OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
47 
abounds. Had it the beautiful and delicious fruit of the orange, it would be equally worthy of 
cultivation. The fragrant and orange-like flowers will, however, always recommend it as a 
desirable greenhouse plant." The plant grows about six or seven feet in height, and has copious 
and good foliage. The blossoms are in cymes of from three to seven each. Bot. Mag. 3994. 
Agapa'nthus umbella'tus ; var. maximus. This variety differs from the species only in having 
larger and somewhat darker blue flowers. Indeed, it may be questionable whether it be not a 
highly-cultured state of the original plant. It bloomed at Mr. Groom's nursery, Clapham Rise, 
in September last, and is extremely beautiful. Bot. Reg. 7. 
Catase v tum pla v niceps. " Notwithstanding our unwillingness," writes Dr. Lindley, " to add 
to the doubtful species of this strange and changeable genus, we can hardly hesitate about regard- 
ing this as new. It is true that its habit is that of C. rnaculatum, tridentatum, and semiapertum, 
from the second of which it differs in its serrated lip, from the first and last in its lip not having 
the edges incurved, and from all in the singular truncate form of this helmet-shaped organ, which 
is flattened from front to back, and not laterally. It is a native of the Spanish Main, whence it 
was imported by Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it flowered in June 1841." The lip appears to be 
of a dull green hue, edged with orange, and the sepals and petals deep yellow. Bot. Beg. 9. 
Echi'tes hirsuta. u The South American species of Echites are numerous," says Sir W. J. 
Hooker, " little known, and ill-described : yet I have reason to believe that this is correctly 
referred to E. hirsuta of Ruiz and Pavon, and that it is a species widely dispersed throughout 
South America, and especially frequent in Brazil. Less beautiful, unquestionably, than the 
E. splendens, it is yet a very handsome plant, bearing its delicate yellow and rose-coloured 
blossoms, of a large size, in the month of September, in the stove of Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, 
where alone, we believe, it at present exists in this country. It was sent by their collector, 
Mr. Lobb, from the Organ Mountains of the Brazils during the preceding year, and is a highly 
valuable acquisition to our hothouse plants." The leaves are entire, oblong-obovate, acuminate, 
cordate at the base, downy above, and almost hairy beneath. The flowers are borne in ample 
racemes. It is a climbing plant. Bot. Mag. 3997. 
Fu'chsia alpe'stris. " Sent, in August, 1842, from the Glasgow Botanic Garden, by the able 
curator, Mr. Murray, together with the following from the pen of Mr. Gardner : — This very 
distinct species of Fuchsia I found during my last visit to the Organ Mountains, growing in moist, 
bushy, rocky places, at an elevation of upwards of five thousand feet above the level of the sea. 
A plant of it, which I brought home alive with me last year, has been in flower for some time in 
the Glasgow Botanic Gardens. It differs from F. integrifolia, (the F. radicans of many,) in having 
narrower and more acuminated leaves, smaller and paler coloured flowers, besides being nearly all 
over densely pubescent ; in which latter respect it agrees with F. montana and F. pubescens of 
St. Hilaire, but they are otherwise very distinct species. From the elevation at which it grows, I 
have no doubt that it will succeed better in the greenhouse than in the stove." It is a half- 
climbing species, the branches being sometimes from twelve to eighteen or twenty feet in length. 
The young leaves have a reddish tint, which is confined to the margins in the older ones ; and the 
calyx is pale crimson, with deep purple petals. Bot. Mag. 3999. 
OPERATIONS FOR MARCH. 
March is universally deemed the month in which seeds of most kinds, but especially those of 
annuals, should be committed to the earth. The latter require to be differently treated, according as 
they are hardy or tender, and intended for the decoration of the greenhouse or the flower-borders. 
The common way of sowing tender annuals is to make up a slight hotbed, cover it with 
suitable earth, and, extending over it some protective awning, put in the seeds in rows or drills 
across it. Another plan, where convenience is possessed, is to sow them thickly in large pots, 
and plunge them in a hotbed frame, transplanting the seedlings into other pots when they appear 
above the earth ; and this last is the better way with those that are to furnish the greenhouse. 
But for such as are to be transferred to the open borders in May, it is best to sow them in 
