NEW AND RARE PLANTS. NEW JAPAN COCKSCOMB.-The old cocks- DOUBLE FLOWERED ZONALE GERANIUMS. comb is an universal favorite. It used to be one -Mr. Jean Sisley, who has had such remarkaof the stock things which the gardeners of the ble success in raising double zonale geraniums, old school loved to grow. The effort was to get is a wealthy amateur of Lyons, and one of the them as dwarf as possible, and then the flower leading officers of the horticultural society of as long and wide as they could be induced to that great French city. Last year he was fortugrow. Still it was simply a "show" plant. naté in producing a double white of a first-class The flowers could not be cut or made much use character. A French nurseryman is now sendof when taken from the parent plant. One mag-ing out a new set raised by Mr. Sisley last year. nificent head and that was all. Japan, which has given us so many good things, now sends us a kind which is as handsome in color as the old kind, but divides itself up into a large number of small bunches. This will allow of cutting if desirable without sacrificing the whole plant. The cockscomb is easily raised from seed, after the weather gets warm, but requires very rich soil to develop itself properly. To get the best results, a rather humid atmosphere is the best, and for this reason, although they are very beautiful in the open ground, they never are quite so fine as when grown in a hot-bed frame. We observe in Carter's advertisements that it is known as Celosia japonica, but whether a distinct species or not from the old one we cannot say. Our illustration gives an idea of its branching character. They are: Aline Sisley, which is a white of the style of the single Madame Vaucher. Asa Gray. This is after the fashion of Gloire de Corbery, and is said to have made a sensation at the Exposition Universelle of Lyons. Charles Lyell. This has a coppery ground, and shaded on the edges to a white. "This color is the admiration of all the leading horticulturists who saw it at Mr. Sisley's." Jeane Alegatiere. Brilliant rosy lilac. After the style of Victoire de Lyon. Exposition de Lyon. A cherry magenta of great brilliancy, also after the style of Victoire de Lyon. Last spring the French had in the market several other first class double geraniums which ought to be now ready for sale by our own florists. The best of these were Charles Darwin, Francois Arles Dufour, Emilio Castellar, Rose Pur, Deuil de Strasbourg, and Alba plena, which is, we note, advertised by Mr. Buist. Jeane Alegatiere and Exposition de Lyon are not Mr. Sisley's seedlings. Nothwithstanding the very low prices at which things are sold in France as compared with our country, and the large number of people who purchase novelties of this character, these new doubles sell there in large quantities at $2.50 each. SILENE VIRGINICA.-For the introduction of this really beautiful plant we are indebted to the unwearied energies of the Messrs. Backhouse & Son, of York, who deserve the thanks of the horticultural world for their endeavors to popularize and foster the love for herbaceous plants amongst the rising generation of amateurs and gardeners. This Silene attains a height of from 1 to 2 feet. It is a native of the United States of America, and is familiarly known as the "Fire Pink," from the brilliant appearance of its large, deep crimson flowers, which are produced throughout the months of June and July. To succeed well with this plant it must be placed in a somewhat shady situation, and the soil should consist of about two parts good leaf mould to one of light loam, with the addition of a small portion of sandy peat.-Journal of Horticulture. which are of a very bright dark green in the centre, and with a broad rich golden yellow margined variegation; is very handsome and attractive. It will prove very affective for edging flower beds, borders, or riband planting, and for growing in masses on banks, or in other varied forms; it may be grown as bushes or pyramids for winter bedding, having proved perfectly hardy. Altogether, it may be considered as one of the most charming bedding plants known, and with the additional delicious fragrance of the sweet-scented Lemon Thyme. It was exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society on June 21, 1871, and received a firstclass certificate; also at the Royal Horticultural Show at Nottingham, a first-class certificate: OSMANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS.-This lovely shrub is not well known, although it cannot now be classed among the novelties. It deserves a note, for amateurs who take an interest in hardy shrubs may properly consider the world a blank so long as they are without it. In botany it is allied to the privets, in aspect it is allied to the hollies. But there is no green holly so elegant DAHLIA EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH.-It is and lady-like as this osmanthus, and its leaves, the grandest acquisition of a variegated foliage which are of a rich green color and highly Dahlia ever introduced into this country. It is polished, suggest to a fanciful observer, not of a free growing and branching habit; foliage what a holly is, but what it ought to be. It bright green, with a beautiful silver-white margrows fast, and makes a remarkably elegant gin; grows about two to three feet high, and dark green bush, distinct from every other ever-gives a most wonderful contrast when planted as green in the garden, Shepherd's Holly included. an outline of a Dahlia group. As to hardiness there can be no doubt, for my plants have stood three years on a damp border of heavy clay under a wall which screens off the sun all the year round, except for an hour or so in the morning, from the beginning of May to the end of July. The variegated Osmanthus is, in my opinion, scarcely worth growing.-Gardener's Magazine. COLEUS CHAMELEON.-It is one of the finest new Coleus, of various colors, somewhat changeable, blotched, and margined with white, yellow, dark crimson, green, rose and magenta colors; strong habit and growth; good for bedding, and an admiration for the conservatory and green. house. IRIS ITHERICA. This rare and beautiful Iris has recently flowered in the collection of the Bellevue Nurseries, at Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Chitty, the Superintendent, is very enthusiastic in getting together valuable, rare, and THYMUS CITRIODORUS AUREUS MARGINA TUS (Lemon-scented Gold-edged Thyme), raised by Fisher Holmes & Co.-An exceedingly pret ty Thyme, of an erect-growing but much branched habit, with large obovate leaves, beautiful things. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. THE JONATHAN APPLE SOUTH.-A South- | emanations are received, however much their inern paper, we forget which, says of this variety: "It is really astonishing how slowly some of our best fruits are working their way into the favor of Southern fruit growers. The Jonathan Apple is a marked illustration of the general distrust with which all Northern trinsic excellence may entitle them to our esteem. We have been practically acquainted with this variety for a quarter of a century in the South, and have studied its character closely as developed in other sections, and have yet to see or hear the first objection made to it as a fall and early winter fruit. So far as a large and long experience goes, we believe it succeeds just as well in the South as it does in the West, and better than it does in New York where it originated. Of course it ripens earlier here, in September, or about the time of the Roxbury Russet, Hubbardson, Nonsuch and Taunton-and like the two first requires good soil and culture to bring out all its good qualities. One chief reason of its unpopularity no doubt is that in the nursery, the tree is a miserable grower-but in the orchard it makes a fine tree and bears large crops of sound, handsome, long keeping (after gathering) fruit, which for quality is excelled by no other variety with which we are acquainted." THE FLORA OF COLORADO.-Captain W. W. Nevin, a distinguished member of the newspaper press of Philadelphia, thus writes of the flowers of the plains abutting the Rocky Mountains, near Colorado, Pike's Peak: THE FLORA OF THE PRAIRIE, which wantons in a bewildering brilliancy and a beautiful luxuriance, which recalls the effloresence of the tropics. Whole acres of the golden coriander, the blue larkspur, the scarlet cactus, or the black and yellow sunflower, make the prairie gorgeous, and yet hormonize with each other as thoroughly and artistically as if some student of effects had planned their planting. Indeed, the plains often look like some garden planted to produce its effects by the massing of colors. It is wonderful to see how every flower of home is reproduced here, and what are the new ones I cannot tell. The contributions of Colorado, however, to the national flora must be regal. The nameless beauties of hill and plain are countless. Several distinguished botanists have been making collections this summer, and their enthusiasm is boundless. Their stories of new discoveries I shall not imperil my character for veracity by repeating. I cannot give any better idea of the floral wealth and luxuriance of this country than by making a list of the flowers gathered yesterday evening in a single walk by two or three of us, none of whom were professional, or even amateur botanists, and whose pleasant labors were therefore, by no means exhaustive of the field. All these flowers, I must repeat, grow within half a mile of our hotel, which is a specially favored spot, it is true, in the way of beauty, being situated just where the prairies roll up and break against the foothills of the mountains. There are here in profusion wild roses, the wild clematis, wild heliotrope, violets, blue gentian, the wild jessamine, cacti, pale pink in single flowers, and again flaming in huge, piles like burning bushes, strawberries, wild bergamot, the larkspur in every variety and shade, portulaccas in profusion, the brilliant coriander, daisies, buttercups, forget-me-nots, prairie pinks, sunflowers, poppies, tiger lilies, the graceful eglatine, wild geraniums, beautiful in the grace of leaf and flower, the statuesque yucca, chaste and stately; a brilliant scarlet flower of peculiar grace, drooping and lovely, known as a cypress, the real blue bell of Scotland (campagnola), ferns, primroses, verbenas, foxglove, four-o'clocks, the fresh brilliant morning glories (convolvulus), wild cherries, Missouri currants, gooseberries, the widow's tear-that rustic sarcasm-the sweet columbine, the white-fringed spirea, and the queenly fleur-de-lis (iris). All these are the glories and pride of the Springs, to say nothing of the fairer flowers which pay eighteen dollars a week for the privilege of blooming on the piazzas and adorning the croquet grounds. It must be borne in mind, too, that many of these flowers are repeated in an infinite variety of shade and species, and that some of them, as the rose and ferns, represent whole families. And this wealth of beauty covers the whole Territory-whether it be plain, prairie, mountain, or park country. Sometimes you can ride for days over rolling hill and grazing land, richly and brilliantly carpeted as far as the eye can reach with ever-changing hues. When swept by the winds the fields often seem to tremble as under a kaleidoscopic shower of color. Nor is the vegetable wealth of Colorado merely ornamental. Currants and gooseberries and strawberries grow everywhere wild, as do also grapes of many varieties. Professor T. C. Purter, recognized authority on botany, has discovered near Canon City three distinct varieties of indigenous potatoes, and he, in common with every student of the natural sciences, is in rapture over the bounteous promise of this land. It is worth while knowing who are enjoying all this waste of beauty. THE FAVORED GUESTS of this first great Western reception of Flora held at these Springs of Colorado, curiously enough, came this year from two or three main localities. Of these Philadelphia leads, Pittsburg comes next, and then Chicago. This from the East. Of course, nearly one-half of the transient visitors come from the West itself, i.e., west of the Missouri river. These guests generally come bringing their own equipage, men age, and servants, and camp out in tents. Their neat domestic encampments-their brilliant little bivouacs-their parked trains and horses, tethered by the guardian lariat, relieve the prosaic details of hotel life, and lend the pleasing charm of novelty to the scene. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. HORTICULTURAL OBSERVATIONS IN road stations are also a pleasing feature. At ENGLAND, No. 3. Newton Abbot, Devonshire. I cannot refrain from adding my testimony to others, of the geniality of the climate, the salubrity of the atmosphere, the fertility of the soil, and the beauty and variety of the scenery in this part of England. The crop of grain just harvested has been more than an average one, and for three weeks during the time they were getting it in, there was not a shower of rain. In some places two good crops of grass have been cut off the same meadows, consequently hay will be reasonable in price the coming winter. We hear complaints all the time of the potato-rot. There are a good many diseased, but on high land there are pretty good crops price in the market this week, twenty-eight cents per twenty lbs. The "American Rose" is becoming a favorite here-scarcely any rot amongst them. Read a report from a grower yesterday, who from three lbs. of seed, dug eighty lbs. Those that have them are keeping them for seed. There are also in this district some very fine crops of ruta baga and mangel wurzel. The favorite variety of the latter grown is the "Champion Orange Globe." The many agricultural, horticultural and cottage garden exhibitions held here, tend materially to foster a taste and excite a generous rivalry among the people. Premiums are offered for the best kept flower and kitchen gardens. Competent judges go round and examime them a few days before the show, and you would be surprised and pleased to see how skilfully some of them are laid out, planted and kept. They would do credit to any professional gardener. this station there is a small greenhouse for propagating and keeping the plants in winter. On a sloping green bank, are seventeen beds cut in the turf, filled with scarlet and var. Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Lobelias, Fuchsias, Ageratums, &c., and scattered between the beds are forty-five standard roses, many of them now in full bloom. Trained on a fence at the back are various climbers. Across the way, in a nursery, is a regal plant of the Pampas Grass, (Gynerium). Over fifty spikes of its beautiful, graceful silvery plumes are out now. Fernmouth is a pretty little place-a favorite resort for health seekers and bathers. A flower show was held here a few weeks ago, which was well patronized. The plants were exhibited in tents on a lawn facing the sea. There was a fine collection of scarlet and variegated Pelargoniums. Two of the best in the bronze section were A. H. Wills and Sultan. Three of the best in the tricolors, Sophia Dumaresque, Sir R Napier and Lady Callam. The best silver leaf, Almo; an extra fine pink variety with white eye, (Rose Rendatler) a splendid trusser. The Fuchsias were fine, also the Ferns; among the latter, Adiantum concinnum, three feet through; do. A. Farleyense, nearly as large; Neottopteris australacia, (fine); Lomaria gibba, a noble plant of Caladium, Prince Albert Edward, veined and marked with crimson; also C. Chantinii; Scuttellaria macciniana, is a showy plant, scarlet tube and upper lip, lower lip yellow; Croton longifolia, and two noble specimens of C. picta, Allamanda Hendersoni, Yucca aliœfolia variegata, Eschynanthus refulgens; also a very fine plant, well flowered, of Lapageria rosea. The show of fruit was nothing extra, exceptThe little flower gardens at the various rail-ing Cherries and some fine specimens of Necta thought the Elms in New Haven and the Connecticut valley were grand, but these surpass them. One English Oak, whose branches touched the ground, I measured the outer circumference seventy yards, an Elm over eighty do. ; also a grand old cork barked oak, a Cryptomeria perfect in shape, fifty feet high, circum rines and Gross Mignonne Peaches. A good show of Potatoes-among them Breeze's Prolific, do. Peerless. Best Cabbage, Enfield Market and Sutton's Imperial-the latter particularly fine. A fine collection of Roses from Messrs. Carter & Co.'s nursery, at Torquoy. This firm, I find, carries away the palm in this part of the country. They had a fine seedling, "Bessie John-ference eighty-one feet. Trained up on the ston," on exhibition, which will be quite an acquisition to rose fanciers; also, John Hopper, Leilia, Reine de Blanche, Duke of Wellington, fine dark, Alfred Colomb, Madame Rothschild, Zavier Pluto, Charles Lefevre and Pierre Nolling, good, and the finest box, thirty-six blooms, of Marechal Niel I ever saw. I have seen some very fine Dahlias in various places. The following are some of the best, ranging in colors from white to black: Redan, Formosa, Admiration, Prince of Wales, Leah, Peri, Mephistopheles, Criterion, Monarch, (splendid dark), Goldendrop, Julia Wigalt. Passed through Powderham Park the other day, the seat of Earl Devon, eleven miles from here. The castle is situate on elevated ground, near the centre of the park, which is ten miles in circumference, and contains some magnificent specimens of forest trees, evergreens, &c. I mansion walls were Magnolia grandiflora, covered with buds and bloom right up to the roof; Eugenia myrtifolia, Lemon Verbena, Oleanders, Lamarque Roses. Right in front a large geometrical flower garden brimful of flowers, with perfect specimens of Irish Yews, fifteen and twenty feet high-one Auracaria imbricata, eight feet round the stem; also some fine Sequoia gigantea, over twenty feet high, Cupressus macrocarpa, &c. On an eminence near the castle, is a triangular tower called the Belvidere, seventy-five feet high; from the summit you have a grand panoramic view of the country for miles around, including Exeter, (only six miles off), with its famed cathedral, the river Exe, villages, hamlets, &c. This noble estate I believe has been in the Devon family for many centuries. J. W. W. HORTICULTURAL NOTICES. PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF NATU-, fect flower. To his astonishment, these plants RAL SCIENCES. At the meeting of the Academy on February 18th, Mr. Thomas Meehan said that as was well known, the Violet and the Balsam, (Impatiens), produced two distinct form of flowers-one with a corolla and the other without, and the former producing the last class underground. It was remarkable that these secretly produced (cleistogenous) flowers, in which there was no opportunity for anything but self fertilization, should be more fertile than those which had the most abundant opportunities of aid from wind, insects, and other favoring influences. The Catalonian Jasmine of our greenhouses, was another illustration of this phenomenon. He had observed, and no doubt others had often done the same for many years past, that there was a great tendency to a supposed abortion of the flowers in this plant. But this year he had some plants which failed to produce a single per were covered with developing seed vessels, while in the plants producing perfect flowers there was no sign of any such tendency. On examining these imperfect flowers, he found a miniature corolla was formed, but so closely twisted together that it could not open, and always remained inside the calyx segments. The pistils in these flowers were differently formed from those in the perfect flowers. The last have the two segments of the divided pistil coiled in spiral manner—the former has no appearance of any division, but seem united into a small cone. In many cases the style was somewhat flattened, and there appeared to be a stigmatic surface along each edge. It appeared from his examination that there was very little pollen in the anthers of these flowers, and the apex of the pistil was pushed beyond them, and the idea occurred to him that possibly fertilization might occur along the apparent stigmatic surface referred to. |