2 
COMPANION TO THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
immense increase of trade in its various departments, we are forced to 
the conclusion that we are making great strides in this most fascinating 
pursuit; and in thus opening our new volume under somewhat altered 
circumstances, we may appropriately look forward, and, without making 
any claim to prophetic vision, may yet anticipate somewhat of the coming 
year’s exploits. 
The enterprise of private individuals, as well as the necessities of 
societies, have for many years led to the exploration of countries whose 
Flora is not sufficiently known, in the hope of adding to our gardens and 
greenhouses novelties of special or general interest. During the past year 
Japan has opened out to us some of its treasures, although the jealous 
care with which it is guarded has perhaps left many more yet to be in¬ 
troduced. And now both botanists and horticulturists are looking for¬ 
ward with no little interest to another island believed to be rich in the 
extreme, and which has been of late opened out to European intercourse, 
we mean Madagascar. The Rev. William Ellis, no less known as a de¬ 
voted missionary than as an earnest and scientific botanist, is there on 
matters of high import, and we doubt not but that he will find time to 
explore the central parts of the island, and will, we hope, find much to 
reward the search. A tropical land, so rich in its vegetation, from whence 
we have of late years obtained that most curious of aquatic plants 
Ouvirandra fenestralis (the lattice plant), and the splendid Orchid Angra- 
cum sesquipedale , must surely have other treasures; we have heard too 
that more than one of our great firms have either sent or are contem¬ 
plating sending collectors out there for the same purpose. Probably, 
then, amongst the plants which we may expect to excite the wellnigh 
satiated appetite of the lover of flowers, there may be something which 
will create as great a sensation as the glorious Lily of Japan did during 
the present season. From another distant land, too, Vancouver’s Island 
and British Columbia, we may expect additions of a different kind. 
A few zealous gentlemen, well known for their devotion to science, are 
making arrangements for sending out a collector there; and although 
we may not hope to receive anything from it during the current year, 
yet, we may consider its exploration as determined on, and probably hear 
something of its productions ere the year closes. 
At home, on all sides we hear the busy note of preparation; the diffi¬ 
culty now really seems to be, as far as exhibitions are concerned, how 
to find davs that will not clash one with the other. What with those 
«/ 
of the Royal Horticultural Society, the Royal Botanic Society, and the 
Crystal Palace, it seems a matter of difficulty to place seven great shows 
and two Rose shows between the latter end of May and the second 
week in July; already there seems to be a danger of clashing, which 
we hope however may be avoided. Amongst the flowers which are 
likely especially to be interesting to the general flower-loving public, i. e., 
to those who have neither large stoves, greenhouses, nor conservatories, 
