310 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 17, 1884. 
be bad in perfection ere the Tulip dare unfold a leaf and the 
Hyacinth is yet below the sod. From the first week of March 
it may be seen with its stout flower stems a foot or more high, 
crowned with dense umbels of lavender-lilac flowers springing 
from tufts of oblong lanceolate, toothed, hairy leaves. It delight s 
in a deep rich loam and lasts foi weeks in perfection. It is 
■easily and readily propagated by division or seeds. If the latter 
be resorted to care must be taken not to cover the seeds too 
-deeply; indeed the seeds should be barely covered and never 
allowed to become dry after sowing, since many failures are 
attributable to this cause. Already some excellent forms of this 
plant have been selected from among many hundreds of seed¬ 
lings, and there is good reason to believe that before long some 
splendid varieties will be to the fore. 
P. farinosa. —A slender and interesting native species, 
varying from 3 inches to a foot in height; stems and leaves 
densely set with a silvery farina ; flowers lilac purple. It requires 
a damp—almost wet—still well-drained position either on rock- 
work or slightly raised beds in peaty soil. It is easily repro¬ 
duced from seed. The seedlings may be dotted about so as to 
form small colonies, and thus produce greater effect. 
P. integrifolia. —A pigmy Pyrenean species, with glisten¬ 
ing, entire, ciliated leaves lying close upon the ground, and 
having handsome rose-coloured flowers, which are borne on short 
stems scarcely more than 3 inches in height, delighting in moist 
sandy loam and leaf soil, taking care to plant firmly. 
P. marginata.— This is easily distinguished from all others 
■of this genus by the dense silvery margin of its greyish serrated 
leaves. It is among the gems of the rock garden. Flowers, 
which are bright rose-violet, form a striking contrast to its 
powdery leaves. Evidently one of the oldest species in culti¬ 
vation, and still by no means common. A mixture of epial 
parts sandy loam and peat suits it admirably. Native of the 
Taurian Alps, and originally from Switzerland. 
P. minima. —A diminutive gem, scarcely 2 inches high, 
having large rose-coloured flowers, which almost hide from view 
the small glossy and deeply notched leaves. Whether grown in 
pots or planted on the rockwork, it must be planted firmly in 
rich sandy loam; a few small stones about it, staying evapora¬ 
tion, might be applied with advantage. Native of southern 
Europe. 
P. Munroi (P. involucrata). —A distinct species from 
northern India, growing a foot in height and having creamy 
white flowers. It thrives well in good ordinary soil in partial 
shade. 
P. obconica. —An ever-flowering species of recent introduc¬ 
tion.. Its hardiness at present is somewhat doubtful, and should 
-receive protection. The flowers are large, white, shaded lilac, 
and borne in umbels in great profusion. 
P. Palinuri. —A most distinct species from Southern Italy 
•of decidedly arborescent habit and easy culture. The leaves and 
stem are unusually stout and vigorous. It is seldom seen in 
good condition, and requires to be planted in a deep bed of rich 
soil. Its flowers are bright yellow, produced in a cluster on the 
summit of a stout mealy stem. 
P. rosea. —A lovely new Himalayan Primrose, quite distinct 
from all others, and a gem for any purpose; of vigorous habit, 
increasing with amazing rapidity, and quite hardy. In bud the 
flowers are of a rich scarlet-crimson, but when expanded a clear 
bright rose. It grows G to 9 inches high, and prefers good, rich, 
deep sandy loam, and without doubt one of the finest Primulas 
in existence. 
Thus I have given a few of the most noteworthy of the 
species, together with their requirements. There are, however, 
many more worthy of mention and equally valuable ; but notice 
of these I must at present defer.—J. H. E. 
REPORT ON THE PROGRESS AND CONDITION OF THE 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, DURING THE YEAR 1882. 
Though somewhat late this production is always welcome, and the 
present issue contains even more varied and useful matters than usual, in 
addition to the ordinary reports of improvements in the establishment. 
Many desirable alterations have been effected at Kew during the past 
three or four years, and it is a general opinion amongst those who are 
familiar with the gardens that their condition has never been so satisfac¬ 
tory as at the present time. It is most pleasing to observe this evidence 
of energy and activity in our national gardens, and still further and 
greater advances may be confidently expected. 
That the popularity of the establishment is steadily increasing is 
manifested by the following statistics :— 
“ The number of visitors, 1,241,167, to the Royal Gardens during 1882 
was enormously larger than any hitherto recorded. It is 407.491, in 
fact nearly half as much again greater than the number, 836,676 of the 
preceding year. 
“ The number of visitors on the Whit-Monday Bank Holiday, 
May 29th, was 95,300, the largest number of visitors ever admitted 
on any single day in the year. On December 1st the Royal Gardens 
were visited by only twenty-seven persons. The following figures give 
the total numbers admitted during each bank holiday, and also the 
numbers of persons who on each occasion entered before 1 P.M.’’ 
Dates. 
Total Number 
during day. 
Number 
before 
1 P.M. 
April 10th 
56,676 
8,521 
May 29th .. 
, , 
95,300 
12,589 
August 7th .. 
, , 
75,879 
8,600 
December 26th 
• • 
1,460 
520 
Particulars of the planning and cost of the rockery are given in full, 
but the most important portion of the report is that giving a list of the 
Palms in cultivation at Kew. Referring to this the following passage 
may be cited :— 
“ The elaboration of the order Palmas for the ‘ Genera Plantarum,’ 
published by Mr. Bentham and myself, has led me to a critical exami¬ 
nation of the species of Palms in cultivation at Kew. This proves to be 
of somewhat unexpected richness ; a fact which, however, need scarcely 
perhaps be matter of surprise, seeing that for many years past, in fact 
since the existence of the Gardens as a public establishment, no pains 
have been spared to obtain seeds of these attractive plants, for the culti¬ 
vation of which Kew possesses peculiar facilities, from our numerous 
correspondents in all parts of the world. 
“ In appendix ii. I have given a classified list of Palms, 420 in 
number, at present cultivated in the Royal Gardens. 
“ The compilation of an accurate catalogue of Palms under cultivation 
is a matter of great difficulty ; owing, partly to the impossibility of 
determining them till they flower, and partly to the practice that prevails 
in the nursery trade of attaching provisional names to seedlings of Palms 
which, though unrecognisable both as to genus and species when in that 
state, are as full-grown plants well known under older names. 
“ The Kew collection of Palms is the oldest of any note. It was 
eclipsed altogether between the years 1820 and 1845 by the famous 
collection of the brothers Loddiges at Hackney, which in the latter 
year contained upwards of 200 kinds, but which was dispersed shortly 
afterwards. 
“Now it has but two rivals, a European and Asiatic one—namely, 
the magnificent collection, made chiefly by Herr Wendland, in the 
Botanical Garden at Herrenhausen, Hanover, and the Palmetum of the 
unrivalled tropical gardens at Buitenzorg in Java. The Royal Botanical 
Garden at Calcutta would doubtless hold rank with these were it not for 
the destructive cyclones which have on several occasions decimated its 
contents, and especially struck down its Palms. 
“ The Kew collection is indebted to all the above-named institutions 
for seeds or plants of many of the species it contains. It is, however, 
especially indebted to Herr Wendland, himself an eleve of Kew, whose 
knowledge of the order is unrivalled not only for many species, but for 
valuable information as to their names, affinities, and culture. 
“ The following statistics give an idea of the progress made in the 
introduction of Palms into cultivation, premising that before the pub¬ 
lication of the first edition of Aiton’s ‘ Hortus Kewensis ’ only two were 
generally known in our houses—the dwarf Fan Palm, Chamserops humilis, 
of the Mediterranean, and the Date, Phoenix dactylifera, both cultivated 
in the Chelsea Garden about 1731, and probably earlier elsewhere. 
“ Palms enumerated in Miller’s ‘ Gardener’s Dictionary,’ 1731, 7 ; 
Palms enumerated in Aiton’s ‘Hortus Kewensis,’ Ed. 1, 1779, 10; 
Palms enumerated in Aiton’s ‘ Hortus Kewensis,’ Ed. 2, 1813, 24 ; 
Palms enumerated in Loudon’s ‘Hortus Britanicus,’ 1830, 131 ; Palms 
enumerated in Loddiges’ ‘ Nursery Catalogue,’ 1845, 210 ; Palms enume¬ 
rated in Wendiand’s ‘ Index Palmarum,’ 1853, 287 ; Palms enumerated 
in Botanical Gardens of Buitenzorg, Java, 1860, 273 ; Palms enumerated 
in Herrenhausen Garden, Hanover, 1882, 445; Palms enumerated in 
Kew, 1882, 420.” 
In the list of names in the appendix it may be observed that the new 
system of nomenclature for which Herr Wendland is chiefly responsible is 
adopted throughout. This, though no doubt preferable botanically, is 
slightly confusing, and it is regretable that an additional list of the 
ordinary titles with their new names appended could not have been fur¬ 
nished, as it would have greatly increased the general value of the list. 
For example, the Kentias are much dispersed, K. Canterburyana becomes 
Hedyscepe Canterburyana, K. Wendlandiana is now a Hydriastele, 
K. Fosteriana and K. Belmoreaua being found under the genus Howea. 
Arecas aurea, rubra, and purpuracea are placed in Dictyosperma with the 
same specific names. Areca sapida and A. Baueri are placed under 
Rhopalostylis. Chamaerops Fortunei, excelsa, Martiana, &c., are tran.- 
ferred to Trachycarpus. Pritchardia tilifera is now a Washingtonia, and 
Rtychosperma rupicola is a Loxococcus. These are only a few examples 
of the more common species, but it will probably be a long time before 
the new titles are generally adopted in gardens. 
The colonial reports are as usual very full and important, and some of 
them may be noted in these pages in a future issue. 
The Orange in Australia. —The Orange tree was first introduced into 
Sydney, New South Wales, from Brazil, in 1788. Captain Hunter says, 
in his “ Journal of Transactions at Port Jackson and Norfolk Island,” 
that they took on board at Rio de Janeiro, among other seeds and plants, 
