The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-04-30 00:00:00

MISCELLANEA

New Hakea.—l found a most extraordinary plant, a
species of Hakea, growing 12 or 14 feet high : the true
leaves of the plant are 7 or 8 inches long, jagged and
sinuated as in Hakea undulata, but by far the most con-
spicuous part of the foliage of this superb plant are its
bracts, which make their appearance with the flower-buds.
When the plant is 3 or 4 years old, they are borne in
regular whorls, each circle or whorl being from 7 to 9
inches in height, formed of 5 rows, which have each 5
bracts; the lowest bracts of the whorl are the broadest,
and vary from 4 to 5 inches the whole breadth across, in
full-grown, middle-sized specimens, being about 10
inches ; and they regularly decrease in size to the upper-
most bracts, which are only about 4 inches across from
outside to outside; each whorl is a year's growth of the
plant after it bears the first flowers. The variegation of
these bracts is so extraordinary, that I almost fear to
attempt a description. The first year they are yellowish-
white in all the centre of the bracts, and the same colour
appears in the veins and in the teeth, which grow on the
margin ; the second year, what was white the first year
has changed to a rich golden-yellow ; the third year, what
was yellow becomes a rich orange ; and the fourth year,
the colour of the centre of the same bracts; their veins
and marginal teeth, are turned to a blood-red. The green,
which has a remarkably light and luminous appearance
the first year, varies annually to deeper and darker shades ;
and the fourth year, when the centre of the bracts has ac-
quired a blood-red colour, the green of the same series
is of the richest hue, while the whorls below change to
darker and duller shades, until they ultimately fade into
the dull and withered leaves of other climes. The flowers
I have not seen : the stem and buds of the upper series,
which are the only ones unopened, are white and velvety ;
the other genies contain seed-vessels, mostly with perfect
seeds. To this, the most splendid vegetab'e production
which I have ever beheld, in a wild or cultivated state,
I have given the name of our gracious Queen, Hakea
Victoria. It will soon be cultivated in every garden of
note in Europe, and in many other countries.—Drum-
mond in the Botanical Magazine.

Walcheren Brocoli.—A fewgenuine seeds of this most
valuable production were presented by Mr. Legge, gar-
dener, 13ishopstborpe, by whom the variety was first
produced. The heads are large, firm, and white, like a
very firm cauliflower, which, in fact, it closely resembles
in appearance, except that the leaves are not so plain as
those of the cauliflower. The difference in constitution
must, however, be very considerable, for it not only
stands the winter cold, but likewise the summer drought,
much better than cauliflowers do ; scarcely a head of the
latter could be obtained in the dry, hot summer of 1844,
and the same time a quarter of Walcheren brocoli formed
beautiful heads, of uniform closeness. The following are
notes respecting it from Mr. Legge :—" For the supply of
a family sow the third week in April, middle and end of
May, the middle and end of June, and the middle and
end of July. This attention will give a regular supply to
the end of the year. I had a regular supply last year
until the 21st of January. For the purpose of sowing
seed I recommend to sow my Walcheren brocoli at the
time that the winter cauliflower is sown, say about the
25th or 27th of August, and winter the plants under the
hand-glasses as cauliflowers. Give them good soil, not
too light, nor leave more than three or four plants under
each glass; and let them be well attended to with respect
to air." Those who have the means ought to take the
greatest possible are to save this variety from degene-
rating ; for it is &ore deserving of attention than all the
races of sulphur, purple, and cream-coloured brocolies
put together; some among these may be good as regards
size and quality, but the colour is always objectionable,
and no one would certainly think of using any except
white, if he could help it. There is now no necessity in
almost any case, for by timely savings the Walcheren
will afford a long and excellent supply, equal in quality
and appearance to cauliflower.—Journal of Horticul-
tural Society.
There is now to be seen at the White Hart Hotel,
Burnham, a stock of the ten week kind, that has been in
blossom ever since June, 1845, and has, during all that
time, simultaneously shown blossoms, buds, and seeds.