J ^- y"***^^-^ m -^^ H .*J*V -; ^. •l-'P ^-.s ■^■' 'X . a>» y^'^'f^ .. ) \ •-^. i •^ '- # .^^ ' *^ \\ '-^A .* f I i (Ps THE ^o^^ FLORAL MAGAZINE: COMPRISING flXQUXtB ixnti gesrriptioits POPULAR GARDEN FLOWERS. EEV. H. HONYWOOD DOMBRAIN, A.B. THE PLATES BY JAMES ANDBE-WS AND WORTHINGTON G. SMITH. VOL. VIII. LONDON: L. EEEVE & CO., 5, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1869. LONDON: 3AVILL, EDWARDS AND CO., CHANDOS STREET, COVtNT GARDEN. INDEX. Adiantum Farleyense 429 Ageratum, Imperial Dwarf 462 Allemanda Wardleana 420 Aiiricidas Alpine 444 Azalea, Mrs. Turner 451 Azalea, Double : Francois Devos 443 Caladium, Madame Dombrain 418 Camellia la Mfestosa 430 Chrysantherauma, Japanese : Dr. J. Salter and Hero of Magdala . . . 422 Chrysanthemums : Pink, Perfection and Stellaris 427 Cinerarias : Pandora, Ino, and Eoyal Purple 438 Clematis Magnifica 453 Clerodendron Speciosum 432 Coleus, Hybrid : Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice, and Refulgens 423, 424 Cyclamen, Varieties of Persian 442 Cypripedium Harrisianum 431 Darlingtonia Californica 457 Geonoma Lacerata 446 Geonoma Seemanni 428 Gladiolus, Madame Dombrain and Monsieur Legouv^ .... 463, 464 Gladiolus Ulysse 419 Glo.xinias : Mons. Vasconiellos and Mons. Brongniart 452 Hyacinth : Lord Palmerston 434 Iresine Acuminata 441 Mesembryantbemum Cordifolium Variegatum 460 Narcissi, Hybrid : Emperor and Empress 439 Odontoglossum Schleipperianum 461 Orchis Latifolia, var. Lagotis . 447 iv INDEX. PtATB Pelargonium Bicolor : Crown Prince 435 Pelargonium, Golden Tricolor : the Moonstone 437 Pelargoniums : Sultana and Harold 448 Pelargoniums, Hybrid ; Willsii and Willsii Kosea 440 Pelargonium Tricolor, Achievement 417 Penstemons : Purple King and Mrs. Arthur Sterry 425 Petunia, Double : Abb^ d'Osseaume 458 Phaius Irroratus 426 Picotees, Admiration and Miss Turner 455 Primula, Double-flowered Fern-leaved 436 Pyrethrums, new double 445 Eose : Souvenir de Mons. Poiteau 433 Rose, Hybrid perpetual : Edouard Morren 449 Eose, Hybrid perpetual : Lord Napier 421 Eose, Hybrid perpetual : Thyra Hammerick 456 Eose, Tea : Mademoiselle Adrienne Christophle 454 Eose, Tea : Mademoiselle Marie Sisley 459 Veronica Prostrata 450 4i: VinoenbErooks.Day &Sc!n.Ir.-i!- J Andre':'.'s.(ieLet]itA Plate 417. TRICOLOR PELARGONIUM, ACHIEVEMENT. The great favour that has been and is still shown to this most attractive class of plants has induced to give in the open- ing number of a new volume a Plate of one of the very richest coloured varieties that we have seen, and which, for freedom of growth, combined with brilliancy of colouring, is unequalled, some of those remarkable for the latter being deficient in the former ; but in Achievement both are combined, and Mr. Turner may well be congratulated on being the possessor of so valu- able a variety. We had the opportunity in September of paying a visit to those renowned nurseries at Slough from whence so many valuable florists' flowers have gone forth to the floricultural world ; we then saw a whole house devoted to the culture of oold and silver Tricolor Geraniums, and it was a sight to "ladden one's eyes. Mr. Turner has lately taken this class under his care and we have no doubt will ere long show us such specimens as have never before been seen. We have already remarked that this class requires a much richer soil than the ordinary zonals, that they rejoice in plenty of air and light, but ought not to be exposed to scorching sun ; we may now add notes of a few that we saw with Mr. Turner. Mrs. Headhj is a vigorous, fine-o-rowing variety in the style of Mrs. Pollock, but brighter; Mrs^ Hugh Berners, very bright zone, dark bronze marking, and bright golden edge ; Mr. Butter, very vigorous, dark bronze zone • Mademoiselle Christina Nillson, a very pretty variety, carmine-red zone, shaded with bronze. Achievement, tlie plant ficrured in our Plate, is, however, the cream of the set : the leaf is%ery broad, centre light green, with a brilliant fiery crimson zone irregularly blotched with deep blackish-bronze, and the margin of the leaf bright golden-yellow ; the leaves are smooth and slightly reflexed ; the habit is very vigorous, and the flowers of a rich deep crimson-scarlet of good form. These varieties ^vill, we believe, be sent out by Mr. Turner in the spring, and will, Ave are sure, be worthy of the high name he has acquired. 418. "Smcent Brooks J)a,y &Son,ia^. Plate 418. CALADIUM. MADAME DOMBRAIN. The zeal with which the French horticulturists enter into the subject of liybridizing- is not only well known, but is con- tinually being shown in the unlooked-for results which they obtain : recently the double-flowering zonal Geraniums form a case in point, and the same may be said of Caladiums, as tes- tified by the large number of new varieties introduced of late years. When in Paris during the past year, we were invited by M. Charles Verdier to visit the collection of Caladiums raised and grown by M. Bleu, an amateur of considerable eminence, who had made these plants his speciaUte, and most interesting it was to see a large house completely filled with the seedlings which he had raised. Many were very fine plants, others in a smaller state, while some very promising seedlings show an entirely new strain ; one especially we noted, in which the marginal colouring was a bright golden-yellow, instead of green, and, should this become fixed, it will no doubt open out an entirely new field. M. Bleu was the first person who succeeded in seedling Caladiums, and ever since he has pursued it with increasing eagerness. The Caladiums require, in order to grow them to perfection, stove heat, with abundance of moisture, and loamy soil broken in good-sized pieces ; they are easily propagated by division of the roots. That which we now figure, Iladame Doiiibmin, has very fine and handsome foliage ; the ground colour of the leaves, a deep olive-green, the midrib being bordered with a broad feathery band of rosy pink, which extends also down the veins on either side, while the green ground is broken by irregular silveiy-white spots ; so that altogether the leaf is very striking, and is an advance, we think, on others in the same class which have preceded it, of whicli C. Leseschkinii, and some other productions of M. Bleu, will be sent out by M. Charles Verdier in the spring of this year. J An.(ir ews , dsl . et, kth Vmcen.tBroolisIlayfeSan.Iinp Plate 419. GLADIOLUS ULYSSE. We some time ago figured one of the English seedlings raised by Mr. Kelway, of Longport, and we now take the opportunity of placing before our readers an admirable portrait, in Mr. Andrew's best ^tyle, of the flower which Ave consider the best of last season's productions, raised by our esteemed friend M. Soucliet, of Fontainebleau, whose name is known in every place where the Gladiolus is grown as the most distinguished raiser of this beautiful autumnal flower. The culture of the Gladiolus is now so well understood that it would be useless to give any directions concerning it, save that we fear some are manuring too highly, and thereby in- ducing disease. We shall therefore here notice those novelties of the present season which are considered by M. Souchet him- self as the cream of his selection. Argus, brilliant, fiery red, with white lines in the lower petals ; Circe, light rose, slightly tinged with lilac, largely flamed with carmine ; HoMERE, clear amaranth, flamed with purple, very brilliant ; Legoove, fiery red,, the upper petal separated by a white line, large white spots on the lower petals ; Madajie Desportes, pure white, the lower petals slightly striped with violet. Madame Dombrain, violet-carmine, flamed with bright purple ; Mi\RiE Stuart, white, slightly tinged with rose-colour, and flamed with vivid carmine ; Michel Ange, deep crimson, white spots, and highly flamed with brownish-purple on the upper petals, said to bo the best of the season ; Racine, cherry-colour, tinged with violet, each petal marked with a white line ; Schiller, sulphur-} ellow, with large carmine spots ; Thomas Methven, violet, tinged with rose, margin of petals dark carmine ; Viugile, bright fiery red. It will thus be seen that there is both variety and excellence in the productions promised us this year. --T.a4.et.Mi VinceutBrodks , Dajr &,Son.imp. Plate 420. ALLAMANDA WA*RDLEANA. A fierce and strong battle has been waged during the last season with regard to the different Allamandas in cultivation, not only as to which was the best, but as to their identity. Into the merits of this controversy it is not our intention to enter, especially as they are now in course of trial at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick. We have only to bring under notice one which for its qualities is likely to be a general favourite, and which has been exhibited by INIr. Ranley Tanton, of the Epsom Nurseries, to whom we are indebted for the following remarks : — "The plant was introduced from New Granada, and is as distinct from all other species as possible ; with all the art I can bring to bear upon their culture at the present time, Schoftii, Cathartica, Grand (flora, Parensis, Auhletii, Nohilis, Ilendcrsonu', are all deciduous and at rest; and in the same stove I have the plant which has been in flower since the 5 th of March last, also some young ones, all in full, glossy, vigorous foliage, and in full flower, as exhibited at the Floral Committee, South Kensington, on Tuesday, December 15th. This even of itself is a sufficient guarantee of its being a distinct species. There were upwards of a hundred blooms on the plant exhibited on the above day, and at this season it is really a desirable plant, for the blooms come in now witli their unusual colour for dinner-table decoration and for cut-flower work. We exhibited the other day a small plant in sixty pots, bearing a flower from the corymb these blooms had previously dropped." We need add nothing to the above, remarking only that the deeper colour of the throat and the deep maroon colour of the outer side of the flower marks its distinctiveness, — but simply that the small outline figure is a correct representation of one of the young plants. J.Andrews, del et lith. IS-ncsntBrooksDjylSoiij Plate 421. HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSE, LORD NAPIER. We are continually receiving proofs that English Rose-lovers will no longer be contented to receive their Roses from France, but are determined to see if they cannot equal those flowers, whose raisers have been for so many years enriching themselves by supplying English growers and amateurs ; londjide English- raised Roses (not Roses raised in France, purchased there, and then, sent out here under English names) have already established themselves as general favourites, and several raisers are attempt- ing the same end, amongst them, Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough, to whom we are indebted for the op- portunity of figuring one of the brightest Roses that has yet been raised. There is this advantage to be gained by obtaining varieties in England, that their constitution is likely to be much more vigorous than many of the French varieties, which are all sent over here with the character of being vigorous, although many of them turn out to be far from that when gro\\n over here. We do not think that this is to be attributed to a want of honesty on the part of French raisers, but simply that they do well in their climate, and when transferred to ours are not so well able to bear the vicissitudes to which we are subject, especially the cold nipping winds of early spring. There is a distinctness or character about the Rose as figured which will, we believe, tend to make it popular, — not only its brightness, but also the very peculiar magenta tinge in the centre of the fiower, which we do not quite recollect to be equalled in any other flower ; there is also a great peculiarity in the foliage, in many instances the leaves being very curiously wino-ed, while there is a stoutness in the wood which argues welf for the constitution of the Rose; and we fully expect it to take its place with those already universally admired English Eoses, Bevoniensis, John Hopper, Lord Clyde, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. John Berners, and Beauty of Waltham. ■%s^ ■■'^^-. ,K }\ ^ Andrews cJelst/litJi A^centBrocilrsDay&SonJmp Plate 422. JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, DR. JAMES SALTER AND HERO OF MAGDALA. We can well understand any one who had not seen anything of the remarkable varieties of Japanese origin, looking at tliese strange-looking flowers, exclaiming, What can these tilings be ] are they really flowers, or only some whimsical fancy of the artist 1 But in very truth they are exact representations of two of the remarkable series of the hybrid varieties which Mr. Salter has been engaged in producing from the Japanese fiowers intro- duced some years ago by Mr. Fortune, disregarded at that time by many, but containing, as we believed them to do, the elements of much future progress ; and this they have done far beyond anything that one could have imagined in so short a time. We had the opportunity of seeing Mr. Salter's collection in November, and, in addition to the flowers now figured, we noticed Dr. Masters, a large and fine flower, bronze-red with yellow tips and centre ; G. F. Wilson., dark golden-yellow ; Purpurea alha, rich purple, spotted and tipped with white ; Meteor, bright orange ; Begalia, fiery-red orange ; the Mohtdo, very large and long orange-yellow petals ; whilst Bed Dragon, Ameniium, Leopard, Wizai'd, and others of last season, were remarkably fine ; the two which we have selected, however, seemed the finest we had yet seen. Fig. 1 . Dr. James Salter, is a flower of remarkable character, the petals being very broad and of a rosy-lilac colour, but without the slightest regularity of outline, the petals being thrown together in the most confused manner, more resembling masses of cut paper than flowers. Fig. 2. Hero of Magdala, is a fine Indian red flower, witli the back of tlie petals yellow ; and the whole flower bears a very close resemblance to one of the Actini or Sea-Anemones, that kind so well known on our coasts as A. crassicornis. There may be some who will deny the claim of beauty to these flowers, but none can deny them that of novelty. V IJ«a) CO ■* Cs] CM ^ 1 -a 0 i 'B ^ Plates 423 & 424. HYBRID COLEUS, PRINCESS ROYAL, PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR, AND REFULGENS. Probably in the whole history of horticulture of late years there has been nothing more extraordinary than the sale of the Coleus raised at the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens last year : that a batch of twelve hybrid plants should have sold foi- nearly £400 was in itself remarkable enough ; but that this sum should have been given for plants so utterly useless for the purpose which the buyers supposed them available (out-door culture) is well nigh incredible ; yet, having tried them and seen them tried at Battersea and elsewhere, we feel we are not wrong in disregarding them as failures. It was probably owing to this cause that so very different a result attended the sale of tlie new set of what we may perhaps call Golden Coleus, in December, when a very remarkable lot, hybridized by the same raiser, Mr. Bause, were sold for hardly more than the price of one variety at the former sale. They are the result of crosses between some of his former seedlings and Coleus Blumei ; and as they promise to be most valuable and attractive plants for the greenhouse, and some of them may also probably be found veiy useful for the borders, we have selected two for our present Plate, and have added another raised by Mr. Bull. They have passed into the hands of different nurserymen, but all of them are spoken of in very high terms ; tliey are: — Fig. 1. Prince Albert Victor, is in the hands of Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, of Stanstead Park, Forest Hill ; it is a variety of very distinct character, bright golden- yellow with very dai'k pencillings, evidently traceable to the species called Gihsoni. Fig. 2. Princess JRoyal, has a remarkably bright foliage, bright crimson, edged with golden-yellow, and is in the hands of Mr. Charles Turner, of Slough ; it bears a good deal of likeness to Duke of Edinhurgh, which is in the hands of Mr. Bull, and Queen Victoria, which INIessrs. Lee are about to distribute ; while Rcfulgens, one of the best in its style, is a seedling of Mr. Bull's (of Chelsea) raising, and contrasts re- markably well with the other two liglit-foliaged plants. J j^^iQrews,deIetlith. Vincent Brodks.Day&SonJmp. Plate 425, PENSTEMONS— PURPLE KING AND MRS. ARTHUR STERRY. It is now some time since we figured any varieties of this very beautiful herbaceous plant, and a reference to the flowers then figm'ed, as in Plate 234, will show that hybridizers have not been idle, and that very considerable advance has been made, both in the size of the flowers, and the beauty and form of the spike. To Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, who have been amongst the most successful cultivators of this tribe of plants, we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring the two very beautiful varieties in our present Plate. The cultivation of the Pcnslcmon presents no difficulty to the lover of flowers. A hardy herbaceous plant, it is able to with- stand the varying character of our climate, and hence it ought to be extensively cultivated, and wherever hardy plants are used, there it should come into more general use. It is also very easily propagated, by division of the roots, in autumn, and, when properly treated, will yield a succession of bloom from June until October. The French horticulturists have, as well as our English growers, been hybridizing and improving this class, and some of the more recent additions, sucli as Baron de Gargan, crimson striped ; General Prim, flesh-colour and maroon ; President SUhermann ; and Souvenir de Marie Crousse are very good addi- tions, and it is probable that the introduction of new species may lead to fui"ther improvement. The varieties so beautifully rendered by Mr. Andrews in our plate, are. Purple King (fig. 1), in which the whole flower, tube and lip, are of a lively bright purple with pure white throat. large in size and very freely produced in the spike. Mrs. Arthur Sterry (fig. 2) has the tube shaded with rose on the outside, the lip a deep rosy crimson colour, and the throat pure white. They will, with several others, be let out in the present spring by Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, of Stanstead Park, Forest Hill, and Edinburgh. Erratum. — In the preceding plate of Coleus, fig. 1 is not, as inadvertently called. Prince Albert Victor, but Princess Beatrice. .1 iTL^-ppws flei.ef.lith. "feicent 3rooks,r'a,v* ?cn, In Plate 426. PHAIUS IRRORATUS. The older varieties of Phaius are well known for tlieir stately appearance and for the ease with which they are cultivated, and it occurred to that indefatigable hybridizer, Mr. Dominy, who has, in the course of a long series of years devoted to the subject, produced many striking novelties, such as Calantlie Veitcldi, Lalia Plfcheri, &c., to make it the subject of his skill. He therefoi-e crossed Phaius Tankervillice with Calanthe vestita, and the result is the very beautiful orchid which we now figure ; it has been so well described by Professor Eeichenbrach, ^/.«, that we think it desirable to give his words as they appeared in a contemporary ; he is the first of living orchidologists, and is well qualified to write upon any matter connected with this very beautiful and varied tribe of plants : — " This is one of the beautiful evidences of Mr. Dominy 's un rivalled talent in hybridizing Orchids in Messrs Veitch's Eoyal Exotic Nursery. According to the nomenclature of Wiegmann it must be called Fhaius ves/ifo — TankerviU'Ks being an offspring of the so-called Calanthe vestita. Wall {Phaius vestitus nohis), and Phaius TankervillicB, P. Br. The creamy-white flowers are intermediate between its parents as regards their expansion. " Both sepals and petals have a rosy hue over the limb, and there is a pale yellow hue over the disk of the lip. The sepals and petals are oblong, lanceolate, apiculate, with very prominent median nerves. The lip is nearly circular. There are three obscure keels on the base. The anterior part is some- what crisp, and there are two folds in lieu of the lobes of Phaius vestitun. The sj^ur is somewhat compressed and bilobed at the apex, hairy, as is also the stalked ovary. The column is club-shaped, trigonous, white, yellow inside at the base." ■ 427 (J3':X f^V ■r \^ v., V i^-i^l 'iWxv.---^ Plate 427. CHRYSANTHEMUMS— PINK PERFECTION AND STELLARIS. Strange and fantastic as are the Japanese Chrysanthemums, and possessing, as they unquestionably do, all the charm of novelty, they wiU not, with many persons, ever supersede the older and more symmetrical varieties, so many examples of which we have from year to year figured, and improvement on which seems at times weU nigh impossible. Every now and then, however, flowers of surpassing excellence, either in size or novelty of colour, are reared, showing to us that there is still ground unoccupied to work upon, and in our annual visit to Mr. Salter's Versailles Nursery at Hammersmith, in Novem- ber, we selected the flowers now figured as amongst the most beautiful novelties of the year. We have already given a list of some of the best of the Japanese section to be distributed this spring ; we now add a description of some of the best in what is now called the English section. Pink Perfection (fig. 1) is a beautiful, light pmk flower, colour very pure, and form exquisite ; it is considered by Mr. Salter, and we think with justice, to be the premier flower of the year, and has obtained a first-class certificate from the Floral Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society. Sfellaris is a medium-sized flower, Indian red, with the back of the petals deep orange; this colour, as the flower is deeply incurved, is that which most 25rominentIy shows when the flower fully opens; it is in the style of Cherub, but much better. Orcmffe Annie Salter, a fine bronze sport of the old and much esteemed flower, Annie Salter. Rival Little Harry, a very fine small yellow, of exquisite form, in the style of Little Harry. Golden John Salter, fine deep yellow, a sport from John Salter. Beethoven, fine bronzed red, very double, and fine form. Finnette, lilac peach anemone, and Botimdifora, a sport from Beverley, a very fine, compact, white flower, quite a ball. It will be thus seen that three of these new flowers are sports from older varieties. 428. J.AndreT.'s, del.et Mi- Tmcent,jirook5,Day&San,lmp. Plate 428. GEONEMA SEEMANNI. The appearance of a Plate of this very beautiful Palm indi- cates that there is a change coming over the tastes of people in this country, and that we are desirous of aiding this by presenting from time to time examples of the many additions made by recent explorers to our stock of rare and beautiful species. For a long time, both in Belgium and France, the various species of palms have been iised for the decorations of rooms, and on the occasion of the grand fetes given by the various public bodies, the halls, the staircases, and rooms are largely supplied with their beautifully graceful forms, adding quite as much to the ajjpearance of the rooms as the more brilliant flowering plants, such kinds as C'ham ^#«|^ y^^ >ri* }^ '"^^'w^ I^Aii^ i JAidrews.del etlilh' .'inoentBroo'lrs.I/ai'-J Son i Plate 434, HYACINTH— LORD PALMERSTON. Certainly never since the Hyacinth has been grown has such an exhibition of this splendid sjDring flower been brought together as at the Spring Show of the Royal Horticultural Society at Kensington on March 13th. The Dutch growers had no doubt contributed very much towards this by offering a large sum to be competed for in special prizes, for this had stimulated to greater exertions than ever our most celebrated exhibiters, so that the Dutch growers, who came over to witness the effect of their liberality, confessed themselves astonished at the marvellous specimens of culture which they then saw. No firm has contributed so much to the poj^ularity of the Hyacinth as Messrs. Cutbush and Sons, of Highgate ; not only have they themselves shown what can be done in the way of producing the most splendid spikes of flowers, but they have enabled others to enter successfully into the field of compe- tition, for all the 1st class prizes taken by amateurs have been with bulbs supplied by them ; and it is worthy of notice that so far from it being necessary to obtain new and high-priced varieties, the finest spikes exhibited on this occasion were, with few exceptions, those of old favourites, which can be obtained at a cheap rate. There was one exception to the excellence of the exhibition, and that was in the class for new flowers not yet in commerce. There was only one collection staged, by Mr. Wm. Paul, and this contained but one flower of any value, Hector; but amongst new flowers, so new as not to be as yet priced in the catalogue, some excellent varieties were exhibited ; amongst them was the very fine blue flower figured in our present plate. It was exhibited by the Messrs. Cutbush, and was very much admired ; through their courtesy we are now enabled to figure it. It is somewhat in the style of Argus, and is a flower of first- rate properties. 435. J..Ar.drCT'.- Plate 435. BICOLOR PELARGONIUM— CROWN PRINCE. Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to the correct name to be given to pelargoniums of this chiss, there can be none as to their beauty and vaUie. As pot plants they are re- markable enough, and do not require the same careful treatment as the Golden Tricolors — a tolerable proof that the very beautiful marking of that class results from disease ; while as bedding plants they are perhaps more effective than the more aristocratic tricolors. Several growers have been successful in raising varieties of this beautiful class, and we may say that, without doubt, the Messrs. Smith of Dulwich, and Messrs. Dowuie, Laird, and Laing, of Stanstead Park, have taken the foremost place. Other growers are following in their steps ; and in a tour made some time ago in the West of England, we noticed some re- markably fine ones with Mr. Sampson of Yeovil, which he is now introducing to the public — the success of some, stimulating- others to attempt the same. There can be little doubt that, hardy as the pelargoniums of the general sorts are, yet these more refined classes are greatly benefited by moderate heat, especially in the winter months ; we say a moderate heat, because if too much fire heat is given it takes all the colour out of the foliage ; and in a stove o»e can hardly recognise them as the same plants ; while in the summer months judicious shading and plenty of air, but not draughts, seem greatly to improve their growth and appearance. We know no better way of growing them than under lights, where the air has a free circulation round them. Croivn Prince has a very deep black or bronze zone, and will be sent out with other fine varieties by Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing during the present month. # _ . hik-^ • >.--; P^^ ■3!^ ■' .. .f , ■ ;^- -^ >^ 1 ,./* „. •l*?^.. J.AudiBws, del el lith VmcentBrooks Jiay i Saii.lmp Plate 436. DOUBLE-FLOWERED FERN-LEAVED PRIMULA. There is no flower more popular or more useful for the Spring decoration of greenhouses and conservatories than the Primula, and it has certainly rewarded in a remarkable manner the attention that has been paid to it of late years. Those who can recollect the small meagre blooms which used to be tolerated as Chinese Primroses, can appreciate the immense difierence there is now, in the large finely formed flowers and ample foliage that we meet with everywhere, while intensity has been added to the colour, and new shades have been introduced; then by a judicious crossing with the double Chinese herbaceous primrose a strain of double and semi-double flowers was introduced, some of which we have alreadj^ figured in our pages. After some time a remarkable difierence in the foliage ajDpeared, and what were not inaptly termed Fern-leaved Primulas, coming true from seed, were introduced by Messrs. E. Gr. Henderson & Son ; and now a still further step has been made, and double flowers have been produced on the same foliage. The Messrs. F. and A. Smith of Dulwicb, who had previously either raised or introduced some of these novelties, are the pos- sessors of this new strain, and recently exhibited a plant at a meeting of the Floral Committee of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, where they gained a first-class certificate. We are in- formed by them that it will be some time before they are able to distribute it to the public, but with the skill that they have acquired in the management of these plants, we are quite sure that all difficulties in the way of its propagation will he over- come. The flowers of this fine kind are similar to some of those which have already appeared, but it is the fact of obtain- ing fine double blooms on the very striking foliage that makes this such an acquisition. J.Andxews.del.et lith. Vincent. Brooks, Day 3^5oixlrav Plate 437. PELARGONIUM— GOLDEN TRICOLOR, THE MOONSTONE. The interest which has been created in this very beautiful section by no means diminishes, the circle of raisers is con- stantly increasing, and the varieties are now becoming so numerous that it will be necessary to considerably weed them out : this is always a difficult and trying process, especially when the plants are so beautiful. To give two or three guineas for a geranium and then to throw it away because others still more attractive have been introduced requires some courage, and yet it must be done, for we believe it would be very difficult in many instances, were the names changed, for the owners to recognise them. "We have lately had an opportunity of seeing some of the most beautiful and novel of these beautiful plants, at Messrs. F. and A. Smiths', Messrs. Carter, and Messrs. Eollisson and Co. of Tooting. At the former place we saw Achievement, in the way of Lad^ Cullinii, but not with so dark a zone. Jeffi/ Lacy very beautiful ; Coronet very high in colour, with deep maroon zone ; Sultan very rich bright zone ; Flamingo, Vivid, and many others. Messrs. Carter have Sir Robert Napier, very rich and dark ; Prince of V^ales, a grand foliaged plant ; and 3Irs. Bimnetf, beautifully round and compact. These have all obtained first-class certificates. At Messrs. Eollissons' we saw, besides other well-known kinds, the variety now figured, The Moonstone. It will be seen that it is one of tlie Mrs. Pollock section, witli leaves very round and convex, a beautiful golden edge, and dark chocolate zone, splashed with bright crimson shading off into lake ; it bears a good deal of analogy to Lucy Greive, but unlike that variety, which is remarkable for its delicate habit, T/ie Moonstone is very vigorous, and is therefore likely to be attractive for all purposes for which these plants are grown ; their value as decorative plants has been fully proved, but they require it is evident a higher degree of tem- perature than the ordinary zonal pelargonium to grow them in perfection, and indeed more generous treatment as to soil, which they amply repay by their increased vigour. 438 J. Andrews, del. ec ]ith. VmcenLBrooici.Day&Son . Plate 438. CINERARIAS— PANDORA, INO, AND ROYAL PURPLE. It is a very common practice nowadays to discard the notion of growing Cinerarias from plants, and instead of it to trust to seedlings saved from the best kinds ; and so far has this been carried, that rarely do we now see a good collection of these beautiful spring flowers. Yet when we visit places where they are grown as seedlings, we generally find a large number of utterly worthless, staring, ugly flowers, and very rarely any that fulfils our notion of a good Cineraria. The reason given for this is that it is so much easier, which it no doubt is, and when so much is required of gardeners as there is in the present day, this is a matter of some consideration. It is, therefore, to the credit of Messrs. F. and A. Smith of Dulwich, that they have steadily pursued the course of improving the Cineraria, until they have reached a measure of success which amply rewards them for all their trouble. In the varieties which we figure, it will be seen that size and colour have been attained bej^ond anything formerly known ; and we can testify that combined with this they have a dwarf- ness of habit, which adds considerably to their value. Pan- dora (fig. 1) is white with a heavy tip of deep claret crimson, the habit of the plant is excellent, and carries a very large head of bloom. Ino (fig. 2) is a large white flower with tip of light crimson. Royal Purple (fig. 3) is a very remarkable flower, being in fact a tricolor, and is of a richly shaded purple and puce. with ring of ricli crimson and inner circle of pure white ; it is a very attractive flower. "We have also seen another, Orh of Bay, which is perhaps even finer than these. They have all obtained certificates from the Eoyal Horticultural Society, and have been greatly admired by all who have had the opportunity of seeing them. Those who prefer growing from seed, will have the ad- vantagfe of knowinsr that seed saved from the collection of Messrs. Smith has produced these fine flowers, and no time should be lost in sowing it, in order to produce good plants for next sj)ring. But our advice would be to have a few good plants, of whose merits there can be no doubt, rather than a number of indifferent ones. 439, Vincent Brooks . Day &Son,Imp, Plate 439. HYBRID NARCISSI— EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. We are indebted to the eminent firm of Backhouse and Son, of York, for figm-ing the two remarkable hybrids in our plate, and for the following information with regard to them : — " These two fine hybrid Daffodils were raised by the late William Backhouse, of St. John's, near Wolsingham, a most per- severing and successful amateur cultivator of bulbous plants, to which for nearly or quite twenty years he gave large attention ; they are crosses between Narcissu/i bicolor and Narcustis, pseiido Narcissus, or Narcissus Ajax. These are the finest specimens known, and the children are finer still. It will be seen that the Empress (fig. 1) does not differ materially from its parent Narcissus bicolor, but it is distinct as a seedling, both in con- stitution and in being far finer than its parent ; being of much more vigorous habit, larger in flower, and a more abundant bloomer. The Emperor obviously differs from its parent in the same pai'ticulars, and in having broad yellow petals. In addi- tion to these we have another named Stella, the largest flowered Narcissus in diameter of the Daffodil section that we know, and is very striking ; it is in the style of Narcissus poeticus and Narcissus incomparabilis, but half as large again, and with narrow petals, contrasting beautifully with the broad petals of the Emperor and Empress." Considerable interest has been aroused in this class of flowers in consequence of a prize being offered for the best collection of the species — a matter very difficult to manage, as they bloom at various times. Many of them, and the hybrids raised from them, are very effective in the early spring. When grown as pot plants, they tend very much to make a house look gay, and have a delicate perfume ; they are very easy to cultivate, and ought to be more generally grown than they are. J. Andre-ws . del . fit lith VincentBT'OrikB Bajj^iSor. In.. Plate 440. HYBRID PELARGONIUMS— WILLSII AND WILLSII ROSEA. The two most popular flowers of the present year are the Rose and the Geranium ; popular, too, in the best sense of the word, for they can be grown by neai'ly everybody, and in nearly every place. The Rose, it is true, refuses to display its beauties amidst the smoke and dust of our large towns, yet even it may be caused to grow in places apparently most unsuited for it, and where a little shelter can be aflbi'ded to it it does not fail to repay its owner. The Geranium can be grown anywhere, and even some of the choicest varieties do not disdain to show them- selves in full vigour in the cottager's window or in the crowded court. This popularity we bear witness to in having two Plates of Pelargoniums, most distinct, in our present number. For many years, we believe upwards of fifteen, Mr. "Wills, well known in the horticultural world for his skill and ability both as a grower and hybridizer, has been impressed with the idea that it would be a mo.st desirable thing to obtain the growth and thick fine leaves of the Ivy-leaved section combined with the flowers of the Zonal, and he has not only thought about it, but acted on it. Many were the failures, but at last his perseverance has been crowned with success, and a portion of the result we now chronicle in the two varieties figured in our Plate. It will be at once seen that they are distinctly hybrids, the foliage, while chiefly maintaining the appearance of the ivy-leaved section, has yet a mixture of the zonal in it, and is distinguished for its remarkably fleshy character, thus ensiiring its being able to withstand the influence of the weather. In Wilhii the flowers are of a deep scarlet, and quite of the zonal type, while in Willsii rosea they are, although similar in shape and character, of a delicate salmon rose ; they will be sent out, we believe, by Mr. Wimsett, of whose esta- blishment at the King's Eoad, Chelsea, Mr. Wills is now the manager. They may be regarded as the forerunners of an entirely new type of bedding geranium. ■M-i J . Andrews, del eL Tith . Vincent Brooks.Da.y &Son,l;-. Plate 441. IRESINE ACUMINATA. Nothing has been more remarkable in the history of modern gardening tlian the manner in which foliaged plants have gradually won their way to a large share in producing the beautiful results we everywhere see effected ; in ribbon borders, in separating the groups of flowering plants, and in masses by themselves, they are general favourites ; in few gardens can good effects be realized without Iresine Herhdii, Perilla Nan- kinensis, and Coleus Verschaffeltii. Some years ago when we figured Iresine Herbsfii, grave doubts were expressed by some, as to whether it could answer the purpose for which it was intended; but it has by degrees established itself in the good opinion of most gardeners ; and although in some localities it does not succeed well, yet in many others we have seen it in great perfection, especially in the autumn months. The golden variegated sport of it, has, how- ever, generally failed, though we had hoped it would have made a useful change, but it soon becomes dirty and therefore useless. Iresine Acuminata, which we now figure, has been introduced by Mr. William Bull, to whom we are indebted for the oppor- tunity of figuring it, and we believe it will take its place amongst our most valued bedding plants. The intense richness of its colour, the freedom of its habit, and the pointed form of its leaf, mark it as essentially distinct from other plants used for a similar purpose ; it is as easily propagated as the older form, while the character of its foliage is a vast improve- ment on it. It is now being sent out by Mr. Bull, and will doubtless find its way into many gardens during the present season.* * We believe it is also introduced under the name oi JEscyranthis acuminata. 44^ y^^ J, Andrews, del. etlith. "VincentBrooks Dayinioii from perliajis our most eminent growers of Alpine plants, it were needless for us to add anything further, except to say, that as far as cultivation is concerned it par- takes of the same character as the other Alpine species, and succeeds best in moist loam and grit, and in moist situations in the rockwork, if such can be procured. .1 Vinceni B.-oaksi)ay&Sor; Jmp. Plate 451, AZALEA— MRS. TURNER. At the Great Quinquennial Exhibition held at Grhent in the spring of last year, a large number of" new Azaleas, as might have been expected in that city of Azaleas and Camellias, were sent in for exhibition, and as many English nurserymen were there, it was equally natural to suppose that, considering their enterprise and desire to cater for the rage for novelties wliicli always possesses the horticultural world, some of them should have passed into their possession. Amongst those who then purchased some of these Belgian novelties was Mr. Charles Turner, and the Azalea named Mrs. Turner, we are inclined to tliink, is the finest of his acquisitions. Mrs. Turner, as will be seen Irom the figure, belongs to that class of Azalea already represented by such flowers as Etoile de Gand, Variegata, &c., but it is in advance of any yet in growth ; there is not merely the substance of the petal to be considered, but the extreme regularity which the bright pink marking takes on the petal : it does not run off in flames and bars as in some varieties, but is regular, scarcely varying in any one petal in the flower, the edge of the pink marking being deeply serrated, the margin of tlie flower pure white ; the upper petals are deeply spotted with purplish crimson, which adds consider- ably to the effectiveness of tlic flower. Altogether it may be considered as a first-class variet}- ; the habit of tlie plant is vigorous, an important point, as in some of the older varieties of this section there was a good deal of constitutional delicacy. We are not aware that any English-raised seedlings of any great merit are to be brought out this autumn ; at any rate we have not seen them at any of the exhibitions, and we are there- fore the more glad to be able to introduce foreign flowers of such merit as FraiK^ois Devos and Mrs. Tamer. Plate 452. GLOXINIAS— MONS. VASCONIELLOS AND MONS. BRONGNIART. To those who have the advantage of a warm greenhouse, there is no flower that ought to be a greater favourite than tlie Gloxinia; the length of time during whicli it remains in bloom, the comparative ease of its culture, and the exceeding variety and beauty of its many forms, claim for it a first place in the regard of all lovers of greenhouse plants. In order to have such a succession of plants as may prolong their blooming during the summer months, it will be necessary to pot the tubers at three difierent periods ; say during the months of January, February, and March : they delight in that soil which suits so many plants, peat, loam, leaf mould, and well-rotted cow manure. Two methods are adopted with regard to potting — one is to j^lace them at once in the blooming pots, the other to pot them in small pots and shift them on into larger ones ; for the purpose of starting them, it is necessary to have a good bottom heat, while afterwards, if they are to be grown to perfection, they must have a temperature of not lower than 50° at night. They may be bloomed, we know, in a lower one, but they do not like it, the blooms are inferior, and the foliage is apt to become rusty-looking. Care must be taken with regard to watering and syringing, for although this latter is desi- rable before coming into bloom, yet from the thick woolly nature of the leaves, they are apt to damp if it be not carefully done. The varieties which we now figure were sent to us by Messrs. Backhouse and Son, of York, and are of French origin. We regret that owing to circumstances over which we had no control, we are unable to do as we proposed, give a plate of six of the varieties, and can therefore only say that the others are all in the same remarkably distinct style. 4i'i "W'.Tthington G. Smith, del. et litK. TincentBrooksJJay'feSon.Imp Plate 453. CLEMATIS MAGNIFICA. The results of Mr. Jackman's successful hybridization are by no means exhausted ; each year adds to the beautiful series of hardy climbing plants that he has produced. We have already figured Jackiiianni, rithrovlolacea, rubella, and Ladi/ Bovill, and we have in the present plate an entirely distinct variety in Maynifica. No plants have been more widely distributed than the Woking seedlings ; supplying as they did colours much needed in our gardens, they have been eagerly seized upon for various objects, not merely for their proper purpose as climbers, and for covering trellises, but also for bedding ; while the varieties of colour being introduced amongst them will add greatly to their value. There is a wide diflerence between the soft slaty- blue of Lady Bovill, and the rich suflused purple of Magnifica, with its dark crimson bars ; and again, the deep blue purple of Jaclmanni differs from both. We have seen other seedlinss at Woking, again distinct from these, so that there seems a pros- pect of a very great variety. We have seen lately at the garden of His Grace the Duke of Abercorn, at Eastwell, a very successful method of increasing these plants ; the very intelligent gardener, Mr. Woodford, having tried various methods, has adopted the plan of grafting it on the wild Clematis or Virgin s Bower, and has been most successful in so doing ; and as in every hedgerow this plant abounds, it is easy enough to obtain the stock. They were grafted in heat, and afterwards removed to a cool place. Clematis Magnifica is a very large and handsome variety : the colour is a deep jjurple, suffused with crimson ; while the centre of each petal is barred with a broad feathery bar of Turkey red. It has obtained a first-class certificate, and is in constitution one of the most vigorous of the Woking seedlings. 454- Wortliington G.Smith.del.eblith. TmcentBrookt. Plate 454. TEA-ROSE— MADEMOISELLE ADRIENNE CHRISTOPHLE. The additions made tlie last two or three years to our tea- scented roses, bid fair to drive some of the older varieties out of cultivation ; many of them were very delicate in habit, and the flowers very flimsy and loose, whereas we are now getting stout-petalled flowers of the same colours, and with good habit of growth. We shall not care soon to have to humour such varieties as Madame William or Elise Salivate, when we can get such flowers as Madame MargoUin, or the very beautiful variety figured in our plate, and so admirably rendered by our artist. We have had a fine plant of Mademoiselle Adrienne Chrisloplile blooming in our garden during the summer, and nothing could be more beautiful than its flowers. Sometimes the centre was of a beautiful salmony pink colour as figured, sometimes a rich coppery rose, and at other times a soft peach, and now at the end of September it is putting forth a fresh supply of shoots and blossoms which will make the plant gay until the frost overtakes it ; for this is one of the best qualities in these fra- grant roses, that they are true perpetuals, many of those so-called being only so in name. This beautiful rose was raised by our friend Mons. Guillot fils, of Lyons, and adds another to the triumphs which he has obtained as a raiser of new roses; leaving aside roses of an older ^2iiQ,La France, Horace Ver net, Madame MargoUin , Mons. Furtado, and Mademoiselle Adrienne Christo2)7de will be sufficient to stow how very successful lie has been. We imderstand that he has other new flowers to be sent out this autumn, which we doubt not will maintain his past reputation. It has been exhibited in the stands of new roses this season, and has been much admired. 45 Worthmgtm G.Smith.del.et Iith VmoentBrooltB,J)a.yl; Sonimp | Plate 455. PICOTEES— ADMIRATION, AND MISS TURNER. We enjoyed this year a treat whicli we have not had for some years past, that of seeing the collection of picotees and carnations of our friend Mr. Charles Turner of Slough, in full bloom ; and althoiigh the season had been anything but a favourable one, we were greatly charmed at the excellence of the bloom and the extensive character of the collection, and we could not help feeling deep regret that so little is done to cul- tivate a taste for this lovely flower in and around the metro- polis. We remember in our early days the beautiful stands that used to be exhibited at various shows about London, and we are quite sure that with a Httle stimulus given to their cul- tivation the same might be seen again. While going through the varied and extensive collection of our friend, we were ever and anon struck by a rich, highly- coloured, purple-edged flower, whicli appeared also to be of fine constitution, and on inquiry found that it was a new variety not yet sent out, and figured in our plate — Admiration. It is a very broad, purple-edged flower, of great substance; the ground- colour a beautiful pure white and the edge well defined, not a single bar going into the ground colour of the petal, while the shape of the petals is perfection, a beautiful smooth rose leaf withoixt any serrature. There was also a very fine light- edged red flower called Miss Turner, which we have also figm-ed. It is also a first-class flower ; clear white ground, well-defined edge, and good substance. Althougli there is not much encouragement given to the growth of this flower about London, yet we are informed by Mr. Turner that he cannot supply the demand that there is for them, especially among the colliers of Merthyr Tydvil and similar places. Men of this class have long been noted for their love of flowers, and the auricula, tulip, polyanthus, carnation, and pink bave been and are still great favourites amongst them. We have only to add that Admiration has received first-class certificates from the Koyal Horticultural Society, and indeed wherever exhibited. 45' 6. ■Wbrthington G Smitk del et lith VmcenLBrooks Day^Soalmp Plate 456. HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSE— THYRA HAMMERICK. Those who know the great popvdarity of the queen of flowers will not be surprised that we should so often use it as the sub- ject of our illustrations ; they vary so much in colour, size, and shape, that they continually afford great interest, while their wide and increasing circle of admirers insures for them a wel- come reception. What can be more distinct than those figured in our present number, — both desirable, nay, we may say, in their class, unsurpassed, yet so unlike to one another ? When in Paris last summer, we heard a great deal from many growers of the beauty of a new rose, raised by an amateur, from Bucliess of Sutherland, and said in every way to surpass that fine old variety. We afterwards heard that it had gone into the hands of Mons. Charles Verdier ; and we have had during the season the opportunity of seeing it flower in our own garden, where it has fully borne out the character given of it ; having, besides its other good qualities, the merit of blooming freely in the autumn. The colour of the flower is a beautiful bright clear pink ; the back of the petals being a light silvery pink. The form of the flower is that of the Duchess of Sutherland, not exactly globular, but sufficiently cupped to preserve a good shape, without becoming flat. Among other roses of last autumn which promise well, are Heine Blanche, Marquise de Mortmarte, Nardy Freres, and Madame Creyton, but it is, as yet, quite impossible to decide as to their real merits ; the flowers that are placed for exhibition the first year affording by no means a correct idea of them ; and had we not had the roses figured in the present number growing in our own garden, we should not have been able to give so decided an opinion on their merits. "Wbrthinglon G. Smith, del et lith Vincent Brooks Day iScr. Imp Plate 457. DARLINGTONIA CALIFORNIOA. Of all the singular forms that the so-called pitcher plants assume, none is perhaps so much so as that now figured. We have already figured the curious Cejiliahtus follicularis of Australia, the remarkable Sarracenia Brummond'd of North America, and now we add thereto this most singular Californian species, closely allied to Sarracenia ; and for the opportunity of figuring which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Chelsea.* No words that we can use could enable us to describe adequately the very strange appearance of this rai'e plant. The bird-like apjiearaiice of the pitchers, with their remarkable appendages, almost like the wattles of some of our domestic fowls, combined with the singular network of colour that appears in every part of the leaf, combine to render it justly one of the curiosities of vegetable life ; and as such it will be eagerly sought after by those who delight in surrounding them- * It is impossible for us to name this distinguished firm witliout alluding to the loss that Horticulture has sustained in the sudden death of its eminent head, ]\Ir. James Veitch. His name will ever be remembered as that of one of the most enterprising men in his profession, while by his untiring energy and shrewd knowledge of men and things he has raised his establishment to the very foremost place not only in England, but in the world. For ourselves, we have to acknowledge the extreme courtesy ever extended both to our artists and ourselves ; and the numerous figures of plants from his establishment which have enriched our pages will bear witness to the large extent to which we have been indebted to him. selves with the rarer and more curious forms of plants and flowers ; but if we are correctly informed, it wiU be some time before it can be found generally in such collections. We are informed that it thrives perfectly with the Sarracenias, likes a small pot, and a compost composed of fibrous peat, with moss and sand, and a good drainage. It delights in wet at the roots, and grows in a house with Australian Araucarias and Cephalotus. 458. ■Worthington G. Scii ih . ddeL lith . VincentBroolcs, Day & Son.Inip Plate 458. DOUBLE PETUNIA— ABBE D'OSSEAUME. We have never been able to understand why it was that the Double Petunia had so short-lived a popularity. At first it seemed as if it were likely to be one of our most j^opular flowers ; but after a few years it gradually receded from public favour. Possibly the fact that it is uosuitable for bedding purposes may have somewhat to do with it, for so great has been the rage in this direction, that a plan t which could not be used in this manner was considered almost valueless, while everything that could in any way be brought into use for that purpose, no matter how trifling, was considered an acquisition ; but whatever the reason, the fact is so. We think this is a great mistake ; there are few flowers more useful for the decoration of the conservatory or green- house, during the early autumn months, than the Double Petunia: the size of the blossoms, the ease with which it is grown, and the length of time which it remains in bloom, are all points which give it a claim to our favour ; and mingled with fuchsias, Japanese lilies, &c., they tend to keep up the blaze of beauty which can be had in one way or another all through the year ; and it is with this idea that we have chosen for one of our illustrations this month one of the latest and best additions to the class. Abbe (T Osseaunie (for the opportunity of figuring which we are indebted to the eminent firm of Carter and Sons, Holborn, and Crystal Palace Nursery, Forest Hill) is, like most of the Double Petunias, of French origin. It is descrihed by the raiser, M. Eeadatler, as being of a white ground, blotched with carmine purple ; but this is not its general character. We have had some plants of it in bloom this season, and saw a large quantity of it at Messrs. Carter's, at Forest Hill, and their flowers were all similar to those now figured — a beautiful carmine-purple, with the margin of the petals edged with a clear line of white, it forms in this character a most striking plant. We have also seen a very rich self-coloured flower, called Princess, which we received from the same source, and which forms a fitting com- panion to the plant figured. 459, Wnrthmgton G Smith, del el lith VincentBrooks.Da,y£Son,Imp Plate 459. TEA-ROSE— MADEMOISELLE MARIE SISLEY. The warm sunny climate of Lyons seems most favourable for the production of Tea-scented roses ; and from the number already sent out, and others announced, it would seem that some of the Lyons raisers are turning their attention to the production of new varieties in this most beautiful and favourite class. The rose we now figure is one of the most distinct of this class that has been raised for many years. The ground-colour is a most delicate primrose-yellow, and each petal is edged with bright pink, a combination of colour rarely seen, and, as we can testify from our own observation (as we have had it growing in our garden), most charming. The habit of the plant is vigorous, and, like the rest of its race, very free-flowering, con- tinuing in bloom up to very late in the season. It was i-aised by Mons. Guillot fils, the successful raiser of Mademoiselle Adrieiine Christophle, figured in our October number. "We have already received the accounts of the new roses, and find that Tea-Eoses, and their allies the Noisettes, are largely represented, there being thirteen Tea-Eoses, and two Noisettes. Of these, eight are sent into commerce by Mons. Ducher, and three by Mons. Guillot. Those raised by the former are Madame Ducher and Tour Bertrand — both seedlings from Gloire de Dijon — Jeanne d' Arc — of the same race as Paciole — Chamois, Le Mont Blanc, and Sulphureux (Teas), and Lamarque Jaune and Reve d' Or (Noisettes) ; while Mons. Guillot has Madame Hippolite Jamain, Catherine Mermet, and Unique. Two of these are of the peculiar character of Marie Sisley — one white, with the extremities of the petals rose ; the other white, largely edged with rosy purple, and said to resemble a tulip in appearance. Assuredly then, we may expect something novel and excellent in these new roses. PI I ■,§ I Plate 460. MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CORDIFOLIUM VARIEGATUM. A numerous and wide-spread family is that of the Mesem- bryantbemum. We bave but to open any dictionary, or list of plants, to see tbis ; and we bave been often surprised that, amidst the anxiety to procure new plants for the ornamentation of the garden, none of this family has been mentioned. Lat- terly, too, succulent plants, EcJieverias, Sempervivums, Sedums, &c., bave been so largely used, that we felt sure the Mesembryanthe- mum would not long be neglected ; and now from the establish- ment of Mr. Ball, whence so many of our really valuable bedding-plants have issued, we have this variegated form of one of the numerous members of the family. The culture of the Mesembryanthemum is very easy, either from seeds or cuttings. In the latter case, the cuttings should be allowed to become dry at the base, and should then be inserted in a compost composed of loam, sand, lime, rubbish, and old cow manure, taking care that the pots are well drained : as they are inhabitants of the Cape of Good Hope, they ought not to be subjected to a lower temperature in winter than about 40°, while in summer they will thrive in the sunniest parts of the garden on rough rockwork &c. Of Mesemhryanihemum cordifoliiim variegatum, Mr. Ball says — " It is a procumbent, herbaceous, greenhouse succulent plant, re- markably well adapted for outdoor summer bedding, or basket- culture in the greenhouse. The branches are furnished with flat, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves, distinctly margined with cream- colour, and form a diffuse yellowish mass, entirely covering the surface of the ground. This has proved one of the most distinct and attractive bedding plants of the season ; indeed it is difficult to convey an adequate idea of its effect when used as an edging or in groups by itself" We have but to add that the entire stock is in Mr. Ball's hands, and that it is now being dis- tributed by him. Worthington G Smith, del etlith YincentBrooks.BayifeSon.Imp. Plate 461. ODONTOGLOSSUM SCHLEIPPERIANUM. If we may judge from the experience of the last few years, tliere is no more prolific family amongst tropical plants than that of Orchids. Scarcely a meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Society takes place without some novelty being produced ; and on a visit we paid to M. Linden's establishment at Brussels last autumn, we found some fifteen or sixteen new species which have not yet been introduced into commerce. The genera of Oricidium and Odontoc/lossuni have produced a large number of these novelties, and amongst them have been some remarkably fine yellow and orange-coloured flowers. We have already figured the splendid Oncidiiim macrantluim and the pretty little Oncidiiim calanthum \ the one remarkable for its long scape of brilliant yellow flowers, the other for its delicate primrose-coloured bloom ; and now in the odontoglot figured we have a fine and striking plant of a different shade of colour, but equally remarkable for its brilliant appearance. Odontofflossum Scldeipperianum was introduced by Mr. W. Bull, of the King's-road, Chelsea, from whose establishment of new and rare plants so many first-class novelties have been intro- duced. It is a native of Costa Eica, and flowers in July and August ; the ground colour of the entire flower is a deep red orange-yellow extending even to the stalks ; the sepals and petals are barred, witli irregular patches of yellowish colour ; the flower scape is long, and doubtless under improved or rather more lengthened cultivation it will exhibit still further its free-flowering qualities. 462. mm- Wortiiington G SmitK.del.etlitii Yincent Brooks J)ay-fe Son, Imp Plate 462, AGERATUM— IMPERIAL DWARF. Among the many desiderata of modern gardening, there has been one which hitherto has not been found, that is, a dwarf blue or lavender-coloured flower to take what is called the second row in ribbon borders. We have the blue Lobelia for the front row, and the tall Ageratum Mexicanum for the back rows, but nothing between tlie two. This hiatus has now been sup- plied ; and in the Dwarf Imperial variety of the older flower we have exactly what was wanted. No wonder, then, that when it was exhibited by Mr. Chater it should have been hailed as such an acquisition. "We have now great pleasure in giving a figure of it, as we feel sure it is one of the best bedding plants of the season. "The LtiperialDioar/Ac/eratum is a seedling from A. Mexicanum, and similar to the parent in every respect, excepting its ex- tremely dwarf habit, and the abundant manner in which it blooms (for every small shoot throws up a blossom at about the first or second joint) — so much so, that it is difficult to obtain cuttings from it in autumn. So profusely has it bloomed with me this summer, that from all the stock I had planted out, I have only obtained two pots of cuttings ; but I take up the old plants, and from them in the spring I can obtain any amount of stock ; and I prefer spring-struck plants myself to any others, as it cannot be grown too freely." So wrote Mr. Chater; and when we add, that all who saw it when it was exliibited at ?*! South Kensington pronounced it to be one of the greatest ac- quisitions we had had in bedding plants for many years, and that it received a first-class certificate from the Floral Com- mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society, we need nothing more in favour of our assertion, that it is an immense acquisition to all lovers of the modern system of gardening. We would take this opportunity of noticing an invention, which we think is likely to be very useful, amongst other things for the hardening of bedding plants in the spring — we mean Eendle's Plant Protectors. Ageratums, and such-like plants, might be placed either in pots, or planted singly under them, and then when the time for planting out came, they could be taken up with a good ball, and would never feel the removal ; a considerable expense in frames, &c., might be thus spared. CO I CO CD cq o I Plates 463, 464 GLADIOLUS— MADAME DOMBRAIN AND LEGOUVE. There does not seem to be any diminution of the interest excited about these beautiful autumnal flowers, and although no opportunity of exhibiting them presented itself during the past autumn in the metropolis, except at one of the Tuesday meetings of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, yet a considerable number of flowers were then exhibited. We ourselves had the pleasure of seeing the grand and unriviiUed collection of M. Souchet, at Fontainbleau, and of seeing in large quantities those novelties of which growers here have only one or two bulbs. The cultivation of the Gladiolus is so well understood that it is unnecessary to add anything on that subject ; we may how- ever say that we have found the plan which we adopted of placing five or six inches of cow manure about eight inches underneath the surface to have answered well, and that we shall adopt that plan in future. The following notes on the varieties of last season may be, we venture to think, depended on. Michel Ange, is a grand flower of an entirely new character, breaking away from the ordinary type of Gladiolus, and having more of a lily-like character. Homere and Thomas Methven are both flowers of a deep rosy violet, with the extremity of the petals of a deeper shade. Marie Stuart is a beautifully-shaped flower, with a light blash ground, and sUghtly tinted with rose and carmine. Schiller, a light saffron ground, with carmine red spots, very distinct. Virgile, bright red scarlet. Madame Desportes, very large and well-opened flowers, pure white, lower divisions lightly-striped with violet. The flowers figured are, fig. 1, Madame Doiabrain, a violet carmine flower, shaded with purple, deeper in colour in the centre. M. Legouve (fig. 2), flowers very large, perfect in form, very lively fiery red, the petals marked with a white line, and in the centre of the lower petals a large pure white spot. There is a large number of new varieties to come out this season, among which many will be found first-rate. ^• Nev; York Botanical Garden Libra; 185 00292 4965 S^J. ^ fT ^. 9 '^ ■a ~. -a ;^^- \ • X' ¥^ -/V ■Mn. f .;^ - \ ^i: > /r^ > ,*<:• .^"^^^ ..-v-» A, ^i! .4 /^*Wt-' .^"^1!