OCTOBER. 
209 
DIPLADENIA AMABILIS. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
The gorgeous stove climber, which we now figure, was raised by Mr. Henry 
Tuke, gardener to It. Nicholls, Esq., of Bramley, near Leeds. A very fine 
specimen which was exhibited by Mr. Tuke at the Bradford August Show last 
year attracted a good deal of attention, and during the present year Messrs. 
Backhouse k Son, of York, into whose hands the stock has passed, and Messrs. 
Yeitch & Sons, of Chelsea, have exhibited it in good condition at South Ken¬ 
sington, where it was rewarded by a first-class certificate. 
We have to thank Mr. Dean, of Bradford Nursery, Shipley, for sending us 
the specimen from which our drawing was made, shortly after the exhibition * 
of last year, to which we have referred. 
It is with great pleasure that we publish a figure of so admirable a decora¬ 
tive plant, and one, too, which evinces the skill of the hvbridiser, for D. amabilis 
is a hybrid production, and was obtained by Mr. Tuke as the result of a cross 
between D. crassinoda and D. splendens. The plant partakes somewhat of the 
habit of D. crassinoda, but it is of stronger growth, with larger foliage. The 
blossoms open of a pale blush pink, and gradually change to rose, until they 
finally attain to a richer and deeper hue than that of D. crassinoda. The 
lobes of the corolla are more rounded in form than in that plant, and the 
flowers, as will be seen from our illustration, are not only of large size, but of 
a very showy character ; they are, moreover, very freely produced. 
The cultivators of stove climbers are under deep obligations to Mr. Tuke 
for having originated so showy and free-blooming a plant, which is without 
doubt a decided acquisition, even in a family of which the species almost with¬ 
out exception occupy a front rank amongst the choicest ornaments of our 
stoves. It will require treatment similar to that given to the species already in 
cultivation. Ar 
CONCERNING VEGETABLES. 
I thank Mr. Tillery for his excellent and suggestive paper under this 
heading, which appeared in last month’s Florist and Pomologist. I trust 
Mr. Tillery will be good enough to contribute at intervals “ a few observations ” 
on this important topic, as, generally speaking, we are so much in the dark as 
to the true character of many of our kitchen garden plants. 
I have grown this season the Holme Park Cos Lettuce. It is a dwarf¬ 
growing and hardy-looking variety, hearting well, and not apt to run to seed. 
It is a dark brown Cos, having a great deal of the character of the Florence 
Cos. I have, like many of the London people, a strong liking for white 
rather than brown Cos Lettuces, therefore, to my mind the Paris White Cos, if 
imported seed can be obtained, is the best of all summer Cos Lettuces. 
The best summer Cabbage Lettuce is the Neapolitan ; it is a green Malta, 
but hearts sooner, and the leaves are more fringed. The Longstander Cabbage 
Lettuce (sent out I think by Mr. Stephen Brown, of Sudbury), is a kind of 
small Hampton Court, but, being a summer variety, the foliage is green, and the 
leaves are tipped with a kind of purple. It is a good summer Cabbage Lettuce. 
Dickson’s Hardy Winter Cabbage Lettuce is a good stock of a white Cabbage 
Lettuce, and is also a good summer variety, though recommended for winter 
work. It seems to be distinct enough to be classed as a variety, while its good 
qualities are the best recommendation for its being regarded as such. It is sent 
out by Messrs. F. k A. Dickson k Sons, of Chester. A short time ago I was 
TOL Y. L 
