BOTAMC AI. Ii\D£X. 
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bulbs are fre<iuently diseased. L. Chalcedonkum, from Asia, and the true L. Dahuri- 
ctim, L. excel sum, ( testaceum ,) the varieties of L. cmtdidum, and varieties of L. longiflo- 
rum, grow very well, as well as L. martagon, from central Europe, and L. martagon 
f ore nlbo, with 24 flowers to a stem. L. martagon Dalmaticum, the black Turk’s-cap 
Lily, from Montenegro, is a brilliant rare species giving frequently 15 to 30 flowers 
to a stem ; the color is purple-black, very distinct. L. LeichtUni, very fine species, 
native of Japan, large flowers, citron-yellow, spotted brown. L. Xeilgherrense, from 
t lie mountains of peninsular India, is one of the most valuable lilies, the extremely 
large trumpet-shaped flowers make it strikingly effective; deliciously fragrant. L. 
Krameri grows very well here in shady, sheltered situations; the flowers are very 
handsome and sweet-scented; colors of all tints, deep pink, delicate pink, to pure 
white. At last I can say to you with great pleasui-fe that next autumn I hope to intro- 
duce a few bulbs of the new Li Hum Parryi, not yet in cultivation; this gorgeous 
species is allied to L. Washingtonicum, but the flowers are yellow, very handsome, 
attaining from 3 to 6 feet high; discovered by Dr. Parry in Southern California, in 
bogs at an elevation of 7000 feet. Lily of the Valley , the best known and most uni- 
versally admired spring flowering plant, grows here extremely well. The grand 
snow-white flowered Czackia lilia strum, (St. Bruno’s Lily,) is one of the first spring 
flowering lilies in cultivation, and is very pretty and graceful. 
Funk ins, with variegated leaves, grow extremely well here; some clumps are from 
1 foot to I] feet across. The Funkias are most valuable for decorative purposes. 
Christmas Lose {Helleborus niger ) is one of the most valuable acquisitions to the winter 
garden and Christmas days. I make yearly immense exportations of them to the 
United Kingdom and to America. I have about fifteen other varieties and species of 
Helleborus in my gardens. Hepaticas, with flowering crowns, for the million. This 
charming and effective winter flowering plant is worthy of an illustration in your 
Index. The flowers are single and double, and are blue, purple, rose, red, white, 
Jilac, etc., and give a succession of blooms from January until March. The exports 
from here of Spiraeu ( Astilbc-Hoteia ) Japonica, in clumps for forcing, attains to an 
incredible magnitude. The growers are numerous, and every countryman cultivates 
them in connection with potatoes and corn. The general annual exportation from 
the Belgium nurserymen is about 500,000 clumps. Also, the Azalea Indica, Azalea 
Mollis , Hardy Ghent Azaleas , Camellias , Rhododendrons, etc., are exported yearly by 
the millions to all parts of the world. The Palms , and stove and greenhouse plants, 
are also specialties of the Belgium nurserymen. I have about 100,000 young speci- 
men Palms, (seedlings,) in store pots and small single pots, amongst all the best kinds, 
extremely healthy, suitable for export, and at very low rates. Amaryllis, Begonias, 
Gladiolus, Hyacinths, Tulips, etc., are also largely cultivated here. 
Hoping, dear sir, the above report will be acceptable to you, I remain, 
Yours, truly, 
J. Vander Swaelmen. 
The following extract from a private letter received a short time since from a 
resident, for the past five years, of San Diego county, California, will convey some 
idea of the effects of the terrible drouth (just terminated) that has visited that region 
of country for the past few years : 
San Diego, Cal., Jan. 13, 1878. 
“ * * * We are having some line rains this winter, and the flowers are now 
beginning to bloom ; but last year was a terribly dry one. It will take a few years of 
good crops for people to make up the losses of the year just passed. * * * About 
one-half the (honey) bees have died, and the rest are nearly starved out. There was 
not a pound of surplus honey made in this part of the county last year, nor indeed 
anything raised to speak of. Stock suffered terribly, and a great many died for want 
of water; those that survived are now in very poor condition. But the people man- 
aged to live through, and are in hopes of better times in the future. * * * There 
were no seed on anything here last year — hardly anything bloomed; and that which 
did bloom was blasted by the Dot winds before it ripened. The only chance for seed 
this spring will be old seed, if it could be got. Yucca did not bloom at all last year.” 
H.' C. 
