The single red camellia is the best for stocks to work upon; it is easily propagated by cuttings; and it produces a much greater quantity of fibrous roots than any of the other sorts, and, consequently, must be able to couvey a greater quantity of nutriment up into the system. The time to take off the cuttings is about the middle of May, or when the wood has become somewhat firm.. They should be cut off in a horizontal direction, close at the place where they pushed from last, and smoothed off a little at the base with a sharp knife. Well-drained pots, the same size recommended for seeds and cuttings, will exactly suit. Let the pots be filled with equal parts of loam and silver sand. After inserting them tightly into the pots, give a little water to settle the soil, when they should be put in a cool frame for a week or so, and kept shaded when the sun is strong, after which they should be plunged to the rims in bottom heat, and regularly watered when necessary, and kept shaded, as above remarked.

When they have struck root, which is generally indicated by their pushing young shoots, they should be potted off singly into small pots, well drained. A compost composed of the following materials will be found suitable :-To a barrowful of turfy loam,-not sifted, but chopped with the spade, add half a barrowful of well rotted cow manure; half a barrowful of peat and leaf mould; and one fourth of a barrowful of silver sand: by following this mode, the young propagator will soon have an ample supply of stocks to practise upon. Staten Island, July 28th, 1847.

ART. VI. 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.

Calystègia pubescens.-This new and beautiful climber, which we lately noticed, (p. 78), as one of Mr. Fortune's acquisitions in China, is now beautifully in bloom in our collection. Mr. Fortune sent it home as a double convolvulus.

It has much of the habit of the common bindweed of the fields, with slightly pubescent foliage, and the flowers are about the size of an anemone, irregularly double, and of a pale, delicate pink. It will probably prove a fine plant for turning out into the border in the same way as the Ipomea Learii. At present, it is extremely rare. It is a valuable acquisition to our summer flowering greenhouse plants.

16. FUCHSIA MICRA'NTHA Hook. Great-flowered Fuchsia. (Ona

gràceæ.)

A greenhouse shrub: growing two feet high; with rosy crimson flowers; appearing in summer; a native of Peru; increased by cuttings; cultivated in good rich light soil. Flore des Serres, Vol. II. pl. 151. 1846.

Among all the fuchsias which have been introduced, this species stands conspicuous, not only in the color of the flowers, which are of the most brilliant deep rose, but in their very large size, and the abundance in which they are produced on plants not more than two feet high. It was found in Peru by Mr. Lobb, collector for Messrs. Veitch of Exeter, and first flowered in their collection in 1845. It is one of the most desirable which has yet been introduced, having all the splendor of the F. corymbiflòra, but, unlike that variety, blooming with the ordinary care given to the common varieties. (Flore des Serres, Sept. 1846).

17. METHO'NICA LEOPO`LDII Van Houtte. King Leopold's Methonica, (Liliacea).

A bulbous plant; growing four feet high; with yellow flowers; appearing in summer; a native of Africa; increased by offsets; cultivated in sandy peat and loam. Flore des Serres, Vol. II. pl. 163. 1846.

Another fine plant belonging to the liliaceous tribe, and having somewhat of the noble appearance of the Japan lilies, and like them flowering in summer. It is described as having a majestic bearing, ample and deep green foliage, and large flowers of a soft yellow, marbled and striped with rose, and the colored figure fully justifies the description. It was sent home from the western coast of Africa in 1845, by the collector of Van Houtte, and first flowered at his establishment in August 1846. It is named in honor of Leopold, King of Belgium. It is of robust habit, but the stems are rather slender, and the leaves, which are recurved, have a terminal tendril which is generally curled up. The flowers are very

large, with undulated segments. It requires the same soil and treatment as the Japan lilies. Increased by offsets in the usual way. (Flore des Serres, Nov. 1846).

18. CAMELLIA JAPONICA var. LA REINE. The Queen's Camellia. (Ternstromiàceœ).

This is stated to be one of the most beautiful camellias which has yet been produced; of exquisite form, and of a pure white, delicately tinted with rose petals round, and finely imbricated. It history is not known; but it was procured by Van Houtte of an amateur cultivator, whose taste for the camellia was so nice that but few varieties were esteemed of sufficient excellence to deserve cultivation : it has also been pronounced, by the principal amateur cultivators of Gand, "one of the three best camellias known." (Flore des Serres, Nov. 1846).

19. ABU TILON PEONIFLO`RUM Nob. Pæony-flowered Abutilon.

(Malvacea).

A greenhouse plant; growing four feet high; with deep crimson flowers; appearing in summer; a native of Brazil; increased by cuttings; cultivated in peat, loam, and sand. Flore des Serres, Vol. II. pl. 170. 1816.

A pretty species of the abutilon, with bright rose-colored flowers, and pubescent foliage, attaining the height of three or four feet, and flowering in clusters at the ends of the branches. For out-door cultivation in summer, it will probably become a very ornamental object. Cultivated in any good soil, and increased by cuttings. (Flore des Serres, Nov.)

20. LESCHENAULTIA SPLENDENS Hook. Splendid flowered Leschenaultia. (Goodeniàcea.)

A greenhouse plant; growing a foot high; with scarlet flowers; appearing in spring; a native of New Holland; increased by cuttings; cultivated in peat, leaf mould, and sand. Flore des Serres, Vol. II. pl. 176. 1846.

The beauty of the well known Leschenaúltia formosa, is familiar to all cultivators. L. spléndens is of the same habit, but more robust, and the flowers have all the brilliancy of the old Verbena Melindres, being deeper and brighter than formosa. It was introduced into England by Messrs. Lucombe & Pince, and a plant exhibited by them in 1846 had upwards of three hundred flowers expanded. It should be introduced into every fine collection of plants. Its cultivation is the same as for the other species. (Flore des Serres, Dec).

21.

HYDRANGEA INVOLUCRATA, var. FL. PLE NO, Sieb. Doubleflowered Hydrangea, (Saxifragàceæ).

This is another beautiful Hydrangea, introduced by Dr. Siebold from Japan, and somewhat of the character of H. japónica. The sterile flowers compose the outer circle of the corymb, and are double, of fine rose color, and resemble little pompone roses. The fertile flowers are numerous, and fill up the centre. Siebold found it growing in mountainous districts, flowering in the months of July and August. This indefatigable collector, it is also stated, distinguished four varieties, viz., one with lilac flowers-one second with blush flowers-a third with yellow flowers-and the last with rosecolored flowers, which is the one now under notice. In habit, the plant is erect and handsome. It will prove a beautiful companion to the H. japónica, and should receive the same treatment as that species. (Flore des Serres, &c., Jan).

22. BEGO`NIA FUCHSIOI DES Hook. Fuchsia-like Begonia. (Begoniàcea).

A greenhouse plant; growing two or three feet high; with scarlet flowers; appearing in winter ; a native of New Grenada; increased by cuttings; cultivated in peat, loam, and sand. Flore des Serres, &c., Vol. II. pl. 212. 1847.

This is without doubt the finest Begonia which has yet been introduced. The flowers are very large, of a brilliant scarlet, and, being produced in long, pendent racemes, they have the appearance of a fuchsia, from whence its name. It is of easy cultivation, commences flowering in winter, and remains in bloom for a long time. Its cultivation is the same as that for the other species, of which some are well known in our gardens. This and the B. coccinea should be in every good collection. Their brilliancy would add greatly to the appearance of the warm greenhouse or stove during the winter and spring months. (Flore des Serres, &c., Mar).

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notices.

Culture of Asparagus in Germany.-Numbers 20, 21, and 22, of the Chronicle, the last I have received, contain sundry articles on the culture of asparagus, by which it appears that, in your country, the preference is 33

VOL. XIII.NO. VIII.

given to asparagus which is suffered to grow some inches above the ground, and which, consequently, acquires a green color by atmospherical influence. You consider this mode of culture preferable for two reasons: first, because the eatable part of such asparagus is larger; secondly, because it has a finer flavor.

Living in a part of Germany where the culture of asparagus is very common, I hope the following remarks, though from a foreigner, will not be unwelcome. Asparagus which has obtained a green color by its being exposed to the air, will neither be grown nor eaten here, and, strange enough, exactly for the same reasons which have been alleged by you for growing it above ground. However, we do not avail ourselves of artificial means, as supposed by you, such as tubes of earthenware or metal, and still our asparagus, if well managed, is white and eatable almost the whole length.

The manner of growing it is as follows: It is never planted otherwise than in a deep, light, and sandy soil, which has been trenched to a depth of three feet, well drained and well manured. A thick layer of horsedung is put on the bottom of the trench and mixed with the soil. Strong loamy or clayey soil is decidedly disadvantageous to the growth of this vegetable. It will not thrive in it, does not become tender, and will very often become brown spotted, which the common people here call ironmould (Cipumala), especially if drainage has been neglected.

We take plants of two or three years' growth, according to their vigor, and usually plant them in furrows, which are made at two feet distance, and from one and a quarter to one and a half feet deep. The distance between the plants is likewise two feet. In these furrows the plants are permitted to grow uncovered from the month of March or April, the usual and best time for planting, till the beginning or middle of November; at all events, before severe frost is coming on. The soil, which has been taken out of the furrows and heaped up at the sides, is then put in, and the beds are completely levelled. The plants have had time during summer to establish themselves sufficiently.

Next spring, the young shoots will make their appearance above ground, and if every thing has been duly attended to; if strong and healthy plants have been selected, and if, besides, water has been given during a dry season, not a single one ought to fail. Some people begin to cut the strongest shoots in the third year, but a better result will be obtained by leaving them undisturbed till the fourth summer, only giving them, every spring, in February or March, a good dressing of cowdung. Manure is the most essential requisite for growing fine and tender asparagus. The shoots are cut at sunrise and late in the evening, at a length of not more than nine inches, cutting them with a long knife under ground as soon as the top of the shoot is lifting the soil. Asparagus will always have the finest taste if eaten immediately after having been gathered, but ought never be kept longer than one day, and should be covered meanwhile with light earth, sand, or some other material of this description. It is a very bad practice, lately in use with our market gardeners, to immerge the asparagus, immediately after cutting, in a tub with water, leaving it in the water till they bring it to mar