less; some of my friends say it is most like a wriggling snake. But when the underwood grows thicker, and the Firs and evergreens are larger, its course will be concealed at every bend, till suddenly and unexpectedly you come upon an open round of green grass, enclosed by a hedge of Juniper. This green space, in the midst of the closer grove, is named "Glorietta," after some delightful garden I have heard of under the blue sky of Spain. Through all the months of summer the Junipers were lit up with long garlands of a certain fiery-orange flowered Nasturtium with bluish leaves, that wandered all over them unforbid. The serpentine walk is planned to "wriggle" on beyond the Junipers into the older Fantaisie. A straight path passing under some

A

some single-flowering Camomile. Camomile loves to be trodden, and it is then, as you crush it under foot, that it gives up most freely its delicious aroma. The Jresh delight of this rockery never failed during the whole summer long; it had been made in a way to give new pleasure every day. The stones, brought from a distance, are old and grey, dashed with warmer red, and they harmonise well with the colours of the rock garden. Every plant that we put into the many pockets of peat and leafmould looked content and happy, and every plant grew (except the Sundew, from a moor in Hampshire-it simply refused, to live). There is nothing a plant loves so dearly for its home as a snug little pocket in a rockery, or, indeed, any kind of nook

great Elms unites "Glorietta" with the orchard and the "Allée Verte." It interested myself, perhaps, more than it would others, to find in an old gardening book, after my ill-designed turf walk was made, a plan as nearly as possible the same in detail, even including Glorietta! although the ancient Pleasaunce was on a grander scale.

To-day a heavy fall of snow, the first this winter, puts an end for the time to a great work begun on the south side of the garden. Here we built up last winter "the Roman walk "-a bank of limestone rocks (!), having a paved way on the top,[reached by narrow rude stone steps at either end. We are now building up a sort of rampart at the southern enda platform from whence the fields and a distant line of wooded hills may be surveyed. The air up here is finer, more invigorating than on the walk below. Upon the paved way between the stones we planted

B

O

OF CORYANTHES. (SEE. TEXT.)

under the shelter of a big stone, or a corner hemmed round with flints. If stone were as plentiful with us as bricks, I think there should not be a flat bed in the garden; the flowers should all be terraced up with stones. Our rockery I wanted to be dry and unbeferned. The aspect should be west, and it should be a little strip of garden, full of sweet and warm memories, without one spot of gloom or damp throughout its length of near 50 feet. So little many. coloured rock Roses with soft grey foliage crept down the heaped-up stones, overspreading them almost too quickly, and carrying their charm of rose and salmonpink bloom far on in the year, unwilling, even when November came, to confess their long summer over. Portulaccas in scarlet and gold bloomed better than ever they did before in the open ground. The blue Lithospermum-which in April is found all over waste sandy places about Bayonne, and at the roots

of the Pyrenees, and which hates so heartily a garden bed or border-took at once to our rocks. Even through the snow to-day, little stars of it shine bluely here and there among the crevices; small delicate Irises crest the jagged upper edge or cornice. It is beautiful to look up at them, when the sun shines through the lilac or yellow of their petals. There are two vigorous Yuccas, and near them-just for a freak of dear remembrance of many a terraced Riviera wall-I put in a Globe Artichoke root. The grey leaves lean over Acanthus-like, and two or three Artichokes ripened slowly into bee-haunted, purple Thistle-crowns. Few plants, indeed, are more graceful in their growth than the common Artichoke, and I love it well, notwithstanding that dear old Parkinson in the Garden of Pleasant Flowers leaves out of his discourse "the Artichoke with all his kindes " and reserves them "for the kitchin garden, because (as all know) they are for the pleasures of the taste, and not of the smel or sight." Along the east side of the upper rock-walk, from August up to the latest hour that the Frost King gave them grace, flourished a fairy forest of Amaranthus or Love-lies-Bleeding. The knotted blooms of amaranthine velvet measure often 2 feet long, and the edges of the walk and down the other side streamed with purple. Children delighted in these long purples, and used to beg them for their "doll's feasts." Then amongst the true rock-dwellers there is Geranium tuberosum, lovely always, whether in its summer bloom, or when the leaves take on their autumnal red; Sedums-spirale corsicum, lydium, and Sieboldii variegata, Saxifraga muscoides, all over pink in spring, and in winter a cushion of emerald-green; Saxifraga longifolia, dentata, and ceratophylla. A root of Polygonum nigrum was put in, with small hope that it could ever live; but it has grown so large in one season, that it will have to be moved to another place. This quickspreading creeper, with its little 'round leaves, seems hardly so well known as it should be. Many a chance. sown seed of Eschscholtzia, with many another pretty old-world flower, has bloomed for our pleasure amongst the rocks and a few green and violet-coloured Christmas Roses (from a garden in Cumberland) seem quite at home. They are difficult, and capriciously fanciful; but certainly they do not hate the stones, as they do our borders.

:

Just opposite the rockery and the Roman walk are some old Damask Roses, and the light shade cast when the afternoon sun was hot, seemed to comfort both the Roses and the rock plants The great yellow tree Lupin once grew here, but it is dead, and in its place there came a Virgin's Thistle (Milk Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle, Carduus Marianus). It came of itself, as they always do, near where there have been monastic buildings-in whose gardens they used to be planted anciently-for the sake of the legend pertaining to them. This special plant is the finest of the kind I ever saw. Before the frost touched

"Our

it, it seemed thoroughly to enjoy growing itself into a great clump of rich green, white-veined bands, 5 or 6 feet round! The Box edging was overwhelmed with the flood of leafage-leaves one dared scarce touch, they were so dangerously thorned. Lady's Thistle" arises of her own sweet will in divers places all over the garden; but I cannot say she is always permitted to remain in the chosen spot. Thistles are not well everywhere. In some corner where nothing else is wanted to grow they are best. We have another kind which I wish to think may be the Blessed or Holy Thistle (Carduus Benedictus, (of the gardens of former days, the same of whom Culpepper, in his Herbal (he was given to uncharitable remarks), says, "I suppose the name was put upon it by some who have little holiness in themselves. What a character that delightful old Culpepper was He had faith in the doctrine of signatures, and he doctored with astrology as much as with medicine, declaring he could show "how and by what means, and also in what manner, the glorious host of Heaven doth act upon all terrene and terrestrial herbs, roots, plants, men and women and fishes," and the wonderful influence of the sun, moon, and stars upon everything. The Melancholy Thistle he esteems higher than Benedictus. "It is under Capricorn, and, therefore, under Saturn and Mars; one rids melancholy by sympathy, the other by antipathy. . . . decoction of the Thistle in wine being drank, drives out superfluous melancholy, and makes a man as mery as a cricket." The Melancholy Thistle might be useful in these days when melancholy is said to increase upon the human race; but our chance of ever finding it seems small, for by the description it appears to be not much of a Thistle at all, as it "differeth from all other Thistles in its appearance,"

The

WALL COPINGS.

WHATEVER our climate may have been in former times, when it is said bountiful crops of Apricots and other choice fruits were grown with little difficulty, spring frosts have now become so disastrous that, except in very favoured situations, it is a rare occur. ence that good crops of stone fruits can be obtained, even upon walls, without the aid of copings, or some other kind of protection; and so severe are frosts sometimes during the blossoming period (as was experienced last spring) that even any kind of ordinary protecting material is of little avail to insure a crop. Copings are, however, of service in most seasons, and should be generally made use of. They may be formed of various kinds of material, such as slate, wood, or glass; but those made of the latter, owing to their transparency, are the most desirable, and should be more or less in width, in accordance with the height of the wall upon which they are to be employed; the higher the wall the wider the coping should be.

For an ordinary wall from 12 to 16 feet in height, for instance, the coping should be 3 feet in width, and be made in a manner so as to be readily adjusted or removed. When they are of this width and substantially made, they become rather expensive items, if used for no other purpose than to protect trees when in blossom; but they can be so constructed as to be conveniently turned to many practical and profitable purposes, and thus be boons of considerable benefit, especially to those having limited accommodation. It is chiefly for the purpose of pointing out some of the uses for which they are applicable that I wish to draw attention to them, as after the experience of last spring some cultivators who have not already furnished their walls with them may now contemplate doing so, and those made in the usual manner are of comparatively little service further than for the one object. For the sake of utility they may be made in sections of 4 feet in length in the form of sashes, the framework being either of wood or iron; the latter is, of course, the most durable, and ours are made of it and are fixed to the walls by sockets and iron stays-a simple and secure method. Where not required for the trees, a time embracing the greater part of the year, sashes of this description can be made use of in forming the lights of span-frames, the frames being fixtures made of bricks and wood, or portable of wood, are valuable adjuncts to the garden. They form the best places in which to grow Primulas, Cyclamens, Carnations, Bouvardias, and kindred subjects. Cucumbers and Melons may likewise be produced in them during the summer months, and various bedding plants can be propagated in them. In the winter they are suitable for protecting Strawberries, Lettuce, Violets, Helleborus niger, Celery, and other plants. The sashes are also of use for covering outside Vine borders when the Vines are carrying crops of fruit in autumn and winter. Thomas Coomber.

SEASONABLE REMARKS ON

ORCHID CULTURE.

AT p. 564, vol, xxii., I alluded to the treatment of Orchids in the early days of winter. Preparations must now be made for early spring. Work is not so very pressing as yet in many gardens, and it is a good plan to start now at one end of the house in which Orchids are grown, and examine every one of the plants carefully.

CLEANING THE PLANTS AND SURFACING. The first operation is to get some warm rain-water and dissolve in a gallon of it 2 oz. of soft-soap; with this and the aid of a soft sponge the plants are made thoroughly clean. At this time we surface-dress or repot the whole of them, beginning with those in the warmest house. Of course, many of them do not require repotting; they are in the middle of their growth, and disturbing the roots would injure them very much.

POTTING.

In all Orchid growing establishments a potting-shed should be built, convenient to the houses, so that it will not be necessary to take the plants out-of-doors or into a lower temperature than that in which they have been growing. I have no such convenience, and rather than carry the plants out-of-doors and into a cold potting shed I pot them in the house where they are growing. The potting material in all cases is very much alike-good brown fibrous peat torn to

pieces by the hands, sphagnum moss well washed and freed from weeds and all extraneous matter, some clean potsherds and charcoal broken into small pieces -the broken charcoal must have the dust sifted from it. For the largest plants I mix the sphagnum and peat together in equal proportions. Saccolabiums, which succeed best in this house, are potted in sphag⚫ num only. There are a few handsome Oncidiums also grown in the East India-house, which should now be repotted.

ONCIDIUM LANCEANUM.

The finest, perhaps, is O. Lanceanum. I bought a small plant of this twenty years ago, and it is now a large handsome specimen. When purchased it was growing in a pot, and succeeded fairly well for some years, but it was decided to place it in a Teak basket, where it has done much better; it is placed on the stage amongst other plants in summer, but during the winter season it is suspended from the roof in the warmest house, with the leaves almost touching the glass. It requires rebasketing once in three or four

years.

Another Oncid not often seen doing well is 0. phymatochilum. It requires the temperature and similar treatment to O. Lanceanum. It does well in pots if potted in the right way, that is, with the last formed pseudobulbs near the rim of the pot, so that the next formed bulb will be formed quite close to the rim, thus giving the roots an opportunity to grow mostly outside the pot; they prefer this, and form in considerable masses outside, where they remain in better condition than those formed inside.

THE LARGE ARAUCARIAS AT BUSBRIDGE HALL.

I SEND you particulars and dimensions of an Araucaria imbricata, a male tree with catkins, the soil being a sandy loam ; it is one of a double row of trees on either side of a walk, distance apart about 17 yards in line, the whole forming a short avenue of a novel and imposing appearance. They were transplanted about twenty years ago, then averaging about 6 feet in height. The one I wish particularly to mention is 34 feet high, girth at base 6 feet 3 inches, and at 6 feet from the ground 3 feet 6 inches, with a spreading diameter of branches of 20 feet. It is of very perfect form; its opposite neighbour is a female, bearing cones, but only one appears to have been fertilised by the catkins and is a very fine one, being some 7 or 8 inches in diameter, and of a reddish-brown colour. The position of the catkins on the tree is due south, and that of the cones south-west. They are about 30 feet apart-the latter 3 or 4 feet below the level of the former. In this instance the tree bearing cones is much coarser in growth, and quite as healthy looking as the male, though not nearly so compact and hand.

The

some in form, both having a few decaying sprays on the inner side near the trunks. Therefore, this would give the negative answer to the question raised by Mr. George Bushby on October 18, 1884. decaying of the lower branches is met with in very small trees as well as the larger cone-bearing ones, and I am inclined to think it the result of some disease. This is the first time these trees have produced either catkins or cones. By-the-bye, Mr. Bushby does not give the diameter of his undoubtedly fine tree, so that one might gain an idea of its form, whilst the diameter mentioned by "R. McK." is somewhat remarkable, being nearly the same as the height of his tree, described in your issue of January 3, 1885, and which would, I should think, destroy its symmetry. G. W. K.

PHOTINIA SERRULATA.

This handsome evergreen we have growing here (in Wales), on a south wall, its large handsome foliage always attracting attention, especially in winter, at which period the young growths assume a bronzy-red colour, and during which it never ceases to grow. I consider its foliage superior to a Magnolia, and to be a more rapid grower, although unfortunately it does not flower here. But for covering a wall with bold and bright foliage there are few plants to equal it, nor does the plant appear to be so generally known as it should be. It is a native of Japan and China, and yet no winter that we have had injures it, having withstood that of 1881 without suffering in the least, no protection whatever being given it. W.

FERTILE CEDAR CONES.

My experience is at variance with that of your correspondent, "W. C., Inverness," concerning the fertility of Cedar cones ripened in these islands. Probably your correspondent's experience is, however, correct in regard to the northern district whence he writes, and where he probably resides. The idea as to the probability of these cones proving unfertile had never occurred to me before. Many years ago I noticed in a district very favourable to vegetation, in South Wales, that squirrels persisted in visiting certain Cedar trees in the park, and yearly plucked and tore to pieces the many beautiful cones with which the grand Cedar trees were laden. These mischievous rodents had, moreover, to traverse a wide piece of grass land to reach these trees-an additional proof that they found something more than empty cones to exert their jaws upon. More than this, for some months after all the cones had been destroyed I have seen these little animals hunting the ground beneath the branches of the trees, and occasionally finding some substance, which I imagined could be no other than stray Cedar seed, which had either dropped from the cones, or been buried by them there in the season of plenty in accordance with their instinct. Being curious as to the presence of seed or not, I procured some of the finest cones, and found from one to three perfect seeds within. Doubtless other readers can confirm my statement, that squirrels habitually do visit seedbearing trees for the same purpose, and so set the matter at rest. But I have a more practical case than the above, which proves that the seeds are not only fertile in some cases, but that they possess strong germinative vitality. A lady living near Woburn, Bedfordshire, a few years since, sent me seeds from her Cedar growing upon the lawn near to her mansion. I sowed them in 60-sized pots, and had them placed upon a cool greenhouse shelf (at Valentines), and quite 60 per cent. germinated and grew, being subsequently potted off. The plants are probably in the above gardens still. William Earley. Ilford.

POTATO S.

WHILST SO much is just now being written about the Potato disease, permit me, in view of the fact that practically this fell disorder seems at present to be non. existent to try and forget all about a disagreeable subject, and revert to the Potato as an ordinary useful garden vegetable, popular and ever welcome, without having my thoughts of the favourite esculent clouded over, with nightmares of murrain, fungoid and sporadic monsters, with Messrs. Smith, Plowright, and other eminent scientists sitting up aloft as directors of the demoniacal array.

If Mr. Augustus Harris, of Drury Lane celebrity, wishes to attract the town with a great Christmas spectacular ghostly goblin horror, he should an

nounce next winter the production of the great tentacular sporadic Fungoid Fury and the Fairy Potato, the whole of the scenery and characters reproduced for the occasion with scientific microscopic accuracy. Who should be the hero who would finally storm the stronghold of the Fungoid Fury and deliver the Fairy Potato from its horrid sporadic clutch I will not designate. Perhaps some others can supply the deficiency. But whilst all this scientific warfare is proceeding, the Potato seems to be calmly resting on its oars (I do not mean its resting-spores), healthy, robust, and full of vigour for another season's work and productiveness. The mildness of the early winter proved somewhat troublesome, as the ardour of the tubers to get to work was rather promoted than restrained; but now cold has come to the aid of growers, and the tubers, with becoming regard for the time of year, have quietly gone to rest.

As a rule Potatos are very wide awake, and there is something truly singular in the association of the genus homo with large quantities of tubers, all with their eyes wide open, perhaps taking stock of the human being in their midst, and if endowed with intelligence, perhaps wondering whether he would be half as mealy as they are when cooked.

Just now, if the eyes of the tubers are open, they are not shooting. Those of the human race are often credited with shooting glances, sometimes tender, sometimes fateful; but the eyes of the Potato shoot something more tangible than these, for from them come growths fraught with all that is valuable in the tuber. These will shoot presently-all in good time; and if due care be exercised they will be strong, vigorous, and of a healthful purple or green hue.

Some one said the other day that it would be better to pull these shoots from off the early kinds than to plant early with them on, as they would be cut down with late frosts. How strange it should not have occurred to one who thinks himself to be a practical man that if these same tubers were kept out of the ground and planted a fortnight later the frost might be avoided, and all the value found in the strong shoots retained. There is at present every prospect of a good planting season, and should no excessive frost or rainfall intervene, planting of the later and more robust kinds may be started safely towards the end of February, for the tubers will not only lie cooler in the soil than out of it, but will also get a good roothold of it ere they break up. Late kinds will not be through much the sooner if planted in February than those planted in April, but they come away very much the stronger, and the early planting materially forwards work. First early kinds that have been carefully wintered and have had head-shoots well pushed and hardened, if planted at the end of April will always be as forward as others planted in March, for with all early sorts the quicker the growth the better the crop.

If we are to have a comparatively dry winter we shall have little enough of moisture in the soil next summer, and therefore the early planting will prove of the greatest service in promoting tubering ere drought becomes master. As might have been anticipated, Potatos are now securing better prices in the market, and those who have held stock over find an additional 20s. per ton to be worth waiting for. This slight rise will no doubt become greater in a month or so, and then, ere planting time sets in, we shall see such a fillip given to Potato trading as shall encourage growers again to plant largely, indeed the Potato breadths will no doubt be as great in the present year as in the past.

The comparative absence of disease during recent years has given growers so much encouragement that happily they have come to regard Potatos as one of the best of vegetable investments-an odd fact in the face of the jeremiad over the decline of the Potato which recently appeared in the Times newspaper. Just as there crop up now and then certain sensational matters, the which prove to be godsends to the papers in dull seasons for news, so do there seem to be in horticulture certain periods in which, for lack of more useful or interesting matter, it becomes the habit of some literary garden hacks to fall back upon the Potato, and to abuse those who claim to have made it a subject of special interest, right and left. Raisers are told they are fools and humbugs, and their new kinds impostors, and various other complements are flung about, the which it would be more proper if less polite to term abuse.

Happily, neither the Potato nor its admirers are the

summers

worse for this outpouring. It is the product of a dull season. Last year was a fertile one in the production of new kinds. It so happens that some are more favourable than others for the production of pollen, and hence cross-fertili. sation is rendered easy. Some five or six years later the products of those crosses come into commerce in the shape of new kinds of Potatos, and certainly the majority sent out last year were first-rate novelties.

If the stereotyped abusers of new Potatos had grown the sorts, and been disappointed, they might have some claim to consideration; but when they fall foul of these novelties, utterly ignorant of their various features and merits, it is just a trifle hard on the raisers. There will be more novelties put into commerce during the present year also-that is certain, and the Canutes of the ink-pen will not be able to stop the flow of the Potato current. The world has gained very much by the efforts of raisers of Potatos, espe cially during the past ten years. It may well hope yet to gain much more; for, in spite of the fact that, for the past two years, Potatos have been cheap and abundant beyond all precedent, the end has not yet come-indeed, is a long way off; and it looks as if we should continue to raise new kinds till the crack of doom. A. D.

Orchid Notes and Gleanings.

MASDEVALLIA TRIANGULARIS.

Although not remarkable for brilliancy of colour the flowers of this little Masdevallia have a prettiness of their own which, when seen in the mass, forms an attractive, albeit small picture. A plant in the Kew collection, growing in a 4-inch pot, shows well the good points of this Masdevallia, having a tuft of about thirty green leaves some 6 inches high, and peering just over the top of them more than fifty triangular flowers with a tail to each angle, the whole flower being tawny yellow thickly speckled with brown. Like most of the Masdevallias of which our gardens now possess scores, almost hundreds, of species, the above is as easy to grow as a Primrose, and requires treatment almost as cool, frost only being injurious to it.

Some Orchid fanciers would refuse a place to M. triangularis because of its lack of brightness of flowercolour, and possibly because their idea of it has been formed from an indifferent specimen or poor variety. It would not require an effort on the part of any true gardener to see much beauty in this little Orchid when seen in such health and so gaily decked with flowers as the plant at Kew is. One could name a choice score of small Masdevallias that would grow in a little glass box placed in the window of a sitting-room, and from such a group much delight to the eye and intellect of a careful amateur would surely come. W. A.

ORCHIDS AT MR. BULL'S, CHELSEA.

We do not expect to see a great show of flowers in Orchid-houses at this season, but in the large nursery collections there is always something to be seen to please or to instruct the visitor. The cool-house easily bears away the palm for the number of the plants in flower. The weather had been very unfavourable previous to my visit, owing to the fogs that have prevailed, but there were still some beautiful spikes of Odontoglossum crispum and O. Pescatorei which were fine in variety, the colours of some being rich, while others were of snowy white

ness.

The Lælia albida made a fine show; the flowers of this species, when cut with long stems, may be made very useful for vases and the like. The varieties of it named L. albida bella and Marianæ are richly tinted rose. Sophronites grandiflora made a nice group, the flowers being of very rich and varied shades of colour. Cattleya marginata was also in flower. Ada aurantiaca formed a glowing bit of colour. This, when grown into plants of large size, is one of the best exhibition plants, as it is often in flower during May. Rodriguezia planifolia is not worth cultivating except as a botanical species, but it is very interesting, and its small primrose-colourd flowers are sweetly scented. Masdevallia tovarensis was over, but M. polysticta was in full flower, while M. ignea was just coming into bloom. Pleione humilis seems to succeed best in the cool-house; its flowers, just opening, are very pretty. Oncidium incurvum is also in flower, while a very superior variety of it, named O. incurvum albo-violaceum has a pretty white lip, spotted with pale purple. Perhaps one of the richest coloured forms of Odontoglossum Rossii was in flower : it is named splendens. Oncidium cheirophorum is very sweet, its dense spikes of small deep yellow flowers being very pretty. O. nubigenum roseum, a white flower with a rose coloured centre, places it amongst the best of the elegant Oncidiums; it is very lovely. In a warmer house Lycaste Skinneri Vesta had large delicately rose-tinted flowers, while the variety princeps had a rich crimson lip. A singular looking Orchid is Microstylis metallica, with dark shining bronzy-purple leaves and small brownish peculiarly formed flowers borne on erect spikes. Coelogyne Massangeana, a recent species, was also in flower, so also was the North Australian Dendrobium superbum. A distinct form of Oncidium Krameri, had a golden coloured lip, and the spotting was also very distinct from that of the normal form. What a richly coloured and beautiful Orchid too is Barkeria Skinneri; its neat and compact spikes of rosy-purple flowers add a charm to the most select collections. 7. D.

20.

they bought as C. dolosa are the true variety. I have met with several such since your issue of December What I wish to point out as misleading to some is the woodcut you have given us (fig. 133, vol. xxii.) as Cattleya Walkeriana var., whereas it is much nearer C. dolosa had the bulbs been made a little longer. C. Walkeriana rarely ever produces more than one leaf to the bulb, which is its special characteristic, whereas C. dolosa produces a pair of leaves on each successive bulb, and blooms from the fully developed bulb, from between the pair of leaves, similarly to the new C. Schröderiana, instead of the small flowering growth of C. Walkeriana, as described by Sir Charles Strickland (p. 83). Any one who has seen the two plants together would always recognise them as being perfectly distinct. Henry James.

ANGRÆCUM EBURNEUM AT BIRDHILL, CLONMEL.

Looking over the Orchids at present in bloom in Mr. Gough's collection here, I am not sure that this is not the most elegant and chaste. The name is certainly suggestive, as it combines the soft massive velvety appearance of ivory with the tinge of greenish-white seen in the Eucharis. I had for comparison Cattleyas, Dendrobes, Odontoglots, e.g., one evidently a distinct new sub-variety, O. Alexandre, pure white sepals with crimson dots and blotch; Lælias, Masdevallias, Calanthes, Coelogynes, Cypripediums, Vandas, &c., one or more varieties in bloom of each, yet I readily give this the preference. The plant is about ten years old, and has now in bloom a dozen blooms each on two massive spikes. IV. 7. M.

XYLOBIUM ELONGATUM.

This is Maxillaria elongata of Lindley, but has been removed along with several other old Maxillarias to the above genus, of which sixteen species are enumerated, including Maxillaria decolor, M. pallidiflora, and M. squalens, which are still cultivated at Kew and in other gardens. X. elongatum is remarkable in having a long, cylindrical quill-like pseudobulb, 18 inches in length, and bearing at its apex two broadish leathery green leaves. From the bases of the pseudobulbs the flower-scape is produced, a short-stalked head of flowers, not more than 4 inches long, in this respect resembling X. squalens. There is also a similarity between the flowers of the latter and X. elongatum both in size, structure, and colour, so that although interesting because of its long, smooth pseudobulb, X. elongatum is not likely to find much favour as a flowering plant. Its nearest affinity is with X. pallidiflorum, the pseudobulbs of which are thin and elongated, but which bears only a single leaf on each. X. elongatum has been intro. duced from Costa Rica. W. A.

FROM

ROM causes which it is not our province to inquire into here, the number of NEW FRUITS brought under notice during the past year is much smaller than usual. We have not this season to record the introduction of any new Grapes, or Pines, or Peaches-the nobility, so to speak, amongst the fruit classes; and amongst the other classes the prevalence of spring frosts no doubt materially interfered.

Apples, having been so thoroughly overhauled and investigated during the preceding year could scarcely have been expected to yield much novelty. In this, however, we have one important and welcome addition in Lady Sudeley, which, however, may be an old sort lost to view. This fine early Apple hails from Petworth, and first appeared as Jacob's Strawberry. It may be described as resembling a very highly-coloured specimen of Duchess of Oldenburgh, and is fit for use in the same season. Another Apple that met with considerable attention and received high honours was Perkins' A I. It is doubtful, however, if it be really distinct from that beautiful and excellent variety Lane's Prince Albert. High Canons, a seedling raised by Mr. THROWER, is a large and handsome culinary sort, of excellent quality late in spring. Several Belgian Apples have been reported on favourably, but these require testing in this country before recommendation.

Pears and Plums present no novelty this season that calls for special notice. Amongst Strawberries Mr. LAXTON'S new seedlings, The Captain, and King of the Earlies, are welcome additions, on account of their great size and remarkable earliness. New Melons do not appear in such numbers as usual. Messrs. CARTER'S Emerald and Captain Larks may be cited as good and excellent sorts.

The number of new names applied every year to the different varieties of VEGETABLES seems to be ever on the increase. It has become the fashion now, and almost every seed vendor seems to consider it right, to rename the commonest article. This is a small matter to those who do not care for novelty, but to those who are on the search after novelty and improved varieties this wholesale manufacture of new names is full of embarrassment and annoyance. Potatos, however, the foremost and chief of the vegetable products that the gardener has to deal with, present us with genuine novelty. Those receiving certificates from the Royal Horticultural Society may be first noted, viz., Charter Oak, an American variety from Mr. BLISS, large round white, with bright pink eyes-very handsome; Notts Victor, large oblong, somewhat resembling Beauty of Hebron; The Doctor (PRITCHARD), in the way of Schoolmaster; and Ellingtonia, a long kidney-shaped variety, with pale salmon skin, flaked with dark purple-of rather singular appearance, and wonderful good quality. The following were certificated by the International Potato Society :-Miss Fowler (Ross), a white kidney seedling from the Woodstock Kidney; Pride of Eydon, also a white kidney, a cross between Myatt's Prolific and Beauty of Hebron ; M.P. (Ross), seedling from Paterson's Victoria; London Hero, Chancellor, and Harvester, three of Mr. DEAN's seedlings, deserve special note as decided improvements, and the same remark applies to Suketra, of HOLMES, now in the hands of Messrs. CARTER & Co.

Amongst other vegetables special note must be made of Hawke's Champagne Rhubarb, which, although not new, only seemed to have had its high merits fully recognised during the past year. Amongst Celeries a new variety, named White Plume, comes to us from Newark, N.J. This is a variegated sport, which grows so white naturally that it is presentable at table without the tedious process of earthing-up. It is not, however, tender or of good quality. Amongst Cabbages Messrs. VILMORIN'S Early Etampes may be noted as the earliest of

all.

Ellam's Dwarf Early is also a very true and good sort. Vilmorin's Dwarf Brussels Sprouts are of very superior merit, the plant dwarf but loaded with Sprouts, which are of nice size and very firm. A great proportion of the Brussels Sprouts now grown are far too large and coarse, and quite out of character. Gilbert's Universal Savoy proved to be of excellent quality, being devoid of that coarse, strong flavour so objectionable in Savoys. Amongst Lettuces there seemed to be no very decided advance. Waite's new Cabbage Lettuce may be mentioned as a good sort; and amongst Onions Wroxton Hero and Sandy Prize deserve mention as excellent selections of the White Spanish.

Tomatos again furnish considerable novelty. Golden Queen (WILLIAMS), is a very fine and distinct large orange-yellow; Hackwood Park Prolific, Lord Wolseley, and Sutton's Reading Perfection, are all fine large smooth-fruited red sorts, that cannot fail to give satisfaction. The most extraordinary Tomato of the season was, no doubt, Chiswick Red, which for cropping qualities has no equal.

Of Peas, some decided and improved varieties have recently been introduced. Some twenty years ago it was rare to find a pod with nine Peas, now pods with ten, eleven, and twelve Peas are becoming common. Of the last year's novelties Sharpe's Early Paragon, a large-podded white marrow, may be noted, and Magnificent of Eckford, a very large podded green marrow of fine appearance and excellent quality. Several very promising varieties from the great Pea hybridist, Mr. LAXTON, have been tried, and will, no doubt, when a little more selected, meet with the recognition their fine appearance seems to indicate.

HAKEA LAURINA.-This is one of the most beautiful of the much neglected Proteaceous shrubs. Its general appearance is sufficiently well indicated in the accompanying illustration (fig. 30), which, however, can give no idea of the delicate rosy-lilac tint of the flowers, nor of the charming colour of the shoots, which bear some resemblance to those of Arbutus Andrachne. This genus is by no means difficult of cultivation, and it is a great pity we do not find them commonly grown where large houses exist. Some of the Banksias and Hakeas are strong and fast growers planted out, but when grown in tubs and pots they will not extend at any great rate, and become floriferous at an early stage. The soil they need would suit an Azalea indica, with a trifle of burnt earth and leaf-mould. The pots should not be much larger than the mass of roots, and the drainage good. To keep large-grown plants in check, shaving off the roots for an inch all round the ball may be done with advantage. Repotting is best done in March, and the plants should be carefully watered until root-growth has commenced. Syringing daily and free ventilation in mild weather will keep them healthy and free from insects. During July, August, and the early part of September plants of Hakea, like most of the Australian hard-wooded plants, are bene. fited by being placed in a sunny, open, but sheltered spot in the reserve garden, or may be used to form groups in the pleasure-grounds. In gravelly soils, and in positions where small pots get dry quickly, plung. ing in coarse sand or coal-ashes is of benefit. We are indebted to Messrs. DICKSON, of Covent Garden, for the specimen from which the figure we give was taken. On the left of the illustration is seen a section of a flower-bud, showing imbricated scales and unopened flower within, below are pollen grains typical of the genus Grevillea. Further to the right

two views of flowers are given, showing how the pistil flies away from the conjoined anthers covered with its pollen.

THE GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.-We are informed that the legacy of £500, less duty, left by Mrs. JANE DODSON, of Blackburn, was paid to the Treasurer of the above Institution on Friday last. The Institution was brought to the notice of the late Mr. DODSON, at the Preston Horticultural Show, by the Secretary; he then became an annual subscriber, and promised that he would not forget the claims of the Institution.

INTERNATIONAL POTATO EXHIBITION.— The trial culture of new seedling varieties entered for the International certificates will be carried out as in former years at Chiswick, by permission of the Royal Horticultural Society. Persons intending to enter seedlings for trial are requested to send not less than six tubers of each sort, with names and pedigrees, to the care of Mr. A. F. BARRON, Royal Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick, before March 31.

At

ARGENTINE RURAL EXHIBITION. the end of April this year an exhibition will be held at Buenos Ayres, of agricultural products, machinery, implements, and live stock. In the classes for vegetable products are sections for cereals, grass seeds, roots, tubers, vegetables, fruits (fresh and dried), oil-seeds, textile fibres, flower seeds, hothouse plants, open-air plants, fruit trees, forest trees, medicinal plants, &c. The exhibition will be confined to products of the Argentine Republic, and will remain open about one month.

"PLANT LORE, LEGENDS AND LYRICS."— Her Majesty the QUEEN has accepted a copy of Mr. FOLKARD'S new work, Plant Lore, Legends and Lyrics, issued by SAMPSON Low & Co.

GRAFTING QUINCES. EVELYN, Pomona, p. 355, asserts that the Quince, although it will serve as a stock for other fruit, yet that its own scions cannot be grafted on any other stock. He translates from PALLADIUS :

"Though the Quince-stock admit all other Fruit,
Its cyon with no other stock will suit,
Scorning the Bark of Foreign trees, does know
Such lovely fruit on no mean stem can grow;
But the Quince graff, to the Quince Stock is joyned,
Contented only to improve its kind."

Can any reader state whether these assertions still hold good?

MARKET GARDENING IN THE PENZANCE DISTRICT.-The West Briton of January 22 contained the following note :-" Of late years the early Broccoli crop in this district has not proved very remunerative to the grower, and, consequently, the earliest kind has not been cultivated so extensively this year. Our gardeners have only sent a very small quantity to market, but the prices realised are better than they have been for several years. The good prices given for Broccoli have induced many growers in the Gulval district to prematurely cut their crops; in fact, a great number have been sent to market no larger than pigeons' eggs, a quart measure being capable of containing a dozen heads. As a natural result of this conduct the trade is injured, and if these growers are not more careful they will be liable to destroy the confidence which it is their best interest to preserve."

CREWE HALL GARDENS.-In reference to this subject (see p. 75, Jan. 17), Mr. WhitakER writes :-"The kitchen garden, with orchard attached, contains 5 acres, and the flower gardens and ornamental grounds about 45 acres. The quantity of glass is considerable, including large conservatory, Orchid-houses, stove, Camellia-house, Pine-stoves, several vineries and Peach-houses, pot vineries, Fig. house, Cucumber and Melon-pits, &c.; and the number of men employed is seventeen-six under gardeners and eleven labourers."

LINNEAN SOCIETY.-At the meeting of this Society to be held on February 5, papers will be read on the following subjects :-" Morphology of Test in Colopleurus and Arbacia," by Professor DUNCAN and Mr. P. SLADDEN; on "Burmese Desmidies," by Mr. W. JOSHUA; and on "Generic Synonymy of Orthoptera to 1839," by Mr. W. F. KIRBY.