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BIGNONIA VENUSTA. 
Calling in the month of October last at the seat of H. T. Hope, Esq., Deep- 
dene, near Dorking, Surrey, our astonishment and admiration were very forcibly 
elicited by a plant of Bignonia venusta, which was then flowering in the stove. It 
was trained along a simple spar of wood, near the back of the house, within a foot 
of the roof, and the main stems extended to the length of between thirty and forty 
feet. From these there were probably about three hundred lateral branches of 
different lengths, depending at pretty regular intervals, at the extremities of which, 
clusters of flowers, similar to that exhibited in our plate, displayed their truly 
golden glories, and created a scene beyond measure enchanting. We may observe, 
that while some of the bunches were rather less than the one we have chosen, many 
were much larger ; and although the plant had been in bloom nearly a month, and 
numbers of blossoms had faded, the quantity which we have above mentioned was 
in full perfection, and almost as many more clusters were in the bud state. As we 
were kindly permitted to bring away specimens, the drawing here supplied has 
been prepared from them, and with a little allowance for the impracticability 
of exactly imitating the glowing orange colour of the natural flowers, it may 
be relied on as an excellent representation. 
Those who happen to possess this plant, will be anxious to know how its pro- 
pensity to flower was so successfully manifested ; and we recommend all to whom 
it is unknown immediately to procure it, since nothing could exceed in richness the 
gorgeous spectacle we have already faintly described. In the winter of 1838-9, 
disappointment being caused by the long period which a specimen had stood in the 
bed of the stove without flowering, it was cut off about three feet from the base, 
with the intention of wholly removing it in the succeeding year. During the 
ensuing summer it branched most luxuriantly, forming the whole of the stems of 
which we have spoken ; and in September, the first of a splendid series of blossoms 
was unfolded. The only secret in its culture, then, is the pruning ; and if this be 
prudently practised on plants of four or five years old, there cannot be the least 
doubt of corresponding consequences. 
It strikes readily from cuttings, and prefers an enriched loamy soil. 
Bignonia was named by Linnaeus in memory of Abbe Bignon, librarian to 
Louis XIV. of France. 
