46 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
the flowers are as large as those of the old Humboldtii, and produced in bunches of a dozen. The 
individual blooms are 3 in. long in the tube; they are used singly, to stand above and relieve 
the even surface of bouquets, and for this purpose a thin wire is pushed up the inside of the 
tube, and the stalk of the flower fastened to it; this is to keep them in position, and to pi’event 
their falling over. In this house over 2,000 plants in fine health, are grown. They are kept 
near the glass, and moderate stove-heat used all through the winter, without which they do 
not bloom freely. The adjoining house, also filled with Bouvardias, contains many of the 
American pink variety, named Bride. The above four sorts are the best in cultivation, and 
where fragrant flowers are continuously in demand, they are indispensable. 
- 3tN the Gardeners’ Chronicle , Colonel Trevor Clarke gives the history of 
Colonel Clarke's Celery , which is found to be quite synonymous with the Leicester 
Red. “ Its true history is this :—It is not a production of mine at all, but was 
selected more than twenty years ago, a distinct sport from some red Celery, by my gardener, 
who brought the seed of it to Welton with him when he took the situation. It is really a red 
Celery as far. as the coloration of the outer leaf-stem goes, but w T hen prepared for the table 
appears white, with the exception of a clear red spot at the base of the leaf-stalks, the said 
spot disappearing in the innermost ones. Ever since we have had it we have, for curiosity, 
tried some other sort against it yearly, and have found it appreciably better than any we 
have yet met with. I have allowed Mr. Collins to grow a batch of it for Messrs. Yeitch 
yearly, and if any doubt exists on the subject, I recommend the trial of Messrs. Veitch’s seed, 
which will be found undoubtedly pure. It is a small, neat, solid sort, not fit for exhibition 
purposes, but of undeniable excellence for eating.” 
- 3£t has been announced that Mr. H. G. Quilter proposes to bold, in the 
Lower Grounds at Aston, a series of Annual Flower Shows for the Benefit of 
Public Institutions in Birmingham , taking upon himself the risk of such exhibi¬ 
tions, and sharing the profits w T ith the selected institutions, after the expenses are paid. The 
exhibition of 1875 will be for the benefit of the Birmingham Institute, that of 1876 for the 
Sanatarium, that of 1877 for the School of Art, leave being reserved for the Queen’s Hospital 
to take 1878. Mr. Quilter very properly stipulates for the aid of a general committee formed 
from the committees of these institutions, wfith the addition of other gentlemen who may be 
disposed to assist. The exhibition of this year, for the benefit of the Midland Institute Build¬ 
ing Fund, will open on Thursday, July 1, and be continued on the Friday, Saturday, and 
Monday following. 
- tffiiE new hybrid Amaranthus Henderi , raised by Messrs. Hender and 
Son, of Plymouth, is, if we may judge from the samples shown in London, of 
considerable decorative value. It varies in leafage, in habit, and in colour. Well- 
grown plants are pyramidal, 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, with from thirty to forty side-slioots. When 
young, the colours of the leaves are brown-madder and bronze, each plant at length assuming 
its distinctive hues. This new Amaranthus is said to be the result of a cross between A. 
elegantissimus, A. tricolor, and A. sa/icifolius. The colours of the leaves of different plants 
were described as follows by an artist:— Monocolors: Deep carmine, lake, purple-madder, 
light carmine, yellowish-carmine, vermilion, rose-madder; Bicolors: Orange splashed with 
carmine, madder and sage-green, carmine and orange, carmine and russet, lemon splashed 
with carmine, chrome-yellow striped with carmine ; Tricolors: Orange carmine and green, 
rose-madder and aureoline running into olive-green, carmine madder and sage-green. 
- Lilies are just now in high favour. Mr. Elwes proposes to publish 
a Monograph of the genus Lilium , with illustrations by Fitch, and with the speci¬ 
mens and notes of Messrs. Wilson, Max Leichtlin, and Baker at his disposal. A 
splendid series of oil paintings in the possession of Mr. Leichtlin will serve to illustrate 
those few species which it is impossible to obtain in a living state. The plates will be folio 
size, uniform with Bateman’s Odontoglossmns, will be coloured by hand in the best style, and 
accompanied by a complete account of the native countries, culture, varieties, and history of 
all known Lilies. The work will be issued in parts containing eight plates each, at the 
price of one guinea per part, and is expected to be completed in six parts, unless new Lilies 
are discovered. Subscribers’ names should be sent to H. J. Elwes, Esq., 6 Tenterden Street, 
Hanover Square, London. 
