24 
COMPANION TO THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 
departments of Floriculture, each of them having some peculiar feature. 
In Mr. Williams’s, there is a long list of the most desirable novelties, 
with the characteristic qualities of each kind; and as they are given by 
one who is so thoroughly practical, they are reliable. Amongst other 
things, some double Portulacas are very highly spoken of, and we hope 
to see more of them by-and-by. We perceive increase of business has 
induced Mr. Williams to take another nursery near his present one. 
Messrs. Carter’s well-known and carefully digested catalogue affords a 
variety of information to both gardeners and farmers, giving, amongst 
other things, an excellent calendar of operations for each month, and is 
illustrated by several full-page woodcuts from drawings by our artist 
Mr. Andrews, including Clarkia integripetala marginata, Tropceolum 
Glory, Nemophila discoidalis vittata, New French Leptosiphons, and 
Yeitch’s New Amaranthus. Messrs. Barr and Sugben’s is another 
carefully-prepared and useful catalogue; directions for the culture of each 
kind of seed being concisely given, while the illustrations are numerous. 
Amongst other things we notice a new double Clitoria, a striped-leaved 
Helianthus, and a group of Zinnias double, taken from a photograph. 
This catalogue aspires to giving correct botanical information, and in¬ 
cludes also the seeds of novelties raised by the gentleman known as their 
“ Sardinian Correspondent.” In Messrs. Cutbush’s we have a more 
select list than in either of those last named, and we know that this is 
by many preferred; and as Mr. C. pays especial personal attention to 
this department, its correctness may be relied on. Messrs. E. G. Hen¬ 
derson and Son’s not only contains an extensive list of flower and 
garden seeds, but also notices of the novelties in bedding plants, etc., 
which will be more fully detailed in their spring list. Messrs. Downie, 
Laird, and Laing’s differs from all the preceding catalogues, inasmuch 
as it is a complete repertory of choice florists’ flowers, Pansies, Holly¬ 
hocks, Penstemons, etc., for which that firm has acquired such wide¬ 
spread renown. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
We have received letters from C. T., J. C., J. Millar, S. R. H., W. H., W. D., 
J. M. H., etc. 
J. M. H.—We fear it would be encroaching on the province of the * Botanical 
Magazine * to do as j r ou propose. 
C. T. and W. D.—We quite agree ; they are wretched. 
We have to thank our many friends for their ready and valuable aid. 
