beauty is past, let them again sink into a dormancy till the returning season for growing.

The later plants will require similar treatment, and the absence of sunlight, to ripen the wood, must be compensated for by an entire withholding of water.

The following are a few of the best kinds we possess in this country: ÆSCHYNANTHUS BOSCHIANUS.-A native of Java, introduced in 1844, with nearly heart-shaped leaves. Flowers, about an inch and a half long, of a rich-reddish scarlet. It succeeds well, grown in a basket suspended from the roof of the stove.

A. LOBBIANUS.-A native of Java, introduced in 1845, of stronger habit than the above-named, and the flowers are much larger, of an orange-scarlet.

E. RADICANS.-A native of Java, introduced in 1845. Flowers of a deep red. It succeeds well, like E. Boschianus, grown in a basket. E. MINIATA. A native of Java, introduced in 1845. Flowers of a deep vermilion colour, with a blotch of yellow in the throat. A most abundant bloomer.

Æ. PAXTONII.A native of Klosca. Introduced in 1839.

Flowers of a deep scarlet.

Æ. HORSFIELDII.-A native of Java. Leaves nearly circular. Introduced in 1845.

Flowers of a deep orange.

E. ROXBURGHII.-A native of the East Indies. Flowers of a rich scarlet. Introduced in 1837.

E. PULCHER.-A native of Java. Flowers of a rich vivid scarlet. Leaves very large. Introduced in 1845.

Æ. SPLENDIDUS.-This is a most beautiful hybrid, raised by Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, & Co., of Exeter, between . Grandifloras and Æ. speciosus. It is one of the erect growers and a most abundant bloomer, a large bunch of flowers being borne on every shoot; they are of a brilliant orange-scarlet. It flourishes, too, in the greenhouse. Its beauty is not equalled by any other kind, and it ought to be in every greenhouse.

E. SPECIOSUS.--A native of Java. Flowers large, tube of a rich yellow, with a scarlet mouth; very handsome.

The above are free bloomers, easily cultivated, and highly ornamental, and by having a stock of plants, growing them so as to be in succession, blooming plants can be had all the year. They are at all times charming blooming plants, but more especially so as they blossom so freely through autumn and winter.

THE QUEEN OF WINTER,

BY MR. H. STILWELL, PINE-APPLE PLACE NURSERY, LONDON.

THE best compost for the PRIMULA SINENSIS, the CHINESE PRIMROSE, and the most successful mode of treatment in its cultivation, is as follows:

The best time for saving the seed I must leave to the judgment of

the grower. A few years since we thought August a good time to sow the seed of this charming plant, but now we find that the "time of sowing" is not the all-important thing, but how to get "early and fine plants" is the principal requirement.

Eagerly sought for by gardeners and other growers generally, we find, as we travel through the country villages, these pretty blooming plants gladdening the eye of the traveller by the way-side. Again we see the cottager's window clad with their pretty pink-and-white blossoms; but although we see them thus here and there, and almost everywhere, yet we find, in nine instances out of ten, the plants have not the compost suitable for their growth, and to produce the beautiful display they are capable of, and would realise, if grown in one that suits them.

The compost which I have found them succeed in best, "in fact, much superior to any others I have seen under any other circumstances,' is as follows:-Three parts of good yellow loam, and the remaining one part to consist of equal portions of well decomposed cow-dung, and sharp grit from the road-side; these well mixed together, and having a good drainage, will answer every purpose the grower may require, whether for market or private display.

It is a great mistake, which many growers of the Primula have fallen into, who conclude that the plants cannot be well grown without being in peat soil, leaf mould, and silver sand. In this kind of compost I grew the plants till about six years ago, when I called upon a friend who was a Primula-grower for market, and was shown the soil he grew his plants in in such an admirable manner, which fine stock I had the privilege also to see. From that time I never had a plant under my care grown but in the compost first described.

The first season I grew them in that way my employer said he never saw such beautiful plants before. At Christmas the plants were shifted into No. 16-sized pots, and were eighteen inches across.

I find, in shifting the plants into larger pots, it affords two advantages; first, I get three times the quantity of flowers I should have done from a small plant; second, the plants last till March. When done blooming they are set out to themselves, and from them the most superb seed is collected.

The Primula requires to be kept very cool, and shaded from hot sun. A pit or frame is most suitable to have them in, from thence they can be transferred to ornament other places, as the greenhouse, conservatory, sitting-room, &c.

In order to have a good and extended supply of these charming flowers, seed should be sown at three different times; viz., first sowing on June 10th; second, on July 10th; and the third on August 10th. Thus autumn, winter, spring, and summer, can be adorned with these lovely flowers. Plants just showing their first blooming heads, being turned out into the open bed early in May, make a beautiful display in Summer, and a later race of young plants turned out in July, bloom well in Autumn.

302

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF STOVE AND GREENHOUSE VARIEGATED-LEAVED PLANTS.

THESE most interesting plants are now attracting much attention; and as a guide to persons desirous of procuring such, we insert the particular descriptions of the most ornamental which have come under our notice. Great care has been taken in having correct particulars.

CISSUS DISCOLOR.-It is a climbing-plant of great beauty, and succeeds admirably around a wire framework or pillar. The young shoots are of a dark red colour, and the long tendrils are of a deep rose. The leaves are from 6 to 8 inches long, and from 3 to 4 broad, tapering to a point. The under side is of a dark reddish purple, and the colours of the upper surface are disposed as follows:

First, there is a velvety band, with an undulating margin down the centre, of a rich violet-purple colour, covering about one-third of the surface, widest at the base, and tapering to a point. From this branches forth smaller bands down the side ribs, olive-green, and becoming beautifully interlaced at their extremities. The spaces betwixt these ribs are raised, giving the leaf the appearance of having been embossed, and in colour a silvery pearl-white. With the young leaves there is a slight tinge of lake near the central band. The entire leaf has a narrow margin of lake. These large and truly beautiful leaves have a peculiar "metallic" hue, and it is by far the most strikingly handsome variegated-leaved plant that has been introduced into England.

DRACENA MACULATA.-A very pretty plant, each leaf being about 8 inches long by 3 broad, of a dark olive-green, with very distinct spots of bright green, and in the centre of each is a dark dot. The leaves are very thick, and very beautifully marked.

DRACENA FERREA VERSICOLOR (Synonyme, D. terminalis).-This is an erect growing plant, and if allowed to proceed without the lead being stopped, would, no doubt, become several yards high. Small plants, however, will bloom, and by stopping, the plant may be formed to a bushy one of three or four feet high; but whether it has but one head, or several, it is a most beautiful object, and highly ornamental. The leaves are somewhat in the form of those of a Canna, each being, when full grown, from eighteen inches to two feet long, and from six to eight broad. We recently saw a plant about five feet high, the stem had fine foliage from the edge of the pot to the top, which had a head of young, "but large," leaves. The plant, in all its stages of growth, has an assemblage of the young leaves, which compose a plumed head, diverging on every side, of carmine, lake, and bright green, in broad or narrow stripes. As the leaves become older, the green turns to a dark olive suffused with brown, and the vivid carmine and lake changes to deep red and purple. It merits a place in every stove, or warm conservatory.

DRACENA NOBILIS.-This, too, is a magnificent erect plant. The leaves are very large, of a rich vermillion, crimson, and purple, striped with green, rendering it highly ornamental.

DRACENA FERREA.-An erect plant, with large leaves, of a dark purple, slightly suffused with brown when young.

HOYA VARIEGATA.-Leaves dark green, with a broad band of yellow next the green, and the margin a creamy white.

HOYA PICTA. When the leaves are young, they are of a beautiful rose-colour upon a pale yellow ground. When full-grown, they are of a deep yellow, with a very distinct margin of green. It is exceedingly handsome.

CALADIUM HEMATOSTIGMA.--Leaves large, somewhat in the form of those of the Calla æthiopica, but are what is designated arrow-head shaped; green with irregular white marks, each of which has a rosycrimson blotch in the centre. It is singularly pretty.

CALADIUM PICTURATUM.-Leaves arrow-head shaped, each six inches long and three broad at its widest part; of a bright green, with a handsome rose-coloured broad stripe up the centre of the leaf, and diverges on each side up the lobes, so as to have an arrow-head appearance. It is very handsome.

CALADIUM BICOLOR.-This was formerly called Arum bicolor, a well-known stove plant. Leaves medium sized, green, with a large part of its centre suffused with deep red. Pretty.

CALADIUM BICOLOR SPLENDENS.-Leaves of a similar form and size to the last-described; but the centre colouring is more brilliant. Very handsome.

CALADIUM PICTUM.-Leaves seven inches long and five broad, of similar form to the other kinds. When young, they are green, with large irregular-shaped white patches; but afterwards the patches become yellow. It is very handsome.

CALADIUM.-New species from Bornea; the leaves and stalks are almost black, very strikingly distinct.

CALADIUM ATROPURPUREUM.-Leaves (arrow-head shaped too) two feet long and one broad, green, footstalk of each two to three feet long, of a purple colour, the strong ribs at the underside of the leaves are also of a purple colour. A noble and handsome plant.

CONSIGNA BORBONICA.-A very handsome shrub, the leaves being nearly a foot long and two inches broad, of a rich green and yellow colours. The midrib and margin are yellow, and on each side of the midrib are irregular-formed broad patches of green, separated by yellow lines, &c. So beautifully are the markings, that in some leaves the yellow predominates, and in others the green; but all are handsome.

CAMPYLOBOTRYS DISCOLOR.-Leaves oval, four inches long and three inches broad, and of a velvety-green with bright green veins. The former-named portion rises high above the hollow bright green veins, and appear as if they had been mechanically embossed. They are very pretty.

CALATHEA ZEBRINA. This has long been known with us as "Maranta zebrina," or "Zebra-plant." Its large rich green leaves, regularly striped with velvet, are very handsome.

MARANTA ROSEO-LINEATA.-Its large rich green leaves are very handsomely streaked with a rich rose colour. It is exceedingly pretty. MARANTA ALBO-LINEATA.-Its large green leaves are beautifully

streaked with white, contrasting well with the last two described plants.

MARANTA VITTATA.-Leaves large, dark green with yellow stripes. Very handsome.

MARANTA PUMILA.-A dwarf-growing plant, leaves green, beautifully striped with white.

MURANTA. NEW SPECIES. -Leaves ten inches long and six broad. The under side of a rich reddish-purple. The upper side bright green with silvery-white stripes. Very handsome.

ECHITES PICTA.- -A climbing plant. Leaves five inches long and three-quarters of an inch broad; green, with a silvery-white midrib. Very pretty.

DIOSCOREA DISCOLOR.-The YAM of the West Indies is Dioscorea sativa. The D. discolor has heart-shaped leaves, eight inches long and six broad. The under side is a rich puce colour, and the upper a light green, prettily marked with dark olive-green.

ELEODENDRON INDICUM.-Leaves a foot long and four inches broad, a pretty light green, with very dark network-like (reticulated) veins. Very handsome. The fruit of this small tree-like plant is much like that of the Olive.

ESCHYNANTHUS VARIEGATUM.-Leaves oval-shaped, four inches by two. The under side is of a drab colour, with numerous irregularformed blotches of a rosy plum-colour. The upper side is of a vivid green, beautifully mottled with irregular blotches of very dark green. Very handsome.

ERANTHEMUM LEUCONERVUM.-Leaves oval, three inches long by two broad, a dark green, with silvery-white, embossed-like midrib and side ribbed veins. Very pretty.

JUSTICIA ZEBRINA.-Leaves oval-shaped, eight inches long by four broad, dark and light green, the former portion of which has an embossed appearance. The veins on young leaves are of a rosy-red, but afterwards changes to white. Very handsome.

MARANTA SANGUINEA.-Leaves eighteen inches long and eight broad, green above, and the under side of a deep blood-colour.

CENTROSOLENA PICTA.-Leaves oval, three inches long by two broad, light green, with a broad dark green margin. Neat and pretty. PLECTRANTHUS CONCOLOR PICTA.-Many of our readers know the commonly-grown Plectranthus fruticosus of the cottage window. The leaves of this new and handsome plant are of similar size. When young, they are yellow, then become light green, and finally a dark green. In the centre of each leaf is a large irregular-formed patch of a ruby-red colour, which has a very striking appearance, especially on the young yellow and light green leaves.

ERIOCNEMA MARMOREA.-The leaves are oval-shaped, about five inches across, of a velvet-green, appearing as if embossed. The midrin, as well as about half an inch of each of the side ribs, are of a beautiful silvery-white. That portion of the ribby veins not white are of a pale green, contrasting prettily with the other colours. It succeeds best under a bell glass, or in a Wardian case, under which the colours are well defined and distinct. It is very handsome.