•356 
NOTICES OF BOTANICAL PUBLICATIONS. 
3. This plate contains two varieties of the interesting genus Gladi¬ 
olus, raised by Mr. Miller, of Bristol. *The whole of the Gladioli are 
legitimate florists’ flowers, and deserve every attention. 
4. Is a very fine figure of Pearson s Alexander Polyanthus, Under 
the description given of this flower, a few very rational meteorological 
observations are added to account for polyanthuses not thriving in the 
near neighbourhood of large towns. “ At those seasons of the year,” 
says Mr. Smith, when the weather is most trying to vegetation, a 
chilling atmosphere sets in towards a large town from all the surround¬ 
ing country, inasmuch as the artificial heat of the town causes the air 
over it to ascend, upon the same principle that air ascends in a chimney 
over a fire. Now it invariably happens, that when cold air, though 
completely charged with moisture, approaches a warmer place, it be¬ 
comes a drying or withering air; and this is the reason why delicate 
flowers, and also the blossoms of the more early and tender fruit-trees, 
are much more subject to injury in the vicinity of towns than in the 
open country. In the vicinity of London, the general movement of 
the atmosphere is from the north or north-east, during that part of the 
spring which is so perilous to growers of choice flowers and fruits; and 
for the reasons above mentioned, the metropolis not only has its full 
share of this blighting wind, but retards it, and thus greatly increases 
its mischievous effects. In consequence of this, a moderate shelter, in 
comparatively cold places of the country, suits much better for the poly¬ 
anthus than the comparatively mild climate of the neighbourhood of 
London. The whole family, too, though they prefer a pure atmosphere 
and a dry (that is, a welLdrained) soil, do not bear the scorching heat 
of the sun, which heat, aided by the drying nature of the atmosphere, 
is peculiarly destructive to the polyanthus. All things considered, it 
is, perhaps, impossible to bring this flower to any great degree of per¬ 
fection in the neighbourhood of London; but in other districts of the 
country, where it is subjected to no such severe trials during the 
spring, it is at once the pride of the humble cottager and the amateur 
florist.” 
There is a great deal of useful philosophy in this extract, which 
may be applied in the treatment of many other plants besides the 
polyanthus. 
Mr. S. gives also a little history of the genus Pceonia , in which 
their character, culture, and manner of propagation are succinctly 
described. 
