THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, August 25, 1857. 323 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
D 
W 
AUGUST 25—31, 1857. 
Weather ni 
Barometer. 
ear London in 
Thermo. Wind. 
1856. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.& S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
25 
Tu 
Southernwoods (Artemisia). 
29.983—29.812 
66—52 
S.W. 
02 
3 a. 5 
1 a. 7 
8 
34 
6 
1 
53 
237 
26 
W 
Prince Albert born, 1819. 
29.929—29 901 
76—55 
W. 
— 
5 
VI 
8 
51 
7 
1 
37 
238 
27 
Th 
Cudweeds (Gnaphalium). 
29-824—29.755 
77-52 
W. 
— 
6 
57 
9 
16 
3 
1 
20 
239 
28 
F 
Fleabane (Erigeron). 
29.848—29.773 
71—53 
S.W. 
07 
8 
54 
9 
52 
9 
1 
2 
240 
29 
S 
Golden-rod (Solidago). 
30.144—29.888 
76—40 
S.W. 
— 
9 
52 
10 
40 
10 
0 
45 
241 
30 
Sun 
12 Sunday after Trinity. 
30.151—29.967 
74—54 
s. 
— 
11 
50 
11 
46 
11 
0 
27 
242 
31 
M 
Elecampanes (Inula). 
29 931—29.874 
77-40 
S.W. 
05 
13 
48 
morn. 
12 
0 
8 
243 
Meteorology of the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average highest and lowest 
temperatures of these days are 71-8°, and 49.6°, respectively. The greatest heat, 84°, occurred on the 30th, in 1854 ; and the lowest cold, 32°, 
on the 29 th, in 1850. During the period 122 days were fine, and on 74 rain fell. 
NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS. 
Clerodendrum fcetidum (Stinking Clerodendrum). 
Nat. ord., Verbenacece .—A native of China, and intro¬ 
duced into this country by Mr. Fortune. Stem shrubby, 
erect, round, the younger parts purple and downy. 
Leaves opposite, on long petioles, broadly cordate, 
acuminate; veins prominent and reticulated; margins 
dentato-serrate, downy on both sides, and dark green. 
Calyx a short five-toothed tube, cylindrical. Corolla 
four times longer than the calyx; limb deeply divided 
into five obovate lobes; purple. Inflorescence a large, 
compound, terminal corymb of hemispherical form, with 
numerous branches and pedicels. 
This is a plant deserving extensive notice and 
cultivation, as it is one of the most beautiful and free- 
blooming of this interesting genus. The flowers are 
slightly fragrant; but this quality is more than out¬ 
weighed by the strong fetid odour of the leaves, which, 
on being disturbed even by a current of air passing 
among them, emit more or less of this unpleasant 
smell. It succeeds well cultivated in the greenhouse in 
a compost of good free loam, with about one third part 
of peat or leaf mould and sand, well drained. Much 
.attention should be devoted to the stopping, because 
the plant is naturally disposed to become “leggy” if 
this is not attended to. 
Delphinium cardinale (Scarlet Larkspur). Nat. 
ord., Ranunculacece .—A native of California, and intro¬ 
duced into Britain by Mr. Lobb. Stem about eighteen 
inches high, glabrous. Leaves in outline cordate, 
chiefly radical, on long round petioles, divided almost 
to the base into five wedge-shaped segments, which are 
again divided near the margin; veins strongly developed. 
Sepals five, broad, obtuse, scarlet; spur tapering, also 
scarlet. Petals yellowish, shorter than the sepals. In¬ 
florescence an elongated panicle, terminal, furnished 
with opposite pairs of awl-shaped bracts. 
This plant is said to be very beautiful in its native 
country; but, as I have seen it in this place, it certainly 
fails to bear out the eulogiums that have been passed 
upon it by those who have already brought it before the 
public. July seems to be its blooming season; but 
long before this time it has become destitute of foliage; 
or, if it still possesses it, it is in such a state of decay as 
to render the plant still more unsightly. The colour of 
the flowers is decided scarlet—the worst of all bright 
colours to look upon without a genial relief, such as 
green. But the circumstances under which the plants 
were placed in some degree, or perhaps wholly, account 
for the absence of foliage at this important period. The 
soil was light, hot, and dry, and the situation much 
exposed to the direct rays of the sun. During the 
earlier stages of its growth the plant showed every 
symptom of the want of necessary shade and moisture. 
It would be well, therefore, to try it in some shady 
situation, where it would enjoy coolness and moisture 
in the degree it requires for its perfect development. 
The colour of the flowers proclaims it a novelty in a 
genus possessing so little variety of tint as Delphinium; 
and were it better adapted to places generally it 
would become an early favourite in our gardens. It 
requires the same treatment as is usually given to 
hardy annuals. 
Jambosa Malaccensis (Malacca Jambosa). Nat. 
ord., Myrtaceoe .—This truly splendid stove tree is a 
native of the East Indies, and forms a striking feature of 
interest in the flora of the district to which it belongs. 
It produces a pulpy fruit of wholesome and agreeable 
qualities, which is much esteemed by the natives. 
Stem from fourteen to eighteen feet high, much 
branched. Leaves on short petioles, opposite, broadly 
lanceolate, smooth, dark green; margins quite entire; 
marginal vein very prominent. Calyx consisting of 
five very obtuse, ovate, persistent sepals; dark rose 
colour. Stamens very numerous; bright purple. In¬ 
florescence a panicle of four or five flowers, produced 
in the greatest profusion all over the branches. 
This, although an old species, is not so generally 
cultivated as it deserves, the chief drawbacks being its 
great size and the peculiarity it possesses of not 
flowering till it arrives at considerable age. Its splendid 
beauty, it is true, cannot be enjoyed where the con¬ 
venience of a lofty stove is not possessed ; but in every 
practicable place it ought to find a position in the col¬ 
lection. It delights in a moist, warm atmosphere, a 
rich soil well drained, and plenty of sunshine. Stopping 
can be resorted to as a means of keeping it dwarf; but 
when this is done a profusion of bloom need not be j 
expected, because that depends more on the old wood 
than on the young. 
Streptocarpus polyanthus (Many-flowered Strepto- 
carpus). Nat. ord., Cyrtandracea .—This beautiful little 
stove plant was introduced into this country by 
Captain Garden from Natal. Stemless. Leaves in pairs 
of unequal size, cordate, roughly and very much 
wrinkled; margins crenate and slightly undulated; 
veins prominent on the under side, hairy on both sides, 
bright green, lying close to and clasping the soil. 
Scape arising from the root, bearing a loose panicle of 
flowers. Calyx a short tube, with five unequal teeth. 
Tube of corolla curved, long; limb divided into five 
wedge-shaped segments; light blue. 
The culture of this pretty plant is very simple. It 
ought to be grown in a shallow pot well drained. 
The compost should consist of two parts good fibry 
loam, with one part leaf mould and sand. A nice 
shady, moist position in the stove is the best it can 
occupy. It blooms in early spring or in autumn, and 
often, in the latter case, lasts till the winter is far 
advanced.—S. G. W. 
HAMPTON COURT GARDENS. 
There is an improvement in the Hampton Court 
gardens this season which, I should think, could not 
fail of being seen by the “ common people” of London 
No. CCCCLXY. Vol. XVIII. 
