Azalea Amoena

This Chinese and very beautiful dwarf azalea is well known from the peculiarity of having its calyx developed so as to look as if the plant had two corollas, one set like a cup inside another. A student at Swarthmore College, near Philadelphia, sent us this spring specimens found in a wood of the native wood honeysuckle, Azalea nudiflora, that had the same peculiarity.

The Japan Burning Bush

Euonymus japoni-cus is growing in favor as a dwarf evergreen for pots in window culture, and as a vase plant for lawns, and the mere artificial departments of gardening.

Akebia Quinata

This plant continues to grow in popular estimation as a climbing plant. Its plum-colored flowers are deliciously fragrant, and appear long before the honeysuckle makes an effort to perfume the surrounding atmosphere.

Alcock's Spruce

The editor of the Rural New Yorker prefers the Alcock spruce to the Colorado Blue spruce. They are both so beautiful, and so well adapted to culture in the Eastern States, that it is hard to say which ought to be preferred, but there are numbers who will surely say that the editor of the Rural New Yorker is not far wrong at the worst.

New Roses

Mr. E. L. Taplin tells the Rural New Yorker, after reviewing the claims of many candidates for popular favor now in the field, that "in common with one great horticulturist," he is convinced "almost too many new roses" are being introduced.

Gray's Lily

Lilium Grayi, among a very large collection in Philadelphia, seems the earliest of any to flower. It was open on the 12th of June.

The Chinese Fringe Tree

This has the flowers in stiff heavy cymes, much as in the Lilac, and is in striking contrast with its more slender flowered relative, the American Fringe tree. Bo-tanically it is Chionanthus retusus.

Pterostyrax Hispidum

Two distinct plants are in nurseries under this name. One has narrow leaves and looks as if it might not be distinct from some Halesia. The true plant has large leaves looking very much like those of the Witch Hazel. The white sweet flowers will make this a favorite among the stronger growing shrubs in our gardens. It is a rather recent importation from Japan.

Roses In Beds Or Benches

Correspondence in the American Florist seems to indicate that whether roses flower better in solid beds or benches depends as much on the man and conditions of growths as the system. Kinds subject to mildew as Cornelia Cook, Catherine Mermet and Niphetos may do better in benches, as the more perfect drainage is more favorable to health.