tt thi bait ee SP TET ES abe be eee ieee tL fe Titi i tt sc a ae bith st = hii i ae paceseorheeeseeeeie eg et a SS ee eae a ie pel oe a a ae rt ert ean ip carte et fecrereerect th stihl ; Late byt . Hldaset ee a te te ieee te Wy) nity roe ie fF uf ft poabebere thebibeae etre + bien) anit it di byters) it a ih ‘it rey iy dh i i tt ra mth tee ie te Lit Hath deihatere eth rn (-! i ra aa athe: beeen ate ot aia Sarat Trak beregs igh iri i i ris ni sTsebet a “1 rt Mt ag pe iba aie) rt ; ) ‘ sepelnie ites on i deeneererty * ‘4; ii i=\+ af i tybie: fel 7 Is ’ ie rf ifs of eh a feiss i oe Widsets patchy hf tose ii: ae uit eet Pistitg 4 i Birth v ysitiee \ tit au af Eee pret ere) vist 7 ‘gist =f it eye tute felgdresdrey Htc a ti ee ot rete pit : i i i ah rat sisted! bes ice nee ‘i i Artiste 4) Bi ihe pores y idl ahi th atl tt eh igh rth att nt Libis bia wi Hua i faye yee ih eis ce ret ‘\ H Lysieyesm : THEM SSP, Tid yritipaits Phehe rmbt ahsaehe harap Sr “ ch tie va ae spre it seit Big i seit i i a it! ith re vit tt soars Siete ‘ ie oS ste i natal hibit Bbpeehnehentit rape rh Nye Tyee eh (ati sere iit ssislalie onthe , ot bebe betr aa autiead bch Hi ih fisted esl Ppsistes} sate feat a: iit " i i i angst tt itis sidi¢ * eh Bi At ibeelty ; a i . sie Toes ist : a ities sc afeus tei eer i of bedi o eee gue aise i iiss ah Ha joists reo ith iy te ‘ felelel or se . y (2 et Tete sebehehc te ebtdt te picheeaeayes aria aera a i * at a Aye ae i sa Ha — i i fe ihr a it i erin toretate i int it iH ae i . ht it ti i ae ar agreaesoeen Ege Heo Se att Hi ith ti} sunita seit thy} Hasuiikt tia bene bepheceta hte nretaehetets tence aera Oba tehe pt eit pe in eit lwhche cperere dl 4 ial isotope te eden s hake} ete aes he tyayait i eb, oehete! 7h ty ay 2 iy se i i igh Pah ty ih rdseey hr recta it ; nt ihn abe it e anes Hua oe a tht mae He ta ie ere are peiein bed did arth i , Te aN i i fia it bike iit ai f : + ye ia ibytie a Ht} Tehatth ih nt ate fetta as eeheee tha ne tt i i Hat ities = ; . ane tf petit trie aa Han at arate ny ere bs et i “ye pi) tab nies pois i; per at 4 beeen ah Siejtieeh rt 7 aia Ot ii iit ae ai i — q | e savl wa - ! 4 : ' 7 ti ; - f += = = \ ‘ D i \ ; i" ‘ nis aoe ' t ae a a ‘ He Fy 5 a A ; ,¢ ff ent yun, a i Ps NOE a ; : pe tat : “a THE FLORAL MAGAZINE NEW SERIES. ty 1 oe i ; " : 7 : =f i 7 1 7 7 1 7 4 - ‘i 7 ; A A j 7 i i ‘ , he P= be U 7 ' : 1 ! 7 \ : - ‘ ‘ cP fi & . ‘ i > ‘ : : oe: ; - si 7 : _ 5 = a4 ‘ 7 + \ fo ao = De ’ 4 > are = -_ : ss o ne ry an mo THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHOICEST NEW FLOWERS FOR THE Garden, Stove, or Conserbatory. BY THE REV. H. HONYWOOD DOMBRAIN, A.B. HON. SEC. OF THE METROPOLITAN FLORAL SOCIETY. THE DRAWINGS BY WORTHINGTON G. SMITH, F.L.S. NEW SERIES. LONDON : L. REEVE & CO., 5, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W.C. 1872. EP ow wore Cc WW WW Ww Or CONTENTS. . Vriesia brachystachys. . Bicolor Pelargonium—Mareschal M’ Mahon. 3. Gladiolus—Nestor. . Verbenas — Emma Weaver, Pink Queen, Carnation. . Begonia Intermedia. }. Antirrhinums — Delicatum and William Robinson. . Dahlia—John Standish. . Aichmea Marie Regine. 9. Primula Japonica, var. Lilacina. . Rose—Lord Eldon. . Fucshia—Splendens. . Aucuba luteocarpa. 3. Cyclamen persicum, vars. Queen of Crimsons, Snowflake, and Purpureum. Marvel. . Masdevallia ignea. . Azalea ). Draceena excelsa. . Celosia Huttoni. . Single varieties of Chinese Primrose. . Cinerarias—John Standish and Lady Kal- morey. . Toxicophlea spectabilis. . Tricopilia fragrans. . Amaryllis—Olga. . Double varieties of Chinese Primrose. . Dracena metallica. . Camellia—Souvenir d’ Emile Defresne. 26. Odontoglossum Denisone. . Auricula—Alderman Wisbey. . Masdevallia Lindeni. . Fancy Pansies—James Neilson, Lady Ross, John B. Downie, and David Mitchell. . Azalea—Beauty of Surrey. . Hyacinth—Excelsior. 2. Cattleya Mendeli. 3. Lilium Californicum. . Coleus Tryoni. 35. Lycaste Skinneri alba, and nigro-rubra. 36. Hibiscus (Rosa simensis) miniatus semiplenus. . Bedding Violas and Pansies. . Wallflower-leaved Pyramidal Stock—Mauve Beauty. . Persian Ranuneulus—Columbia, Argo, and Hilda. . Oncidium—Creesus. 11. Double Zonal Pelargonium— Jewel. 2. Tea Kose—Cheshunt Hybrid. 3. Gladiolus—Jupiter. . Tillandsia Lindeni vera. 5. Odontoglossum Andersonianum. .6. Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) albo-variegatus. . Calceolarias—Mrs. Paul and Mrs. Forest. .8. Rose—Madame George Schwartz. Description of Plates. Eves Tt i \ =. — , ‘ INDEX TO PLANTS Aichmea Marie Regine . Amaryllis—Olga Antirrhinums — Dslicleaw and William Robinson . Aucuba luteocarpa.. ; Auricula—A lderman Wishey : Azalea—Beauty of Surrey Azalea— Marvel Begonia intermedia Calceolarias—Mrs. Paul and Mrs. Forest Camellia—Souvenir d’ Emile Defresne Cattleya Mendeli . Celosia Huttoni. Cinerarias — John Standish Kilmorey . Coleus Tryoni . Cyclamen persicum, vars. Gace of eine sons, Snowflake, and Purpureum Dahlia—John Standish . Draczena excelsa Draczena_ metallica . Fuchsia—Splendens Gladiolus—J upiter Gladiolus—Nestor . Hibiscus (Rosa stnensis) albo-variegatus . Hibiscus (/osa sinensis) miniatus semiplenus Hyacinth—Excelsior . Tnlium Californicum . ; Lycaste Skinneri alba, and nigro- aba : and Lady FIGURED. Masdevallia ignea . Masdevallia Lindeni . Odontoglossum Andersonianum Odontoglossum Denisonze Oncidium—Creesus. Pansies, Fancy—James Neilson, Lady Ross, John B. Downie, and David Mitchell . Pelargonium, bicolor—Mareschal M’ Mahon Pelargonium, double zonal—Jewel. Primrose, Chinese—double varieties . Primrose, Chinese—single varieties Primula Japonica, var. Lilacina Ranunculus, Persian—Columbia, Argo, and Hilda Rose—Lord Eldon Rose—Madame George dunes Rose, Tea—Cheshunt Hybrid . Stock, Wallflower-leaved Pyramidal—Mauve Beauty . Tillandsia Lindeni vera . Toxicophlea spectabilis . Trichopilia fragrans Verbenas — Emma Weaver, Pink Queen, Carnation . Violas and Pansies, bedi Vriesia brachystachys =e fer THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES.] JANUARY, 1872. [No. l. EXHIBITIONS. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Dec. 6th. Ove of the greatest boons conferred by this Society on horticulture has been their monthly or bi-monthly Wednesday meetings. They afford an opportunity to those interested in gardening in any of its branches, of meeting together during the dull months of the year, when much has to be talked about, although, perhaps, but little to be seen. They also permit of products being brought before the public, which would otherwise be kept either in the nursery or private garden. The intense frost in the early part of the month prevented growers from sending in any tender plants to the monthly exhibition on the 6th of December, but there was still a sufficiently interesting collection : prizes were offered for twenty-four cut blooms of chrysan- themums and, notwithstanding the very unfavourable nature of the season, some very nice collections were exhibited, the first prize being awarded to Mr. Rowe, gardener at the Rookery, Roehampton ; the second to Mr. Douglas, gardener at Loxford Hall. Amongst the blooms exhibited were Dr. Masters, Red Dragon, John Salter, Chang, Apollo, Lady Hardinge, Mr. Brunlees, &c. Mr. Goddard, gardener to Mr. Little, Cambridge Villa, Twickenham, had the very darkest cyclamen we have yet seen, and which we hope to figure before long ; it is called Queen of Crimsons, and well deserves the name. There were some examples of a new strain of Chinese primula with white flowers, and measuring from one inch and a half to two inches across; also some nice specimens of berry-bearing hardy shrubs; and ex- amples of the Yew and Cypress type, exhibited by Messrs. Standish and Co., Ascot, who also showed a plant of asparagus decumbens, with a slender trailing habit of growth, and likely to be very valuable for cutting for bouquets, so that although the variety was small, there were many objects of interest. GARDEN ECONOMICS. Unper this head we purpose noticing from time to time some of those contrivances which are being con- tinually introduced, for the purpose of aiding the gardener, and more especially the amateur gardener, in his pleasant labour of love, and we may class as amongst the most useful of these— RENDLE’S PLANT PROTECTORS, AND LOOKER’S ACME FRAME. We class these together for, although somewhat dif- ferent in appearance, they are made upon the same principle—viz., a combination of earthenware and glass. Probably the first effort of the kind was that of the Curate’s Vinery of Mr. Rivers; this was, however, of wood and glass. Mr. Rendle’s is simply brick and glass, while Mr. Looker’s has besides a wooden moveable frame. We can testify to the great value of these in- ventions ; we have tried them as protectors for lettuces in the winter and spring, as means of forcing straw- berries, bringing them into fruit fully a fortnight before those in the open grounds, for pricking out seed- ling plants of flowers before transplanting into beds ; and inall these cases we can conscientiously recommend them. It has been objected to them that they are liable to breakage ; we have not found them so. They require a little care in putting up, but the instructions given are ample and clear, and if followed out, cannot fail to command success. In small gardens they are invaluable, being not unsightly, and easily removed from one part of the ground to the other; they are, moreover, most reasonable in price, so that no amateur need be without them. REVIEWS. The Orchid Growers Manual. By Benjamin 8, WittuMs, F.R.H.8. Fourth Edition, enlarged and revised, with Illustrations. 1871. THERE is always a difficulty in combining sound scientific knowledge with popular and readable instruc- tion. On the one hand, the man of science is so wedded to his own way of seeing and describing the very simplest things, that his writing is likely to be so dull and uninteresting that the general public will not care to read it; while there is the danger that he who writes popularly will be so ignorant of, or so indifferent to scientific details, that it deprives his writings of any permanent value or any real authority. In the book now before us we have combined both thorough know- ledge of the subjects on which the author writes, and also a pleasant and agreeable method of communicating information. It is true that Mr. Williams disclaims any idea of dealing with orchidaceous plants from a 2 THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. scientific point of view, but withal it is clear that it is the work of one who could do so if needed, and who so writes that scientific men can accept his statements. In this edition the author has introduced some illus- trations, “and thoroughly and carefully revised the text, which has received many additions under the heads of both cultural treatment and descriptions of recently introduced orchids ;” and as Mr. Williams has long been known as one of our most successful cultivators and exhibitors of orchids, it cannot but be that all that is necessary for understanding them and their growth is here given. It is no slight thing to be able to say that his work has not only been the means of assisting amateurs in their cultivation, but also of inducing many other plant-lovers to attempt their cultivation. In fact, his work has now come to be regarded as the standard work on orchid culture. The clear good sense with which Mr. Williams writes is manifest all through his work. Take, for example, where he speaks about imitating the natural condition in which orchids are found growing, but which, he says, may after all be fallacious; for if we are to imitate nature, it must be where nature is in her best garb, while many of those who see orchids growing in their natural habitats see them as we may see many of our native plants growing in unsuitable localities, and consequently stunted and ill-favoured; while it can be hardly questioned that in our own orchid houses may be seen finer specimens than travellers have ever met with in their native habitats. But it is needless to dwell further on the merits of the book. AJ] who care to grow orchids or to understand their culture will do well to possess themselves of a book which so thoroughly meets their wants. Domestic Botany. An Exposition of the Structure and Classification of Plants, and of their Uses for Food, Clothing, Medicine, and Manufacturing Purposes. By Joun Smiru, A.L.S., Ex-Curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reeve and Co. A Book for those who wish to know whence comes the food they eat, the medicine they take, the cloth they wear, the stuffs that dye them, and numbers of sub- stances used in arts and manufactures. The intro- ductory portion of the book is a little old-fashioned, as might be expected from one who acquired his botanical knowledge from the past generation rather than the present, but the second and principal portion is brim full of just such information as inquiring persons desire to find but do not know where to look for. Not only does it tell us the vegetable substances used in civilized countries, but informs us also what constitute the food, medicine, clothing, &c. of the native inhabitants of the countries where they grow. The work is illustrated with sixteen coloured plates from the pencil of Mr. Fitch, which exhibit many of the most remarkable forms of vegetable growth in foreign lands. The Young Collector’s Handy Book of Botany. By the Rev. H. P. Dunster, M.A. Reeve and Co. As its name implies, a “ handy book,” and a very pretty and useful one too, for those bringing home their first gathering of Wild Flowers, Grasses, Ferns, Mosses, Funguses or Seaweeds, giving them just such informa- tion as they at once need in examining, drying, arranging and preserving their specimens, with a peep into the Science of Botany, which will not make them shut up the book as dry, but rather create an appetite for more. There is a chapter on preparing skeleton leaves, and at the end some excellent woodcuts with dissections of the plants to assist the Young Collector in naming his specimens. CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Spring Catalogue of Vegetable, Agricultural, and Flower Seeds, Garden Requisites, &c. Dick Radclyffe and Co., F.R.H.S., 129, High Holborn, W.C.; Seed Grounds, Erfurt, Prussia—An excellent and well-arranged cata- logue, with a full account and illustrations of the various horticultural contrivances introduced of late years, amongst which we notice Dr. Graf’s indelible ink for all kinds of labels. Tree and Shrub List. Richard Smith, Nurseryman, Seedsman and Florist, Worcester.—A name too well known to need any recommendation. Suffice it to say, the list is ample, the price moderate, and, as we can testify from personal knowledge, the stock of the very best description. Descriptive Catalogue of Flower, Vegetable, and Agri- cultural Seeds, 1872. B.S. Williams, Victoria and Para- dise Nursery, Upper Holloway, London.—A very full and complete list, containing some new and choice seeds, amongst which is especially to be noted the new Pea, Emperor of the Moroccos. Sutton’s Amateur Guide and Spring Catalogue for 1872. Sutton and Sons, Reading.—Prepared with the usual taste displayed by this well-known firm, it contains, as usual, a number of novelties both in vege- table and flower seeds. James Veitch and Son’s Catalogue of Garden and Flower Seeds, Royal Exotic Nursery, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.—Contains, as might be expected, an . interesting and complete account of vegetable and flower seeds. Amongst the novelties in the latter de- partment are Amaranthus salicifolius and Primula verti- cellata ; var. Sinensis. ps] Puate 1. VRIESIA BRACHYSTACHYS. Considerable attention has been given of late years to the family (Bromelacee) to which the plant now figured belongs, and amongst the lamentable results of the civil war in Paris we have to deplore the loss of the very complete collection preserved in the gardens of the Luxembourg, under the care of the able and intelligent Curator, M. Auguste Riviere, and which perished, as so many collections did, when, for want of fuel, all such luxuries had to be given up. The Vriesia are epiphytal plants, and are sent home on pieces of wood; it therefore becomes necessary to consult, as far as possible, their natural condition, giving them but little soil, so that, we are informed by Messrs. Veitch, they grow them in as small pots as they possibly can, or rather in very shallow pans or baskets, using a very little soil, or moss mingled with broken pots; being stove plants, they require a high temperature. Vriesta brachystachys is a neat growing plant, bearing some analogy in appearance to the pineapple, to which the family is allied. The colour of the foliage is a paie yellowish green, the scape is produced on a long stalk marked with crimson, and is flat, the base of the individual flowers and the bracts being of the same colour, the remaining portion orange witha black tip. It was exhibited by Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Chelsea (to whom we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring it), at the Royal Horticultural Society, and obtained a first-class certificate. PLATE 2, BICOLOR PELARGONIUM—MARESCHAL M‘MAHON. There are distinct types in the very striking and effective class of Bicolor Pelargonium : one in which the yellow margin most largely predominates, and the zone occupies comparatively a small portion of the leaf; and another in which the margin is smaller and the zone not only larger but of a more deep and intense colour. f the former class we may instance such flowers as Impératrice Eugenie and Reine Victoria; and of the latter, Harl Rosslyn and Black Douglas. It is to the latter class that the very fine variety we now figure belongs, and we may without hesitation say, it is the finest that has as yet been produced. Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing have long been noted for the position they have taken in reference to these flowers, and to them we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring this fine plant. Being one of their newest seedlings, it has been largely exhibited during the past season, and has been awarded certificates both at the Royal Horti- cultural Society’s Exhibition, South Kensington, and at the Metropolitan Floral Society’s Show, at the Crystal Palace. The leaf is, as will be seen from the figure, very circular, with but slight indentations, while the zone is very broad and of a deep ruddy brown ; the habit of the plant is excellent and the foliage ample. We are informed by Mr. Laing that there is a very great demand for the seed of this section of pelargonium for the Continent, where they seem to be greatly valued for decorative purposes. Puate 3. GLADIOLUS NESTOR. The French are not such admirers of yellow flowers as we are, nor do they quite under- stand our admiration of Marshal Niel rose, or the yellow tea roses in general, however willing they may be to minister to our tastes in this respect. It is we suppose for this reason that Nestor, one of the new gladioli of last year, is placed in the third series of seedlings by M. Souchet, although the general verdict in this country will be that it is deserving of a much higher place. The yellow flowers amongst Gladioli are few, and, as often happens with flowers of that colour, the bulbs are delicate. We have had Canari, Ophir, and Eldorado for some years, Solfaterre, a somewhat newer kind, is exceedingly delicate, and the varieties named are seldom seen in an exhibition stand; we have, however, good hope that Nestor will, both from the larger size of the flowers and from its better constitution, take a prominent place as a show flower. Flowers of this character are much needed in order to add still further variation to the many beautiful colours which we now have. Nestor is a flower of large size, of a beautiful clear yellow, the spike long and ample, (the lower divisions of the flower of a deeper yellow,) striped with red. We have bloomed it in our own garden, and it was exhibited both by Mr. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourne, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, and by ourselves in the winning stands at the Metropolitan Floral Society's Show at the Crystal Palace, in August last, and was very much admired. © PLATE 4, VERBENAS—EMMA WEAVER, PINK QUEEN, CARNATION. Although the taste for Verbenas has somewhat declined, and it has even fallen into disfavour with those who carry out the bedding-out system fully (a mistake, as we imagine, for a bed of mixed Verbenas is always a telling sight), yet that improvement is still taking place amongst them is evidenced from the fact that during the past season six have gained first-class certificates, the raisers being Mr. Eckford and Mr. C. J. Perry—the latter well known as our most successful exhibitor: the flowers of the former being more adapted, as a general rule, for outdoor gardening; those of the latter for growing in the greenhouse and for exhibition purposes, although some of them have proved valuable for the garden as well ; but as a general rule, their delicate hues of colour can best be seen when grown under glass. The flowers now figured have been exhibited by Mr. Perry during the past season, and will, with some others of the same raiser, be let out in the present spring by Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough. They are :—nma Weaver (fig. 1), a handsome flower, blush white in colour, with a large bright violet-crimson centre ; the plant is robust ; this has obtained a first-class certificate. Pink Queen (fig. 2) is a large flower of a delicate soft pink colour, with large white eye. Carnation (fig. 3) has a white ground, distinctly striped with a purplish crimson, very bright and striking; ‘it is an improvement on the class of striped and spotted flowers which were first received from Italy, and examples of which have been figured in the former series of the Floral Magazine. We believe that these flowers will uphold the high position which Mr. Perry has attained as a raiser. ion een © Con Sal ablith Day&s Worthington G: Smith ELS. del et ltt VincentBrooks, Day &Son Imp SIA BRACHYSTACHYS. VRU ee FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES oe Worthington G: Smith, R BBE LS. del et th PELARGONIUM MARESCHAL M¢ MAHON FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES T. Reeve &Co.5 Henrietta: St.Covent Garden. , a ; ' ; an) 1. . = . : 7 = i ' : : . : J + et, 1 a ~ ¢ ; ~ A H ws - ' ‘ 7 a . i . * ~ 4) ps) uy a = THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES.] FEBRUARY, 1872. [No. 2. EXHIBITIONS. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, SOUTH KENSINGTON, Jan. 17th. A.tuouGu the prizes offered on this occasion were only for ivies and hardy conifers, yet a considerable number of other plants, both pretty in appearance and excellent in quality, were set up, making the council-room quite gay in the dead season of the year. Collections of cyclamens, than which nothing can be gayer and prettier at this season; of forced flowers and orchids; and of tricolor pelargoniums, all united to make avery beautiful display. Amongst the most noticeable things were some very fine orchids from Lord Londesborough, Grimston Park, Tadcaster. There were amongst them :—Phalenopsis Porteana, a lovely white flower with a rosy purple lip tinged with orange at the base and dotted with crimson ; Odontoglossum Denison (which we hope to figure), named after Lady Londesborough, evidently a variety of O. Alexandre, large flowered and exhibiting a tendency to semiduplication, the long spike with eighteen flowers on it was very lovely; and Sophronitis grandiflora with large flowers. From the Messrs. Veitch came as usual a very beautiful collection, comprising a large number of Lycaste Skinneri and other orchids, also a Charles X. lilac, Hippeastrum pardinum, and Lily of the Valley in bloom. Mr. Standish of Ascot sent a very beautiful collection of forced flowers in bloom ; conspicuous amongst them were some very admirable examples of Bouvardia jasminoides. Mr. Turner of Slough had some baskets of excellently grown and well-coloured Tricolor pelargoniums, amongst which Mrs. Headly stood prominent. Mr. Bull of Chelsea sent some good plants, including Macrozamia coral- lipes and plumosa, Crinum amabile (very showy), and Cypripedium pardinum. From Mr. Williams came a number of his fine Aucuba luteocarpa, affording a pleasing contrast to the red-berried varieties, some magnificent specimens of which were shown by Mr. Turner of Slough; Cattleya Walkeriana in fine bloom and colour; and from Messrs. Backhouse of York came a fine plant of Lelia autumnalis grandiflora in fine flower. Nor must we omit one or two objects which were well deserving of attention—the Carter Challenge Prize Cup, value fifty guineas, offered by Messrs. Carter & Co., Holborn, for collections of vegetables at the Society’s provincial exhibitions ; and the Victoria Electric Thermometer, for indicating changes in the temperature of houses; this was the invention of Mr. Rothnie, and brought into notice by Mr. Williams of Holloway. We know of something of the kind in use at Mr. Thompson’s, of Petham in Kent, but whether identical with this we are not aware. GARDEN ECONOMICS. ITALY IN ENGLAND. Unprr this somewhat sonorous title Mr. J. W. Looker, the inventor of the Acmé Frame, has brought out a little brochure in which he gives instruction as to the best method of using these structures, as well as the propagating boxes which so many have found useful. In enumerating the uses to which the plant covers may be put, he mentions the sheltering of lettuces and endives that are fit for use, as well as young plants of the same; for sheltering parsley (which in the winter months is very necessary) ; for accelerating the growth of mint, tarragon, and other herbs. Their greatest value in the kitchen garden, he says, wiil be found in the assistance they will afford to young plants of lettuce, cauliflower, celery, and other vegetables raised in the propagating boxes and pricked out. In the flower-garden, seeds of asters, of ten-week stocks, mari- golds, &c., may be brought forward better in them than in heat. But the Acmé Frame and ground vinery is the invention on which he lays, and we think rightly, the most stress. It has, he says, two great advantages, its cheapness and its portability. Amongst its perma- nent uses he classes the cultivation of grapes, cherries, plums, and other fruits, and of asparagus amongst vegetables: and amongst its temporary uses the pro- duction of endive, small celery, early radishes, and carrots, the earliest crops of peas, and dwarf French beans. Ample directions are given for the fixing of these useful inventions, and also for the cultivation of the various kinds of fruit, flowers, and vegetables for which they are adapted. There is also a monthly calendar which will be found very useful, and altogether the little book is very complete. 4 THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. CHAPMAN’S PATENT CUT FLOWER AND EXHIBITION CASES. Exuisitioys are now so frequent, and so many persons are interested in them, that we do not hesitate to rank among the necessities of the horticulturist these ad- mirable contrivances of Mr. Chapman. Having been amongst the first to recognise their value, we have been pleased to mark the steady way in which they have progressed in the favour of exhibitors; and every show at which we have been present during the past season has given evidence of the widespread character of their success. They enable the exhibitor to place his flowers ready for the exhibition table in his own room at home—they make him indifferent to the carelessness of railway porters or the jolting of cabs—they keep his flowers steady and fixed in their places, and enable him, when he arrives at the show, to simply draw out the tray and place his stand. We have thus taken up ur gladioli, we have seen stands of verbenas, always a difficult flower to carry, put on the exhibition table, looking as fresh as when they were cut; while dahlias, asters, and other flowers are carried with the greatest ease. They are also admirable for sending bouquets, and are also adapted for carry- | ing game and fruit, and are ‘jp largely used for this purpose. Mr. Chapman has recently pa- tented a plant protector, which we have in use in our own gar- den, and which we hope to re- port upon by-and-by. It is very ‘tT? simple, and seems as if it could be adapted for the purpose, and a number of them may be easily packed in a small space when not in use, an advantage they possess over the cloche and the ordi- nary hand-glass. N&1I2 THE MALTON CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Gardener’s and Farmer’s Vade Mecum. Carter, Dunneit, and Beale, High Holborn.—As might be ex- pected from a firm of so much eminence as this, and commanding so much the confidence of the horticul- tural world, this catalogue is abundantly rich in mate- rial; the illustrations. have reached an extent (upwards of 200) which we have not seen equalled by any cata- logue, English or foreign. They are very carefully exe- cuted, as the accompanying example shows, so that buyers can form an idea of what they are purchasing, not merely from description, but from, which is far better than description, a cor- rect figure. The vegetable seed portion is also largely illustrated, and contains a great many novelties. Hooper and Co.’s Gardening Guide and General Catalogue.—Another admirably compiled and profusely illustrated Catalogue of Vegetables, Flowers, Plants, and Gardening requisites. Among the illustrations of flowers and plants we recognise several which have recently appeared in our own pages, besides a great number which do not fall within our province. The cuts are mostly well executed, and perhaps as well printed as the circumstances of a catalogue permit, though in this respect they do not do full justice to the artist. They convey as good an idea of the character of the plants as uncoloured figures can do. The most successful are those figuring palms, draceenas, and other plants valued for the gracefulness of their foliage ; those of flowers, where colour is so essential a character, necessarily fail to give us all we desire. Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Francis and Arthur Dickson and Sons, Chester—A carefully arranged and extensive catalogue, containing all the novelties of other growers besides several of their own. Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Messrs. Rollison and Co., Tooting.—An excellent catalogue, and especially rich in the seeds of subtropical plants, for which this old-established firm is famous. Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. Barr and Sugden, Metropolitan Seed Warehouse.— Very full and complete; the List of Gladioli is very ample, and the different varieties are arranged under the various colours, thus giving at a glance all the sorts, new and old, and enabling purchasers to select at their option. Wheeler and Son’s Little Book of Select Seeds.— One of the neatest, most select, and carefully arranged catalogues published. Catalogue of Vegetable and Flower Seeds. William Cutbush and Son, -Highgate.—A carefully prepared list, containing notices of Cullingford’s Magnum Bonum Peas, and Pottle’s Prince Teck Potato. Co Correspondents. T. S.—It would be impossible to figure fruits in our Magazine, nor do we think there is an opening for an illustrated magazine especially devoted to them. G. T.—We know of no remedy for the Gladiolus disease ; it has been very bad in some places this past year, and Messrs. Souchet’s stock has been affected by it to a certain extent. F. J.—It is not too late to plant shrubs ; some prefer this time of the year to an earlier one. FLorist.—Yes; we hope to figure some of the new auriculas. We hear that there are some fine things amongst Mrs. Headly’s seedlings, now in Mr. Turner’s possession at Slough. Puate 5, BEGONIA INTERMEDIA. In the former series of the Moral Magazine we were enabled to figure, not only the fine species of Begonia discovered by Mr. Pearce—viz., Begonia Bolivensis and B. Veitchii—but also hybrids from them (for it was at once seen how admirably they could be adapted for this purpose); but we question very much whether any of them, either species or garden varieties, can vie with that which we now present. We are informed by Messrs. Veitch and Son, in whose establishment this fine variety has been raised, that it is a cross between Begonia Bolivensis and B. Veitchii ; the flowers are of the same colour as the latter, and of intermediate form. The habit is somewhat in the way of Begonia Bolivensis, but still retaining a great deal of Vettchit. It is very robust, sturdy, and free growing, and flowers very freely indeed; as it has so much of the Veztchii blood in it, it may be reckoned amongst the free-flowering greenhouse Begonias. With regard to culture, there is very little difficulty ; it requires to be grown in a light rich soil, and to be carefully supplhed with water; when started, it may afterwards be more freely supplied. As the shoots lengthen they should be neatly tied to small stakes, for, being succulent, they are apt to be broken off. ew greenhouse plants are more effective than a well-grown speci- men of any of these greenhouse Begonias, and we can well imagine that a plant of this fine variety will make a more brilliant display than either of those from which it has originated. PLATE 6. ANTIRRHINUMS—DELICATUM AND WILLIAM ROBINSON. Amongst the flowers which have of late years experienced the skill of the hybridizer is the old-fashioned Snap-dragon or rabbit-mouth of our childhood; and many and great are the changes that have been thereby produced. Its peculiar form admits of no modification, unlike in this respect the pansy, the dahlia, or the pink; but its size has been materially increased, and the variations in colour multiplied. As an herbaceous plant the Antirrhinum is one of the easiest grown of our garden favourites, and for the continuity of its bloom deserves a place more than many which are more sought after; it seeds most freely; those who have a good collection can by saving seed, and sowing it in pans in the spring, obtain an abundant supply of plants, which will flower finely in the summer and autumn. It is a very useful flower for cutting for bouquets. The flowers in our plate were raised by Messrs. Downie, Laird, and Laing, of Stanstead Park, Forest Hiil, to whom we are indebted for the opportunity of figuring them. Delicatum ’ (fig. 1) has the ground colour pure white, sparingly striped with bright crimson and minutely spotted all over with crimson spots; the lip is light yellow, and the spike is very densely arranged. William Robinson (fig. 2) is in colour a rich deep crimson, top of the lip lined with orange. These varieties are fair examples of the very great improvement which has taken place in this old-fashioned flower, under the careful culture of those who, like Messrs. Downie and Co., have taken pains to follow out step by step the results obtained. PLATE 7. DAHLIA—JOHN STANDISH. Those who have seen the wonderfully symmetrical blooms of Dahlias arranged at some of our great shows, and the varieties of colour they exhibit, would imagine that it is impossible to add anything to them either in form or colour, and that new varieties could. only be a repetition of those that were already in existence, but it is not so; and every year adds to our lists some which in a little while take the place of others in the same style, from some superiority of character which they exhibit. No Dahlia that has been brought out of late years has attracted so much attention as that which we now figure. We have seen it exhibited in many places during the past season, and wherever it has been seen, we have remarked the admiration also which it has excited, even amongst those who have been Dahlia growers for years. John Standish was raised and exhibited by Mr. Charles Turner, of the Royal Nursery, Slough, and has received first-class certificates at the Royal Horticultural Society, and the Metropolitan Floral Society’s Show at the Crystal Palace. It is a flower of remarkable symmetry of build, high up in the centre, the colour a deep rich scarlet crimson, and of extra size. One remarkable feature about it is its constancy, the plant nearly always producing perfect flowers; and when exhibited, stands of a dozen flowers put up at a time were all equally good, an unusual circumstance with Dahhas. It will be sent out this spring by Mr. Charles Turner, with other varieties, and will no doubt be largely exhibited during the coming season. PLATE 8. AICHMEA MARIA REGINA. Amongst the many beautiful stove plants which have been introduced during the past season, that which we now figure lays claim to being one of the most remarkable ; and this in a year in which new stove plants have certainly been more numerous than during many past seasons. The Aichmeas being Bromeliads, like most of that family, from the character of their foliage and from the fact that most of their beauty depends on the colouring of their bracts, they maintain their brilliancy for a very long period, often remaining some months in -per- fection, a fact which of course adds greatly to their value. Aichmea Maria Regine was introduced by Mr. Wendland of Hanover, and is a plant of robust habit with leaves of about eighteen inches in length arranged vase-like ; the flower- spike rises from the centre, about two feet and a half in length, clothed with boat-shaped bracts four inches in length, of a rosy pink colour; the flowers, tipped with blue and changing to salmon colour with age, and arranged compactly on the upper part of the spike, materially add to the beauty of this grand plant; the bracts are very persistent and retain their rich colouring for several months. It was exhibited by Mr. B.S. Williams of the Victoria Nursery, Holloway, and received first-class certificates both at the Royal Horti- cultural Society and at the Crystal Palace, a distinction which it well merits. Its cultivation, like that of many of the other Bromeliads, is not difficult; it requires to be grown in a small pot, with a good deal of water. VGSruth PLS. del et Lith BEGONTA INTERMEDIA. FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES L. Reeve &Co.5 Henrietta: Sr. Covent Garden om D 4 5 1m! Q L.Keeve & ANTIRRHINUM LICATUM. 2, W, 4 FLORAL MAGAZINE 50.5, Henrietta: 54. ( ~ WJ mp ” ™—s V. Brooks, Day %Son,lmp DARE TA, JOR SLANDIoE FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES [Reeve &Co.5 Henrietta Sr.Covent Garden W.G-Smith ELS. del et hth. V. Brooks Day&Sou_tmn; AECHMEA MARIA REGINA. FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES L.Reeve &Co.5, Henrietta St. Covent Garden. THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES] MARCH, 1872. [No. 3. EXHIBITIONS. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Fes. 14th. Tne council-room was on this occasion filled with a very charming collection of plants. Orchids in large num- bers, primulas, cyclamens, &c., contributed by Messrs. Veitch, Bull, Williams, Rollisson, Little, Standish, Denning, and other well-known exhibitors. Amongst the orchids were some remarkably fine examples of Masdevallia ignea, from.Mr. Marshall, of Clay Hill, Enfield ; Lycaste lasioglossa, a very curious species, from Mr. Veitch; Lelia Anceps, from Lord Londes- borough’s collection, with upwards of sixty fine flowers ; Cattleya Fuane, from the same; a very fine broad-pe- talled variety of Odontoglossum Alexandre, from Mr. Richards, gardener to Baron Rothschild, Gunnersbury ; Ceelogyne cristata, from Messrs. Veitch, a very fine specimen, between three and four feet through ; Odonto- glossum odoratum, from Mr. W. Bull, and a very fine Dendrobium nobile, from Messrs. Rollisson, Amongst other noticeable specimens were Tillandsia Lindeni Major, with beautiful bright blue flowers (figured in our former series), and two new palms, from Lord Howe’s Island, exhibited by Messrs. Veitch—Kentia Australis and Kentia Canterburyana; a very fine spe- cimen of Daphne indica rubra, from Mr. Johnson, gardener to T. J. Clarke, Esq., Uxbridge; and a splendid specimen of Hippeastrum pardinum, from Messrs. Veitch. Amongst the groups of plants, there was an exceedingly beautiful collection of spring flowers from Mr. Standish of Ascot, amongst which were two remarkably fine crimson-flowered cinerarias, Lord and Lady Kilmorey, one of which we hope shortly to figure, and some beautiful small plants of Bouvardia. Messrs. Carter and Co. had a group of caladiums, exceedingly good for the season. Mr, Little of Twickenham had a beautiful group of cycla- mens, among which one called Admiration was remarkable for its size and the brilliancy of its colour. Mr. Ware, of Hall Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, had a nice collection of hardy spring plants, conspicuous amongst which was the lovely deep purplish blue Iris reticulata. When to these are added the dielytras, pri- mulas, lily of the valley, and other flowers, it will be seen that the display was both numerous and interesting, and fully sustained the character of these Wednesday meetings. MEMORIAL TO THE LATE MR. JAMES VEITCH. Ir will be interesting to many of our subscribers to know that besides a Portrait of the deceased presented by Mr. R. T. Crawshay, the munificent sum of 9007. has been subscribed and invested in the names of trustees as a permanent fund for the encouragement of horticulture. No more appropriate, lasting, or useful mode of commemorating the eminent services of the deceased could have been devised. The following is the text of the deed securing the trust, with the mode and conditions of its appropriation :— “The income of the said trust fund and the investments thereof shall be applied by the said trustees in the first place in payment of all costs, charges, and expenses which shall or may be incurred or become payable by the trustees in providing a place of deposit and exhibition of the said portrait, if thought expedient, or from time to time altering such place of deposit and paying for the proper cus- tody thereof, or the exhibition thereof, to the subscribers and their friends and the general public, and also of insuring the same from fire, and of preserving and repairing the same, and the frame, fit- tings, and appurtenances thereof, and generally for such purposes in connexion with the said portrait as the said trustees shall from time to time deem meet and expedient ; and in the next place for provid- ing and procuring the die or matrix for a commemorative medal bearing the name, or a medallion portrait of the said late James Veitch, from which medals may be struck for the purposes hereinafter men- tioned ; and in the next place, of defraying the expenses of print- ing, advertising, postages, wages of servants, messengers, and other persons employed by the said trustees, and generally, of all expenses connected with the trusts hereby created and the duties imposed upon the said trustees; and in the next place, of providing and giving prizes for the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of the culture, or for the successful culture of plants, flowers, trees, fruits, and vegetables, and otherwise for the advance- ment of the science and practice of horticulture, as the said trustees shall think fit; such prizes to be offered and given at such ex- hibitions of the leading Metropolitan Horticultural Societies in the three kingdoms as the said trustees shall from time to time in their discretion deem most expedient, with power to the said trustees to vary the number, value, and nature and subjects of, and time or times for competition for such prizes, as to the said trus- tees in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion may from time to time seem meet; and to give the same either in the shape of com- memorative medals, bearing the name or portrait of the said James Veitch, or of money, or in such other mode or manner as they shall in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion think best calculated to effect the advancement and improvement of horticulture. Pro- vided always, that it shall not be necessary for or incumbent upon the said trustees, or any of them, themselves to take part in the de- termination or selection of the successful candidates or exhibitors for such prizes, or any of them, or the adjudging of the said prizes so to be offered by them; but the said trustees shall have full power 6 THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. either themselves to select such successful candidates, and to ad- judge such prizes, or to delegate and commit the said selection of candidates and adjudging of prizes either to some one or more of their body, or to the committees or committee, secretaries or secre- tary, managers or manager of the exhibitions at which the same prizes may be offered for competition, or to any other person or per- sons whomsoever as to the said trustees shall seem meet and expe- dient. Provided further, that the said trustees shall have full power at their discretion to retain the annual income arising from the said trust fund for any number of years not exceeding three, and to add the same by way of accretion to the said trust fund, or to accumu- late the same and to devote and apply the accumulations thereof in any one year for and to the same purposes and objects as are herein- before directed, of and concerning the income of the said trust fund in any one year; but so, nevertheless, that the total amount of the additions to the principal trust fund shall not at any time exceed one-third part of the total amount theretofore received by way of dividend or income upon the said trust fund.” REVIEW. DL’ Amorphophallus Kiviert. Par Aveusts Riviere. Tuts monograph is an exceedingly good illustration of the care, even to the minutest details, which our French neighbours exercise in small matters. The plant here described was received as a small bulb by M. Riviere amongst some seeds from Cochin China, Like many of the Aroids, when it flowers it emits a nauseous, abominable odour ; and happily its flowering season is of very short duration. The foliageis exceed- ingly elegant, and constitutes the beauty of the plant. Figures are given of it, and the whole is edited with the scientific care which our esteemed friend brings to everything he undertakes. CATALOGUES RECEIVED. Catalogue of Flower and Vegetable Seeds. W. Bull, King’s Road Chelsea.—Catalogue of select gladioli— copious and well arranged. Mr. Bull’s seeds have a high character, and especially from foreign correspon- dents. Vick’s Ilustrated Catalogue and Floral Guide, 1872. James Vick, Rochester, New York.—A remarkable in- stance of the go a-headism of our American cousins. The frontispiece is a photograph of the proprietor, of which he says he could only obtain 120,000—then there are coloured plans of ribbon-beds and of pansies. The catalogue itself is printed on toned paper, with an ornamental border to each page, while the illustra- tions literally crowd the pages. We have already noticed some very admirably illustrated catalogues, such as Messrs. Sutton’s and Carter and Co’s., but here is one we are inclined to think equal to any for copious- ness of illustration and elegance of appearance. Our home friends must look to their laurels. Catalogue des Rosiers Nouveaux, 1872; Charles Verdier, Rue Dumerel, No. 12, Paris. Rosiers Nou- veaux, de Guillot fils, Lyon; Catalogue des Rosiers Nouveaux ; J. Schwartz, successeur de M. Guillot pere, Lyon.—The war of 1869-70 prevented our receiv- ing the usual supply of new roses, and consequently of new catalogues, and, with the exception of a few from Lyons, none reached us last year; but this season all is altered. We find in these catalogues between seventy and eighty new varieties described, but of what cha- racter they will be it is impossible to form any judg- ment: the names of some of the raisers are a guarantee that something good may be found amongst them. But when they have not been seen, and where a vivid imagination is at play, it is very difficult to decide. Any of those whose business it is to cultivate and pro- pagate, must be sorely perplexed as to those on which to bestow their attention. SPECIAL PRIZE LIST FOR THE BIRMING- HAM EXHIBITION. We understand that in addition to the Carter Chal- lenge Cup of fifty guineas, offered by the Messrs, Carter and Co., for a collection of vegetables, and the liberal prizes of ten guineas offered for peas by the Messrs. Sutton of Reading, Messrs. J. C. Wheeler and Son of Gloucester offer a prize of ten guineas for the best collection of plants in pots, in bloom, bearing sweet-scented flowers: such as roses, lilies, honey suckles, stocks, jasmines, magnolias, violets, carnations, pinks, &c., ornamentally arranged. This ought to be an interesting competition, and we believe has been suggested by Lady Corisande’s garden in “ Lothair.” These special prizes (while evidencing the enterprize of the firms by whom they are offered) cannot but add much to what we believe will be a grand exhibition. To Correspondents, A. Z.—The weekly gardening papers give such copious details of operations necessary to be performed from time to time, that anything we could do would be utterly useless in comparison, W. S.—The Metropolitan Floral Society’s Report can be had of the secretary; but we may just add that there is a balance in hand, and that it is proposed, in addition to what was done last year, to include in the programme for 1872 an International Fruit Show at the same time as the Autumn Show. PLATE 9, PRIMULA JAPONICA, var. LILACINA. The interest which Primula Japonica excited on its first introduction has in no way abated ; and its grandeur as a fine decorative plant has been fully admitted. The only point which has been mooted as a matter of doubt has been its hardiness; but the evidence on this point has been so conclusive, that we cannot think it to be any longer doubtful ; and we believe it to have arisen from the fact that this, like many species of Primula, loses its leaves somewhat in the winter, especially during severe weather. But this is no evidence against its hardiness, as many of our most hardy primroses do the same. We mentioned, when figuring this plant in our former series, that there were several varieties of it known to the Japanese, and that some of them had been exhibited by Mr. Bull. One of the most beautiful of these is that which we now figure, where the bright magenta colour of the original is replaced by a beautiful soft lilac: by many it will be thought to be the more attractive of the two. We notice that a good deal of seed has been imported from Japan, and is now being offered for sale. It is well to remember that the seeds are very uncertain as to their period of germination, some of them not doing so until the second season, so that those who have purchased seed would do well not to be hasty in emptying the seed pans. We hope that during the present season this fine plant may be largely exhibited. PLATE 10. ROSE—LORD ELDON. The singularly coloured rose which we now figure is one of a class in which we are somewhat deficient—free-growing, free-flowering climbers, and will therefore, we believe, be acceptable to those who, having walls with southern aspects, may be desirous of filling them with ornamental flowering plants. Recently we have received some English contributions to this class ; for in Mr. Knight’s Princess Louise Victoria, and in Mr. George Paul’s climbing Victor Verdier, we have two excellent varieties of good habit; and Lord Eldon may be regarded, although in a different class, as a not unfitting companion. We are informed by Messrs. Paul and Son, of Cheshunt, into whose hands the stock has passed, that Lord Lidon was raised from seed by Mr. Coppin, of Shirley, near Croydon, from Cloth of Gold Noisette, and resembles its parent in habit and constitution, but is a freer bloomer. It will be useful as a coppery-coloured climber for a south wall, while its strong sweet perfume will greatly recommend it. It will be seen from the drawing that it is not an exhibition rose, being too loose in petal for that; but for the purposes named it will be well suited ; and it was, no doubt, on account of its very distinct colour that it received from the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society the reward of a first-class certificate. Mr. Coppin speaks highly of its merits, and if it grows freely in his light soil, we may reasonably conclude that in richer and deeper soils it will grow more freely still. It will be let out by Messrs. Paul and Son in May next. Puate 11. FUCHSIA SPLENDENS. Tt has fallen to our lot more than once to endeavour to rescue from oblivion plants which were not of recent introduction, but which had so been put on one side by the rush for novelties, that they might almost ber egarded as new when re-introduced : such a plant is that which we now figure. In visiting the gardens of Sir Henry Tufton, Bart., at Hothfield, we have been for some two or three winters struck with the exceeding beauty of this plant, which the intelligent gardener, Mr. Dury, cultivated largely and with success. Desirous of obtaining its name, we brought it to London, and showed it to many of our leading nurserymen, who did not know it ; and we were so convinced of its value, that we determined to bring it again into notice, although it was figured thirty years ago in the Botanical Register. The great value of this plant consists in its being an essentially winter-flowering one. We have seen it in all stages; it strikes most freely, makes rapid growth, will bear forcing well, and when forced, comes into flower early in the winter, but does best in the interme- diate house, as in a cold greenhouse the flower-buds are apt to drop ; but with this moderate degree of warmth it continues a long time in beauty, is admirable for cutting for bouquets, and altogether is a very desirable plant. We believe that Mr. William Bull has now a large stock of it, and we hope that it may again find favour with all lovers of beautiful plants. PLATE 12, AUCUBA LUTEOCARPA. The promise which the introduction of the male Avcuba gave of enriching our shrub- beries with a more ornamental berried plant, and the hopes which it inspired of giving us still more interesting varieties by hybridizing, have been abundantly fulfilled ; while it offers also to those who are interested in the decoration of rooms, halls, and conservatories, a bright and easily managed plant, which will stand the evil influence of gas and dust to a consider- able degree. We have in the former series of the Moral Magazine shown the results of this introduction of the male Aucuba, while the plant which we now figure evidences that still further variety is to be looked for. We are informed by Mr. Williams, of The Victoria Nursery, Holloway, that this interesting plant was found by him some few years ago in the neighbourhood of Manchester, and that it is believed to be an imported one; some doubt was entertained by those to whom he showed it, as to whether it would retain its very distinctive character, the golden colour of its berries. But after three years of trial, he has not found any tendency in it to alter, so that we may regard it as an accidentally obtained, but now permanently fixed variety. While not perhaps so showy as the red-berried varieties, the contrast which it affords with them makes it a very desirable plant, and the facility with which it is cultivated will bring it into quite as wide notice as those which have been previously sent out. Some nice plants of it were lately exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington. PRIMULA JAPONICA, VAR LILACINA mith ra Si, 395 1a W. Seuth ELS. del et lth V Brooks, Day Son Lim FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES I. Reeve &Co.5 Henrietta: St.Covent Garden THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES.] APRIL, 1872. [No. 4. EXHIBITIONS. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Marcu 6. A very pretty exhibition, but very deficient in novelties, for with the exception of the pretty white Toxicophla (which we hope to figure), exhibited by Mr. B. 8. Wil- liams of Holloway, and a few roses, there was really nothing new; for the Imantophyllum, although very beautiful, we regard as very similar to one exhi- bited by Mr. Bull some time ago. But if deficient in novelty, it decidedly was not so in objects of interest ex- hibiting great cultural skill; foremost amongst which must be placed the magnificent specimen of Phalzenopsis Schilleriana, exhibited by Mr. Masson, gardener to R. Milne, Esq., Viewfield House, Arbroath. It had two branchy spikes covered with 207 of its beautifully coloured rosy blossoms. Then Messrs. Veitch had some beautiful specimens of Odontoglossum Alexandre and Triumphans, and Dendrobium Farmeri. Mr. Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, had Cattleya Triane, Cypripedium Lowi, Cypripedium eburneum, and other fine orchids. Mr. Bennett, Manor Farm Nursery, Staple- ford, Salisbury, sent some plants of some of the new roses, and amongst them were Baroness Louise d’Ux- hull, Richard Wallace, Madame George Schwartz, and Madlle. Cécile Berthod (Tea). It is very difficult, when plants are so much forced as these, to judge of their future prospects ; but one or two of these gave promise of being good, the Tea-scented rose being a particu- larly clear bright yellow; but we dare say more will be seen of all these by-and-by. The Council-room was well filled with a large and miscellaneous collection of flower- ing plants, such as Cyclamens, Orchids, Primulas; beau- tiful hardy plants from Mr. Ware of Hall Farm Nur- series, Tottenham, interspersed with Palms, Caladiums, altogether forming a very beautiful show. The day being fine, the room was so crowded that it was with difficulty the flowers could be seen, and we believe at the next show an alteration will be made by holding it either in the French Court or Conservatory. Marcu 20th—* This,” says the Journal of Horti- culture, “ was the first spring show ; well was it sup- ported, well worthy of inspection was it by all interested in those beautiful flowers which adorn our conservatories and windows at the present season. The Hyacinths, as they generally are at the Society’s show, were superb ; the quality was remarkably good throughout, while in some of the collections—as those of Messrs. Veitch and Mr. William Paul—there were numbers equal to any- thing in past years. In the amateurs’ class there was considerable improvement: Mr. Douglas and the Rev. H. H. Dombrain stood far to the front, showing much better examples than were produced in times gone by.” Besides Hyacinths, there were some admirable col- lections of plants ; among which we may notice a beau- tiful collection of small plants of Camellias, shown by Mr. William Paul, Waltham Cross; Messrs. Lane and Son exhibited a group of Camellias, Rhododendrons, &e.; Messrs. Cutbush of Highgate, a basket of their very handsome Aucuba, Aureo-maculata (figured in our former series) ; Mr. Denning, gardener to Lord Londes- borough, a beautiful collection of Orchids; Messrs. Rol- lison of Tooting, and Mr. Williams of Holloway, a beautiful collection of miscellaneous plants; Mr. E. Dixon of Beverley, some fine specimens of Antherinum Scherzerianum, a fine pair of Trichomanes radicans, and other plants ; and Mr. Ware of Tottenham a group of hardy plants; and Mr. Turner a collection of Show and Alpine Auriculas, and a very beautiful basket of Mrs. Headly, tricolor pelargonium. It is announced that a course of lectures on Flowers and Fruits will be delivered in the Council-room of the ~ Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington by W.T. Thiselton Dyer, B.A., B.Sc., F.L.S. (Professor of Botany to the Society), on the following subjects :— April 11, “ Flowers: their common plan of construc- tion.” April 25, “ Flowers: the variety in their forms, and how brought about.” May 9, “ Flowers: their colours and odours.” May 23, “ Fruits: their struc- ture.” June 6, “ How seeds are sown in Nature.” June 20, “ Flowers and Fruits under cultivation.” The lectures will commence at 3 P.M. ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, Marcu 13. Tue new corridor from the Conservatory was used for the first time for a very beautiful exhibition, of which Hyacinths were the most remarkable objects. Messrs. Veitch and Son, who last year appeared for the first time as exhibitors, came out very strongly on this occa- sion not only with twelve magnificent spikes, but also with a large well-bloomed collection of one hundred pots. Mr. Veitch’s twelve were, Koh-i-noor, Solfaterre, Czar Peter, General Havelock, King of the Blues, De Candolle, Grandeur a Merveille, Vuurback, Macaulay, Haydn, La Grandesse, and Ida. Mr. Douglas, gardener 8 THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. to Francis Whitborne, Esq., Loxford Hall, Ilford, was first amongst amateurs with a remarkably fine collection. There were some very good collections of plants in flower: Chinese Primulas, and Cyclamens were exhi- bited in large collections by Mr. Goddard, gardener to H. Little, Esq., Twickenham ; Messrs. Dobson and Co. of Isleworth, Mr.Wiggins, and Mr. James. Amongst the novelties in these classes was a Cyclamen with fringed edges, exhibited by Mr. Wiggins; some new Hyacinths from Mr. Wm. Paul, Waltham Cross; while new Palms and plants were exhibited by Messrs. Veitch, Rollison, and Williams, amongst the most noticeable being Veitchea Canteburyana, Kentia australis, and Kentia Fosteriania, from Mr. Veitch ; Toxicophlea Thunbergi, from Mr. Williams; and Martinezia erosa and Calamus verticillaris, from Messrs. Rollison. Mr. Ware had one of his charming collections of spring plants; and Messrs. Carter a basket of a new scarlet pelargonium, Velocipede, which seems likely to be an acquisition. GARDEN ECONOMICS. CLIMAX LAWN-MOWER. Wirnovr at all entering into the merits of the different lawn-mowers, we can safely recommend this as an adjunct to any now in use. Nothing is more usual now than to have narrow grass borders, and for these even the 12-inch mower is too wide when the beds are filled. The Climax Mower, the invention of Messrs. Fellows and Bates, Manchester, answers admirably for all such places, as well as for those small plots where the owner would consider it not worth his while to go to the ex- pence of a larger machine. We used it during the last summer, and found it admirably adapted for the above- mentioned purposes. That it was appreciated by the public may be gathered from the fact that between five and six thousand were sold last season. DINNER TABLE DECORATIONS. It would seem that the rage for this use of flowers is greater than ever, if we may argue anything from the fact that the Royal Horticultural Society offers alto- gether 84/. in prizes for table decorations; its premier prize of the whole year, 30/., being the first prize for a dinner table laid completely for twenty; while we also observe that the proprietors of the ‘ Gardener’s Magazine” offer prizes to the amount of 25/. for the same object, making the very wise proviso that artificial light must be used ; and yet notwithstanding these large amounts, we are assured that a far more simple style of ornamentation than that formerly used is now the only one which is tolerated at the best tables. And we can quite understand this: the tax upon both the garden and the time of those who undertake the arrange- ment is very great. When first the fashion was intro- duced, high stands, such as those invented by Mr. Marsh, and called from him Marsh Stands, with two receptacles for flowers, one about eighteen inches above the other, with a glass rod as a support, were much used. Various modifications of these were introduced, and we have even seen the centre of a round table filled with a pile of gorgeous orchids and other flowers four feet high; but these were seen to have the disadvantage of hiding the guests of one side of the table from those on the other. Small plants have also been much used. Then shallow trays of flowers placed in the centre of the table; while more recently nothing higher than a foot has been permitted, and small specimen glasses holding a few flowers placed before each guest, or round the central lamp, as the case may be. We cannot but think this is by far the more sensible method. We shall be curious to see what new com- binations these liberal prizes may be the means of bringing forward. Certain it is that those who are to act as judges on the occasion ought to be persons not only of good taste, but who are conversant with the usages of modern society in its best phases ; we are too apt to run into extravagances when copying the doings of our neighbours. And so in this instance we make ourselves ridiculous by the extremes to which we have run in copying “diner a la Russe.” It may be that we shall see something of a more refined and purer taste than those which have taken prizes of late years. CATALOGUES RECEIVED. H. Cannell’s Illustrated Floral Guide for 1872.— This is something more than a mere catalogue. Mr. Cannell professes in it not only to give the names of new varieties of plants, but also his own observations upon them, and as he confines himself exclusively to what are ordinarily called soft-wooded plants, and is a keen and sharp-witted observer, his recommendations may safely be relied on; moreover, there is much pleasant and interesting information as to the various classes and the raisers of the new flowers, and he adopts the system of not only selling rooted plants, but also cuttings and rooted-cuttings, so that for a small sum lovers of these flowers may have the opportunity of adding to their collection. Co Correspondents. T. S.— Disa pauciflora is no doubt given to capriciousness, as all who have grown it can testify ; it has been tried during the past year as an out-of-door plant by Dr. Moore, of Glasnevin, and it succeeded admi- rably. But you would hardly like to try it thus until it was more abun- dant with you. B. 8.—We hope to give a group of the plants shortly. Puate 13. CYCLAMEN PERSICUM, vars. QUEEN OF CRIMSONS, SNOWFLAKE, AND PURPUREUM. Amongst those who have taken a leading part in the improvement of the Cyclamen, a foremost place must be given to Mr. Little, of Cambridge Villa, Twickenham, and we have therefore figured three of his best varieties, which have all obtained first-class certificates from the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. As he is so successful a cultivator, we are enabled to give some notes on their culture, which he has been kind enough to furnish :— “‘T sow the seed in September, in pots, in a light fibrous soil, with a little leaf-mould and sharp sand. When fit to handle, prick out about ten or twelve in a 48 pot, in similar soil; when large enough, pot singly in 60-sized pots, and repot when these are full of roots. The last potting prior to blooming use rather stiffer soil, with leaf-mould, sharp sand, and some well decayed mantre (be careful to examine this to get rid of grubs and worms), giving plenty of drainage. While growing during the summer, the foliage must be kept perfectly clean, and well syringed. When in bloom, do without fire heat as much as possible, giving air on all occasions when free from frost and rain. I cannot too strongly insist on the abso- lute necessity of keeping the plants in all their stages of growth and bloom free from red spiders and green fly. Stop them at once, and do not leave off till all traces of them are removed, for if allowed to gain head, the beauty of the bloom and foliage will be completely spoilt, the bloom becoming crippled, and the foliage shrivelled and unhealthy.” We have only to add that all the three varieties are of first-rate character, and that Queen of Crimsons especially is a great advance in colour, and the expanded flowers remain for a long time in perfection. Puate 14. AZALEA MARVEL. Among the many beautiful flowering plants which tend to make greenhouses gay in the spring months, a very prominent place must be given to the lovely tribe of Azaleas, so profuse in their flowering, so varied and bright in their colouring, or pure in their snowy whiteness ; and amongst them we must class as one of the most useful, if not brilliant, the small Azalea amena, for, while deficient in the grander and more brilliant features of its compeers, it is in truth one of the most beautiful things for early flowering that we possess. Small in foliage as in the blooms also, one has the advantage of being dense and shrubby, and the other of being produced in the greatest abundance. The latter are of a rich rosy crimson colour, with a hose-in-hose corolla; and both in the plant and when cut for bouquets, the flowers are very persistent in consequence of their peculiarity of form. We owe it, as we do many of our fine things, to Mr. Fortune, who met with it in a nursery at Shanghae. Azalea Marvel, which we uow figure, is of the Amzna type; it was exhibited by Mr. William Bull, of King’s Road, Chelsea, and received a first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society ; it must have had considerable merit to receive this distinction. ‘This merit consists in its greater abundance of flowers, with the same dwarf and shrubby habit ; so that for early blooming it may be considered a decided acquisition, although of course not to be compared in brilliancy with those larger-flowered Aza/eas which are so pro- minent a feature at our Spring Exhibitions, and of which we have already given many illustrations. Puate 15. MASDEVALLIA IGNEA. We have already figured in our former series examples of this curious and interesting genus of Orchids, many additions to which have been made of late years; and we have now the pleasure of giving one which has been greatly admired when exhibited during the present year. The Masdevallias are all interesting, and as they occupy but little space and are very easily grown, they are worthy of a place in any orchid house where the cool treatment is adopted ; for as in the case of many other Orchids, they have been grown in too high a temperature, and consequently failure has often attended their cultivation ; the idea formerly entertained having been that, because some Orchids coming from the East Indies and other hot countries required a high temperature, all did so; the Masdevallias will thrive under the same treatment as Odonfoglossum, should be potted in moss and sphagnum, and always kept moist at the roots without being soddened. Masdevallia ignea has been exhibited by oe Veitch, Mr. Bull, Mr. Day, of Tottenham, Mr. W. Marshall, of Clay Hill, Enfield, and other Orchid growers; the flowers are of a crimson-red, or sometimes orange-scarlet colour, the veins ecole shaded with crimson ; it was imported from New Grenada, and sold at Mr. Stevens’s sale. Like many of the Orchids, it varies very much in colour, some of those exhibited by Mr. Marshall being so very dissimilar, that to many they appeared almost like a distinct species ; the species is remarkable for having the upper sepal bent down between the sinus of the lateral ones, giving it a singular appearance. Puate 16. DRACAINA EXCELSA (or ELEGANS).* “The Dracenas,” says Mr. B. Williams in his valuable and thoroughly practical book, “Choice Stove and Greenhouse plants,” “are amongst the most useful and beautiful of fine fohaged plants, partly owing to their noble but graceful habit, and partly owing to the colour which the leaves of many species assume.” We may add to this, that another title to their being more generally grown is their great use for the decoration of houses, halls, ballrooms, &c.; they will stand a considerable amount of exposure to heat and dust without being materially injured thereby. The various varieties of D. indivisa are exceedingly beau- tiful for this purpose ; while others, such as D. Cooperi, D. ferrea, D. robusta, D. terminalis, make very admirable plants for subtropical gardening. In the matter of cultivation they do not present much difficulty, a compost of two-thirds peat, and one-third loam, being that best adapted for them; they should also have a fair amount of pot room. Dracena excelsa is a beautiful South Sea Island plant, with spreading leaves broadly oblong and narrowed at the base; the colour is a rich deep olive green, and the edges of the leaves are margined with bright carmine. As a decorative plant of medium growth it pro- mises to be very useful, and for this purpose Mr. Bull, in whose establishment we saw it, considers it a decided acquisition. * The name it bore when our drawing was made, but subsequently changed, whence the discrepancy disco- vered too late for rectification. val ee ee aren eee T Brooks Day &Son,Jamp CYCLAMEN PERSICUM. Vars 1. QUEEN OF CRIMSONS._2.5 NOWFLAKE._3.PURPT FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES T Reeve &Co.5 Henrietta St. Covent Garden W G.Smith BLS. del et lth. ese ees MER FLORAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES L.Reeve &Co.5 Hemietta: St. Covent Garden. 2 + ¥