1 470 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
September 19. 
by Mr. Booth, of the Floetbeck Nursery, Hamburgh, in 
1850; and Sir W. Hooker describes it as flowering 
through the summer mouths. Although not so stated 
in the magazine above-named, it is a native of Mexico; 
and the excellent superintendant of the plant-culture in 
Kew Gardens has observed, “ We fear it will not succeed 
out-of-doors as a summer border plant, on account of 
its soft, succulent nature, which makes it liable to 
injuries by heavy rain and wind. We, therefore, con¬ 
sider it best to treat it as a tender annual, sowing the 
seeds in a frame, and, when the plants have sufficient 
strength, planting them singly into pots, using a mix¬ 
ture of light loam and leaf-mould, or sandy peat. The 
pots must he properly drained, and care taken not to 
over-water in damp weather, and to admit plenty of 
air, so as to keep the plants from becoming weak and 
drawn up. As they increase in size, they will require to 
be shifted into larger pots, and when they begin to show 
flower they should he removed into the greenhouse.” 
The next illustration of “Our Portrait Gallery” will 
be a likeness of Mr. George Fleming, the well-known 
t gardener of the Duke of Sutherland, at Trentham, and 
we are promised some biographical notes from the pen 
of one who has “ known him ever since he was spade- 
handle high.” 
We take this opportunity to express our regret that 
we have not yet been favoured with the additional notes 
! promised us relative to Sir Joseph Paxton ; hut we will 
add a few particulars and corrections to what we have 
already published. 
We must confess to some feeling of satisfaction at 
learning that he is not of Scotch parentage, because wo 
feel that the list of English Gardeners needs a few 
such additions as Sir Joseph to balance somewhat more 
equally the long array of Great Spadils that are in our 
Garden annals from the other side of the border. The 
brother under whom Sir Joseph received his rudimentary 
instruction in horticulture was Mr. John Paxton, suc¬ 
cessively gardener, we believe, to Sir G. P. Turner and 
Earl Hardwicke. This gentleman recommended the 
young gardener to Abel Smith, Esq., and through the 
latter’s influence he was placed at Chiswick. Owing to 
some misunderstanding with the Council of the Horti¬ 
cultural Society, Sir Joseph was about leaving their 
j service, and proceeding to America; hut whilst this 
! intention was just on the point of being carried out, the 
Duke of Devonshire, as we have formerly mentioned, 
befriended him. So near were we to losing the Crystal 
Palaces. 
i The September Meeting of the Entomological Society 
] took place on the 4th inst. The President, Edward 
Newman, Esq., in the chair. A number of donations 
to the Library and Museum were announced, from the 
Royal Societies of London, Madrid, and Van Diemen’s 
: Land, the Royal Academy of Berlin, the Society of Arts, 
Messrs. Scliaum, Jekel, Lubbock, &c. The splendid 
volume on the Coleoptera of Madeira, one of the most 
valuable contributions to the science, recently published, , 
was also presented by its author, T. Vernon Wollaston, 
Esq., nephew of the celebrated philosopher of the same 
name. 
The President read a communication from Professor 
Edward Solly, F.R.S., who is at present engaged in 
organizing the Museum of Industrial Arts and Manu¬ 
factures, under the direction of the Society of Arts, 
requesting the contribution of specimens of either 
obnoxious or beneficial species of insects from the 
members. 
A great number of recent captures of rare or new 
species of insects, of different orders, were exhibited by 
various members, including a very beautiful Noctua, 
quite unknown, taken in North Wales, by Mr. Evans, 
of Daily Abbey. 
Mr. Samuel Stevens exhibited specimens of Agrotis 
valligera, and other species, from Freshwater, Isle of 
Wight. Also, a box of very interesting Coleoptera, just 
received from Mr. Wallaci, who has recently started on 
a Natural History expedition to the Islands of the 
Eastern Archipelago. Those exhibited were the first 
which he had sent, having heon captured at Singapore, 
and amongst them were a great number of new and 
interesting species. 
Mr. F. Bond exhibited specimens of CElhosia hyper- 
borea, from Perthshire, Rugeria tenebrosa, from the New 
Forest (being two very rare species of Noctuidee); also, 
various rare moths from the Isle of Wight. 
Mr. Edward Shepherd exhibited a box of rkre 
Coleoptera, from the New Forest, including Phloiotrya 
rujipes, Platypus cylindrus, Triplax anea, Biaphlaus 
dermestoides, &c. A box of insects, of different orders, 
captured by Mr. Foxcroft, in Perthshire, and intended 
for distribution among his subscribers, was exhibited, 
including Spmlotis cataleuca, Nomada xanthoslicta, An- 
drena simillima, See. 
Mr. Hudson exhibited a singular gynandroiuorphous 
specimen of the common blue butterfly Polyommatns 
Alexis, the wings and antennae on the right-band side 
being female, and those on the left being male. Mr. 
Edwin Shepherd stated that he possessed a specimen of 
the same species, in which this arrangement of the 
wings was reversed, the latter being the more ordinary 
condition exhibited by this class of monstrosities, the 
right-hand side having been considered as possess¬ 
ing higher powers of development, and, consequently, as 
more generally developing the male characteristics. 
Mr. F. Smith exhibited various rare or new Hymen- 
optera, recently taken near Southend, including several 
species of Ants and Bombi, in all their states, having 
been generally taken from- the nests of those various j 
insects. Mr. Oxley exhibited several boxes of insects 
of various orders captured in the neighbourhood of the j 
gold diggings in Australia. Many of the species wero 
very rare and interesting. 
Mr. Curtis presented specimens of the male of the 
curious insect which he had figured under the name of : 
I Aecntropus GarnonsU r - and exhibited specimens of the 
