270 
BORONIA SERRULATA. 
Along with it was grown a Luculia gratissima , and under ex¬ 
actly the same treatment: that is now, in the greenhouse, what 
the plant just described is in the stove, “the gem of the collec¬ 
tion and I feel certain, from observation made during the pro¬ 
gress described, that there are many other winter-flowering plants 
which would become equally beautiful did we begin their culture 
at an earlier period than is usual; and by taking a little extra 
trouble with young plants to commence with, we should seldom 
have to complain of “ leggy specimens.” 
Hortulanus. 
BORONIA SERRULATA. 
This, the most beautiful of the genus Boronia, I believe was 
introduced from New Holland some three or four years anterior 
to 1820, but was not grown into anything like a handsome spe¬ 
cimen, so as to become an imposing object, until a more proxi¬ 
mate date, when I presume cultivators became more practically 
conversant with the physiology of the vegetable kingdom. 
In Nature there are certain established laws, and it is necessary 
that these fixed laws should be, in the fullest sense of the word, 
absolutely obeyed, for if infringed upon in any way, the object of 
Nature itself is defeated, and the efforts of the manipulator prove 
abortive. 
I believe the first exhibited specimen of this plant was shown 
by an intimate friend of mine, Mr. R. S. Hastings, late of Port¬ 
land Nursery, London, at one of the earlier meetings of the 
Metropolitan Society, in 1832, for which he obtained a large silver 
medal. This plant, although at that time considered a beautiful 
specimen, has been surpassed by those which grace the exhibitions 
of the present day. For instance, those shown by Messrs. Fraser, 
Lee Bridge, and Hunt, gardener to Miss Traill, Hayes Place, 
Bromley, which may be said to be the finest and best grown 
plants in the world. 
The opinion of most, with reference to its general manage¬ 
ment, is, that it is difficult to grow, but for my part I do not 
conceive it to be so, providing the proper attention be given, which 
it requires in the rather extended details of its culture. 
