be the most beautiful of the varieties; others from Fokien: hydrangeas, a very fine double white Gardenia, with flowers as large as a camellia; a curious chrysanthemum, named as a perfect gem; new pines, honeysuckles, and plums, are among the rarities mentioned as being actually on their way to England.

We learn from other sources that Mr. Fortune has been consulted by the Governor of Hong-Kong as to the practicability of planting the bare hills of that island, which at present consist more of buildings than vegetation. In the former respect, the place was making extraordinary progress, a large town having already started up. The panic as to unhealthiness was wearing off; good hospitals and barracks for the troops were rapidly erecting; the rest of the inhabitants were already well provided for, and the ships in the harbor were perfectly healthy.

It is rumored in this country that Mr. Fortune had proceeded to Formosa; but his own letters do not mention such an intention.-(Gard. Chron., 1845, p. 183.)

Nemophila discoidalis. This gem of a new annual is now in flower in our collection. It has the habit of azùrea, but the flowers, which are not quite so large, are of a rich purplish maroon, almost black, with the disc of each petal tipped with pure white. For pot cultivation in the greenhouse it is one of the finest things lately introduced, and a bed of it must make a striking contrast with the N. azùrea. It is yet quite rare.

Achimenes picta.-A plant of this most splendid and rare species is now blooming in our collection, and it certainly ranks the highest among those yet introduced. The flowers are about two thirds the size of A. longiflòra, more tubular, of a brilliant scarlet, the lower half chrome yellow, exquisitely spotted with scarlet; the exterior part of the corolla pubescent: the habit is good, and the leaves are richly striped with dark brown. It is cultivated in the same way as the longiflora.

New Fuchsias.-We are most happy to announce the introduction of many of the finest kinds of Fuchsias-we believe not less than forty or fifty kinds in all. In our advertising sheet nearly this number is already offered for sale.

Among those which have already bloomed, Britannia and Chauvièrii may be mentioned as the most showy; the latter was one of the best we saw around London last autumn. We must advise all lovers of plants to add some of the varieties to their collections. If properly managed, they will bloom till October, and they may be either turned into the border or grown in pots. For bedding out, they are invaluable, forming the showiest objects of the garden.

Petunias. Some beautiful varieties of petunias have been raised from seed around Boston. Mr. Quant, gardener to Col. Perkins, has several that are very fine; Mr. Carter, of the Botanic garden, two or three, and we have ourselves several, all equalling those we saw and described last year, (Vol. X, p. 377.) A large bed of the different sorts forms one of the showiest groups, if planted out in circles, slightly raised in the centre. By procuring the choicest seed some superior flowers may be obtained, without the expense of purchasing plants.

Acanthacea.

APHELA'NDRA

aurantiaca Lindl. Orange Aphelandra. A stove shrub; growing two feet high; with orangecolored flowers; appearing in winter; a native of South America (?); increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1843, t. 12.

Syn: Hesemasándra aurantiaca. Hort.

"The handsomest stove shrub that has been introduced for a long time, vieing in beauty with Ixòra coccinea, Hìndsias, and other front rank species; colorers are quite unable to give the soft and brilliant glow of the rich orange-colored flowers, which may perhaps be compared with that of the ripest side of a Brussels apricot, when covered with varnish." The flowers are produced in terminal spikes. It was received from Belgium, and is supposed to be from South America. (Bot. Reg., March.)

Gentianàceæ.

EUSTO'MA

exaltatum Grisch. Tall Eustoma. A greenhouse annual plant; growing two feet high; with pale blue flowers; appearing in July; a native of Mexico; increased by seeds. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 13. Syn Lisianthus glaucifolius Jacq. Uranánthus glaucifolius Benth.

An interesting plant, producing numerous pale blue flowers, deeper colored in the centre. It was introduced as a new species of Lisianthus, but it proves to be an old plant, described by Lamarcke as L. exaltàtus. We saw it in flower

last autumn, in Mr. Glendenning's collection, Chiswick, from whose plants the drawing was made. In England it is cultivated as a greenhouse annual, sowing the seeds in July, and keeping the plants in a greenhouse where they bloom the following season: perhaps it would require the same treatment with us, though it may prove a half-hardy annual, if seeds are sown in March, in a hotbed. The plants should be frequently topped, to make them bushy and compact. The best soil is a sandy peat. (Bot. Reg., March.)

Schrophulariaceæ.

PENTST EMON

gentianoides var diaphanum Lindl. Transparent Gentian-like Pentstemon. A half-hardy perennial; growing two or three feet high; with scarlet flowers; appearing from July to September; a native of Mexico; increased by seeds or cuttings; grown in very good rich soil. Bot. Reg. 1815,

t. 16.

A fine variety of the beautiful Gentian-like pentstemon, well worth introduction; the flowers are scarlet, with the under side of the tube so colorless as to be semi-transparent. It is a free grower, becoming slightly woody at the base of the stem, and flowers freely all the autumn. The P. gentianoides, as well as this variety, should find a place in every good garden. They may be raised from seeds. (Bot. Reg., March.)

Solandceæ.

IOCHROMA Benth.

tubulosa Benth. Tubular Iochrome. A greenhouse shrub; growing four feet high; with blue flowers; appearing in August; a native of Mexico; increased by cuttings; grown in sandy loam and peat. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 20.

A very handsome deciduous shrub, with terminal clusters of dark blue tubular flowers, sometimes numbering as many as thirty in each; and, when in full bloom, very showy. It is a hardy greenhouse plant, growing very freely, and requiring to be rather stunted in the pot to make it flower freely. The best way to manage it is to plant it out in the open ground the first season, and to take it up in the autumn, when well rooted, by keeping it rather close a week or two, to place it in a cool dry place for the winter. In March, cut it back freely and top-dress the soil; bring it forward slowly and water abundantly as it comes into bloom in July. It is readily increased by cuttings in sand. (Bot. Reg., April..)

CE'STRUM

aurantiacum Lindl. Orange-colored Cestrum. A greenhouse plant; growing four feet high; with orange-colored flowers; appearing in August; a native of Guatemala; increased by cuttings; grown in any good soil. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 22.

We have already described this beautiful plant, (Vol. X, p. 380,) as it appeared to us when we saw it in fine bloom in the great conservatory of the London Horticultural Society. The figure does no justice to the plant, as indeed few drawings do; for it has "a strikingly gay aspect, its apricot or orange-colored blossoms being quite clear and of considerable size. Its foliage is dark green, shining and abundant, and in the winter it is rendered gay by an abundance of snow-white pear-shaped berries." The flowers appear in dense spikes of fifty or more, tubular, and not only last a long time, but "breathe a very pleasant perfume of orange peel."

It is a greenhouse shrub, and will probably, in our climate, flower abundantly in the open air, thus forming a desirable object for bedding out. It should be placed out doors to induce it to form short-jointed wood and an abundance of flower buds. After blooming, it will naturally lose its leaves, but its snow-white berries will always make it attractive; keep it rather cool and dry in winter. It is readily increased by cuttings or seeds. (Bot. Reg., April.)

Lamidceæ.

DYSO PHYLLA

stellata Benth. Starry Disophyll. A greenhouse plant; growing a foot high; with purple flowers; appearing in October; a native of Malabar; increased by cuttings; grown in sandy peat and loam. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 23.

Syn: Méntha quaternifolia Roth.

A very delicate greenhouse plant, of an erect habit, "and bearing spikes of the prettiest little purple flowers, which remind the observer of the spikes of a Mimòsa, or some such plant." The flowers have long tender filaments, and being covered with delicate hairs, "produce the appearance of plumes of purple silk." The foliage is linear and acute, and clothes the stems in whorls to the base of the flowers. It is cultivated in light sandy peat and loam, and is increased by dividing the root or by cuttings.. (Bot. Reg., April.) Myoporȧcea.

MYOPORUM

serratum R. Br. Saw-leaved Myoporum. A greenhouse shrub; growing four feet high; with white spotted flowers; appearing in May; a native of Tasmannia; increased by cuttings; grown in sandy peat. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 15.

"A neat bush, loaded with a profusion of white flowers, as large as those of hawthorn, and spotted with purple."

The leaves are lanceolate and acute, and the flowers clothe all the terminal shoots. Its native habitat is on the seashore. Under cultivation, it should be potted in a soil such as is suitable for heaths, and be treated in a similar manner; having an ample supply of water in summer, and kept rather dry and cool in winter. It is readily propagated by cuttings. (Bot. Reg., March.)

Amaryllidaceæ.

PHÆDRANA'SSA Herb.

chloràcea Herb. Crimson and Green Phædranassa. A greenhouse bulb; growing a foot high; with crimson and green flowers; appearing in spring; a native of Peru; increased by offsets; grown in rich sandy loam. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 17.

A gay and showy amaryllideous bulb, throwing up a strong stem, terminated with fifteen or more pendulous flowers, the base and top of the corols green, and the main part crimson. It was found by Mr. Hartweg, at an elevation of 7000 feet above the level of the river, on arid banks; and its cultivation is similar to others of the tribe. Pot the bulbs in rich sandy soil; keep them dry when at rest, and supply them freely with water when in a growing state. (Bot. Reg., March.)

ORNITHOGALUM

marginatum Lindl. White-Edged Ornithogalum. A greenhouse bulb; growing a foot high with white flowers; appearing in March; a native of Asia; increased by offsets; grown in rich sandy loam. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 21.

But few of the ornithogalums can claim any remarkable merit; the present subject is a rather pretty species, growing a foot high, and throwing out a spike of white flowers. It likes a rich soil, and the bulbs should be kept dry in winter and potted in spring, when it should be abundantly supplied with water. (Bot. Reg., April.)

Lilidceæ.

BLANDFO'RDIA Smith.

marginata Herb. Rough-edged Blandfordia. A greenhouse plant; growing two feet high; with copper-colored flowers; appearing in spring; a native of Van Dieman's Land; increased by dividing the root; grown in sandy loam and peat. Bot. Reg. 1845, t. 18.

*

A very splendid plant, producing sub-erect rigid leaves, and racemes of very showy pendulous flowers, of a reddish yellow or deep copper color, twenty or more in a spike. Until lately, it was supposed that there were only two species of this fine genus; but three more have been lately discovered, among which is the present subject, which excels the older kinds. Mr. Gunn found it growing abundantly on pure