JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 30, 1882. ] 
251 
* 
80th 
Tn 
Royal Society at 4.30 p.m. 
31st 
F 
1st 
S 
2nd 
SDN 
6th Sunday in Lent. Palm Sunday. 
3rd 
M 
4th 
TD 
Flower Show iu Manchester Town Hall. 
5th 
W 
AN HOUR AT KEW. 
AVINGr been called up to London on business, 
and having a few hours at my disposal, I 
thought my leisure time could not be more 
profitably employed than by a visit to Ivew. 
In an establishment of such magnitude and so 
rich in plants there is always something to 
be learned, and knowledge can be gained with 
regard to both new and old plants. There are 
many of the latter, really useful, that were cultivated 
years ago, but which would have been lost had it not 
been for establishments like Kew. It is only in such collec¬ 
tions that we have an opportunity of seeing many of our old 
favourites, and this renders a visit both interesting and useful 
either to the horticulturist or the botanist. 
My chief object was to see what was noteworthy amongst 
flowering plants for conservatory decoration, as these are great 
favourites with my employer, and also with myself, although 
I have a full appreciation of the numerous handsome plants 
which require stove cultivation. I found the conservatory 
(No. 4) uncommonly bright, containing abundance not only of 
the ordinary plants seen in private gardens, but also of choice 
and pretty greenhouse plants that are not frequently met with. 
A few notes respecting some of the most important may prove 
acceptable to the readers of the Journal, first noticing a few 
of the hardwooded kinds. 
Boronia tetrandra andB. megastigma, the former with white 
flowers, the latter with chocolate-coloured, in shape like the 
flowers of Lily of the Valley, are represented by several bushy 
plants, and their perfume renders the house quite fragrant. 
These plants, especially the latter, are well worth growing more 
extensively in private gardens. Diosma speciosa and D. capi- 
tata are useful plants, and last a long time in flower. Neat 
little bushes of D. capitata, about 18 inches high and as much 
in diameter, were loaded with their lilac-pink flowers, which 
are produced in trusses at the points of the shoots. I greatly 
admired the beauty of Tremandra hirsuta ; quite young plants 
in large and small 48-size pots were laden with flowers to such 
an extent as to weigh the shoots down. This is indeed a charm¬ 
ing plant, exceedingly useful, and easily grown. Several of the 
plants bore shoots more than a foot long, clothed with delicate 
pink flowers from base to point. Some of the shoots grow 
rather weak, but when supported with neat stakes very hand¬ 
some specimens can be made. Chorozema spectabilis, C. 
splendens, and C. cordata, with their pretty little Pea-shaped 
flowers, are very useful and showy. They are too well known 
to need much comment. Several healthy specimens are 
flowering most profusely. Small plants of Genetyllis tuli- 
pifera when well grown like these at Kew are also very showy, 
and, though less imposing than the large specimens seen at 
exhibitions, they are more useful. 
Grevillea rosmarinifolia, G. elegans, G. ericifolia, and the 
beautiful G. Thelemanniana, which is certainly the best of the 
genus, are all flowering freely. Ericas and Epacrises also con¬ 
tribute to the display. Epacris microphylla has both small 
foliage and flowers. The latter are plentifully produced, and 
are pure white ; this is a desirable plant, and lasts long in per¬ 
fection. E. purpurascens is closely related to the latter with 
regard to flower, but the foliage assumes the character of the 
large-flowering species. E. onosmsefolia, E. odorata alba, 
E. splendens, and several others are also in bloom. Eiios- 
temon cuspidatum is a well-known plant, and should find 
a place in every garden. E. scaber has smaller leaves and 
flowers than the last-named species, but I think is more flor.- 
ferous. Podalyiia styracifolia has been finely in flower, ai d 
indeed looks very handsome now ; it is a plant now seldom 
seen. The beautiful pink and white Pea-shaped flowers, which 
are nearly inch across, are very conspicuous among the sur¬ 
rounding dark green foliage. Acacias are represented by half 
a dozen species, mostly well known to horticulturists, and all 
without exception are worth growing. The following all 
flower in a young state—A.armata, A. Drummondii, A .lineata, 
A. longifolia, A. diffusa, and A. verticillata. Cytisus cana- 
riensis and C. racemosus are represented both by large and 
small plants ; their beautiful fragrant canary-yellow lloweis 
are always welcome, and last long in perfection. Gnidia cari- 
nata, Coleonema alba, and Eutaxia myrtifolia are also in flower. 
Ghent Azaleas are in strong force in various shades of colour ; 
the flowers are extremely large and showy. There are also 
many forms of the Indian Azalea, and one of the most uselul 
is Souvenir de Prince Albert; this is a valuable variety, ar.d 
will always be appreciated. Forced Rhododendrons make a 
brilliant display, and when tastefully arranged amongst other 
plants they are very effective. Forsythia viridissima is quite 
a novelty with its beautiful pendulous yellow flowers. This 
plant should be more extensively 7 cultivated for early forcing. 
Lilacs, Prunus, and Pyius are alike useful and ornamental, aLd 
Pyrus fluribunda I consider one of the most lovely plants in 
the house. They do not last so long in flower, perhaps, as 
many other forced plants, but they are really very showy. 
Many of the Camellias w r ere past their best, but still there is a 
good display. C. reticulata is a good old species, and deserves 
a little more attention. I consider that this valuable species 
should find a place in every collection ; quite a small plant at 
Kew was producing ten large showy flowers. 
There are not many climbing plants in flower now ; however, 
there are two or three that are worth noting, and one of the 
most conspicuous is the Trumpet Honeysuckle, Lonicera sem- 
pervirens. Ivennedya australis is loaded with its dark purple 
flowers. The individual flowers are not large, but are very 
pretty, and compare very favourably with its larger companion 
K. rubicunda, which has large coral-coloured flowers. Eupa- 
toriums are well grown at Kew. E. riparium is grown in 
quantity, and they 7 look very well arranged amongst other 
plants of brighter colours. The flowers are pure white, and 
are useful for cutting. E. ianthinum is a useful species with 
its large Ageratum-like flowers, being quite conspicuous, and 
E. Wendlandii is also flowering freely. Agathsea cafiestis, or 
Blue Marguerite, is a little gem, and deserves to be more ex- 
No. 92.—VOL. IY., Tiiird series. 
Ko. 1748.—VOL. LXVII., Old Series. 
