20 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ January, 
- ©NE of the most effective among the hardy shrubs whose leaves assume 
a brilliant colour during the autumn season, and one which is much neglected by 
planters, is the Vaccinium pennsylvcmicum. The coriaceous elliptic-lanceolate 
leaves of this plant tui'n to a brilliant crimson, quite equal in intensity to that assumed by 
the lovely Aiapelopsis tricuspidata (Veitchii). A few bushes of this Vaccinium distributed 
about the beds of evergreen Rhododendrons, would light them up with a brilliancy which 
must be seen to be appreciated, for indeed there is nothing of the same habit which at all 
approaches it in colour. The plant is sometimes known as V. tenelliim. 
- ^aptainWintour, of Bristol, has invented a new Ventilating Apparatus^ 
consisting of a metal frame, with glass, at each end of a cylinder of gauze wire. 
The cylinder slides backwards and forwards in a metal shield, by means of which 
it can be easily fixed in any window, door, or indeed anywhere. The inventor claims for it 
that it is specially adapted for the windows of private houses, churches, hospitals, and all 
large buildings; it can also be fixed in carriages, cabins of ships, tents, conservatories, and 
greenhouses. Its action is to admit air at the sides of the cylinder only, and remove foul air 
simultaneously and imperceptibly, without the least draught or admission of dust or insects. 
Such an apparatus seems likely to be useful in early vineries, or even where late Grapes are 
hanging in the autumn, being as they are sometimes subject to the attacks of wasps and birds. 
- ^MOND the species of Tulip are some which, in bright spring weather, 
form exceedingly gay and attractive objects. One of these, a good old garden 
plant, is called Tulipa ociilas soils. Mr. Harpur-Crewe remarks of this, that 
“when is has opened its great crimson eyelids, and stares up with its gorgeous black-and- 
yellow pupil at its namesake in all his meridian splendour, it is a sight which does the heart 
of a gardener good. I flowered last spring another closely-allied species, which will form a 
formidable rival to its more conspicuous, but not more beautiful congener— Tulipa hceotica. 
In colour it most closely resembles T. ocidus solis ; but whilst the latter is apt to grow tall, 
and is liable to be broken by wind and rain, T. hceotica is dwarf—scarcely taller than the 
little yellow T.; whilst its narrow and somewhat sharply-pointed petals present a 
marked contrast to the broader and blunter ones of T. oculus solis.” 
- SSEe may hope soon to regard some of the groups of Begonias as tenants 
of our flower-borders, for not only has Mr. Wilson kept through the winter, 
virtually without protection, the handsome stemless B. Veitchii., but B. Sedeni, 
one of the hybrids bred from B. boliviensis, has during the summer grown vigorously and flowered 
freely on the same exposed root-Avork with B. Veitchii, the plants of both being in perfect 
health, and decorated with its finely coloured floAvers. 
- En the Eupatorium gracile odoratum we have one of the most serviceable 
and important of winter-flowering greenhouse shrubs. Its clusters of white 
and sweetly fragrant blooms may be had in succession for months ; and as it 
flowers freely, even in small pots, it is Avell adapted to the various purposes of embellishment. 
It may be grown Avith the greatest facility, and deserves a more general and extended culti¬ 
vation. 
- Mellerstain, Berwickshire, a seat of the Earl of Haddington, the 
gardener, Mr. Goodall, has raised a Striped Antirrhinum of some interest, inas¬ 
much as plants raised from cuttings of the variegated shoots have withstood the 
frosts of the last two years, and are now assuming the form of shrubs, while all 
the others in a green state have been killed off. 
- to Pack Fruits so that they may be conveyed in a green state 
through varying temperatures, has long been an unsolved problem. Mr. Carson, 
President of the Horticultural Society of Victoria, has, however, suceeded in 
sending to the International Exhibition at Vienna fresh apples, poars, &c., grown in Victoria. 
They wore carefully gathered, and each fruit was wrapped up in clean unused tissue-paper. 
