19 
NOTICES OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS 
IN FLOWER IN THE LEADING NURSERIES IN THE VICINITY OF LONDON. 
Owing to the extreme severity of the weather during the past month (wliich 
perhaps has not been so intense cold for some years), our readers, we should 
think, would not be surprised when we inform them that there are very few new 
or interesting plants now in flower in the London nurseries. Indeed, at this 
period of the year, our stoves and greenhouses are generally barren of interest ; and 
though here and there a solitary flower may occasionally develop itself, it seems 
rather to discover the general gloom, than to enliven the scene, and delight the 
eye, as at other times. To this rule, however, we may except orchideous plants ; 
the cultivator of which has constantly some beautiful and charming plant in 
flower, to attract his attention and excite his admiration ; and, even in the depth 
of winters like the present, orchideous plants wear the aspect of health and 
vigour, and are continually sending forth their elegant and varied blossoms, which, 
while they are preserved by an artificial temperature from the attacks of frost, seem 
to smile at all the inclemencies of the external atmosphere. Were there no other 
inducement to cultivate this beautiful tribe than that which is here held out, w^o 
should imagine that no person who possesses the means would any longer deprive 
himself of such an unfailing source of gratification and delight ; and we will venture 
to assert, that in a tolerably good collection of orchideous plants, there is not a 
period of the year in which some plants of this charming tribe are not displaying 
their curious and interesting blossoms in the highest degree of perfection. But we 
proceed to notice such plants as are in flower in the various nurseries. 
Messrs. Henderson's, Pine- Apple Place. Upon entering the show-house of 
Messrs. Henderson, we were agreeably surprised to find a most striking contrast to 
the external appearance of vegetation. Here are Azaleas, Syringas, PiHmulas, 
Camellias, and a great variety of other beautiful plants, all flowering in a truly 
splendid manner, and presenting to the eye a rich and varied mass of beauty, seldom 
seen at this season of the year. We notice, especially, a fine plant of one of 
Messrs. Henderson''s, hybrid Cinerarias ; we have before had occasion to remark 
that these gentlemen have raised some of the most beautiful varieties of this 
interesting genus we ever witnessed, and the one to which we now allude has flowers 
of a most brilliant blue colour, and certainly for its novelty and beauty it surpasses 
all others that we have previously seen, and would be a most valuable and beautiful 
ornament to any collection. Great praise is due to these gentlemen for the neat 
and elegant manner in which their greenhouse and other plants are potted, supported, 
and arranged. 
Mr. Knight's, Chelsea. Mr. Knight has recently flowered a new stove plant, 
which will no doubt prove valuable ; the foliage of it is pinnated, large, and hand 
