do not open, and the plants have the appearance of small weeds. But the moment the sun's rays glitter forth in full power, they immediately open, and continue expanded for two or three hours. It should be in every garden: unless the seeds are sown in a very poor soil, the plants run all to foliage.

ΙΡΟΜΕΑ.

Convolvulacea.

In Paxton's Magazine of Botany, for June, a species called rùbra cærulea is figured. It requires the heat of a stove to flower it to perfection. The flowers are very large, somewhat similar in shape to the cominon species, and of a rich purplish blue color. The buds before they open are white, with a tint of rich red. Seeds of this species were collected by Mr. Samuel Richardson, in the province of Guanaxuato, in Mexico, and sent to England. It is stated to make a very pretty show, trained up the rafters or other parts of the hot-house or stove, where it can be easily seen. It flowers freely, and grows easily in equal portions of loam and peat, with a little well rotted dung. Perhaps this species would flower well in the open ground, treated in the same manner in which the Coba a is usually grown.

Polemoniaceœ.

GILIA (So called after Dr. Gillis, a Spanish botanist.)

tricolor, three-colored, in allusion to the three beautiful tints of its corolla.

This comparatively new and pretty species, from California, ought to be particularly recommended to those admirers of floral beauty, whose taste or limited opportunities lead them to the cultivation of plants in pots. For two months past, a few plants of this species have every day been delighting my eyes with a profusion of its elegant corols and dark green delicate foliage. The soil should be a light rich vegetable mould and sand. When suffered to hang negligently over the sides of a pot, the free and unrestrained elegance of nature, displayed in its economy, is particularly interesting. It bears the confinement of a room better than almost any other plant, and I am led to think, from my specimens, that the color of the flowers are much darker and deeper than when grown in the open air. For a winter plant, it must be a little flowering gem and one more item may be added to its merits, that it attracts the favorable notice and admiration of the fairer sex, with whose charms it so pleasingly vies. Its specific name is a happy allusion to its colors, which are curiously blended, and the genuine and specific names are euphoniously connected, in our recollection, with the semperflorent pansy (Viola tricolor). Well can I remember with what eagerness, so common to children towards this latter, their favorite flower, have I sought for its golden and purple blossoms

peeping forth from under the snow; and to recall those happy moments, have given my new favorite, the three-colored gilia, an envied situation near a patch of heart's-ease, which the skill and praiseworthy assiduity of modern floriculturists have rendered so conspicuously rich and splendid.—R.

NEMO PHILA.

Hydrophyllacea.

We have now in beautiful bloom, in our garden, several plants of the N. insignis. It is a fine annual, trailing on the ground, and covered with a profusion of white and blue flowers. Planted in patches, it would present a beautiful display all summer, and would be valuable to plant with petunias and eschscholtzias. It is yet quite rare, but, as it seeds tolerably freely, no doubt it will soon become as common as other annuals.

Iridacea.

We have lately had in flower several beautiful species of Ixia, Gladiolus, Peyroúsia, Hesperántha, and other Cape bulbs, which we received from the Mass. Horticultural Society, and which, with others, formed part of the liberal donation of the Baron LUDWIG. Ixia stricta, flexuòsa, and viridiflora are beautiful plants, particularly so the latter. Gladiolus blándus is a most charming species the petals are of a yellowish white, the three upper ones elegantly pencilled with bright pink, or rosy red. The specimens were not very large, and only produced spikes with three or four flowers; but we presume, if grown strong, they would produce eight or ten. Peyroúsia falcàta is a small but delicate species, with spikes of sky-blue flowers, about six inches high. A species of Hesperántha, but unknown, was also very fine. The bulbs were all weak from the length of time they were out of the ground; but when they have been grown strong, their flowers will be much more beautiful.

Gladiolus natalensis is now throwing up its tall spikes of vermillion, yellow, and green flowers in abundance, in the open border. It should be cultivated in every collection.

Orchidacea.

HABENARIA (From habena, a rein or thong, in allusion to the long strap-shaped spur.) procera Lindl. Tall Habenaria. A stove plant; growing two feet high; with greenish white flowers; appearing in August; propagated by offsets. Bot. Reg. 1858. Synonyme: Orchis procèra Swartz.

A "rare species," long since found, and introduced into Persoon's Synopsis, since which time nothing has been heard of it, until it flowered in the splendid collection of the Messrs. Loddiges, at Hackney. It is a native of Sierra Leone. It requires the heat of a damp stove to grow it well. The genus Habenària consists now of upwards of eighty species, and many more, it is supposed, will have to be added to it. (Bot. Reg., June.)

We shall at some convenient opportunity call the attention of our readers to the cultivation of our hardy native orchideous plants, among which the genus Habenària stands conspicuous. Several species grow in this vicinity, and are highly worthy of introduction into every garden.

CATTLEYA

labiata Lindl. Crimson-lipped Cattleya. A splendid stove epiphyte; growing about a foot bigh; with crimson and lilac flowers; appearing in October; a native of Brazil. Bot. Reg. 1859.

This splendid plant has been cultivated in England for some time, and has been figured in several botanical periodicals. These plates are, however, Dr. Lindley states, deficient in the richness of color, which is so peculiarly characteristic of this species. The flowers appear on stems, in clusters from four to six each, "and when in this state," says Dr. Lindley, "there is certainly no plant of which I have any knowledge, that can be said to stand forth with an equal radiance of splendor and beauty. For it is not merely the large size of the flowers, and the deep rich crimson of one petal contrasted with the delicate lilac of the others, that constitute the loveliness of this plant; it owes its beauty, in almost an equal degree, to the transparency of its texture and the exquisite clearness of its colors, and the graceful manner in which its broad flag-like petals wave and intermingle when they are stirred by the air, or hang half drooping, half erect, when at rest and motionless. It requires the heat of a damp stove to flower it to perfection. The drawing was made from the garden of the Horticultural Society. (Bot. Reg., June.)

MORMODES Lindl. (From mormo, a frightful looking object, a goblin, in allusion to the strange appearance of the flowers.)

atropurpurea Lindl. Dark purple mormodes. A curious stove epiphyte; growing six or eight inches high; with dark purple flowers; appearing in December. A native of the Spanish Main; introduced in 1834. Bot. Reg., 1861.

A very singular plant, constituting a new genus. The flowers appear in dense lateral racemes, and are of a dark rich purple color. The leaves are pale green. It flowered for the first time in the collection of John Willmore, Esq., near Birmingham, in December last. It requires the same treatment as the catasetums, &c. (Bot. Reg., June.)

TRICHOPHILIA Lindl. From trichos, hair, and pilion, cap. The anther of this genus is concealed below a cap surmounted with three tufts of hair.

tórtilis

Lindl. Twisted-petalled Trichophilia. A beautiful stove epiphyte; growing eight or ten inches high; with white and crimson flowers; appearing in January; a native of Mexico; introduced in 1835. Bot. Reg., 1863.

"A beautiful and highly curious plant," also forming a new genus. The flowers are sessile and horizontal, and appear at the base of a leaf. The petals, five in number, are singularly twisted: the labellum is bell-shaped, being curiously rolled round the column, and is spotted somewhat in the manner of a foxglove, with rich crimson. (Bot. Reg., June.)

We certainly hope that the fine places in this vicinity will soon

boast of their collection of epiphytes. No plants would more delight, either by their beauty or by their singularity, than this highly interesting tribe. We look forward with much pleasure to the time when they will be generally grown; and we cannot but believe that the liberal proprietor of such an elegant residence as Belmont Place, or such an amateur lover of plants as Mr. Knevels, of Newburgh, N. Y., will soon be induced to add these to their already extensive collections.

DENDROBIUM

macrostachyum Lindl. Long-spiked Dendrobium. A pretty stove epiphyte; growing one or two feet high; with fellow or pale sulphur flowers; appearing in June; a native of Ceylon. Bot. Reg.

1865.

same treatment.

Less beautiful than several other species, but requiring the The flowers appear in threes on a pendulous rod-shaped stem. Dried specimens of this species were sent from Ceylon to Dr. Lindley some years since. In looking over these, he found a small blanched portion of a root, or pseudo bulb; this was fastened to the wall of a damp shady stove, in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, where it soon turned green, and began to grow. It was carefully tended, and grew into a plant, which was separated and distributed. From one of these plants this drawing was made last June. (Bot. Reg., June.)

EPIDE'NDRUM

armeniacum Lindl. Apricot-colored Epidendrum. A stove epiphyte; growing about eight inches high; with orange-colored blossoms; appearing in June; a native of Brazil. Bot. Reg. 1867.

Exhibited for the first time at one of the splendid displays of flowers in the London Horticultural Society, last season, where "in the midst of the dazzling scarlet or pink of various kinds of Cácti, and surrounded by the brilliant pluming of Chinese azalea flowers, that weighed down their graceful branches, which really seemed as if they were proud of their lovely burden, from a basket of humble moss, a little tuft of stems of this species was seen to rear its modest head, as if in hopelessness of attracting notice in so gay a company." This description would undoubtedly be considered as greatly exaggerated by those who are only fond of showy flowers; but "the pleasing tint of its apricotcolored petals, the elegant form of their slightly nodding or even drooping clusters," will compensate for the absence of its "gaudier rivals." The flowers appear in dense drooping racemes, and among the curious forms of the epiphytes, this must have a fine effect. Imported and flowered by the Messrs. Rollinsons of Tooting. (Bot. Reg., June.)

Skinneri Bateman MSS. Mr. Skinner's Epidendrum. A stove epiphyte; with greenish-white flowers; appearing in July. Bot. Reg. 1870.

"Not a pretty species," but desirable in a collection; introduced in 1834, and flowered for the first time in July, 1835. (Bot. Reg., June.)

MAXILLA'RIA

aroma ica Graham Aromatic Maxillaria. A fragrant stove epiphyte; growing six inches high; with yellow flowers; appearing in May; a native of Me ico. Ro.. Reg 1871.

"A fragrant species, breathing cinnamon and sweet spices." Introduced as long since as 1826, and quite common in collections. The flowers are not unhandsome, but the species is valuable for its delightful fragrance. It flowers abundantly in the month of May. (Bot. Reg., June.)

CRYBE Lindl. (From crupto, to conceal, in allusion to the manner in which the column is hidden by the floral envelopes.)

rosea Lindl. Pink-flowered Crybe. A stove epiphyte growing a foot or more in height; with rosy colo ed flowers; appearing in June; a native of Mexico Bot. Reg., 1872

Another new genus formed by Dr. Lindley. This species requires the same treatment as the bletias, from which we infer it is a terrestial plant. The flowers appear four or five in number, on a slender steni, and remain partially closed, from whence its generic name. The genus is stated to be nearly allied to our arethusas. It blossomed in the superb collection of the Messrs. Loddiges. Highly worthy of introduction. (Bot. Reg., June.)

ART. VIII. Calls at Gardens and Nurseries.

Amateur Garden of Mr. S. Sweetser, Cambridgeport.—August 23. Dahlias promise an abundant bloom this season, if we have no early frosts; their cultivation is much better understood now than a year or two since. In Mr. Sweetser's garden the plants have shown a profusion of blossoms every season: last year, when but few persons succeeded in flowering them well, there was a good display until the plants were destroyed by frost. The reason of this was not at first apparent; for dahlias grown in the immediate neighborhood, and on a soil seemingly the same, did not produce a flower; nor did the plants, many of them, even grow. Upon a little reflection, however, Mr. Sweetser came to the conclusion that it was the depth and looseness of the soil, rather than the situation or any thing else, that caused his plants to bloom so finely; insects, the situation,-too much sun, and too little shade, the want of water, &c., have been the arguments brought forward to prove that dahlias would not flower well except when under peculiar circumstances. But we agree fully with Mr. Sweetser, that in whatever situation dahlias may be placed, they will flower well if the soil is deep and light. The soil of Mr. Sweetser's garden is deep and sandy: formerly it was quite shallow, with a sandy sub-soil: but in order to make it deeper it was trenched over; more soil was then added by filling in, so that it is now not only deep but light. In dry weather the plants need water.

The collection here is very excellent-probably one of the best in the vicinity; and we anticipate a rich treat when all the varieties are in bloom. In the green-house we noticed a great quantity of double Chi