FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
237 
only to be seen in places seldom traversed, and from the ' smallness of their parts perhaps, often 
escape observation amongst vegetable forms of greater magnitude, there can be no objection to 
mingling them amongst those imported from other countries. 
From the rocky and elevated stations which these plants naturally occupy, they have long 
been a troublesome tribe to the culturist, and even now many collections betray the lack of some 
essential to their well-being. Various remarks have been published from time to time in the 
gardening newspapers and other periodicals, but we believe Mr. Lothian is the first who has 
attempted a separate treatise upon them. His work contains copious directions for their 
treatment, both in pots and when planted out upon rock-work ; and with this guide in their 
hands, few people, who can command a situation at all favourable, can fail to manage them 
successfully. 
We make the following extract from the author's remarks upon autumn treatment, partly as 
a specimen, and partly because it points chiefly to one of the principal mistakes generally com- 
mitted in the management of Alpines : — " Towards the close of September, any of the more rare 
and delicate Alpines may be placed within the frame, as the weather will now be coming cold 
and boisterous. Avoid, however, putting the sashes on, as this would only tend to cause damp, 
and, perhaps, induce the plants to make additional soft growths, which would promote decay and 
cause damp, so much to be guarded against in winter. 
" About the middle of October, according to the weather, the whole may be gone over, cleaned 
thoroughly of weeds and any decayed leaves, and the soil stirred a little about the plants, which 
are then to be placed in the frame, and plunged in coal ashes as before alluded to. But the 
sashes need not yet be put on until there is an appearance of frost, when this may be done, 
taking them off every good day at noon, for the greater part of the day," 
The culturist who imagines that these plants must be hardy enough to need no protection in 
winter, simply because in their wild state they inhabit elevated situations where the atmosphere 
is keen and cold even in summer, commits a great error. Though the temperature of the air in 
winter may be constantly much below 32°, yet it must be remembered that these little plants 
are protected froin it by the hand of Nature. They lie beneath a covering of snow, that prevents 
them from being exposed to a temperature low enough to harm them, and not only this, but 
they are also shielded from the fury of the mountain storm. It cannot, then, be reasonably ex- 
pected that such plants can bear with impunity to be exposed to wind, and hail, and rain, and 
all the rigour and changes of an ordinary winter. Mr. Lothian's observations on this point will 
be read with profit. 
Another point which we consider a very general cause of failure, is the neglect of a timely 
and sufficient potting. To make fine specimens they require to be repotted early, in order to 
give them as long a season as possible to grow in. If this is put off, till growth has proceeded 
some way, the further progress of the plant is retarded, whilst, if done at the commence- 
ment, it proceeds steadily without anything to interrupt it, and the specimen consequently 
attains greater vigour and perfection. Copious directions on this head will be found in the 
work under notice. 
We must refer our readers to the work itself for further intelligence. We may just mention 
that there is a list of Alpine plants appended, which will be useful to those desirous of forming 
a collection ; and we trust that such collections will become more general. 
FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. 
NEW OR BEAUTIFUL PLANTS FIGURED IN THE LEADING BOTANICAL PERIODICALS 
FOR OCTOBER. 
Be'rberis actinaca'ntha. A small hardy evergreen bush, adapted for rockwork, growing 
three or four feet in height, and blossoming plenteously in May and June. It is " apparently 
common in the neighbourhood of Valparaiso, whence it has been brought by all collectors of 
Chilian plants. It is not, however, a plant of the coast, but inhabits the first range of the Cordil- 
