174 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
This has, perhaps, been the most trying season we 
have had for years for all bedded-out plants. The frost, 
sun, and wind have in turn done their worst; and in 
many good establishments the flower-gardens look poor 
and miserable, many plants having been all but de¬ 
stroyed, and the remainder being scarcely good enough 
to depend on for the summer. 
In one place, where a very pretty geometrical flower-garden 
of twenty-four beds was planted, with the bedding-plants 
advertised at a shilling a dozen, three-fourths have gone off 
altogether. 
Erysimum Peroffskianum, carelessly allowed to seed 
in a flower-garden, has come tip like a weed all over the 
ground, and can hardly be got rid of by ordinary hoeing. 
We only mention the fact, because the plants, whenever 
there were any left, have been in bloom some time, and are 
so vigorous as to appear another variety. The height two 
feet, and it blooms as large as a wallflower. This -will sug¬ 
gest autumn sowing. 
The Plants in the Conservatory at Chiswick are now 
getting too large for their domicile. A systematic 
pruning, to keep them within bounds, has been avoided 
until we fear it is too late to render them subservient 
and preserve a good form; but the sooner they are 
reduced the better. 
Of course we do not allude to the Coniferac, which are 
unmanageable, but the others, such as Acacias, Rhododen¬ 
drons, Brugmansias, and many others could have been kept 
by pruning within reasonable bounds, and preserved in noble 
form ; the longer they are neglected the worse they will be. 
T Caterer's American Ground at Chiswick is just now 
very attractive, although by no means in full bloom; 
some of the most noble sjiecimens are not even showing 
colour. 
It is very tastefully laid out. The worst part of the affair 
is the covering, which is not in keeping with the superb 
plants beneath it. 
The inhabitants of Cheltenham had a chance of esta¬ 
blishing one of the finest shows in England, having 
the advantage of a heavy subscription. 
But they farmed the exhibition out to private speculators, 
who turned out one of the worst schedules that was ever 
printed, promised the most ridiculous prizes, cut them down 
after they were fairly won, and were actually threatened with 
law proceedings before even some of these were paid. It 
may be improved, but it will never be what it might have 
been with good management. 
Our note upon the Vauxhall Garden Shows should 
have been read seventy-five, instead of twenty-five, 
pounds for prizes. 
It was an error which occurred through the indistinctness 
of the copy. To tell against the first show on the 18th, 
there is a Grand Bazaar and Fancy Fair at the Royal Hospi¬ 
tal, Chelsea, where the six bands of the household troops 
will perform together, forming the most extensive strictly 
military band that has ever been engaged. The profits 
of the fete are to be devoted to the hospital funds. 
The Surrey Zoological Gardens form a very interesting 
arboretum. There are many noble specimens, with 
their names attached; the only thing to be regretted is 
that some of them are too close. 
Considering that there are sometimes twenty thousand 
persons scrambling about there, the condition of the gardens 
is highly creditable to Mr. Patterson, the gardener. The 
Panorama is painted so that the foliage of the trees forms 
actually part of the scene. 
At nearly all the Dahlia Shows this year there will be 
a class for the best new flowers of 1851. 
[June 19. 
It is curious to see how differently florists and amateurs 
prepare for the competition, some having thirty or forty new 
flowers, one of a sort; others fix upon the half-dozen which 
ought to win, and have two or three of a sort. These are 
extremes ; it is unsafe to trust to less than nine varieties to 
cut six blooms, a dozen is better; for Dahlias, like many 
others flowers, have their seasons, and you may in vain try 
for a bloom when they are out of condition. E. Y. 
NEW PLANTS. 
THEIR PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES. 
Smooth-leaved Centrosolen (Centrosolenia glabra). 
—Botanical Magazine, t. 4552.—This genus is a new 
addition to the order of Gesnerworts (Gesneraceoe), and 
is closely allied to Gesnera itself, on which the order 
is founded. It was named by Mr. Bentham, from 
Kentron, a spur, and solen, a tube, in allusion to the 
bottom of the tubular flowers ending in a spur-like 
process. The true Gesnerworts form but a section of 
the order. All natives of the American tropics, where 
many of them lead a half parasitical mode of life, at- j 
tacliing themselves to the stems and branches of trees, 
and feeding on the accumulations of dead vegetable 
matter which collects on the rough bark, or in the arm- 
pits of lateral branches, whence arises their preference 
for leaf-mould, peat, and good drainage, when under 
cultivation. 
The subject of our present biography was introduced from 
La Guayra into the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, a few 
years back, from Mr. YVagener, a German collector, who has 
been travelling in South America for some years. It will 
be sought after for furnishing late autumnal flowers for the 
sitting-room or conservatory, after a season’s growth under 
the influences of stove-heat, partial shade, free ventilation, 
and a moist atmosphere. We believe, however, that this, 
and many other Gesnerworts, so much alike in their out¬ 
ward appearance, and not very striking in their beauty, 
would never have been retained in select collections were it 
not for the late period of the season in winch they produce 
their flowers, the little room they take up in winter, and 
the ease with which they may be increased by seeds or cut¬ 
tings. When the system of growing plants in close glass- 
cases, in towns, on Mr. Ward’s plan, comes to be understood 
and acted on, this order of Gesnerworts will supply subjects 
well worthy of the attention of the amateur, for many of 
them seem, from their “ quasi-parasitical life," to be pecu¬ 
liarly fitted to that way of management. 
