OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
71 
from the same source, and exhibited at the same time, has fine bright flowers, with a good deal 
of a violet tinge, and is more free and open in habit. 
Cypripe v dium, vars. Two members of this genus were exhibited at a late meeting of the 
Horticultural Society, Regent Street, by the Messrs. Veitch of Exeter. They were from Java, 
and but slightly differ from C. barbatum, the flowers of one are much paler, with narrower sepals 
and petals, and much more narrow leaves than that species ; the other had also rather narrower 
leaves, flowers very similar, but rather more vivid in colour. 
Came'llia Japo'nica ; var. Beaute Supreme. A fine seedling, recently flowered by Messrs. 
Lane, of Great Berkhampstead, of good shape and size, and pale waxy rose colour. 
E'pacris Hyacinthiflo v ba. Among many pretty hybrids of this genus, raised by the Messrs. 
Henderson of Pineapple Place, one to which the above appellation has been given by those 
gentlemen, is deserving of particular notice. The name is well chosen, for there is a much 
greater resemblance between its flowers and those of a Hyacinth, than might be imagined ; they 
are a lilac-rose colour, large, and waxy in appearance. The plant is rather robust-growing, and 
of free habit. 
Franci'scea HYDRANGiEFo'RMis. Many plants of this beautiful species, on a recent visit to the 
Messrs. Rollisson, attracted our attention, principally from such small plants flowering, but more 
from the large heads of bloom they bore, which on this plant is nearly white, on that purple, 
lilac, &c. 
OPERATIONS FOR APRIL. 
Nothing this month requires more carefully attending to than the numerous plants raised from 
seeds, whether they be stove, green-house, hardy, or annual ; the latter constitutes, in the prevailing 
number of cases, the major part of those to be dealt with. Of such as have been sown to grow in 
groups on the open borders, the hardy and commoner kinds, few, till towards the end of the month, 
and not then if the weather is unfavourable, will have come up ; such as have, and can as far as 
their numbers and strength indicate be depended upon for a future display of flowers, must* be 
watched, shielded from injury in case of frost, and the ravages of any description of insects. 
Where they have arisen so thickly as to require thinning, that operation must be performed with- 
out delay. The plants thinned out will serve to fill up groups in which, from any cause, failure or 
loss may have occurred ; or to plant in reserve beds, and there induced to form strong plants, to 
employ successionally, or resorted to in case of casualty. Any of the description under considera- 
tion, sown where vegetation would speedily ensue, for the purpose of securing strong plants, an 
early bloom, &c, must not experience any neglect in being potted off, or pricked out. For fur- 
ther particulars respecting the treatment of annuals, we request attention to our article upon the 
subject. 
Where stove and green-house plants are being raised from seed, the many causes which may 
render them valuable, should also insure their being properly attended to. Whatever are the 
kinds, and whether thin sown, or from necessity otherwise, they should be potted off while small 
plants. Any seeds still unsowh, should not remain so beyond the end of the month. 
Among plants, the Orchidcea family must receive particular attention. The majority will now 
be making their annual growth ; consequently, no cessation in a supply of those conditions suitable 
to its perfect development must be allowed. Heat and moisture are the main elements necessary 
to produce such conditions ; considerable skill, however, is required to insure their proper applica- 
tion. Various plants require a very varied amount of each, if even all should be vigorously 
growing. To the Epiphytal section, a high temperature, highly charged with moisture, is quite 
necessary when they are growing ; therefore, where one structure only is devoted to the cultivation 
of the whole, Epiphytes should be placed in that part of it where they will experience conditions 
most favourable to their welfare. The other sections must be treated according to their known 
requirements, as far as circumstances will permit. In no case must moisture, either in a vapour 
state or in water applied to the roots of the plants, be allowed to abound with a low temperature 
