8 
THE FLORIST. 
a number of blooms on the plants at the time of our visit. When not 
in flower, the Desfontainea has much the appearance of a miniature 
Holly-bush. The flowers are tubular, about two inches in length, and 
being of a bright orange scarlet tipped with yellow, are exceedingly 
pretty. Certainly, this is one of the very best of the Messrs. Veitch’s 
recent introductions. 
Myrtus apiculata .—There were several fine plants of this Myrtle 
growing near the last-named plant. It appears perfectly hardy, and 
forms a dense evergreen bush of great beauty. It is also valuable for 
the profusion of bloom which it produces. 
The white corolla’d Fuchsias which created so great a sensation two 
or three years ago are now becoming numerous, several new varieties 
having since been laised. The best we have seen of this section is 
Veitch’s Princess Royal. The sepals are longer, better reflexed, and 
brighter in colour than any of its predecessors ; there is also a decided 
improvement in habit. Their Fuchsia Malakhoff, which was sent out 
last season, is a striking double variety. The corolla is of a deep violet, 
and quite an inch in diameter. Segments of the same colour as the 
corolla are frequently attached to the stamens, giving a curious and pretty 
appearance to this monstrosity. 
Geranium quercifolium jlorihundum. — This seedling Oak-leaf 
Geranium has been exhibited for the first time during the past summer, 
and spoken favourably of as being a valuable variety for bedding pur¬ 
poses. Its flowers are as large as those of the Pelargonium, of a bright 
rosy pink, with dark spots on the upper petals, and it appears—as its 
name implies—an abundant bloomer. This section of Geraniums, 
though many of them are very beautiful, is not much used for bedding 
purposes, on account of their not producing a sufficient mass of bloom. 
When planted in the ordinary way this is invariably the case ; but if 
planted in a shallow soil, or the plants plunged with the pots in which 
they have been grown, they flower profusely, and are then much 
admired. If the old plants can be preserved through the winter, and 
again planted, it will still increase their tendency to flower. As pot or 
vase ^ants the Oak-leaf Geraniums are exceedingly useful, particularly 
where winter-flowering plants are in demand, for by regulating their 
seasons of growth and rest they may be had in bloom at any season. 
To flower them through the winter they should be grown freely during 
the early part of the season, and their growth thoroughly matured. 
J. Shuter. 
HINTS ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
There cannot be a doubt that had Charles I. understood the signs 
of the times as well as he did the Fine Arts and Architecture, he might 
have prolonged his reign, and have avoided the consequences which the 
slight mistake he made in reference to the people’s ideas of representative 
government brought on himself and family; as it was, all his great 
