356 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. * March 4. 
N. distillatoria (Distilling N.); China.—This is the 
oldest species cultivated in our stoves. We have seen 
the pitchers so large as nine inches long; when much 
exposed to light they are spotted and blotched with rich 
brown. Before the lid of the pitchers open a liquor is 
distilled through the stem aud leaf into it, till the pitcher 
is half full; it must have come in that way, because the 
water is present before the lid of the pitcher opens. 
This fluid is supposed to be poisonous, for when flies 
enter the pitchers they commonly die; we have fre¬ 
quently seen them half full of dead insects. Whether 
the effluvia arising from the dead bodies is conducive 
to tbe growth of the plant, and so giving a reason for 
the formation of the pitcher, is one of those mysteries of 
the vegetable kingdom not yet, that we are aware of, 
ascertained. This species is one of the most easy to 
cultivate. Good plants may be obtained for 20s. each. 
N. Hookeriana (Sir W. J. Hooker’s N.); Sarawak.— 
This is a quick growing species, with rather small, very 
pretty pitchers, but it is very scarce. 188s. 
N. ltevis (Smooth N.); Java.—A species with medium¬ 
sized pitchers, of great beauty, and perfectly smooth at 
the edges where the lid opens, hence its sjiecific name. 
Very rare. 166s. 
N. Lindleyii (Dr. Lindley’s N.); Borneo.—This is a 
beautiful species, with moderate-sized pitchers, of a 
beautiful purple hue. It is so rare that we fear it can¬ 
not be purchased as yet. 
N. Loddigesii (Mr. Loddiges’s N.) 
N. phyllamphora (Flask-leaved N.); China.—The 
pitchers of this species are of a beautiful green, turning 
to yellow as they become old. It is a free-growing 
plant, producing its pretty pitchers freely. 21s. 
N. Rafflesiana (Sir Stamford Raifles’s N.); Singa¬ 
pore.—Of all the family of pitcher plants this is the 
most noble, producing pitchers as large as a turkey’s 
egg. They are almost as broad as long; on one side 
rather flat, aud the edges of the flat part project out into 
a kind of fringe. They are of pale yellow, richly blotched, 
striped, and spotted with brown. A plant five or six 
feet high, with these large pitchers at the end of eaoh 
leaf, is a really tine, as well as curious, object. Strong 
plants may be had for 105s. 
N. sanguinea (Bloody N.); Java.—The pitchers of 
this species are the largest of the whole tribe. We have 
measured one that was a foot long and two inches dia¬ 
meter, with a lid of proportionate size The colour ap¬ 
proaching to a purplish crimson, renders it very hand¬ 
some, and quite unique. It is a dwarf species; the 
tallest we have seen did not reach two feet, yet it had 
four of these large pitchers upon it. Eor a small col¬ 
lection this is very desirable. It is, however, rare and 
costly; a good plant is worth 210s. Such persons as 
are desirous to select a few of the best species, should 
choose N. alba marginata, N. distillatoria, N. ampul- 
lacea, N. Rafflesiana, N. sanguinea. 
Culture. —These stove climbers, being mostly natives 
of the hottest parts of the world, require to be kept con¬ 
stantly in a high temperature. Even the two species 
that are natives of China are no exception to this rule. 
The largest Nepenthes distillatoria we ever saw, was one 
we had the pleasure of cultivating in the pine stove 
belonging to the Rev. J. Armitage Rhodes, at Horsforth 
Hall, in Yorkshire. This plant was received from Mr. 
Knight, of Chelsea, and was so small at the time that 
the person that unpacked the basket of plants it came 
in, threw it away, thinking it was a lump of moss thrust 
in to keep the plants steady. It was, of course, sought 
for, found, potted, and placed in the bark bed amongst 
the pines, where it soon began to flourish, and in five 
years had run the entire length of the house three times, 
that is ninety feet, and produced several branches and 
scores of pitchers. This is now more than twenty years 
ago, and two or three years since wo saw the same 
plant, in the same gentleman’s stove, at Roundhay, near 
Leeds, in Yorkshire, and still flourishing, though it 
had been removed from Horsforth Hall to its present 
habitation, and had, as wo were told, suffered much by 
the transit. This plant we grew in sphagnum, broken 
potsherds, and charcoal. A hole was made in the bark 
bed, and a saucer, or shallow pot, to hold water, placed 
at the bottom of the hole; the pot containing the plant 
was set in it, and the saucer was kept constantly full of 
water. The bark was not closed quite to the pot, but a 
cavity was left all round it. The house was filled with 
fruiting pines, which our friend, Mr. Errington, knows 
require a higher temperature than succession pine 
plants, as also when they are swelling much more moist¬ 
ure in the air. Frequently during the day, with sun, 
the thermometer indicated ninety-five degrees. These 
circumstances point out what treatment the pitcher 
plants require. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
MR. GLENNY ON FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Cinerarias (7 V. II. S., Dunmow ).—The specimen sent to 
us is evidently a lateral truss, from which it is difficult to 
tell the habit. The petals are broad and free from notch, 
and the flowers close and round, and the colour brilliant 
blue. Its faults are roughness of texture, and petals cupped 
in the back, so as to give each a convex face; it is, never¬ 
theless, a desirable variety. ( W. TV., Somerset). —Although 
both the pink and the white varieties are of large disc, 
the petals are too narrow. The purple is smaller and 
better, but of no service. It is, however, better than some 
of the fifteen which had first class certificates at the National 
last year. (Jones L.). —None of the flowers are an improve¬ 
ment on the variety he saved the seed from, and that has 
been discarded these two years because beaten. (J. Allen, 
Bridgewater). —One fault condemns the flower sent. The 
notch is too conspicuous to pass over, nor is there anything 
novel to save it. It is not nearly so good as Lady Hume 
Campbell. {E., Maidstone). —All three are true to name. 
That he should be disappointed in the quality, after such 
recommendations, is not to be wondered at, but he will 
know better than to trust such people again. It is not in 
this case the grower’s fault; he may be ignorant, and send 
for a public opinion; he offered no other guarantee, and is, 
therefore, blameless. (O. P., East Surrey). —Not one of any 
use, but he must not despair till all the later ones bloom. 
Camellias (A. G., Exeter ).—All the five are second-rate 
anemone or altheafloras, that is to say, dishes full of florets, 
and, therefore, good-for-nothing. ( B. M., Lancashire ).— 
One bloom is very like Palmer's Perfection, but not so good, 
yet it may be that grown badly. The other is Chandlerii, 
blotched, in which state it is very pretty. The seedling is 
good-for-nothing, except for a stock, if healthy. (Messrs. 
B. and Co.). —If these first half-dozen specimens of a batch 
of “ seedlings coming into bloom,” he any indication of the 
rest, they are very discouraging. Unless a camellia be double 
to the centre, and full on the face, it will not be now 
tolerated. There are nearly, or quite two hundred varieties 
figured in a Belgian work, to which we refer our corres¬ 
pondent for some good, and many very bad varieties. 
Polyanthuses ( Samuel J., Lancaster). —All we can say of 
the flowers generally, is that they are naturally too small or 
starved, but there are none that we should think worth 
growing larger. The pin-eyed one has exceedingly fine 
character, and we would by all means fertilize it with the 
pollen of some good named sort, for if any come like it in 
character, with a good thrum, it will beat any thing we have, 
and our polyanthus growers will bear us out in saying, that 
we frequently see the pin-eyed varieties with more novelty of 
colour and character than any of the thrum-eyed seedlings, 
most of which come too like the parents. (O. D.). —Too 
deeply scolloped, and lace not perfect, G. G. 
VERBENA CULTURE. 
(Continued from page 336.) 
Slugs. —In some soils these are troublesome, often 
eating off the young newly-planted ones close to the 
