not really the 

 Newport in early spring that it is in midsummer, for 

 few people are there to see it bloom. This may ac- 

 count for the error. We should not forget to call at- 

 tention also to the excellent quality of this Spirea T/ntn- 

 bergii as an early forcing shrub if taken in with a ball 

 of earth. It can be prepared in late autumn or any 

 time during the winter, after it has sufficient frost, and 

 put into a temperature of from 60° to 90°, and can be 

 had in flower at from two to four weeks' time. — Henry 

 A. SiEBRECHT, A^ew Rociieile, N. Y. 



Begonia Glorie de Sceaux is a distinct and beauti- 

 ful warm greenhouse plant. It is distinct from any 

 other known variety, and is one of the most valuable 

 sorts of recent years. It is a wonderful flower producer 

 during winter. Its manner of growth and foliage are 

 all that can be desired, the leaves being of a dark bronzy 

 plum color with a metallic lustre. The bloom is borne 

 in large compact trusses, the florets are large and per- 

 fect in outline, and in color a delightful shade of pink. 



To grow this begonia to perfection it should be given 

 a compost of two-thirds well decayed turfy loam, one- 

 third decomposed cow manure and a good sprinkling of 

 sharp sand. Mix well and use the compost rough. In 

 potting use porous or soft baked pots, let them be pro- 

 portionate to the size of the plants and see that they are 

 well drained. If the pots are one-third filled with 

 drainage it will be none too much. During the winter 

 season or from October to May the plants should be 

 given a light sunny situation and a temperature of 55° 

 to 60°. Water should be given carefully whenever ne- 

 cessary, but not to make the soil sodden. If the pots 

 are well filled with roots, liquid manure may be used 

 once a week. 



About May 15 the plants should be set outside in a 

 deep well enriched border in a partially shaded situa- 

 tion where they may be permitted to remain until the 

 middle of September when they are to be taken up and 

 potted. Propagation is readily effected by cuttings, 

 and if the young plants ars liberally treated nice flower- 

 ing specimens will soon be produced. — Chas. E.Parnell. 



Roses in the South. — Here in Raleigh the tea roses, 

 and all the everblooming roses, seem more at home than 

 anywhere else on the south Atlantic slope. Raleigh roses 

 are noticeable not only for their abundant bloom, but for 

 their massive growth and the luxuriance of their foliage. 

 Our tenacious red clay soil seems to suit them to perfec- 

 tion. I was particularly struck on a recent visit to Charles- 

 ton and lower South Carolina, with the impoverish- 



