Plate 181. 



FANCY PANSIES. 



For the four new fancy Pansies here figured we are indebted to Messrs. Downie and 

 Laird, of 17, Frederick Street, Edinburgh. We have before seen, and indeed figured, 

 Pansies with blooms a trifle larger in size, but for beauty of form and purity and distinct- 

 ness of colour it would be almost impossible to surpass the four varieties now figured. As 

 regards the propagation of the Pansy we cannot do better than quote A. Kerr's remarks on 

 this subject, from the Gardeners' Chronicle of September 5th last, in reporting on the Violas 

 and Pansies at the Eoyal "Winter Garden, Edinburgh : — " Propagation may be accomplished 

 all the year round if the growths are sufficiently ripe and of proper consistency ; but the 

 best time is in August and September. They can be multiplied both from the extremities 

 of the old shoots and young offsets arising from the stools. After dressing off the lower 

 set of leaves, insert the cuttings in a mixture of light sandy compost in which half-rotten 

 leaves abound. Place the boxes, or whatever is used, on the shady side of a wall or hedge 

 until the cuttings are rooted. The protection of a few mats in severe wintry weather is all 

 that is required, and such protection ought to be dispensed with when the weather becomes 

 more moderate in its temperature. Plant in March into the beds. It is of the greatest 

 importance to have this done before drought sets in. Nothing is more in their favour than 

 to have them well established in their summer quarters early. An abundant supply of 

 water at the roots given in the evenings succeeding hot sunny days will prove of the greatest 

 benefit, both in preserving vigour and sustaining a succession of bloom on the plants." 



Plate 182. 



CYTISUS LABURNUM AUEEUM. 



The highly ornamented foliage plant here figured was first brought under our notice at 

 the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on August 4th last, where it most deservedly 

 received a First-class Certificate. It was raised by Mr. Richard Smith, of Worcester, who 

 holds the entire stock, and to whom we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring it. 

 C. laburnum aureum is a sport from the common English Laburnum, and is similar to it in 

 growth, but the leaves are of a pure rich golden-yellow colour, and it flowers very freely. 

 This plant stands the sun well, and is a remarkable instance of the power of the scion over 

 the stock ; and it may be mentioned that when budded on the common Laburnum golden 

 shoots are thrown out below the bud or scion, and even golden suckers not unfrequently 

 spring from the root. Mr. Richard Smith's new Laburnum will form a valuable addition 

 to the older yellow or golden-foliaged plants, as enumerated by Mr. William Paul, of 

 Waltham Cross, viz. : — Quercus Cerris variegata ; Q. robur concordia ; Fraxinus aucubse- 

 folia; Castanea vesca variegata ; Sambucus nigro-aurea variegata; Symphoricarpos vulg. fol. 

 aureis ; Spirsea opulifolia lutea ; Robinia Pseud. Acacia aurea : and amongst evergreens — 

 Abies excelsa finedonensis ; Cupressus thyoides variegata ; Ilex Aquifolium aurea ; Thuja 

 aurea ; Thuja elegantissima ; Taxus baccata aurea ; Euonymus japonica flavescens ; and 

 Retinospora pinifera aurea. The same gentleman, in his lecture at the Horticultural Con- 

 gress at Oxford, said that, besides the prevailing and ordinary green, there were five other 

 colours, or tones of colour, with which to work — viz. : 1. Light green ; 2. Dark green ; 

 3. Reddish purple ; 4. Yellow or golden ; 5. White or silvery, — and their various combina- 

 tions. " There were," says Mr. Paul, " no less than seventy-seven distinct trees or shrubs 

 now in cultivation which came under one or other of these colour-qualifications." 



