AUGUST. 
175 
blooming plants of Desfontainca spinosa, which had been flowered out of doors ; 
a double scarlet Pelargonium named Gloire de Nancy ; the tricolor-leaved 
Lady Cullum, and others. Mr. John Mann, of Brentwood, had seedling Zonale 
Pelargoniums ; and Mr. W. Paul, seedling plants of his Nosegay strain. Some 
fine and richly-coloured blooms of Mutisia decurrens were shown by Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons, but which were flowered by Mr. Pilcher, gardener to S. Rucker, 
Esq., of Wandsworth. I believe they were produced out of doors, and it 
would be interesting to know both the method of culture and how the plant 
looks in regard to healthiness of the foliage. I have seen one or two specimens 
out of doors in a sheltered position, but they were “ measly-looking ” things as 
the gardeners sav, and flowered only at the tips of some lanky and rusty-looking 
shoots. Mr. C. J. Perry brought with him from Birmingham some excellent 
trusses of cut Verbenas, both seedlings and named varieties. Among the 
latter were William Dean, very fine indeed, the rich purple of this flower is 
very striking ; Glowworm, Startler, Champion, very rich colour, pips large and 
very fine ; Sylph, Mauve Queen, Rose Imperial, Cato, Mrs. Dean, Magnificans, 
Lord Leigh, Princess of Wales, Black Prince, Snowball, Leah, Cleopatra, a 
splendid flower, colour rich and very striking; Charles Perry, very fine ; 
Pioneer, Ruby King, Fairy, Modesty, and Pink Queen. To show what Mr. 
Perry is doing as a raiser of Verbenas, it may be stated that out of tw r enty-four 
varieties shown by Mr. Perry on this occasion, eighteen of them were his own 
seedlings, exclusive of the following, shown for the first time :—Harry Law, 
deep rosy cerise with dark centre and large lemon eye, pips stout and of full 
size ; a good exhibition variety—awarded a second-class certificate. Purpurea, 
crimson, suffused with purple, deep crimson centre, white eye; a good and 
striking colour. Brunette, bright crimson with dark centre and bright lemon 
eye ; pips medium size, colour rich and telling. Auricula, purplish crimson, 
changing to purple with age, lemon eye enlarging and turning to white with 
age. The Friar, rosy pink with crimson centre, pips large and of great breadth 
and substance, the edges somewhat serrated. Gem, intense bright scarlet with 
white eye, medium pips ; a fine exhibition flower. A special certificate was 
awarded to Mr. Perry for the collection. Seven of the foregoing flowers were 
sent out by Mr. Turner in the spring of the year—viz., Fairy, pale pink with 
rosy centre and edges; novel and fine, Cleopatra, Charles Perry, Mrs. Dean, 
W. Dean, Champion, and Magnificans. 
R. D. 
NOTE ON THE CULTIVATION OF AMHERSTIA NOBILIS. 
[ The following note on the cultivation of Amherstia nobilis appears in the 
last Number of the “Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society,” the writer 
being Mr. Taplin, gardener to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, at Chats- 
worth, by w r hom were exhibited the blooms referred to at page 85.] 
The age of the plant is probably about twenty-five years; the height 5 feet, 
the circumference 45 feet. It is planted out in a house specially built for it, in 
a bed of soil about 6 feet square and 3 feet deep, raised above the level of the 
surrounding path. The soil is warmed to a temperature of about 85° by pipes 
underneath. 
The soil is good open loam and sand, to allow free passage for water, of 
which it requires a large quantity during the growing season, both on the sur¬ 
face and also poured down a perpendicular opening to the heating pipes below, so 
as to give moisture with bottom heat. There is sufficient piping to keep the top 
heat at 70° even in severe weather. The following is the mode of treat¬ 
ment. 
