BROWALLIA JAMESONII-MR. JAMESON'S
BROWALLIA.

MOST of our readers are doubtless acquainted with some of the

species of this pretty genus, the annual B. grandiflora, and B. elata, having long been summer ornaments of the greenhouse and flowergarden. The beautiful one we now figure far exceeds all the others. It is, too, an evergreen shrubby plant, with something of the habit of the Myrtle. It flourishes in the greenhouse, and blooms profusely throughout the summer. It is a native of Peru, in the northern parts, growing in woods, where it forms a handsome bush from two to three feet high. It was discovered by Mr. Lobb, Messrs. Veitchs' collector. We saw it shown at the floral exhibitions at Chiswick and Regent's Park Gardens the last season by Messrs. Veitch. It is found hardy enough to be preserved in a pit-frame through winter. It grows freely, is readily increased by cuttings, and well merits a place in every greenhouse.

VERBENA JUNIUS.

The Verbena is one of the loveliest ornaments of the flower-garden. Their great variety and beauty, also their peculiar adaptation for decoration when grown either singly, in masses, or in vases, rustic baskets, rock-work, &c., renders them universally esteemed, and every properly furnished flower-garden will contain some of this charming tribe. During the last five years much attention has been directed to the raising of seedlings, in order to obtain flowers of an improved form and substance of petal. One of the most successful cultivators is Mr. Barker of St. Margaret's, who last year raised the very distinct, beautiful, and fine-shaped variety we have figured in our present plate. A particular description of it and several other of his very fine new VOL. XVII. No. 27.-N.S.

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varieties about to be sent out the coming spring, are given in our last month's advertising sheet. We frequently visited the bed of seedlings at St. Margaret's last summer, and can bear testimony to the superior merits of the flowers.

We solicited Mr. Barker to give us particulars of his method of culture, and we have been favoured with the following remarks:

THE VERBENA.-It is now some twenty years since, when visiting the neat, but small, nursery of our esteemed friend, Mr. Robert Shipp, of Palgrave, in Suffolk, my brother and myself first saw that sweet floral gem the old Verbena Melendris; there were eight or ten plants, each producing a single truss of bloom; with which we were so much delighted, that, after sundry consultations, we ventured to inquire, "What is the price of a plant of the Verbena ?" The reply was, "One shilling. Happy, fortunate boys! we really, unitedly, possessed the sum required to purchase a single plant, and although bankrupts in cash, we esteemed ourselves rich indeed in floral wealth. Our prize was borne in triumph to our little patch of garden, planted and tended; where it amply repaid all our attentions with its liberal crop of bright and beautiful flowers.

Years passed on, and our little stock increased annually; at length Tweediana was introduced, purchased, and added to our stock. Again, a short time, and Teucroides made its appearance; that was also purchased, and from that we saved our first seeds. The Verbena is associated with the recollections of our early childhood; it has been our innocent, cheerful companion through youth; it is now our especial floral favourite. Not to the exclusion of the many other classes of florists' flowers; far from it, we are great admirers of all, and, for general purposes,we do not think the Verbena has not an equal. How many and varied are the situations for which it is adapted! In the humble cottage gaaden, on the decaying stumps of trees, on the rough and rugged rock, in rustic tubs and baskets, in the richly decorated vase, in the greenhouse or conservatory, in the well kept garden of an amateur, or on the grand parterre of the noble and the great, it is equally at home.

How rich and varied are its colours, ranging from a most dazzling scarlet to the most pure white! How delightfully sweet is the perfume diffused by many varieties! Its habit is also various; some growing erect, and others being perfect creepers; suited, too, for training over ornamental wire-work frames or baskets, or for hanging pendant, around the sides. And if we add to its many other good qualities the very long period it continues in bloom, we think we shall have said sufficient to prove our former assertion,-"that it is entitled to universal favour."

No plant is of more easy cultivation than the Verbena; the beds should be prepared directly after the old plants are destroyed by frost, giving them a good dressing with well-rotted manure; the remains of an old cucumber bed is preferred by us for the purpose. Turn up the soil to the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches, leaving the surface rough, to be well pulverized by the frost. In the early part of April, level down the beds, stirring the soil about three inches deep; the beds will then be ready to receive the plants. The distance

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

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from each other must be determined by the effect to be produced. If to form masses, twelve inches will be sufficient, but if for single specimens, or to produce flowers for exhibition, then three feet apart will not be too much. After planting, the shoots should be regulated; being neatly and securely pegged down, to prevent them being disturbed by the wind. All the after attention they will require will be to remove the pegs from time to time as the shoots elongate. And should the season prove dry, supply them with water, using liquid manure every third time liberally for all high or bright colours, but with caution for light or white flowers.

Cuttings should be taken about the end of August, and be planted in sand or any other light soil under a north or west wall, and covered with a frame or hand-glass, where with little attention they will be rooted in about a fortnight.

When well-rooted, plant singly into three-inch pots, using a soil composed of equal parts of turfy loam and peat; place them in a close frame for a few days until the plants are established in the fresh soil, after which they may be gradually exposed to the full influence of sun and air. Stop every shoot at the second joint, to make the plants bushy; allow them to remain in the frame till the end of Octobor; then remove them to a cool pit or airy greenhouse, where they may be protected from frost. All the attention they will require through the winter will be an occasional watering. Stopping, and (should the mildew make its appearance) a slight dusting with sulphur.

In the first week in March (weather permitting) they may again be removed to the frames, and exposed as before to the sun and air. Under such treatment, the plants will be very hardy, short jointed, and quite prepared for turning out in the second week in April, and will stand fully exposed to four or five degrees of frost uninjured. These directions merely apply to the good old established varieties; with new sorts, of course, the case is widely different. The plants of such new varieties are but seldom to be obtained from the nurseries until the second week in April, and as such plants will have been propagated in spring it will be advisable to protect them for a short time, and prepare them by degrees for exposure in the flower-garden; indeed, the safest time for planting out Verbenas propagated in spring, is the second week in May.

The great advantages derived from early planting, with well 'prepared plants, is, an early and abundant crop of flowers, and of very long duration.

NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

AERIDES CRISPUM-SIR RICHARD BROOKE'S AIR PLANT.

Orchidacea. Gynandria Monandria.

THIS very beautiful species is a native of Courtallam, in the East Indies, and has bloomed in the collection of Sir Richard Brookes, Bart., at Norton Priory. The whole genus of Erides are handsome; but this is the most lovely, and one of the rarest. It has recently bloomed The racemes of in the noble collection at the Royal Gardens of Kew.

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NOTES ON NEW OR RARE PLANTS.

flowers are drooping, and from eight to ten inches long. A single flower is about two inches across. The sepals and petals are white, tinged with rose. The lip is very large, three lobed, the middle one fringed at the edge. At the base it is white, with the rest of a deep rosy-purple. It merits a place in every collection (Figured in the Bot. Mag. 4427). Its natural habit is to grow on trees, blocks of wood are usually used in this country set upright, three or four feet long; to the top of which the roots are secured; and as they descend, the long block allows space. The rides, Mr. Smith observes, do well when the roots can affix themselves to the walls of the stove, especially if moist. Chimney-pipes answer well, moistening the surface. The Ærides require a very warm part of the Orchid-house.

BROWALLIA SPECIOSA.

A fine shrubby new species introduced by Messrs. Veitchs'. The flowers are about an inch and a-half across, of a blueish lilac, with a pale yellow eye. It is a valuable plant for the greenhouse or conservatory.

DIPLADENIA NOBILIS-NOBLE DIPLADENIA.

This handsome species is a native of Brazil. It is a stove-climber, and delights to be placed in full exposure to the sun, or the flowers will not fully open, nor be in equal profusion. It delights in a compost of equal parts of loam, peat, and sand. In the growing season, it requires a moist atmosphere and a free supply of water at the roots. Weakish liquid manure occasionally given is very beneficial. In the winter, keep it dry, a season of rest being required. The flowers are borne in terminal one-sided racemes, of six or eight together. The corolla is tube bell-shaped, two inches long, the expanded surface border, about the same across. There are two varieties of it, one a pretty pink colour, with a darker inside tube; the other white, with a dark rosy inside tube : both are handsome, and merit a place in the stove. (Figured in Pax. Mag. Bot.) It is now in several of the London nurseries. EXACUM ZEYLANICA--CEYLON EXACUM. (Syn. Chironia trinervis. Lisianthus Zeylanicus.)

A beautiful annual, which has recently been raised from seed in the Dublin Botanic Garden, and where it bloomed in September last. The stem grows erect, terminating in a corymbously branching, blooming head of flowers. A single flower is about an inch and a half across, of a rich purple-blue. It is a valuable acquisition, and merits a place in the stove, or warm greenhouse, probably in summer. Seeds should be sown early in spring, and be potted off singly as soon as ready. The pots should be placed in saucers, and occasional supplies of water be given in them. The soil should be of an open turfy character, and a liberal drainage be given, to allow the surface water to pass away freely.

LISIANTHUS PULCHER-BEAUTIFUL LISIANTHUS.

Mr. Purdie discovered this very beautiful species in New Grenada. It has bloomed in the stove at the Royal Gardens of Kew, and with