ba ore ith: dates’ at eatante adi hee stele ae 
by immersing it in a solution of Sulphate of copper, one pound to four 
gallons. Mr. Shaw, the introducer of it, has also recently made a closer 
‘material for covering up, instead of bast mat; and, Mr. Standish 
believes that, when this is used over. tiffany, 20° of frost may, be art 
out; if so, it will be a great advantage to all small growers, whose little 
greenhouse is half filled during winter with the bedding-stuff for next 
year. The hybridising of Rhododendrons and other plants has been carried 
on to a great extent here, Mr. 8. having raised more hybrid’ seedling 
Rhododendrons than any other grower in England, and by judicious 
selection has brought them to be hardy, of fine form, and late bloomers. 
‘His object has been to bréed between two distinct Zines of hybrids, so 
‘as to avoid breeding in and in, which, as in the case of first cousins, 
tends to deterioration in constitution, and these are points which should 
be attended to in all cross-breeding. ‘The result of this care was, seen 
in a very large piece of young plants, all of which looked healthy, 
“though they, like everything else, this year, have made but little growth. 
T mentioned that Mr. Fortune’s plants from North China have found their 
way here; amongst them are some fine things. TORREYA GRANDIS is, 
in its native habitat, a noble tree, rising to the height of 100 feet, and 
‘perfectly hardy; so much go, as to have stood the last winter out-of- 
“doors at Hamburgh. Of this there were many thousands, the large 
ones in pots, and the others’ growing on to supply their places. 
CAMELLIA RETICULATA FLORE PLENO. also promises to be a fine 
thing ; it has all the large and brilliant appearance of the old reticulata, 
very free flowering, and the flowers are said to be eight inches across 
and perfectly imbricated, of a lively carmine colour; some of. the plants 
‘are coming into bloom, so that in a short time its merits will be more 
decidedly seen. There is, moreoyer, ‘a yellow Camellia, which is said 
to be quite hardy. There is also another new hardy plant—LycHNis 
. SENECIO—from China, sent by Mr. Fortune, which is said to be very 
“curious, bearing a head of three-coloured flowers, ‘Theré is also Aveca 
“sapida, a fine greenhouse Palm; and also CHAMaROPS ForTUNH, 
with very beautiful foliage. “Amongst the New Zealand acquisitions 
“are the two Dracwnas, or rather Cordyliné, as they are called now. 
Banksia and Banksii erythrorachis, growing to the height of about six feet, 
“with long narrow leaves, the former haying a white stripe up the centre 
“of the leaves, and the latter a red one, These will come largely into 
“requisition for the purposes of decoration, and will be—indeed, others 
allied. to them are—extensively used by our Gallican neighbours for 
“this: purpose, and Mr.'$. may well supply them—as he has from. 15,000 
‘to 20,000 plants. CrATHEA CUNNINGHAMIT and’ SurTrHit are two 
“of the famous Tree Ferns, socalled from the arborescent character of 
“their growth, some of the stems being as thick as a man’s body, and 
“the fronds issuing fromthe top. There is also Todea pellucida, a very 
_ beautiful Fern, of moderate growth, though one of the plants which 
Mr. Standish has was the largest oné Mr. Watson found in the New 
- Zealand forests, and is supposed to be 200 years old. There are also 
~ several species of Hymenophylla and Trichomanes, such-as H. multi- 
~fidum, eruginosum, flexuosum, pulcherrimum, and T. elongatim and 
reniforme. “These 'will be sent out in the spring, and owing to the cha- 
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