Achimenes magntfica; alias Locheria magnifica. Planchon and Linden in Fl. des Serres, x. t. 1013. - Most people would call this an Achimenes, of which it has all the habit, and, as far as we can discover, all the essential points of structure. We must, therefore, object to the introduction of a new name for which there is no sort of necessity) either botanical or horticultural. It is said that Locheria differs from Achimenes in having the cup in which the ovary is seated of a membranous instead of a fleshy texture; so that the subdivision of genera is now to be made dependent, not only upon the mere thickness of an organ, but what is worse, of one of no functional importance. To that doctrine few in this country will subscribe.

Putting aside names, we must add that the plant before us was introduced from Popayan by Mr. Triana, one of the collectors employed by Mr. Linden. It would appear from the published plate, a figure of which we copy of the natural size, to be extremely handsome, with thick, velvety leaves, and large flowers of a rich, deep red color, spotted with lines of black purple. It may be compared to a gigantic form of Achimenes hirsuta or pedunculata; like which it has the scaly rhizome and little bulbs so common among plants of its class. We observe that Mr. Linden has it in his new catalogue under the name of Locheria magnifica, at the price of 20 francs.

A Model Flower Bed #1

A quantity of larch stakes, three feet long, and two inches and a half in diameter, were driven, side by side, eighteen inches into the ground, leaving one foot and a half outside in an oval shape, eighteen feet long, eleven feet wide over the centre. The interior was filled up rather above the level with the soil. Around the stakes, outside, was planted, pretty thick, common Ivy, which, when I saw it in September last, formed a complete mass all round the bed, and kept the decaying stakes in position.

Now for the planting and arrangement of this raised bed, which, you must understand, was designed as a break to a heavy part of the ground, and, as Mr. Abbot, the gardener, here remarked, "with telling effect".

Immediately down the centre were six plants of scarlet Salvias; at each end of those was a plant of the variegated variety of Salvia fulgens; encircling those was the blue Ageratum; again, around those the Frogmore Scarlet Geranium; then a circle of yellow Sultan Calceolaria, which brought it to the edge, around which was planted the white Ivy-leaved Geranium, This- was allowed to hang over quite down to the turf; and being full of white flowers, they beautifully blended with the dark green of the common Ivy and yellow Calceolaria above; then, again, with their immediate neighbors, and so on to the top of the Salvias, forming as rich and gorgeous a bank as, I am sure, none of your readers would ever regret imitating. - Cottage Gardener.