THE SEASON. 
23 
Sobralia macrantha splendens (Rollison). This is a very beau¬ 
tiful variety of the now generally known S. macrantha ,, having 
somewhat larger and deeper coloured flowers. It flowered in 
July last with Messrs. Rollison, the eminent nurserymen of 
Tooting, who purchased it among other plants at one of the sales 
of South American Orchids collected by Mr. Skinner. We be¬ 
lieve it is a native of Mexico.— Pax. Mag. Bot. 
THE SEASON. 
The extraordinary mildness of the present season is matter of 
conversation in all places, exceeding even that of 1845. The 
following is a list of plants we have seen in flower in the open 
air within the last few days, in the neighbourhood of the 
metropolis. Rhododendron hybridum, Roses of the Provence 
class, Cynoglossum glochidiatum, Gentiana acaulis, Snowdrops, 
Verbenas, Furze, Picotees, Wallflowers, Linum perennis, Laurus- 
tinus is flowering beautifully. Scarlet Pelargoniums, Potentilla 
uniflora, macrantha and grandiflora. China roses are in full 
bloom in all positions, and self-sown annuals that have remained 
in the borders undisturbed are from four to six inches high, many 
of them showing their flowers, so that should a day or two’s sun 
occur, we are likely to witness a complete transposition of the 
seasons at Christmas. The prevalence of a humid atmosphere 
for so long a period makes the plant-grower feel anxious for his 
charge, in many places the effects of damp are becoming visible. 
Verbenas, Heliotropes, Scarlet Geraniums, and other bedding 
plants are suffering considerably ; Heaths, too, evince their want 
of brighter weather. The usual remedy of an occasional application 
of fire-heat is almost powerless this season, or if employed to an 
extent that would be appreciable, consequences very nearly as bad 
as those required to obviate will soon become apparent, for, 
beyond question, the plants so treated will begin to grow, and 
then we do not see that their condition would be at all improved. 
At the present time (December 22) a fall of snow seems to be 
threatened, which, for out-of-door vegetation, will be most 
beneficial, if of sufficient depth to protect them from cutting winds 
and frost, which their present excited state is by no means fitted 
to meet, and which the approaching change in the year may lead 
us reasonably to expect. 
