Page 312

342 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [MARCH 11, 1882.

refer Limatodes rosea to the genus Calanthe, hence,
if this view be correct, a hybrid between the former
and C. vestita is no very extraordinary phenomenon.
In these instances it appears to have been proved
that the supposed differences in the pollen did not
exist, therefore there can be no justification for establishing
new genera, and placing them in different
places in the system. But now with reference to the
value of vegetative characters in classification it seems
pretty clear that, although the great divisions of
flowering plants (dicotyledons and monocotyledons)
are with some few exceptions distinguishable from
each other by evident vegetative characters, yet generally
speaking vegetative characters cannot be
employed in teh successive divisions until we come
to the subdivision of genera. Judging from Dr.
Pfitzer's results this holds good for Orchids, as
well as other families of plants. We are not
losing sight of the fact that certain orders, sub-orders,
and tribes are characterised by habit as well as floral
affinities. But very little investigation teaches us
that certain vegetative types—physiognomical types,
they might be designated—are repeated in numberous
natural orders of teh most distant affinities, showing
that they are the outcomes of external conditions,
such as climate, medium, and associations. We
must, however, be careful to distinguish between
purely physiognomical modifications of vegetative
organs, and those that coincide with or accompany
the genetic affinities. Dr. Pfitzer recognises the fact
that certain vegetative Orchid types are repeated in
genera possessing widely different floral structure;
but he also states that his primary vegetative characters
are genetic rather than physiognomical. He
primarily divides Orchids into those which grow continuously
in one direction (monopodial), and those in w
hich the growth is arrested at one point and continued
from another (sympodial). These definitions,
if not absolutely exact, are sufficiently so for all practical
purposes. Monopodial Orchids have stems
which lengthen indefinitely at the tip, season after
season, and bear lateral inflorescences, as in Aërides
Schrœderi (see fig. 51). In sympodial Orchids the
growth of the main axis soon ceases, usually at the
end of the growing period, and a lateral shoot continues
the further development. The first is a
comparatively small group, comprising, as far as at
present known, most of Bentham's sub-tribe Sarcantheæm
the American genus Dichæa, of the sub-tribe
Maxillarieæ, and the widely-spread Neottineous genus
Vanilla. The genera Vanda, Renanthera, Sarcanthus,
Aërides, and Phalænopsis, belong here, and
mostly inhabit Africa and Asia. The sympodial
Orchids are again divided into two groups, the Pleuranthæ,
and the Acanthæ—in other words, into those having lateral inflorescences, ad Dendrobium,
Oncidium, and Angræcum Scottianum (fig. 52), but
not in other Angræcums, and those in which the
inflorescence terminates the stems, as in Epidendrum,
Cypripedium, and Cattleya (fig. 53). For
further particulars we must again refer the reader
to the abstract, ante, vol xiv, n.s., p. 750.
That abstract, or key, has a somewhat formidable
appearance, but it is very simple when we know
that the plan of its construction is a succession
of contrasted characters. Thus, in tracing out the
affinity of a plant, supposing it has not the character
of I., we pass on to II., and under that,
if it has not a lateral inflorescence, as defined under
A., we pass to B., and so on. Incomplete as it is,
the key contains a vast deal of information respecting
the vegetative organs of Orchids in a spall space; and,
although in no case do the primary and secondary divisions
correspond to the whole of a tribe or trives, yet the
ternary division leads us to the Ophrydeæ and the
Neottineæ, and, what is of more importance, to large
genera. But, as we have already stated, we anticipate
greater usefulness from the characters afforded
by the vegetative organs inthe subdivision of genera
and in the description of species. Practised nurserymen
are able to distinguish species and varieties of
shrubs and trees by their vegetative characters to an
extent that seems unattainable to the beginner, but
such knowledge could never be learnt from a book,
even if it could be put into words, and it is not likely
that descriptive vegetative characters alone will lead
to the identification of Orchids. We have little space
left to notice Dr. Pfitzer's concluding chapters on the
habitats and mode of life, &c., of Orchids, &c., but it
may be mentioned that one of the points upon which
he most strongly insists is, that Orchids, with comparatively
few exceptions, love the sun, and would

thrive better under cultivation were they not shaded
so much. In the circumscription of teh genera Dr.
Pfitzer follows Mr. Bentham, but it would have been
better in the references to have cited the names
employed in the places to which reference is made.
Thus at p. 21 we are referred to the Gard. Chron.,
n.s., i., p. 478, for the dimensions of a plant of
Stauropsis lissochiloides, Benth., which is very perplexing,
if the reader has overlooked the fact, recorded
at p. 14, that Vanda Batemani (Fieldia lissochiloides)
is a synonym as that is the name used in the place
referred to. In the same way Vanda Cathcartii
becomes Arachnanthe Cathcartii; and in the index
Blume's genus Arachnanthe is inadvertently attributed
to Reichenbach. Vanda Lowei )Renanthera Lowei)
should also have been referred to Arachnanthe. One
word with regard to the title of the book. As it
stands it is misleading, and needs the qualification
expressed by the words "of the vegetative organs."
The work is copiously illustrated with woodcuts,
most of which have appeared in these columns, and
of which due acknowledgement is made. W. B.
Hemsley.

FIG. 52.—ANGRÆCUM SCOTTIANUM.
An example of a sympodial Orchid; the main stem here ends in an inflorescence which bends downwards, and so appears
opposite to a leaf (not in the axil), while the originally side-shoot becomes terminal, and continues to grow in the
direction of the main stem.

HOME CORRESPONDENCE.

Continental Express Parcel Post.—Some of
us have been looking forward to this as likely to give
long-desired facilities for getting a rapid delivery of
parcels of fresh plants from distant parts of Europe.
I may say that it is an arrangement concerted between
the cheife European Continental states, by which
parcels under 10 lb. in weight should be carried at a
cheap rate as quickly as letters, and that it came into
operation on the first day of this year. But nothing
seems to have been done in England to enable us to
derive any advantage from the arrangement. A
parcel stated on the addres to be plants, and requiring
immediate delivery, was sent to me from Erfurt
last week. It seems that the English agents for the
Continental Parcel Post are not, as one would hope,
the Post-office authorities, nor any large railway
company, but a firm of private carriers. The parcel
was handed over to them fully and very legibly
addressed to me; it was then forwarded to the local
agent of these private carriers, a woman who keeps
a small fancy shop at a country town 9 miles distant
from me. She wrote to me by post saying a parcel
had arrived for me from Germany which I might

have by sending for it and paying the carriage. I
finally got it when it had been in her keeping for
three days. C. Wolley Dod, Edge Hall, Malpas,
March 2.

Stephanotis in Fruit.—We have a plant of Stephanotis
floribunda that has been planted out for
several years, and has always flowered freely, but
never till now has borne fruit. It has one about the
size of a turkey's egg, and like a Plum in shape. I
shall be glad to know whether any of your correspondents
have ever fruited it. [Yes; many of them. ED.]
J. Baylis, Leiston Old Abbey, Suffolk.

To Prevent Birds from Eating Fruit-Buds.
—Reading Mr. Grieve's excellent article on the Gooseberry
in your last issue it occurred to me to make
known to you the plan I adopt here to preserve the
buds of Gooseberries, Currants, and Plums from the
depredations of birds. As soon as the attack on the
buds begins the whole of teh bushes and trees are at
once pruned, and a large quantity of limewash is prepared
sufficiently thin to admit of its passing through
a course syringe. With this a man follows the pruners,
squirty it plentifully over both bushes and trees. If
done on a dry day it dries in two hours, and no

amount of rain will the wash it off, neither will any
bird even perch on bush or tree. Four years ago this
winter I walked about gun in hand from morn till
eve day after day to keep the bullfinches in check, as
I had planted a great many young bushes and Plum
trees; but the birds, in spite of me, cleared every
bush, so that they were only skeletons when spring
came. Ever since I have used limewash, as stated
above, and have no trouble in securing immunity
from birds. W. Armstrong, Ford Manor.

Pendell Court.—Amongst the many novelties in
the houses at Pendell Court Sir. G. Macleay's),
Bletchingley, worthy of notice now, is a fine specimen
of Coffea arabica, about 9 feet high and 6 feet through,
which is bearing a fine crop of berries, some of the
shoots having over fifty berries, which come in threes
and fours from the axils of the leaves. Also a grand
specimen of the noble Platycerium grande, which
measures over 5 feet in diameter, and is in splendid
condition. The lovely Canna iridiflora, var. Ehemanni,
is still in flower; it is nearly 10 feet high,
and has fine spikes of its bright crimson flowers; it
has been in bloom over seven months. The rare and
beautiful fine cut-leaved Anemone capensis is just
opening its flowers; a new Asplenium pterioides is
very distinct, and will prove to be a lovely greenhouse