27 
THE COTTAG-E GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 12, 1858. 
NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 
Inga macrofhilla ( Large-leaved, Inga). 
This handsome stove shrub is a native of Peru. It produces 
beautiful heads of yellow flowers in April. Introduced in 1849. 
— (Botanical Magazine, t. 5075.) 
Octyirandea Bernieriana ( Bernier's Lattice-leaf). 
This native of the lakes of Madagascar was discovered by the 
Rev. Henry Ellis, and has been flowered by Messrs. Jackson and 
Son, of Kingston Nursery. It is a beautiful stove aquatic.— 
(Ibid. t. 5076.) 
iEscurus Caxieornica (Californian Horse Chestnut, or 
BucJc-eye). 
This tree bloomed in the nurseries of Messrs. Yeitch and Sons, 
during July, in 1858. Its dense clusters of flowers are white in 
this country, but were pink when observed growing naturally in 
California. It blossoms whilst young, and is considered hardy. 
— (Ibid. t. 5077.) 
GSnothera bistorta; var. Veitchiana (Mr. Veitch’s Twisted- 
fruited (Enothera). 
This was sent .by Mr. W. Lobb, from South California, to his 
employers, Messrs. Yeitch. “ It promises to be one of the best 
of any yellow-flowered plants for bedding out, the stems being of 
humble stature, and the flowers large, numerous, and copious in 
succession.”— (Ibid. t. 5078.) 
Tradescantia DISCOLOR; car. YARIEGATA (Variegated Purple- 
leaved Spider wort). 
Native of Mexico. The rich purple of the under-side of the 
leaves is very striking. “ It is worthy of cultivation in every 
stove and warm greenhouse.”— (Ibid. t. 5079.) 
DATURA WRIGHTII. 
Early in March last, I procured a packet of seed. After sowing, 
I plunged the seed-pan in moderate bottom heat, from which I 
raised three plants, one of which died before potting off. Like 
your correspondent, not knowing the treatment, I kept the re¬ 
maining two in the seed-pan until May, then turned them out 
in the border,—one on each side of the walk entering the 
kitchen garden. Unfortunately, one of these, the strongest, I 
lost, as I suppose, by being pulled up in weeding. The plant 
left was very small, but, notwithstanding these adverse circum¬ 
stances, has now attained the following dimensions—near four 
feet high, by six feet in diameter. On several occasions I have 
had six or seven of its splendid flowers open. At eve and early 
morn they are most attractive; they are then beautiful, both in 
appearance and perfume. As your correspondent justly observes, 
the flowers are very delicate in colour, their size rendering them 
very attractive. I have just now measured some of my flowers, 
and find them eight inches in length, and five in diameter, across 
the mouth of the cup : they are of a creamy white at the base, 
which extends to rather more than half the length of the tube, 
and gradually passes into a soft pale blue ; thi» again gradually 
deepens in colour as it approaches nearer the margin of the cup, 
so that one can scarcely tell where one begins and the other ends. 
Although it may be grown for the conservatory, I do not believe 
this treatment at all necessary for the full development of the 
plant, as is shown above; but, on the contrary, may be made 
quite as interesting an object for the flower garden. 
In order to attain that object, I believe the following treatment 
is all that is necessary :—Sow in a mild bottom heat in February ; 
as soon as the seedlings can be handled pot off; encourage a 
liberal growth before planting-out time, by shifting when re¬ 
quired, and keeping them in a warm greenhouse or frame ; then 
gradually harden off in time for planting out in May. Any good 
garden soil, I believe, will suit them. As the plants progress 
they will require careful staking, as they assume quite a shrubby 
character, and tho branches, being very succulent, are liable 
to break off by their own weight, if not attended to. Probably, 
others of your readers have been more fortunate in the cultivation 
of this novelty than is here related ; if so, their system of culture 
will, I am sure, be gladly received by the readers of The Cottage 
Gardener. 
“Amateur” appears to fancy this Datura wanting in graceful¬ 
ness of habit, compared with pendent kinds. In this respect, as in 
all others, I think we must allow nature to be the best architect of 
its own productions. Supposing it to hang its head in the gentle 
bashfulness of some of its sex, I think wo should lose much of 
that beauty of colouring which your correspondent so justly 
admires.— Stephen Amey, Sating Croce. 
CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
In the Autumn Catalogue of a Choice Collection of Dutch and 
Cape Flowering Bulbs, by James Carter and Co., High Holborn, 
London, our readers will find, not only ample descriptions of the 
different varieties, but judicious remarks on the cultivation of the 
different kinds of bulbs, and the prices annexed to each. Like 
all Messrs. Carter’s catalogues, this is well got up, and exhibts 
their usual knowledge of the subjects to which they direct their 
attention. The Catalogue of Hyacinths and other Flower Boots, 
imported direct from Holland by Milne, Arnott, and Co., Vaux- 
hall Nursery , Wandsworth Boad, London, is a concise and useful 
list of the best varieties of flower roots ; and, though the varieties 
are not numerous, they appear to have been selected with special 
attention to the excellence of the flowers. 
Value oe London Sewage. —The floods that hurry along the 
subterranean tunnels to the Thames consist of water and 
organic matters. The quantity of this mixture poured into the 
river daily is estimated, by Dr. Daubeny, at 95,000,000 gallons ; 
and as 220 gallons weigh a ton, this may be calculated at 
401,850 tons. "When analysed with a view to ascertain its agri¬ 
cultural value, the very small percentage of solid matters first 
arrests the attention of the chemist, and, if valued for the solid 
matters only, London sewage would seem to be worth next to 
nothing. Here is one, and the chief mistake of those who 
advocate a wholesale conveyance to the sea. But, if we refer to 
what is doing in the agricultural world, we find that the greatest 
results are obtained by means of liquid manures, and that only 
in the proportion of its solubility is any solid manure of value. 
Take the London sewage as it is, then, and we have, in the daily 
discharge of 95,000,000 gallons, 624 tons of fertilising in¬ 
gredients, consisting of ammonia 50 tons, worth, at £56 per ton, 
£2,800; phosphoric acid in earths, 8 tons at £7, worth £56; 
ditto in alkalies 11.5 tons, at £32, worth £368 ; potass 7 tons, 
at £31, worth £217; organic matter 188 tons, at £1, worth 
£188 ; making a total of £3,620, as the value of the materials 
daily cast in the Thames, and so lost for use, but set in action 
for wide spread mischief. Multiply the weights by 365, and the 
yearly discharge amounts to 33,675,000,000 gallons, worth, 
according to Professors Daubeny, Way, and Hoffman, 
£1,324,585. In a former article, we stated our opinion that the 
London sewage was worth at least two millions a-year, and from 
the foregoing estimates — which are purposely stated at the 
least possible amount — we are confirmed in our opinion, that, 
v'hen the refuse of factories, slaughter houses, <fcc., is added to 
the products of human dwellings, there will be no difficulty in 
placing the value at £2,000,000. But we are content for the 
present argument to value it at only £1,000,000 a-year, which 
is a sufficiently enormous amount to be considered as annually 
thrown away by a system already sufficiently expensive.— City 
Press. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Stewarton Hives {Mrs. Barington ).—These may he had of Mr. Teget- 
meier, Mu 9 well Hill, London. We do not know' where the Woodstock 
Alliance Hives can be purchased. 
Name of Rose (J. M. D .).— It is the Souvenir de Malmaison. The 
flower-buds are very apt to refrain from expanding where they are not 
in a very warm, sheltered situation. 
Various {Filir-mas ).—The best practical directions for Orchid culture 
are in a series of papers by Mr. Appleby, published in some former numbers 
of The Cottage Gardener. They may he had at our office. The last 
was the first number of a new volume. All the back numbers you men¬ 
tion can be had at our office. 
Seedling Dahlias (C. Oldham ).—'They reached us faded, and in had 
condition; but, after making allowances for this, we think they cannot 
compete with others as exhibition flow'ers. They will do as handsome 
border flowers. 
Seedling Verbena (Lydiard.Bouse ).—This white flower, with a pink 
blush, and a good truss, is very delicate and pretty. We can say nothing 
of its usefulness to the gardener, however, from a cut flower. The habit 
of the plant requires to be known before determining that. 
Lightening Soil {J. <?.).—At Notting Hill you are on the London clay, 
the most difficult soil a gardener has to contend with. The best mode of 
rendering it friable will be to pare and burn one foot deep of the entire 
