NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 
69 
plants which baffle the ingenuity of the most ' experienced botanists, and teach 
them the utter fallacy of attempting to prescribe rules for the structure of natural 
productions, particularly orchidaceous plants. Messrs. Rollison also possess a new 
species of Epidendrum now in flower ; the pseudo-bulbs are unusually long and 
large, but the flowers, though larger than most other species Of the genus, are not 
very beautiful, as brown and pale green are the predominant colours : nevertheless, 
it is far superior to many, indeed most, other species of this genus. Phaleonopsis 
amabile. This lovely plant is again flowering at the above nursery, and should 
be in the collection of every lover of orchidacese. 
Mr. Young's, Epsom. Begonia odorata. This is a rare and very interesting 
species of Begonia, and though by no means equal in beauty to some of its allies, 
abundantly compensates for this deficiency by the delightful fragrance it exhales, 
being in this respect equal to the perfume of violets, or that universal favourite, 
mignonette ; the flowers, though white, are not destitute of beauty, and form a 
pleasing contrast with the little tufts of yellow anthers in their centre, and the 
deep green of the foliage. Its fragrance alone is sufficient to render it a desirable 
feature in any collection, and a fine specimen of it is now flowering very profusely 
at this nursery. Rhododendron Cunninghamii. This is an extremely beautiful 
hybrid Rhododendron, raised in the Epsom nursery ; the flowers are of the richest 
crimson colour, and beautifully spotted with black. A splendid specimen of it is 
now exhibiting its showy blossoms with Mr. Young. 
NOTICES ON THE CULTURE OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS 
IN THE LEADING NURSERIES IN THE VICINITY OF LONDON. 
On Grafting Cactw. 
In a previous number we presented our readers with a few hints relative to a 
rather novel system of grafting species of Mammillaria, Echinocaclus, &c, on 
stocks of Pereskia aculeata, and we there promised to enter more minutely into 
the subject in a [future article: we find, however, that there are few additional 
particulars remaining for us to relate, as the operation is remarkably simple. By 
reference to our February number, our readers will perceive that we have there 
stated the principle on which this system is founded, viz., that of grafting such 
kinds as produce few and weak roots, on those which emit strong and vigorous 
ones ; but, as some individuals with small collections would not wish to have the 
only specimen they possessed of any species treated in this manner, it may not be 
amiss here to state the most approved and efficient means for propagating the 
various species of the genera before named. Most of those species of Cactw, which 
form themselves into spherical heads, do not produce either brandies or offsets 
naturally ; therefore it becomes necessary, where an increase is desired to be ob- 
tained, to have recourse to some method whereby they may be induced to do so. 
It is a curious but well-authenticated fact, that each of the little tufts of spines 
