14 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST 
[ January, 
for if the exhibitor had properly recurved the points of the calyx, he would have 
had a support to the petals which this cutting-down mutilation deprived them 
of; but no flower so treated was brought under my notice which had been placed 
amongst the winners. 
In the future, it will be well to recite what constitutes “ mutilation.” “ Any 
flower from which a rough edge has been taken by the use of the scissors, or the 
calyx cut, other than the dead tips, which in some varieties are invariably 
developed.” These being dead are lawfully subject to removal, as a grown-rent 
petal, or petal otherwise injurious to the symmetry of the flower, may be removed. 
What the florist may not do is to confer, by the dexterous use of the scissors, a 
smooth edge where nature has denied one, or to cut down the calyx.—E. S. 
Dodwell, Clapham. 
ZAMIA CRASSIFOLIA. 
IQnDER this name, Mr. Williams has exhibited during the past season, and 
''A 
now catalogues, the striking-looking Oycad represented by the annexed 
woodcut (p. 15), which he has obligingly placed at our disposal. He describes 
(i) ... .... 
\ it as a distinct and dense-growing species, with pinnate leaves about two 
feet long, the petioles covered Avith a dense whitish tomentum ; the pinnae are 
from 2 in. to 2^ in. long, sharp-pointed, closely set, to which we may add that 
they are also variously directed. The plant is said to succeed Avell in a green¬ 
house.—T. Moore. 
POTHOS ARGYREA AS A WALL-OLOTHER. 
y|"|?EW plants are more beautiful than this Pothos, which forms one of the 
most striking and attractive of basket-plants. There are several varieties, 
but it is very seldom that any of them are seen in gardens. The above is 
no doubt the most beautiful, but Pothos ruhrinerma (the red-veined), is 
also a beautiful plant. They are semi-epiphytes, the branches throwing out 
into the air rootlets that adhere to a wall like ivy. The}!-, therefore, not only grow 
well ag-ainst walls, but run and root on them ; and it is in this stvle that the 
finely marked silvery variegated leaves of these plants show to most advantage. 
There is no plant at all like this Pothos in character or appearance. Every 
one is arrested by its novelt}'’, and struck by its beauty on walls. It is not a very 
fast grower, but the leaves last long in their perpetual beauty, as the plant is a true 
evergreen, and never seems to shed its foliage. The leaves, unlike those of many 
other choice variegated plants, also continue as bright and beautiful when old 
as in a young state. The}'- possess great substance, and will bear washing with 
less injury than almost any other leaves, should they unfortunately get soiled. 
The plant does remarkably well in a pocket of virgin cork, stones, or clinkers, 
on a wall. It is by no means particular' as to soil; a mixture of equal parts of turfy 
loam and peat, with the usual addition of silver-sand, suits it admirably. It is 
very effective, hanging over a pocket on a wall, or from a high mass of rock ; 
