THE 
FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
s\ /*\ r\ s\ r\ /\ s\ s\y\ r\ A .’/> . />. r\ 
September, ] 844. 
THE GENUS LISIANTHUS. 
WITH AN ENGRAVING OF L. NIGRESCENS. 
This small genus, known to cultivators chiefly through L. Rus- 
sellianus, as an extremely beautiful but equally difficult portion 
of the vegetable kingdom, has lately received some interesting 
additions, which, together with an improved method of treat¬ 
ment, made known to the horticultural world through the libe¬ 
rality of Mr. Cuthill, florist, of Camberwell, promises to render 
it of far more general interest than has yet been its fortune to 
obtain. 
In looking through the extended range of floral beauties 
tended with all care and assiduity throughout the breadth and 
length of our flower-loving land, we may find every variety or 
kind of colour, either in bold and vivid fulness or shadowed 
forth in half tints : in some degree or other, every shade or 
mixture of shades is present, except one — and that is, black—an 
instance that has been prettily introduced in allegory, as typical 
of the innocence and joyousness of flowers ; yet such is the con¬ 
trariety of human nature, that the absence of even this sombre 
colour has been, and is, matter of regret, and any approach to it 
hailed as an advantage gained. Without questioning the just¬ 
ness of this taste, the subject of the present paper offers matter 
of congratulation in its very near approach to the much-coveted 
colour, its flowers being, when first opened, of so dark a colour 
as to be easily mistaken for pure black, and though certainly 
VOL. v. no ix. s 
