Plate 107 . 
ALOCASIA ILLUSTRIS. 
Latety we had an opportunity of seeing, at the magnificent mansion of the Duke of 
Devonshire, at Chatsworth, some grand specimens of Alocasia and the allied genus of Arads, 
which form noble specimens for the aquatic stove. They require in cultivation a compost of 
peat and well decomposed manure in equal parts, with the addition of a little loam and silver 
sand, an abundant supply of moisture at the roots, and a strong moist heat. No better place 
can be provided for them than standing them on the wall of the tank in an aquatic stove, 
although they will do well in any place where a good moist heat can be given. 
There are already in cultivation some fine species of this genus, and Mr. Bull has been 
enabled to add another very interesting one to those already known. He describes it as a 
free-growing, bold-liabited stove perennial, intermediate in its general aspect between 
Alocasia and Caladium. The leaf-stalks are erect, and have a brownish-purple tint, while 
the leaf-blades are deflexed, one foot and a half in length, ovately sagittate ; the colour is a 
rich green, marked between the principal veins by broad patches of blackish olive, extending 
almost from the midrib to the margin, and forming a striking contrast with the brighter 
green portions of the leaf surface. It is somewhat in the way of Alocasia Jenningsii , but is of 
much larger and more vigorous growth, and of a lighter, less glaucous green. It has been 
imported from the East Indies, and we are sure only requires to be known to make it a 
popular plant with all who cultivate Aroids. 
Plate 108 . 
DOUBLE SALMON PELARGONIUM— ASA GRAY. 
To the French nurserymen and amateurs is due the merit of adding to the numerous 
varieties of Zonal Pelagoniums, already existing in our gardens, those double forms Avhicli 
have for some years had so many admirers (and we may add detractors) ; and although our 
English raisers have improved upon these efforts, yet it seems as if the next important step 
was still to be made by the former. 
We were somewhat excited by the news last season, that new double white varieties 
had been raised at Lyons, Nancy, and other places ; but, alas, like a good many anticipations, 
they have been doomed to disappointment ; the only double white at all worthy of the name 
is Aline Sisley, raised by the well-known amateur M. Jean Sisley, of Lyons; but it is, after 
all, only a semi-double, and the colour is by no means pure. It may be, however, the precursor 
of others, and as such will not meet with the condemnation which has been justly meted out 
to such rubbish as alba plena, &c. 
Amongst those which were sent out by Mons. Alegetiere, of Lyons, we received a 
plant of a variety said to be a double salmon-coloured one. As we have grown all the 
recent introductions in our own greenhouse, we have been enabled to form a tolerably 
accurate judgment of their relative value and importance, and we have come to the conclusion 
that Asa Gray is decidedly the best of the whole collection. It is entirely novel in colour, 
being of a bright rosy salmon, somewhat lighter at the edges. The plant, like all the double 
varieties, is robust, and the trusses of flowers are very freely produced, so that it will be a 
valuable addition to the stage of blooming plants. 
