LITERARY NOTICE. 
91 
keep pace with the general advance of horticultural knowledge, 
but also a regard to the condition and consequent improvement 
of his fellows. This is the spirit we wish to see extended among 
all classes of gardeners, being convinced of.the impolicy of 
secrets of any nature, in a profession, the members of which are 
perhaps more dependent on each other for mutual information 
than any other body of men. But it is not on this consideration 
alone the pamphlet before us grounds its claim to notice. The 
articles contained in it possess intrinsic merit; they are practi¬ 
cally useful and well written. We extract part of an article 
on the natural order Tropceolacece , read by Mr. D. Maher, 
Feb. 16th. After some remarks on the relative position of the 
order in the natural system, and enumerating and describing 
eighteen species, he proceeds : 
“The geographical range of the order is very extensive: from 
Mexico on the north to Buenos Ayres and Chili on the south; 
but the tract of country from which we possess the most species 
is the western slopes of the Andes of Peru and Chili, where the 
most of them appear to flourish in rocky and bushy places, the 
borders of woods, &c., where the soil is commonly moist, and 
the weather cool during the growing period, and where during 
the summer the heat is powerful, so that the growth of the 
stronger species is checked, and the production of flowers con¬ 
sequently increased. 
“ This point should be particularly attended to in the cultiva¬ 
tion of T. tuberosum , moritzianum , and others of similar habit, 
as otherwise in this moist climate the growth is so great that no 
flower buds are formed until too late in the autumn to expand, 
and thus we are disappointed with plants of great beauty. But 
if forward plants of this description are turned out in a poor 
soil and hot exposure, and kept moist in the beginning of the 
season, and afterwards left to the natural supply of the atmos¬ 
phere, a bloom of some months’ duration will be obtained, highly 
rewarding the cultivator for his trouble. 
“ T. tuberosum is seldom seen in flower, and is discarded by 
many on that account, it is however a very handsome species, 
and if grown according to the hints given above will not be 
thrown away so readily. I have known it to succeed best and 
flower most profusely in a pure gravel. Indeed the whole order 
will be benefited by care being taken that they do not grow too 
luxuriantly when free flowering plants are wanted. 
“ Tropceoleum tricolor , T. brachyceras, and no doubt also 
T. azureum , will succeed well in a good loam, rendered free but 
not too light with sand, leaf-mould thoroughly decayed, and a 
little peat. Judging from the soil adhering to imported roots 
