JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
378 
specimens in front row of shrubbery border, or in the mixed 
border, have a charming appearance in spring, as the blooms are 
produced in great abundance, and prove useful for cutting when 
the supply from other sources is becoming exhausted. 
The plant thrives well in ordinary light garden soil, and succeeds 
admirably in Messrs. Osborns’ Fulham Nursery, whence the speci¬ 
men was obtained represented in the engraving. 
PORTRAITS OF NEW AND NOTABLE PLANTS. 
In briefly pointing out the chief characteristics of the new or 
remarkable plants figured in the leading scientific publications, it 
may be useful to some readers if the known or probable cultural 
value of such plants be indicated ; as many, though of considerable 
interest to botanists, would be of little use in ordinary gardens, 
where the object is to obtain the best possible display with the 
least expense. Some, too, even of the really useful species, are not 
in commerce, and not readily obtainable, as they are often con¬ 
fined to a few botanic gardens. Indeed, it is surprising, that 
although nurserymen display such energy in introducing new 
plants, many in botanical collections that would merit a place in 
any garden are allowed to remain comparatively unnoticed ; yet 
the majority of such establishments now afford the trade every 
facility in obtaining by exchange any plants that can be readily 
propagated. Therefore, in addition to such cultural notes as may 
seem requisite in referring to “Portraits of Plants,” attention will 
be especially directed to any of these neglected plants which may 
be occasionally figured. 
Crawfurdia luteo-viridis. (Bot. Mag., t. 6539.)— A climbing 
ally of the Gentians, with opposite, ovate, cordate leaves, which 
become tinged with reddish purple when mature, and axillary or 
terminal clusters of green and white tubular flowers. The chief 
attractions of the plant are the brilliant crimson fruits, which are 
ellipsoid in form and 1 inch to inch in length. Seeds were sent to 
Kew in 1879 by Dr. King of the Calcutta Botanic Gardens, and the 
plants produced flowered early in the present year in a cool pit. 
Native of the Sikkim Himalayas. The plant would no doubt thrive 
in an intermediate house or possibly in a greenhouse, and might 
advantageously receive the attention of cultivators. 
Polygonum sacralinense. (Ibid., t. 6540.) —This is stated by 
Sir Joseph Hooker to be “ by far the noblest species of Polygonum 
known in cultivation, if not the noblest of the genus, forming as it 
does clumps 6 to 8 feet high and broad, of innumerable rich red- 
brown wand-like stems that spread and droop gracefully all round, 
loaded with magnificent leaves which attain a length of 18 inches and 
a breadth of 10.” It is a native of Japan and the island of Sachalin, 
and was discovered in Amur Land by Maximovicz. It was cultivated 
in the Moscow Zoological Gardens in 1869, and is believed to have 
been grown at Kew twenty yearn ago, “ having been probably intro¬ 
duced by one of the Kew collectors in Japan, Mr. Oldham or Mr. 
Wilfoid.” It increases very fast by the roots, and flowers in Sep¬ 
tember and October. A fine clump of this Polygonum has an im¬ 
posing appearance in Battersea Park. 
Millettia MEGASPERMA. (Ibid., t. 6541.)— Closely related to 
Wistaria sinensis, differing chiefly in the pods. “ It is a tall woody 
climber, festooning lofty forest trees in its native country—namely, 
river banks in tropical and subtropical Australia, where its pendulous 
panicled racemes of bright purple flowers and glossy evergreen leaves 
must have a beautiful effect.” The leaves are pinnate with five pairs 
of leaflets, and it bears long racemes of flowers, the standard being 
pinkish, the wings and keel bright purple. First described by Baron 
Yon Mueller, who introduced it to Kew, and a plant flowered in the 
temperate house there last year. It is well adapted for growing in 
similar structures, and is very attractive when flowering. 
Clematis adthusasfolia var. latifolia. ((Ibid., t. 6542)—A. 
hardy climber, with pinnately divided leaves and small campanulate 
white flowers about three-quarters of an inch in length. The plant 
has long been at Kew, and was received from the St. Petersburg 
Botanic Garden. It flowers in autumn. Native of Amur Land and 
North China. 
Fourcroya cubensis var. inermis. (Ibid., t. 6543.)—A. variety 
of Fourcroya from Mr. Wilson Saunders which flowered at Kew last 
year. Mr. J. G. Baker considers that it only differs from F. cubensis 
in “ its less rigid leaves, and by the total or almost entire suppression 
of their marginal teeth.” 
Tricyrtis Marcropoda. (Ibid., t. 6544.) —A pretty herbaceous 
plant, with stem-clasping leaves and corymbs of yellowish flowers 
dotted with reddish purple. A native of Japan and China. It re¬ 
sembles T. hirta (figured in this Journal page 291, vol. xxxvii.) in 
habit and the form of the leaves, but the latter are not clothed with 
hairs in T. macropoda, and the flowers are smaller. 
Crinum Forbesianum. (Ibid., t. 6545.) —“ A most curious and 
interesting species of Crinum, remarkable for its very large bulbs, 
short stout scapes, and very large decumbent leaves, not developed 
fully till after the flowers have faded.” It is an ally of Crinum 
Kirkii, and the flowers resemble C. ornatum in the red-striped 
perianth. It was sent to England in 1824 by Mr. J. Forbes, but 
appears to have been lost until 1877, when Mr. J. J. Monteno sent 
[ May 12, 1881. 
bulbs to Kew from the Lebombo Mountains near the eastern coast of 
Africa, in the latitude of Delagoa Bay. 
Abronia latifolia. (Ibid., t. 6546.) —A hardy perennial plant 
which, like its better-known relative Abronia umbellata, is included 
in the natural order Nyctagineae. It has opposite heart-shaped 
leaves, and axillary umbels of small yellow tubular flowers, with 
slender prosti'ate stems. The plant abounds on the shores of 
Western North America, where it was discovered by Mr. Archibald 
Menzies in the expedition of Captain Yancouver. It succeeds well 
in light soil, and frequently flowers at Kew in the late summer 
months. 
Nerine filifolia. (Ibid., t. 6547.) —A new Nerine received at 
Kew in 1880 from Mr. C. Ayres, Cape Town. It is distinguished by 
the filiform character of its foliage, and has small flowers with 
narrow spreading rosy crimson petals, the bright colour of which 
renders the plant very attractive. It is well suited for culture, in 
pots. In describing the plant Mr. J. G. Baker expresses an opinion 
that Nerine cannot be well separated as a genus from Ammocharis 
and Lycoiis. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, 
held on Tuesday last, Colonel R. Trevor Clarke in the chair, the 
following candidates were duly elected Fellows — viz., E. H. 
Bousfield, Henry Chapman, John Omer Cooper, Percy Cooper, 
W. H. Counsel], Colonel Dunsterville, Arthur J. Edwards, Mrs. 
Ellis, Mrs. Tyler, Miss Amy C. Galton, Frederick S. Isaac, Thomas 
Jackson, W. W. Lander, Miss Leyland, Edmund Loder, Lady 
Agnes Move Nisbett, George Prince, Richard Sisley, Mrs. J. S. 
Grant Smith, Rev. F. A. Stewait-Savile, Vincent Biscoe Tritton, 
C. H. B. Whitworth. 
- During- the past few days rather boisterous and dry 
easterly winds have prevailed, which are very inimical to the 
Setting OP PRUIT blossom. A very large grower of fruit trees 
remarked to us the other day that these rough and dry winds 
often do as much injury as frost, as the expanding flowers are 
forced open prematurely ; the petals are thin in texture and 
blown off before their time, leaving barrenness behind them. 
There is much truth in that remark ; and although fruit blossom 
is late and has generally escaped injury by frost in the metro¬ 
politan district, yet if more genial weather does not speedily 
occur, with occasional showers, we shall not be surprised if many 
trees that are so profusely covered with blossoms pioduce com¬ 
paratively light crops of fruit. 
- In order that gardeners and others in different parts of 
the country may note the state of vegetation as compared with 
that in the neighbourhood of London, it may be stated that 
Lilacs commenced flowering generally in the parks and 
suburban gardens on the 7th inst. The trees and bushes are now 
very beautiful, the majority of those of mature age being laden 
with flowers. 
- We have to record with much regret the death of Mr. 
Robert Benbow —who for the last six years was manager of the 
seed department at Mr. B. S. Williams’s Victoria and Paradise 
Nurseries, Upper Holloway, N.—which occurred on Thursday 
night the 5th inst. Mr. Benbow had been for some time in a weak 
state of health, which was much aggravated by the severe winter 
and chilly east winds which we have lately experienced. To a 
thorough knowledge of his business he combined an amiable dis¬ 
position and a gentleness of manner which won him the esteem 
and respect of all who came in contact with him. The deceased 
had only attained the age of forty-one years, and leaves a widow 
and three children to mourn his untimely end. 
- We observe that Bedding-out has commenced in the 
