MISCELLANEOUS. 
219 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
New and Rare Plants in Flower. Fuchsia 
corymbiflora alba. Believing as we do the attrac- 
tive and elegant genus Fuchsia , notwithstanding 
the varied beauty of the species and varieties 
already under cultivation, is susceptible of much 
improvement, both in kind and culture, we have 
long desired to see some addition to the corymb- 
flowering species especially, and therefore rejoiced 
to meet with a white flowering one at the July ex- 
hibition of the Horticultural Society, produced by 
Mr. Salter, Nurseryman and Florist, at Hammer- 
smith and Versailles, who raised it on the continent. 
To contrast it more effectually with the parent 
species, F. corymbiflora, a plant of the latter grafted 
with the white variety was exhibited, and we must 
certainly pronounce the contrast of the red and 
white inflorescence a pleasing one, and whether in 
the grafted state or when growing on its own roots, 
it will undoubtedly be found an interesting com- 
panion to the former. 
In habit it is somewhat more shrubby than 
Fuchsia corymbiflora, the constitution equally 
vigorous, the foliage broader and of a lighter glossy 
verdure ; with respect to the inflorescence, the ra- 
cemes are fine, the tubes of the flowers of a 
carneous whiteness, which Mr. Salter states exists 
only whilst the flowers are young, becoming, he 
says, pure white when fully developed. The sepals 
are well reflexed, exhibiting a corolla of brilliant 
crimson. Altogether, it is a distinct variety and 
merits a place in every collection of this beautiful 
family. 
Whilst on the subject of Fuchsias, we cannot 
help observing, that the last exhibition of them was, 
collectively, very inferior to what they might have 
been ; and the same observation is applicable to 
every exhibition of 'this popular tribe we have had 
the misfortune to witness this season. A really 
handsome well-managed specimen we have not seen 
either at the Horticultural or the Royal Botanic 
Society’s floral f6tes this year ; which is a matter of 
much surprise, when their great popularity, attrac- 
tive beauty, great variety, graceful habit when well 
grown, and easy culture, are taken into account. 
A nice little plant, present at the last Chiswick 
flower show, successfully grafted with fifteen sorts, 
the major part of which were in flower, is sufficiently 
indicative of what may be accomplished by grafting 
alone ; but we cannot conceive why there should not 
be produced handsome standards of the more robust 
kinds, various in height, having proportionate 
heads profusely hung with white and coral blossoms ; 
and equally beautiful pyramids of the more delicate 
varieties from six to ten feet high, profusely fur- 
nished with gracefully drooping branches and 
branchlets from base to apex, and these bespangled 
with elegant pendant flowers down to the pots 
they grow in, which ought and would, if the plants 
were well grown, be partially concealed by the gaily 
decorated, gracefully hanging spray. 
What has been accomplished with pot roses is 
now a matter of history. The varied beauty of 
Pelargoniums is too universally known and appre- 
ciated to require fresh eulogy ; and if evidence be 
needed of the improvement of form of which we 
deem them susceptible, the great conservatory in 
the Regent’s Park could furnish it ; and as for 
Fuchsias (whilst we are well aware that “ specimens,” 
deserving the name of such, do exist in the vicinity 
of the metropolis, but somehow are not forthcoming 
on exhibition days), we must say, that we think if 
Messrs. Rogers, of Southampton, were to adorn the 
metropolitan exhibitions with such specimens as 
we have known them to exhibit at home, as great 
a furor would be created by Fuchsias in June and 
July, as the gorgeous splendour of the Indian 
Azaleas produced at Chiswick in May last. 
Salvia patens alba. As Salvia patens is valued 
and admired for its blueness, so the subject of our 
present notice will become a favourite from its white- 
ness. In foliage, robustness of habit and general 
appearance, if we except the inflorescence, it is of 
course, as the name imports, but a counterpart of 
S. patens. The flowers are equal in size to the 
latter, and of a snowy whiteness, having, however, 
an inconspicuous tinge of a pale blue (which en- 
hances rather than detracts from its merit) in the 
centre of the lower lip of each flower. It will 
doubtless be found a useful acquisition to the 
flower garden, and all the more desirable for being 
a white Salvia patens. We noticed it in flower in the 
collection of Messrs. E. Henderson, St. John’s Wood 
Nursery. 
Torenia asiatica. Of all the various methods 
of cultivating this charming plant, whether as a 
compact greenhouse bush, as a specimen trellis 
plant trained over shield-like or balloon-shaped 
supports in the warm conservatory, as a basket 
specimen, epiphytally suspended like an iEschy- 
nanthus or an Orchid from the rafters of the stove, 
or even grown (as we have seen it in Devonshire) 
as a summer flower-garden plant in the open air ; 
apparently the most natural, really the most suit- 
able purpose to devote it to, is to afford it a situ- 
ation where comparative shade from the rays of the 
mid-day sun, and a plenitude of atmospheric and 
terrestrial humidity are the attendant conditions 
which surround it throughout the period of its 
summer life. 
Of the certainty of this we were forcibly reminded 
a short time back, by the inspection of a small 
stove, or stove conservatory, in Messrs. Weeks’s 
Nursery, Chelsea, in which was a small reservoir, 
in part surrounded by rockwork overhung with 
the inmates of the stove growing at the back or 
planted in the interstices of the rock ; and conspi- 
cuously lovely amongst and beneath them was 
Torenia asiatica, which under none of the methods 
of cultivation above alluded to, have we ever seen 
appearing so much at home, or presenting half so 
beautiful an appearance as it did with its long, 
trailing, quadrangular shoots ramifying in the 
