184 THE “FLORIST. 
ference between plants that requiré more or less"water should ‘be’ made 
by watering more or less frequently, and not by giving See or tes 
quantities at one time. 
JOR. Sunn: 
Flora Cottage, Norwood. 
NOTES FROM! KEW) 10d bosig jaiit an 
THE effects of the past winter have been here as ; elsewhere ‘severely 
felt, many Coniferous and other plants having been greatly injured. 
Thanks to the genial growing weather we have. lately. experienced, 
however, these disasters. are fast disappearing. Bushes of: Forsythia 
_viridissima and Cydonia japonica have been exceedingly gay,, both,.on 
the. open lawn and against walls this spring; the former being literally 
one mass of golden yellow blossoms, and the. latter as red.as a soldiers 
coat. Both are very effective plants, and bloom at a season when we 
have little attractive in the way of out-of-door flowers. 
Under glass, considerable improvement is.apparent in the manage- 
ment of some classes of plants. Orchids, for mstance,, whose bad 
condition has long been a subject. of complaint, appear to be getting, 
though slowly, into a more healthy condition. ‘The same may be said 
of Pitcher plants; and ina slate tank, ina small house, were many 
charming, examples of water plants, and, among~them .a_,splendid 
specimen of the Madagascar Ouvirandra fenestralis, with open skeleton 
lattice-like leaves, at least 15 inches in length, and 7 inches in width. 
~The Royal Water Lily (Victoria Regia) was‘also growing beautifully 
here; in the house specially set apart for its culture, it has not TS 
been found to succeed so well. 
In the large Palm-house considerable alterations have been iden ely 
effected. Many of the fine specimens with which this house is furnished 
having reached the roof, it became necessary to lower the tubs in which 
they were growing into the floor.’ This has been done, and’ now they 
may be seen growing in neatly constructed beds of soil, kept in ‘its place 
by means of green painted side-boards, surmounted by little wire fences. 
Passages have been left between the beds, which have’a tasteful and 
neat appearance. Many of the Musas are fruiting. Other'improve- 
ments of lesser magnitude, but no less importance, have also been made 
in this house, which, owing to the number and variety of the map oh 
it presents, is always a favourite one with visitors. 
The new conservatory, which is to relieve the New Holland hdetdes 
of their over-crowded stock, is now about to be erected between the 
~ Palm-house and the-Chinese Pagoda, and when finished, owing’ to its 
ample proportions, will form not only a useful but a conspicuous object. 
A lake, too, of large extent is, we are told, to adorn the ornamental 
grounds ; and the Botanic Garden itself has lately been enriched by 
the addition of numerous hardy trees of a decorative character. | 
Lectures are to be given to the young’ men employed ‘in this’ esta- 
blishment, the usefulness of which, not only as a’place of great public 
