November 24. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
141 
little rounded, or rolled back on the margin. The bulbs 
were sent here from Lima, by J. M’Lean, Esq. 
STENOMESSON FLAVUM. 
This is golden-yellow, with a long style ; the stamens 
a little longer than the flower; and the nectarian mem¬ 
brane, which connects the stamens in all the species, is 
sharp-toothed between each pair of stamens in this 
species. It is a native of the sandy hills in Peru, by 
Lurin and Pachacama. 
STENOMESSON AURANTIACUM. 
This is among the newest, and from the province of 
Quito, where they seem to bo more numerous than on 
the Peruvian slopes. The flowers are short, five or six 
in the umbel, and of an orange colour. The style is 
longer, and the stamens shorter, than the flower. 
STENOMESSON CUIiVIDENTATUM. 
This is a stout flower, with the style and stamens of 
equal length, and much longer than the flower. The 
umbel is two-flowered, and the colour is orange-yellow. 
The specific name refers to the two curved teeth of 
the membrane, which roll back between each pair of 
stamens, giving the inside of the flower a very marked 
character. A native of the Amancaes Hills, near Lima. 
STENOMESSON COCCINEUM. 
This is a slender species, from Tarma, in Peru, with 
four flowers on a scape of a deep scarlet colour. The 
stamens and pistil are nearly of equal length, and longer 
than the flower. It comes nearer to the shape of a 
Phycella than any of the genus. 
STENOMESSON HARTWEG1I. 
A two-flowered species, discovered by Mr. Hartweg, 
near Quito. The flowers are orange-red; it is one of the 
hardiest of the race. Its habit of flowering in pairs, 
and the nodding flowers not more than an inch-and-a- 
half long, render it a well-marked species. 
.STENOMESSON LATIFOLIUM. 
This is a remarkable species, the leaf being nearly 
two inches wide in the middle, about four times broader 
than is usual in this genus; but like the rest of them, 
the leaf narrows much at the bottom; the flowers are 
small, and of a bright orange colour. It was sent from 
Lima, by J. M’Lean, Esq, in 1837, and grows later in 
the winter than any of them. 
STENOMESSON VITTELLINUM. 
“ One of the prettiest of the Western American bulbs.” 
— Bot. R. That peculiar yellow, called yolk of egg, so 
scarce in flowers, distinguishes this species, reminding 
one of the Australian Yellow Calostemma. It was sent, 
by Mr. M’Lean, from Lima, to the Horticultural Society 
in 1842; it produces six upright flowers on an umbel, 
on very short peduncles; the leaf is broad for a Steno- 
messon, and rolled back on the edges. 
There are several more of them recorded, and some 
others have flowered at Spofforth, of which I cannot 
trace further particulars. One called paucijlorum, in 
“Hooker’s Exotic Flora,” is golden-yellow, and prettily 
marked with green and red on the tips, much like a 
Coburghia; a very handsome flower. No bulbs are 
better suited for a south border of light rich soil than 
these, as they die down mostly for the winter, and are 
not at all excitable to start too early in the spring, aud 
our ordinary summers are quite hot enough to flower 
and ripen them out-of-doors. Once they are well-estab¬ 
lished, they would increase by offset bulbs ; and the 
first year these offsets have only one leaf a-piece. 
D. Beaton. 
(To be continued.) 
LITTLE MATTERS OF THE SEASON. 
I propose that this paper shall be a thing of shreds 
and patches, taking merely a passing notice of a number 
of the minutise that are just now perplexing many 
new subscribers, who are apt to complain, that, unless 
in the correspondent’s column, the bulk of our matter is 
yet too transcendental for them. 
AIR-GIVING. 
“ I see that Mr. A. keeps his greenhouse with very little 
air on now; while Mr. B. has air on even at night, and 
all the windows and doors open during the day. Which 
shall I follow ?” This must depend on circumstances. 
If your greenhouse is filled with established greenhouse 
plants, such as Heaths, Camellias, Azaleas, &c. it will be 
impossible to give them too much air, while the outside 
temperature averages 40° at night. As a general rule, 
the warmer, closer, aud darker the weather, the more 
air in proportion should you give, as there is less danger 
of a plant being drawn spindly, made the victim of 
insects, or mildew, in bright weather, than when it is 
dull and hazy. In the former case, the wood is 
solidified, and fresh matter added; in the latter case, 
the matter in the shoots is merely extended, as you 
would pull out a piece of Indian-rubber. Set it down, 
then, as a primary principle, that healthy growth can 
only take place in light. In dull, warm weather, as we 
have lately had, our object should bo directed more to 
retard extension than to promote it. Hence, air, in 
such weather, is more wanted among greenhouse plants 
than when the sun shines, though we gladly take the 
opportunity of the latter circumstance to give air for 
drying the house, and rendering it sweet and com¬ 
fortable. The mode of giving air in such quiet, still 
weather now, should be different from that we adopt in 
cold, frosty weather in winter. In the latter case, the 
air given should be moderate, chiefly at the top of the 
house, and as equal as possible. Now, we would prefer 
giving it very unequally in such close muggy weather, 
for the purpose, if possible, of creating a draught; and 
it is very possible to excite a motion in still air by this 
means; namely, instead of opening all the sashes, back 
and front, for a few inches, to keep three-parts of them 
shut, and open the others to their full extent. This 
method will apply to all kinds of greenhouse plants, 
such as Geraniums, Cinerarias, &c., when in a growing 
state; and Chrysanthemums, and such hardy things, 
when blooming; but such plants as Salvia splendens, 
Scarlet Geraniums, &c., in bloom, though they must not 
be kept in a stagnant atmosphere, would not keep their 
bloom so long as when exposed to these strong draughts. 
If there should be many such plants as the above Salvia, 
or if an Epacris is wished to bloom early, and the same 
thing should be desired of Camellias, Azaleas, Cinerarias, 
then the house, or one end of it, where these particular 
things stand, may be kept closer with advantage; hence, 
where Heaths are grown in such a mixed house, they 
should always occupy a place at one end by themselves, 
that air may be given there more liberally than in other 
parts of the house ; as weak-drawn growth, in the whole 
of this tribe, is just the precursor of mildew; and that, 
notwithstanding all sulphur applications, is too often 
the forerunner of a resting-place for good specimens at 
the rubbish-heap. 
WITHERED LEAVES OF EVERGREENS. 
Some of our friends are alarming themselves need¬ 
lessly on this account. Packets of leaves of Polygala, 
Diosma, Chirozema, Azalea, Camellia, Daphne, Poin- 
settia, &c., are sent in a blotched and withered state, with 
commendable inquiries as to the cause and the remedy. 
Now, these appearances are as frequently quite natural 
as they are the result of improper treatment. Though 
most of these plants are evergreens, always, when in 
