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121 
most worthy of note, was a fine plant of Hexacentris mysorensis, 
trained up a rafter in one of the stoves, literally covered with racemes 
of its beautiful and singularly shaped flowers. Thyrsacanthus rutilans 
was flowering very freely. Mr. Westland, the gardener here, prefers 
putting four of these plants into one pot, He considers it has thus a 
dwarfer habit, and shows its flowers off to more advantage. A fine 
seedling Ipomoea from Bengalor, in the way of Rubra coerulea, but 
much larger and darker iu its colouring, struck us as very beautiful. 
Begonia Lapeyrousie is a magnificent thing for winter flowering, as is 
also the old and much neglected Justicia speciosa; this plant, as here 
managed, will well repay any attention bestowed upon it. The stoves 
were very gay with Aphelandras, Caladiums, Dracaenas, Goodyeras, 
Marantas, Poinsettias, &c., &c.; the variegated and fine foliaged 
plants being very conspicuous and interesting where well blended. 
A few Orchids were also doing well; but what most arrested our 
attention—and deservedly so—was a superb collection of Ferns, all in 
the most beautiful condition. Mr. W. told us that the soil he prefers 
for these was two parts of a soft turfy peat, broken into small pieces 
with the hand, one part turfy loam ditto, and one part well decomposed 
leaf-mould, together with a free admixture of sharp river sand, well- 
washed ; a good and thorough drainage is also indispensable. Most 
of the Ferns require firm potting and free watering during the growing 
season. Amongst the most beautiful of them was a charming plant 
of Cheilanthes* squamosa, with thirty-six fronds upon it. Platycerium 
Stemaria, a most beautiful species from west Africa, producing fertile 
and sterile fronds. This plant is seldom seen in good condition. This 
requires great care in watering, and a perfect drainage, as any excess 
of moisture at the roots will soon damage it. Gleichenia microphylla, 
a very elegant and distinct Fern from the north of Holland, deserves a 
place in every collection. Notholsena chrysophylla, a very rare and 
beautiful Fern, with golden fronds, deserves a place in every collection. 
Gymnogramma Peruviana and argyrophylla (Frosted Fern), 2|- feet 
high, is very distinct and showy; its fronds are covered with a white 
farinose powder on both sides, it is also a very free grower. Gymno¬ 
gramma monstrosa is a most handsome golden Fern, with fronds three 
feet high ; these are apt to become shrivelled if allowed to become pot 
bound ; it requires frequent shifts with brisk heat. Gymnogramma 
chrysophylla, a very fine plant, three feet through, with upwards of 
of eighty fronds. This, as indeed will most of the Gymnogrammas, 
will be found to make the best plants if raised from spores annually. 
The spores, if sown in autumn, will be fit for potting singly early in 
spring, when with frequent shifts, and kept close with a humid atmo¬ 
sphere, they will soon make fine plants. 
Notholsena nivea and tenera, Cheilanthes farinosa, C. elegans, and 
C. tomentosa; Pteris aspericaulis, Nephrolepis davallioides, N. pec- 
tinata, and N. tuberosa; Dicksonia antarctica (the Van Diemen’s Land 
Tree Fern). These, together with all the species of Adiantums, were 
very fine, and deserve places in every collection of Ferns, whether large 
* This plant was, figured in the Gardeners' Chronicle , in the month of 
November last. 
