140 
THE FLORIST. 
* house several seedlings of last year were growing, many being dark 
spotted kinds of the gigantea class. We also noticed a large collection 
of Gloxinias, strong thrifty plants, but not yet in flower ; several seed¬ 
lings of the erecta class were among them. 
In another house adjoining were several plants of the Thunbergia 
laurifolia, a variety raised by Mr. Ingram some few years since from a 
packet of seeds sent him from India, and as a winter-flowering plant 
it will be a great acquisition, as it has been found in these gardens to 
grow and flower exceedingly freely through the winter months. It will 
do well under pot culture when grown in a soil composed of peat and 
loam. On a back shelf was a great quantity of hybrids between 
Crassula coccinea and Rochea falcata. We imagine these will be very 
interesting when in flower ; and, judging from the various habits of the 
young progeny, something new may be expected. Doubtless this class 
of plants is capable of being greatly improved by cross fertilisation. 
We were shown a fine healthy stock of the Petunia imperialis, firom 
cuttings struck early last autumn, and intended for bedding; no spring 
cuttings are used in these gardens for that purpose, owing to their not 
flowering so freely as autumn cuttings ; this was fully proved here 
last season. Several fine plants of the Princess Royal Geranium were 
in full flower; it was raised by Mr. Ingram, and is one of the best 
pink varieties, and flowers extremely well in pots at this season in a 
cool greenhouse ; it is also an excellent kind for bedding. 
The back stove is occupied with Orchids and Ferns, among which are 
a great many plants of Adiantum cuneatum, which is much used 
here for mixing with cut flowers in making bouquets, and is useful 
in the winter time, when flowers are scarce. A fine specimen of the 
Goniophlebium subauriculatum was growing in a basket suspended 
from the roof; it is a very graceful Fern, with long pendulous fronds. 
Several gold and silver Ferns were also observable; they are very 
beautiful, and well adapted for growing in small pots. Several Orchids 
were in bloom, among the most conspicuous were Phaius Wallichii, 
Zygopetalums, Oncidium Papilio, and Dendrobium nobile, which is a 
charming plant, and considered one of the most useful of the Dendrobiums. 
The forcing department in these gardens is very extensive, and the 
crops of Peaches, Plums, Cherries, and Grapes are exceedingly good. 
Eight houses are used for the cultivation of Grapes ; in the earliest 
house the fruit is now fast approaching maturity, and others are fol¬ 
lowing in succession, all promising heavy crops of the finest fruit. 
In a small house at the back of the principal range are Vines planted 
in a shallow border on a heated chamber. The treatment which Mr. 
Ingram adopts for these Vines is worthy of especial notice, as it is 
something new in the cultivation of the Vine; the experience of past 
seasons, and the present heavy crop, are sufficient to recommend it. 
Every season, as soon as the crop is used, which is about the middle of 
May, the Vines are cut down to within an inch or two of the soil, and 
a new rod grown during the summer, which will produce fruit the 
following season; by this plan a larger weight of fruit may be grown 
on the Vines, as the rod that produced the fruit is not required to bear 
again, but is replaced by a new one. 
