154 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t Feb ruar y 23, 1 m. 
In our old garden here the only position where these bulbs succeed 
permanently in the open ground is on a sandy border under a 
standard Holly, the roots of which keep the border very dry. 
Not having the hot sunshine of Spain and southern Europe which 
is there able to ripen the bulbs even in what at some seasons of 
the year is very wet ground, it follows that a drier course of treat¬ 
ment is here more successful than that which the native conditions 
would seemingly warrant. No doubt these and many other deli¬ 
cate bulbs, which seem just a trifle too tender for our cool and 
moist climate, would more often succeed if planted in sandy soil 
at the foot of a sunny wall or in sunny positions under a hedge or 
tree, whose roots and shade combined would produce a drier and 
se much warmer soil for them. 
The bulb is as large as raven’s eggs, of a dark brown or blackish 
colour, bearing three to five leaves. Leaves 3 to 5 inches in length, 
nearly an eighth of an inch in breadth, glaucous, flattish, or lunu- 
late in section, G-striate behind, and with distinctly serrulate or 
scariose margins Scape 8 to 5 inches high. Flower 1 to lj inch 
in length (including the ovary), of a bright golden yellow colour. 
Anthers deep golden yellow. Style much exserted. The short 
scariously margined leaves and small flowers readily serve as 
distinction, and the plant blooms earlier than the type under 
precisely similar conditions of culture. As contrasted with the 
typical N. Buibocodium the differences in leafage are abundantly 
evident, those of the type being 10 to 20 inches in length and sub- 
cylindrical in section, and of dark glossy green colour, very 
smooth to the touch. 
It is undoubtedly nearly allied to the N. nivalis of Gradls 
(v. “Indie. PI. Nouv.,” p. 9), a dwarf Spanish [species or variety 
from which C. hedrteanfha (v. “ Webb & Held in Blanc. Exsic.,” 
n. 2281), differs only in its having a sessile ovary.—D. 
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We regret to learn that in consequence of the inclement 
weather of the past two years and the nature of the experiments 
of Mr. Clark, the raiser of the Magnum Bonum Potato, 
in endeavouring to effect still further improvements, that his re¬ 
sources have been seriously crippled. Under these circumstances 
we have the pleasure to announce that Mr. Clark’s friends, appre¬ 
ciating both his private as well as his public merits, are endeavour¬ 
ing to raise such a sum of money as they trust will completely 
remove his temporary difficulties, and enable him by his per¬ 
severing endeavours to yet further benefit the public at large. 
It is beyond doubt that by raising the Magnum Bonum Mr. Clark 
has benefited thousands of cultivators who, by growing this 
variety, have had valuable crops practically free from the disease 
in ground and during seasons when most of the ordinary varieties 
succumbed to the malady. We direct attention to the subscrip¬ 
tion list in our advertising columns, which is appropriately and gene¬ 
rously headed by Messrs. Sutton & Sons of Reading with a substan¬ 
tial contribution, and we reccommend Mr. Clark’s case to the con¬ 
sideration of our readers. Mr. Clark’s portrait with the history 
of the Magnum Bonum Potato appeared on pages 485, 486, vol i., 
new series, of this Journal, the issue of November 25th, 1880. 
-The International Potato Exhibition will be held 
as usual in the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on Wednesday and 
Thursday, September 20th and 21st. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs 
have promised to attend in state on the opening day, and will 
take luncheon with the Committee and the Judges. 
- We regret to have to announce the death of Mr. Daniel 
Mackenzie, for forty-six years the respected traveller and repre¬ 
sentative of Peter Lawson & Son, and of the Lawson Seed and 
Nursery Company (Limited) of Edinburgh. Mr. Mackenzie had 
reached the age of seventy-three years, and we believe enjoyed 
good health till the 15th inst,, when he died suddenly at Spring 
Valley, Morningside, Edinburgh. Mr. Mackenzie’s father was 
gardener first to Sir William Molesworth at Pencarrow in 
Cornwall, and subsequently to the Earl of Breadalbane at Tay- 
mouth Castle, where he died. In early life Mr. D. Mackenzie 
held a confidential position in the house of William and John 
Peacock, once nurserymen at Edinburgh, and really formed a 
connecting link between the past and the present generation of 
gardeners. 
- Though not quite at their best the Cinerarias at Red- 
lees, Isleworth, the seat of Mm. Watson, are fast advancing, 
and will in a week or two form as fine a display as those annually 
provided by Mr. James for some years past. There is great 
diversity of colours—rich deep shades, and delicate tints, blue, 
purple, crimson, and maroon, the flowers possessing the remark¬ 
able substance, breadth of florets, and rounded outline which 
distinguish this noted strain. Several new seedlings are develop¬ 
ing and appear of very promising merit. One with exceedingly 
rich crimson flowers is particularly noteworthy. An older form 
but remarkably distinct has broad rich purplish blue ray florets 
and a white centre, the contrast having a peculiar appearance. 
- Mr. R. P. Brotherston sends us some extremely fine 
spikes of Lilies of the Valley from home-grown plants lifted 
from beds and forced this year for the first time. They are very 
handsome, each spike bearing fourteen or fifteen very large bells 
possessing powerful fragrance, and are far superior to any we have 
seen from imported roots. The foliage is very luxuriant and 
bright green. The same correspondent also sends flowers of the 
“ Blue Marguerite ” (Agathaea cselestis) very bright and pretty, and 
flowers of the fragrant Denarobium aureum (heterocarpum), one 
of the most useful aad beautiful of winter-flowering Dendrobes. 
- “Dublinensis” writes— “Of Orchids in bloom our 
gems just now are Coelogyne cristata var. citrina (Lemoniana), 
Phalaenopsis Schilleriana, two or three good forms; Cattleya 
Warscewiczii delicata, one of the most chaste and lovely of all 
Cattleyas ; Odontoglossum Rossii majus, a fine form ; Oncidium 
cucullatum atro-purpureum, a fine dark-spotted variety, which 
has been in bloom for ten weeks and is yet fresh. The old 
favourite Odontoglossum pulchellum majus is now sweetly pretty, 
so are two or three Angnecums and Dominy’s Lady’s Slipper 
(Cypripedium Dominianum), which produces shoestring-like 
petals dangling beside its satin-lined slippers.” 
- “ Between thirty and forty years ago,” -writes “R. C. O.,” 
“ Covent Garden was well supplied with cut blooms of Roman 
Hyacinths of a creamy white colour, very fragrant. I suppose 
they have disappeared to give place to the pure white now in 
cultivation. They generally came in about Christmas, and were 
the most useful flowers at that period. There was also a single 
blue L’Ami du Coeur, which could be had in flower at the same 
time.” 
- We are informed that the Scottish Pansy Society will 
hold its thirty-eighth annual Exhibition in the Society of Arts 
Hall, Edinburgh, on Friday the 23rd June next. This is the 
great Pansy Show of the year, and fanciers from the south who 
may have the opportunity should visit it, as the number of blooms 
shown is always large and of fine quality. 
- Me have received from Mr. Bradley of Southwell a num¬ 
ber of Labels made of different kinds of wood and protected with 
a composition. They are neat and apparently durable, the names 
being stamped in the surface with a brand. We will try some of 
these labels ; but the best mode we can suggest of having their 
merits tested is to submit the labels for comparison with those of 
other makers in the collection that Mr. G. F. Wilson of Heather- 
side, Weybndge, is endeavouring to form. 
- A charming and useful little Orchid is L^elia Albida, 
