during bright sunshine, by means of mats. Due care must be taken to supply them with water when required, but not till it is really needful.

When the rudiments of the second leaf are formed, the pots should be removed to a shaded part of the stove, there to remain till the second leaf is perfectly formed, and the rudiment of the third leaf is visible, when they must be carefully potted off into thumb pots, in compost according to their nature, and again put in a shaded place till they have taken root; when they should be finally but gradually exposed to their respective departments,-the greenhouse sorts to the greenhouse, and the stove kinds to the stove ;—and, in conclusion, I beg to say, that the sooner seedlings are potted off the better, as they do not miss their moving so much when potted young.

The young gardener must bear in mind, that the grand feature to be attended to, in propagation by seed, is, that it must fully reach maturity previous to gathering, for on this depends its vigorous and healthy germination. The second condition necessary to successful germination, is heat, and this must be supplied by artificial means. The third condition necessary to insure success, is moisture; therefore water or some equivalent is indispensable; but the quantity given is a matter of importance, as there may be too much or too little. In the first case, the seeds will burst and rot, and, in the second, they will remain inactive in the soil. The fourth condition necessary is air, and this must be regulated by the state of the weather, still bearing in mind, that shading is necessary in bright sunshine.

I think I have extended these remarks to the full legitimate length of one article, and, if considered worthy of a place in your valuable Magazine, they are much at your service, and I shall continue the subject in a future number.

Staten Island, N. Y., April 7, 1847.

Mr. Kennedy may be assured his article is most opportune and valuable. Indeed, we view such articles as this, and that upon the heath, in our last number, by Mr. Cadness, as the very essence of practical knowledge. Could all gardeners, who are able to impart information, but have the same liberal

and expansive views, how much more rapid would be the progress of science among us! We shall look forward to the letters which Mr. Kennedy proposes to write, illustrative of the title of the article, with great pleasure, and do not doubt but that every amateur, or young practitioner, will be impatient to treasure up the practical experience with which his articles will be replete.-Ed.

ART. VIII. Descriptions of Eight New Seedling Verbenas. By the EDITOR.

FEW flowers, in the same space of time, have attained that popularity which attaches to the Verbena. Scarcely ten years have elapsed since the introduction of the few original species, and now our gardens abound with varieties of every tint and shade, from the purest white to the deepest purple. During this period, we have described, in our several volumes, every really fine seedling originating in various collections, numbering in all upwards of fifty, and we now have the gratification of describing eight entirely new seedlings, selected last year from a bed of some hundred plants, some of which are remarkably brilliant and showy, and quite distinct from any of the older ones.

Now that the verbena is brought to such perfection, in regard to the color, as well as size, of the flowers, new and distinct varieties are not produced with the facility of former years; but, like the dahlia, pelargonium, fuchsia, pansy and other flowers, the selection must be made from hundreds or thousands of plants, so small is the chance of success in a less number. That many new, very distinct and splendid varieties will yet be added to our collections, there is no doubt, and, to those who wish to make the trial, there is a fair field for that object. Unquestionably, edged, tipped, mottled and striped varieties will yet be produced as two-colored ones have already been, and, as less patience is required, in raising seedlings of the verbena than in most other plants, the zealous florist should continue his efforts yearly, until some new and unique tints are obtained.

Gem.-Flowers, fine deep rose, with a distinct cherry centre, and a yellow eye: petals slightly undulated, and little starry: umbels, medium size, compact, and of a good form: habit moderately vigorous: foliage good. This is a most marked and brilliant variety. The numerous heads of flowers which cover a large plant sparkle with all the brilliancy of gems. If the flowers were as large, and the petals as smooth, as some varieties, it would be difficult to produce its equal.

:

Suzette.-Flowers, large, and of the snowiest white, with a pure white eye petals large, broad, finely formed, and slightly cupped: umbels, large and rather loose, but of handsome form habit vigorous: foilage thick and good. Until the production of this variety, Feast's white stood at the head of this class: but this excels it, not only in the purity of the white and its clear eye, but in the form of the umbel and flowers.

Queen of the Lilacs.-Flowers, medium size, clear lilac, with lilac eye: petals smooth and flat: umbels, good size, compact, and of a handsome globular form: habit moderately vigorous: foliage good. A good lilac verbena has been a desideratum, and although not so showy a color as some others, it makes a most desirable variety. This is the best we have

seen.

Rosy Cluster.-Flowers, very large, clear fulgent rose, with a yellow eye petals undulated: umbels very large, rather long and compact: habit very vigorous: foilage thick and good. This variety is remarkable for its very large and showy heads of blossoms, which are so compact from the undulation of the petals as to appear as of one large flower. For bouquets, it is a valuable variety.

Variabilis.-Flowers, large, pale blush, tinted at the edges with rose, with a blush eye: petals somewhat undulated : umbels large, compact and of fine form: habit good. This is an exceedingly delicate, and exquisite variety, its blush flowers often assuming a pearly shade, beautifully tinted with

rose.

Caroline.-Flowers, very large, bright glossy pink, with a yellow eye: petals broad, well formed and perfectly smooth: umbels very large, rather loose, and of handsome form: habit good foliage good. None of the rearlly pink verbenas that

we have seen possess the delicacy of this: its large and satiny flowers nearly hide the small and neat foliage, and give the plant the appearance of one mass of blossoms.

Dove-Eyed.-Flowers, large, of a peculiar rosy lilac, with a deep and very distinct violet eye: petals large, well formed, and cupped: umbels good size, rather compact, and of handsome shape: habit, moderately vigorous: foliage thick and good. This is a variety quite as distinct in its way as Gem: the peculiar dove-colored tinge of the flower, and its fine dark eye, are entirely new, and have suggested a name which is strikingly applicable to this really beautiful variety.

Othello.-Flowers, medium size, deep maroon purple, with pale purple eye: petals slightly starry but nearly flat : umbels very large, full and compact: habit good: foliage small and good. Feast's purple and Gazelle have hitherto been among the best deep purples. This variety has much larger umbels than Gazelle, and thicker petals which resist the hot sun better. The habit is also stronger and the foliage better.

Several other seedlings have been selected, but these are the most distinct, though several are quite new in their way. If further trial should show their merits to be worthy of a name, we shall hereafter describe them.

ART. IX. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of New and beautiful Plants figured in Foreign Periodicals; with Descriptions of those recently introduced to, or originated in, American Gardens.

Beck's New Pelargoniums.—It is with much pleasure that we announce to amateurs of this most beautiful plant the flowering, in our collection, during May and June, of nearly all Mr. Beck's seedling pelargoniums, a descriptive catalogue of which we have given, with his excellent article on their cultivation, in our January number, (p. 34.) Some of the kinds are now opening their blossoms, and the improvement over even what have been considered as new and fine kinds is, indeed, most remarkable. All are so splendid that one

scarcely knows which most to admire; but the most striking are Aurora, Hebe's Lip, Competitor and Isabella: no description can do justice to these; they must be seen to be fully appreciated. They will be in the highest state of perfection the latter part of May.

S. GARDENIA DEVONIA NA Lindl. The Duke of Devonshire's

Gardenia, (Cinchonàceæ.)

A stove plant; growing two feet high; with white flowers; appearing in summer; a native of Sierra Leone; increased by cuttings; grown in leaf mould and peat. Bot. Reg. 1846, p. 63.

In our last volume, (XII p. 28), we described the new and splendid G. Stanleydna, and the present plant is one introduced at the same time, and by the same indefatigable collector of African plants, Mr. Whitfield. "This glorious plant is a native of Sierra Leone, and is, perhaps, the finest of its noble race, and is, we trust, worthy of the name which we have ventured to confer upon it. Handsome as Lord Derby's gardenia certainly is, it is as far removed from this as an earldom from a dukedom." The flowers are described as eleven inches long, "pure white at first, but, after a time, changing to a light straw color, and look much like then a huge white lily." The plate certainly represents a most magnificent plant, and the two species which are here mentioned must be to the hothouse what the beautiful Japan lilies are to the conservatory, the greatest ornaments throughout the summer and autumn. The foliage is large, broad and handsome.

Mr. Glendenning, who furnished the plant from which the drawing was made, states, that these species can be made to bloom at a variety of seasons, as freely as the Cape Jasmine. To do this, it is only necessary to place them, after flowering, in a high temperature of at least 80°, with moisture, plunge in bottom heat, and syringe freely. Afterwards expose them to a lower temperature, and plenty of light, and the buds will be set. They may then be removed to the greenhouse, where their blossoms will freely expand. (Bot. Reg. Nov.)

9. ÆSCHYNANTHUS MINIATUS Lindl. Vermilion Eschynanth. Gesneracea.

A stove plant; growing two feet high; with vermilion flowers; appearing in summer; a native of South America; increased by cuttings; grown in peat and leaf mould. Bot. Reg. 1846. p. 61.

This is another of the brilliant Æschynanthuses, introduced, through the exertions of Messrs. Veitch's collector in Java.