1881 .] 
GREENHOUSE RHODODENDRONS.—MARQUIS OF DOWNSHIRE PEACH. 
103 
simple, collected into sliort erect cjdindrical 
aments, its foliage is really pretty, tlie upper 
surface being marked with distinct white veins, 
as shown in the accompanying figure, which 
represents Mr. Williams’s plant. 
This Peperomia occurs in many parts of 
South America, and in the West Indies, and 
was named Acrocarpidium inirnmv lari folium by 
Miquel. The filiform stem is rooting, the 
leaves thick and fleshy, and the amentiferous 
branches from an inch to an inch and a half 
long. The plant being slender-growing will 
form an elegant and welcome addition to the 
subjects adapted for growing in suspended 
baskets. It, of course, requires stove heat.— 
T. Moore. 
GREENHOUSE 
RHODODENDRONS. 
HE Rhododendron arboreum and its 
varieties may be considered the most 
gorgeous-flowering plants of the early 
spring season ; and when abundantly supplied 
with water (and if planted out, a hollow should 
be formed around the base, in order to conduct 
the water to the ball), the flowers last a month 
or five weeks in beauty. One fine variety here, 
which is the darkest-coloured I have ever seen, 
has been, this year, a splendid sight. The 
plant is 45 ft. in circumference, and 11 ft. high, 
and had GOO bloom-heads open at one time ; 
but as cultivators will know that these plants do 
not flower every season in the same profusion, 
it will probably not have half so many next 
year; nevertheless, even that lesser number 
would be worth looking at. The wonder is 
that one sees these splendid Bhododendrons so 
seldom. The Messrs. Downie and Laird, of Edin¬ 
burgh, maintain a fine collection of these Indian 
Bhododendrons, and a solitary one may be seen 
now and again in private gardens ; but, as a 
rule, they are rarer than most other species of 
plants. Like Azaleas, at this season they like 
warmth and moisture, not only for the proper 
development of their flowers, but for the 
maturation of their growth for next year’s 
bloom. During summer, a watering or two 
of weak liquid-manure will be very conducive 
to their well-being, or what is quite as good, 
or perhaps even better, a top-dressing from 
a spent mushroom-bed. We generally fill up 
the basin that is formed for watering with this 
material, which seems grateful and refreshing 
to them during summer.—H. Iv., Floors. 
MARQUIS OF DOWNSHIRE 
PEACll. 
SHOULD be glad to learn if there really 
is such a Peach as Marquis of Downshire. 
I cannot find the name in the Fruit Cata- 
locrues, but received a tree under that name 
O 1 
from a large nursery firm. It is fruiting freely, 
