THE FLORAL 



MAGAZINE. 



green. From Mr. Henry Cannell, Nurseryman, Swanley, 

 came some very fine types of Primula Sinensis fim- 

 briata, consisting of Swanley White, Lilacina, Swanley 

 Red, Swanley Carminata, Stanley Purple, and Delicata. 

 Very fine forms of the same came from Mr. J. 

 Wig-gins, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Hillingdon 

 Place, Oxbridge, who had Crimson Model, of a rich 

 vivid crimson colour ; President, purple ; and Magenta, 

 purplish-magenta. The variety known as Chiswick 

 Red came from the Royal Horticultural Society's Gar- 

 dens at Chiswick, in fine condition ; and among a group 

 of winter blooming Salvias was S. Pitcheri, a lovely 

 flower when grown under skilful treatment, the beau- 

 tiful azurean hue of the blossom being worthy of the 

 highest admiration. A new variety of Salvia named 

 Mons. Issauchon, a variety of S. Splendens, the flowers 

 variegated with white and red, was entirely distinct and 

 very pretty. This came from Mr. Canned. From the 

 Royal Nurseries, Slough, Mr. C. Turner exhibited a 

 group of beautiful Tree Carnations, all with highly 

 coloured flowers. The finest of these were Scarlet 

 Nonpareil, Model, Brightness, Warrior, very deep 

 crimson; Lancer, Rosalind, Meteor, Indian Chief, 

 intensely dark; and Sunbeam. The value of these 

 Carnations at this season of the year can scarcely be 

 over-estimated, and now there are so many beautiful 

 varieties, no greenhouse should be without a few of 

 them. 



SALVIA PITCHERI. 



In another column we have alluded to this charming 

 Salvia when shown at the last meeting of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society by Mr. A. F. Barron, of the Royal 

 Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick. Mr. Barron had 

 grown the plants in 48-sized pots, and each had 

 thrown up some five or six spikes of bloom, and by 

 putting a few of these plants into a deep pan a charm- 

 ing group was formed. Of all the new forms, this is 

 undoubtedly the best. It is of dwarf er and more com- 

 pact growth than the rest, and it blooms with great 

 freedom. An illustration of it appeared in the Floral 

 Magazine for June of the present year. The flowers 

 are of a rich cobalt-blue hue, and it is a colour par- 

 ticularly acceptable at this season of the year, when 

 blue colours are so poorly represented among autumn 

 flowers. Like most blue flowers it does not show 

 itself off to advantage by gaslight, as the blossoms 

 take on them a dull and unattractive voilet hue. But 

 it is a gem for the warm greenhouse in autumn, and as 

 such we cordially recommend it to our readers. 



VALERIANA PHO-AOREA. 



This is a new hardy golden-leaved spring bedding 

 plant that will prove a great acquisition for winter and 

 spring decoration, being, as already stated, perfectly 

 hardy and of good constitution, the foliage of a bright 

 golden-yellow colour ; and by those who have tried it, it 

 is said to be one of the most effective spring bedding 

 plants in cultivation with the same leaf colour. Another 

 good characteristic is that the foliage is remarkably 

 scented. How it originated we do not know, but we 

 think it was distributed by Messrs. James Veitch and 

 Sons, and we have heard of it as having done remark- 

 ably well in the north of England. If this be so, we 

 have every reason to conclude it will succeed well in 

 the south also. We are short of good golden-leaved 

 hardy plants that are effective in spring ; one of the 

 best is the well-known variegated Daisy Aucubsefolia. 

 This is a gem for spring work, taking in a fine hue of 

 gold in autumn, in winter, and throughout the spring ; 

 and it is as hardy as a plant can well be. Daisies are 

 proverbially hardy, and the variegated form is no 

 exception to the rule, though it may look delicate to 

 the eye. 



REVIEWS. 



A Pocket Guide to British Ferns. By Marian S. 

 Ridley. Bogue. 

 The peculiar feature of this little book is that the 

 specific characters of Ferns are given in a tabular 

 form, the more distinctive being placed first, with a 

 view, we presume, of enabling the novice to ascertain 

 the name of a Fern with as little trouble as possible. 

 If the student rests satisfied with this, without further 

 examination, the book will not do him much good. 

 This does not, however, appear to be the author's 

 design, and therefore we commend it as likely to be 

 useful to those who wish to study the structure and 

 classification of Ferns more thoroughly. To this end 

 there are some useful introductory chapters. — F. L. S. 



The Forcing Garden. By Samuel Wood. Crosby 

 Lockwood and Co. 

 The first part of this book treats of the cultivation of 

 the Vine ; the second of Orchard and Glass-houses for 

 fruit and flowers ; the third of the early forcing of 

 vegetables. So far as these matters can be taught by 

 books, this is as good as any. Experience must be 

 purchased by trial. F. L. S. 



