JANUARY. 
15 
popular estimation. The classes referred to are the Ferns and the 
Ornamental-foliaged Plants, including among the latter those with 
variegated leaves. We pass over these, however, to record briefly the 
novelties among flowering plants, which have attracted especial notice 
during 1857 , either in consequence of their having been produced at 
the various leading exhibitions, or their having been published in the 
periodicals devoted to their illustration. 
Among annuals, the most striking and useful addition which we have 
observed is Lupinus Menziesi, remarkable for its crowded, heavy 
spikes of deep yellow flowers. The Veronica syriaca, too, though of a 
simpler character, should form pretty dwarf blue beds. A purple-leaved 
variety of Oxalis stricta, called atropurpurea, may be a useful dwarf 
plant for special purposes. Here we may also record the showy biennial 
Campanula Bromeheadiana, a remarkably fine double Canterbury Bell. 
Perennials are more numerous. There is the Farfugium grande, already 
figured and described in our pages. Delphinium formosum, an English 
garden variety, is, perhaps, one of the richest and showiest perennials, 
producing freely its large intense azure flowers ; producing them freely, 
too, the first year from the seed, if sown early and planted in congenial 
soil. In the French gardens has appeared a handsome double-flowered 
(so-called) variety of Scabiosa atropurpurea; and there also has re¬ 
appeared a beautiful dwarf Dianthus, with its crest of crimson white - 
eyed flowers, resting on a compact mass of deep green leaves; it is 
called Dianthus pulcherrimus. Lobelia texensis is a vigorous growing 
species, with scarlet flowers, numerous, but rather small, and is of half- 
hardy character. This latter remark applies also to the fine Spanish 
Salvia candelabra, a tall suffruticose plant, with branching panicles of 
white and purple flowers. The French gardens have received from 
California Tanacetum elegans, with greyish Fern-like foliage. Viola 
pedunculata is a handsome dwarf plant, with yellow flowers, spotted 
behind. 
Among greenhouse plants, the finest, without doubt, is Rhododen¬ 
dron Veitchii, a dwarf habited species, with large white frilled flowers. 
Of the Indian species of Rhododendron, bloomed this year, R. campylo- 
carpum proves a very handsome delicate pale yellow; R. Thomsoni, crim¬ 
son ; R. calophyllum and R. Jenkinsoni, both blush white, the latter in 
rather loose, the former in very compact heads. Several good additions 
have been made to the Indian Azaleas, though, perhaps, none strikingly 
superior to those already known. The variety Rosy Circle, however, 
not now quite new, has been produced three times in bloom, at different 
periods, showing it to be a kind of perpetual flowering variety. The 
double variety of Camellia reticulata, introduced by Mr. Fortune, has 
bloomed and proves to have a large, rich-coloured flower, moderately 
filled with petals. Monochaetum ensiferum is a charming little Melas- 
tomaceous shrub, with Chironia-coloured flowers, a greenhouse plant, 
certainly, but probably requiring a warm greenhouse. Some very 
pretty hybrid Bouvardias have been produced, of which the best has 
been already figured in our pages. One of the best of variegated plants 
is the new Hydrangea japonica aureo-variegata. 
Achimenes amabilis is a fine stove plant, with white Foxglove-shaped 
