Plate 172 . 
ASTELMA (GNAPHALITTM) EXIMIUM. 
The curious flower, which forms the subject of the present 
Plate, lays no claim to novelty, as it was introduced to our 
greenhouses about the year 1793 from the Cape of Good Hope, 
but it nevertheless is deserving of a place in our Magazine of 
popular flowers, for such it once was, and we hope may again 
be considered,—for when exhibited this season at what we 
may well designate the most successful show of this year (that 
held at the Alexandra Park), by Mr. Arthur Henderson, of Pine¬ 
apple Place, it was universally admired, and a good deal of 
wonder expressed that it was not more generally grown. 
The manner in which plants once well known and popular 
are driven out of memory by novelties, oftentimes strikes us as- 
very singular; we frequently read of a “ Hue and Cry ” for some 
plant thus treated, and for whose neglect no reasonable cause 
can he assigned; sometimes indeed it arises from some either 
real or supposed difficulty in cultivation, but more generally 
from the want of room; for the love of plants is like the love 
of money, it increases as they increase, and those who were 
satisfied with a few, when those few are increased still desire 
more; and even although the older plants have the greater 
beauty, yet the desire to have what everybody is growing, too 
often balances the scale against them. For no other reason do 
we believe that this beautiful and curious plant has been for so 
many years neglected, for about thirty years ago, we are in¬ 
formed by an eminent cultivator, it was exceedingly common. 
In the present instance no difficulty of culture has led to this 
neglect, for w 7 e are informed by Mr. Henderson, that it is sim¬ 
ply a greenhouse plant, requiring plenty of light and air, and 
no heat whatever, more than to keep away frost. “ It is raised,” 
