The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

October 8, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 465

the common Sugar Pine of California, but the cones are not half so long; and, even when young, the scales are strongly reflected, suggesting the Doctor's new name for the species—"Pinus reflexa." It is frequently met with in the deer park referred to, also on a similar plateau on Mount Graham, and is reported also from several other ranges." American Gardeners' Monthly.

NOTES ON VEGETABLES.

PEAS.—The season has been very favourable for these—that is, so far as regards their productiveness and the gathering of them green for cooking; but I fear seed will be scarce and dear, as the weather at the time of ripening set in wet, and prevented crops being harvested in anything like the condition they ought to be. Among the tall kinds the best with us has been Telephone, which is a grand Pea, bearing pods from 5 to 6 inches in length, and these not wind-bags, like those of Superlative, which created such a stir some years back, but every one as full as they can be packed; and the Peas being large, when shelling takes place they soon fill up a dish. It was stated that Telegraph and Telephone are identical; but that is not the case, as they are not only distinct in color, but the last named is much the best Pea of the two, as, eaten either raw or in the cooked state, it is more sweet and tender. Being a strong grower, Telephone should be sown thin, and it is a good plan to have the rows at wide distances, as then they get plenty of air and light on both sides, and crop nearly down to the ground. We grow ours 10 feet apart, and plant a row of Celery between, which enjoys the shade till late in the summer, when it gets full exposure by the Peas being cleared, and there is then plenty of soil for earthing it up, and to get a row of Lettuce or Cabbage between. As yet I have not tried Telephone late, my favourite sorts for this work being British Queen and Ne Plus Ultra, both of which we are now picking, and as they are still full of bloom and vigour they will yield a supply for some time to come. In growing Peas, we always mulch heavily, as it saves labour in watering and keeps the earth cool. J. S.

FRENCH BEANS.—For yielding a suply during the summer and autumn there are none equal to Canadian Wonder, which is a strong grower and a very heavy cropper, bearing pods 8 to 10 inches long, of great width, and these when cooked are remarkably delicate and tender. Unlike most French Beans, that bear only for a short time, Canadian Wonder may be said to be perpetual, as so long as the pods are kept picked off when ready the plants continue to blossom and yield in succession. To afford proper room the rows should be a yard apart, and the Beans 10 inches, and when growing it is a good plan to stick a few brushy twigs by the sides to assist in holding them up, as without support wind and wet often knocks them about. Not only is Canadian Wonder the best late outdoor Bean, but it is a valuable one to grow in pits or frames, planted on a little bottom-heat in March, as towards the end of May the lights may be removed, and the crop the plants yield under such treatment is immense. For pots they are rather too tall and strong, but growth may be restricted by stopping the tops and pinching off some of the leaves—a practice I generally adopt with all winter Beans. F. S.

MARKET POTATOS.—We think that three varieties of Potatos well deserve, after the experience of them this season, where grown in large quantities, to be termed "market Potatos." One of these is Covent Garden Perfection, a second early, of remarkably good quality, and a heavy cropper. In the Northampton district we saw this Potato being dug, and clean, medium-sized tubers in good quantity following a quick growth, dwarf top, and early ripening, was the prevailing characteristic. It is a sort that finds a ready sale in market when dug. It is understood to have come out of the same batch of seedlings as Magnum Bonum. Burbank's Seedling, a white kidney variety, is a sort that finds great favour with the Northamptonshire people. It is an American variety, now rarely found in catalogues. It has a short top, makes a good second early, the produce is good, and the flesh eats dry and well. Our third variety is Vicar of Laleham, a comparatively new sort, that has come out grandly during the summer. It is a variety with a purple skin, and the snowwhite flesh peculiar to this class of Potatos—a heavy cropper, and but little diseased generally. It is in the fullest sense of the word a main crop variety, and, being a good keeper, should be kept till March and April. It is a remarkably fine Potato for mashing. Looker Round.

Orchid Notes.

SPIRANTHES ROMANZOVIANA.—This is not an Orchid which is likely to find favour with lovers of Orchids for their decorative value only; nevertheless, its white and deliciously fragrant flowers render it attractive even from this point of view. The main interest attaching to it consists of its singular geographical distribution. So far as is yet known it is found wild in Europe only in a wet meadow, near Bantry Bay, Co. Cork. But in North America it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Did it migrate from America, or was the current in the opposite direction? Did it ever occupy other European territory? These and many such questions this plant suggests for the philosophers to solve if they can. It is a near ally of the Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes autumnalis), now to be found in bloom on our Kentish downs, and elsewhere. Our figure (fig. 86)

[black and white illustration] FIG. 86.—SPIRANTHES ROMANZOVIANA AND FLORAL DETAILS: NAT. SIZE. POLLEN MASSES MAGN. FOUR TIMES.

was kindly furnished by Mr. Burbidge, under whose care the plant has been successfully cultivated for the last two years in the Botanic Garden of Trinity College, Dublin, the plant having originally been collected by the Professor of Botany, Dr. Percival Wright.

DENDROBIUM CHRYSANTHUM.

I can fully agree with all that Mr. Swan says, respecting the glorious spectacle of such a plant as he brought under notice in your last issue, p. 434. We have here— in the gardens of John Riley, Esq.—at the present time in flower, a specimen of the above with twenty-four flowering growths, several of which are 6 feet long. On one bulb I counted upwards of eighty blooms. The plant is suspended from the roof with Ferns underneath, and I need scarcely add that is a goodly sight to look on. Another Orchid, which is seen to advantage suspended from the roof in close proximity to Ferns, is the chaste Maxillaria venusta, which. in addition to blooming at this time of the year, lasts for several weeks in beauty. Jas. Almond, Hapton House Gardens, Burnley.

PLANT PORTRAITS

ABUTILON REINE D'OR, Floral Mag. t. 458.— Flowers of a rich golden-yellow; valuable as a winter-flowering plant in a warm greenhouse.

ARDISIA METALLICA, N. E. Brown, Illust. Horticole, t. 421.—A stove shrub of dwarf habit, with oblanceolate bullate purplish or metallic-green shortly stalked leaves. Native of Sumatra. Hort. Linden.

ASTILBE THUNBERGII, Floral Mag. t. 457.—A very elegant Japanese Spiraea, with the habit of A. japonica, but with the flowers in long slender compound spikes.

AURICULA DOUBLE PURPLE, Floral Mag. t. 460. —A beautiful novelty, grown by Mr. R. Dean.

BERTOLONIA LEGRELLEANA, Hort., Flore des Serres, t. 2407.—Leaves cordate, broadly ovate-acute, velvety green, hispid, marked with white veins.

BOLBOPHYLLUM BECCARII, Rchb. f., Bot. Mag. t. 6567.—This is the gigantic Bornean Orchid described in our columns, 1879, i., p. 41; 1880, ii., p. 326, 525. The flowers are in dense pendulous ovoid racemes, the individual flowers being 1/3 inch in diameter, ochreous-yellow, with red reticulations, and a most abominable fetor. Messrs. E. G. Henderson were the first to flower it in Europe.

CHOISYA TERNATA, Monatsschrift des Vereines zur Beförderung des Gartenbaues, t. 4.

CRINUM BALFOURII, Baker, in Bot. Mag., t. 6570.—A well marked new species, discovered in Socotra by Dr. Bayley Balfour. The bulbs and leaves are much smaller than in most of the cultivated kinds. The umbels bear ten to twelve very fragrant flowers, with a long slender tube (2 inches long) and linear-oblong white segments.

DENDROBIUM BRYMERIANUM, Floral Mag., t. 459.—Flowers racemose, each 3 inches across, orange-yellow; the heart-shaped lip with an orange spot on each side at the base, and with the edge deeply fringed.

DENDROBIUM DALHOUSIANUM, Paxton, Illust. Horticole, t. 423.—Flowers almost 4 inches across, fawn coloured, flushed with red; the roundish lip is of the same colour, with two large purple spots on each side at the base. Birmah.

EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM MAJUS, Williams' Orchid Album, t. 4.—A fine variety, with orange-scarlet flowers 2 inches across.

GEUM ELATUM, Wallich, Bot. Mag., t. 6568—A Himalayan species with oblong unequally and interruptedly pinnatisect leaves and yellow flowers. Kew.

HOMALOMENA WALLISII, Regel, Bot. Mag., t. 6571.—The plant figured and described in Gard. Chron. 1877, p. 108, fig. 16, as Curmeria Wallissii. It may be remarked that the names is "Homalomena," not "Homalonema," as commonly written.

KNIPHOFIA COMOSA, Hochstetter, Bot. Mag. t. 6569.—A dwarf species, with a dense oblong obtuse head of flowers of a yellow colour, with very long protruding stamens. Mr. Elwes.

MUTISIA DECURRENS, Cav., Flore des Serres, t. 2408.—A climbing Composite with sessile decurrent lanceolate leaves, ending in a long tendril; flowerheads 4 inches across, bright orange.

PINANGA VEITCHII, Wendl., Flore des Serres, t. 2405-6.—A highly ornamental Palm, with oblong leaves tapering at the base, truncate, and deeply two-lobed at the apex, mottled green above, with reddish nerves, rich claret coloured beneath. Borneo. Messrs. Veitch.

PLUM, REINE CLAUDE DE RAZIMBAUD, Revue Horticole, July.—Fruit medium sized, globose, with a well marked suture, golden-yellow blotched and spotted red on the sunny side; flesh yellowish, melting, separating readily from the stone, of good flavour. Stone small, oval, rugose.

RHODODENDRON MADAME L. VAN HOUTTE, Flore des Serres, t. 2409-10.—Flowers pale shaded rose, spotted with brown, and with a white centre. The habit is said to be good.

ROSE GLOIRE DE DUCHER, Journal des Roses, July, 1881.—Shoots reddish, robust; prickles red. Leaves deep green; flowers large, solitary, crimson, slaty at the edges.

SALVIA M. ISSANCHON, Revue de l'Horticulture Belge, July, 1881.—Supposed to be a form of S. splendens. The calyx is white or yellow, striped with red; the corollas red at the base, whitish above.

SOLANUM PYRACANTHUM, Dun Flore des Serres, t. 2411.—Stove shrub, with oblong pinnately-lobed leaves, studded with stout orange-coloured prickles; flowers violet. Madagascar.

132 Alfred J. Ewart:

flowered forms to taller, more luxuriant and larger-leaved and flowered forms, in the following sequence:—

E. collina, R.Br., var. striata. (E. striata, R.Br.; E. alpina, var. humilis, Benth.).

E. collina, R.Br., var. alpina. (E. alpina, R.Br.; E. diemenica, Spreng.).

(Type form) var. typica (E. collina, R.Br.; E. tetragona, R.Br.; E. multicaulis, Benth.).

E. collina, R.Br., var paludosa. " " var. speciosa. (E. speciosa, R.Br.).

Further, the size of the flowers tends to increase in cultivated specimens, and the colour is highly variable.

KOCHIA VILLOSA, Lindl., 1848 (Salsolaceae)

Among some stored specimens at the Herbarium, probably derived from the Sonder collection, one was found from A. de Jusieu, dated 1832, E. Nova Hollandia, and named Rhogodia, Billardierii, R.Br., which proves to be the above. Hence this Kochia reached Europe long before it was described by Lindley, and the present is possibly the oldest Herbarium specimen of the plant. The label and specimen are pasted on the sheet, and hence there is no possibility of accidental transference having occurred.

LYONSIA STRAMINEA, R. Br., = L. STRAMINEA (R. br.), Benth. and Mueller. (Apocynaceae).

In pursuing some interesting archæological but hardly botanical, studies, Britten1 concludes the the L. reticula of F. v. Mueller, is the true L. straminea of R.Br., and proposes a new name (L. Brownii) for the plant, supposed to be Brown's L. straminea by Bentham and Mueller. A more confusing and unnecessary addition to synonymy could hardly be proposed, and it is interesting to note on p. 240, that Britten sharply criticizes Druce for a similar addition to synonymy based on no more certain grounds. Britten admits that "Brown published no detailed description of the species," but considers that de Candolle's description of L. straminea referred, "at any rate in

1 Journ. of Botany, vol xlv., 1907, p. 255

716 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [December 2, 1882.

(which has a good hard bright gravel walk in front of it, with massive Ivy-covered arches at intervals) contains the stouter growing plants. It is well arranged to present a bright aspect at all times by planting the evergreen and deciduous plants so as to be mingled in something like order, some old-fashioned Roses being very lovely; one (Rosa Stanwellii?), which bore many heads of irregularly formed double blush flowers, pleased me much better than any of the new hybrid-perpetuals. In addition to the ordinary herbaceous plants in these large borders are fine Rhododendrons, Sedums, Andromedas, Gaultherias, Vacciniums, Pernettyas, Hypericums, Berberis, and a great quantity of other rare shrubs, the foliage of many of the Berberis being as bright as flowers.

The lower rockery is devoted to mossy Saxifrages, and plants of a like habit, each of which by its own arrangement displays a wonderful piece of Nature. The shrubbery and pinetum are well stocked with a good collection of principally rare things, mingled with Pampas-grass, the Hollies being especially fine, a grand Libocedrus decurrens 20 feet high, perfect; and another of Podocarpus koraiana, lovely. In front of the house is the variegated plant garden, which contains many grand foliage plants I had never seen before, the whole forming a most interesting place, and one from which the owner and his family seem to get a great deal of pleasure.

The garden-house, covered with that little known Hedera algierienses variegata, and its porch with Travellers' Joy, is very picturesque and beautiful. James O'Brien, Harrow-on-the-Hill.

The Arboretum.

CORNUS CANADENSIS.—In reference to your interesting notice of Cornus canadensis in the Gardeners' Chronicle for Oct. 28 (p. 565), it may be well to state that the name of "Baked Apples and Pears," applied to it in Collinson's note, is probably an error. "Bake Apple" is the common name used here to designate the fruit of Rubus chamæmorus, which grows abundantly down to the sea-level in several parts of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, and fruits freely. The "berries" are brought to the Halifax market, and sold as "Bake Apple"—the only name, indeed, by which they are known here. In the highlands of Scotland they are called Avrons, and in books Dewberries. The Cornus canadensis is very abundant in Nova Scotia, often covering roadside banks, and producing plentifully its clusters of bright coral-red fruit; but the fruit is not edible. It is called "Pigeon Berry," and is commonly used for personal decoration, for which purpose it is not excelled by any fruit known to me. I should be glad to know the date, actual or probable, of the note in which Collinson refers to the Cornus canadensis growing "all about Halifax," &c.; also when and where Collinson probably got his first plant or seeds of C. canadensis. George Lawson, Dalhousie College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nov. 15.

CASTANEA CHRYSOPHYLLA.—At p. 435 of vol. xiv. may be found a notice of this most interesting Californian tree, along with many others that flourish in the beautiful grounds at Tortworth Court. This Chestnut is unquestionably one of the most distinct and handsome evergreen trees that has been introduced during the present century. Not attaining more than what may be described as a small or medium height, it is essentially a species that admits of being introduced to the lawns or shrubberies of gardens of limited extent, as well as where the grounds are extensive, and on this account is the more valuable. It has small handsome foliage, bright green on the upper surface, and almost as yellow beneath as the best varieties of the golden Fern (Gymnogramma chrysophylla). the noble owner of Tortworth—who, we understand, is an enthusiastic lover of trees—may be congratulated upon possessing what we suppose to be the finest specimen in Europe, and, so far as we know, the first that has borne fruit in England. The seeds, excepting those so kindly forwarded to us, have, we believe, all been sown, and with Mr. Shingles' care and experience will stand an excellent chance of growing, and in this way being the first of a race raised from English raised seeds, representing a species likely to become a favourite with

all who take an interest in arboriculture. Accompanying are Mr. Shingles' remarks upon it. T.B.

"Amongst the evergreen trees and shrubs that have been introduced into this country this is one of the handsomest; and the fact that it has stood uninjured through the late severe winters much enhances its value as a decorative tree. The specimen growing in the arboretum here, in a somewhat sheltered position in a sandy loam resting on the Old Red Sandstone, is possibly the finest to be found in Great Britain; it is 22 feet high, and 15 feet through. It has annually borne quantities of sterile burrs, with a miniature Chestnut about the size of a very small Pea. But this year, and for the first time, it has produced fertile burrs with perfect fruit. The leaves are dark green above, with a rich golden powder beneath, and when moved with a gentle breeze produce a most charming effect rarely seen. It inhabits California and Oregon, where it is seldom found more than 6 feet high, but in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, it is said to attain a height of from 30 to 50 feet. It will be most interesting if any of your readers will report through the medium of your columns their acquaintance with this beautiful

[black and white illustration] W.J.W-Sc. Fig. 126—CYPRIPEDIUM INSIGNE, VAR. MAULEI. (SEE P. 717)

tree; also, if this is the first instance known to them of its having produced fertile fruit in this country. I may add that the plant in question was purchased from the Messrs. Veitch directly after its introduction into this country. Thomas Shingles, Tortworth Court, Gloucester." [We have seen it in fruit at Combe Wood, but whether the seeds ripened we do not know. Perhaps Messrs. Veitch will oblige by telling us. ED.]

CRATÆGUS CARRIEREI.—This tree was raised from seed of C. mexicana, which it surpasses in vigour, foliage, and flowers. The latter expand in spring, are at first white, subsequently flesh-coloured. The fruits resemble Cherries in form, size and colouring (bright red), but the principal merit is its persistence throughout the winter. A leafless tree laden with orange or crimson fruit is certainly a first-class decorative plant. The tree is very hardy, since it endured the winter of 1879-80 unhurt. It is grafted on the Hawthorn, and is introduced into commerce by MM. Baltet, of Troyes.

AMARYLLIS AUTUMN BEAUTY.—One of the most beautiful of the Amaryllid family. We lately saw a nice plant of it in flower in Messsrs. Veitch's nursery, with from four to five flowers upon a spike. The flowers are of a crimson hue, deeply veined with lilac.

Orchid Notes and Gleanings.

WORK IN THE HOUSES.—Some of the spring- flowering Denrobiums that finished up their growths early in the season, and have been at rest for a couple of months, will now be commencing to show their flower-buds up the sides of the bulbs, and if the pseudobulbs are strong, and have been well ripened, they ought to produce flowers from every joint. When these plants arrive at this stage they require to be very carefuly watered; in fact, very little, if any, will be required for another month, as a sudden saturation at the root just at this stage of development would most likely turn many of the embryo flowers into growths. Later batches of this section, and also the raceme-flowering kinds, such as D. thyrsiflorum, must be kept as quitely at rest as possible in a temperature of 50[degrees] to 55[degrees] with a dry atmosphere. There are not that many Dendrobes that flower during

the winter season, but D. bigibbum and D. superbiens —though not first-rate kinds—are worth growing for late autumn flowering, and these will be succeeded by D. macrophyllum, which is well worth growing. The next two months are the most critical in the year for any plants that are in growth, and any that are now in this state should be grown as quickly as is consistent with maintaining them in health. It is not difficult to detect at this season of the year whether a plant is getting attenuated through being subjected to too much heat and moisture. Where this is seen to be the case a slight reduction in the temperature should take place, which will produce better ripened growth. These remarks apply to such plants as Sobralias and the few Dendrobes that make their growth during the winter months. They are also applicable to imported Orchids of any kind that were started at the end of summer or early in autumn, and are now just getting into growth. These, in additon to being kept moving as quietly as possible, must be very carefully watered, otherwise some of the tender growths may get rotted, and thus throw the plants back for a couple of seasons. All the Aërides and Vandas will need close attention in the matter of watering during the dull season. Avoid keeping them either too wet or too dry at the root. The former

146 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [JULY 30, 1881.

intense during digestion, and has no necessary relation to the phenomena of excitation of the sympathetic nerve-system, is somewhat obscure as to its "mechanism," but its existence proves directly the importance and nutritive balue of the aliment in question, which, consumed in such large quantities in South America, is almost unknown in Europe.

—THE FRINGED HIBISCUS (HIBISCUS SCHIZOPETALUS). —A figure of this remarkable plant, which is now blooming at Kew, was given in our columns for 1879, vol. xii., p. 273. It differs from H. rosasinensis, a variable species, which furnishes many handsome decorative plants, by its long-stalked, pendulous flowers, and their peculiarly slashed fringed petals. It is a native of east tropical Africa, from whence it has been introduced within the past few years.

— THE EXTRAORDINARY TITHE.—The Select Committee on Extraordinary Tithe, over which Mr. INDERWICK presided, after entering into a history of the extraordinary tithe rent-charge on Hops, fruit and market-garden produce, make the following recommendations in their report, issued on the 22d inst.:—

"The committee are of opinion that these extraordinary charges are an impediment to agriculture, hampering new cultivation, and that it is expedien that they should be abolished, and they submit the following scheme:—

"The committe recommend that the provisions of the Tithe Commutation Acts Amendment Act, 1873, should be extended to Hop grounds, and that no new districts should be assigned.

"That the Tithe commissioners should be empowered, upon the joint application of the owner of any land now charged or chargeable with an extraordinary rentcharge under the Tithe Commutation Acts and the person entitled to the receipt of the said charge, to direct that the same should be commuted into an additiona ordinary rent-charge, or should be redeemed by payment by the landowner of a sum to be agreed upon, subject to the approval of the Tithe Commissioners. where the rent-charge is payable to any spiritual person in respoect of his benefice or cure, and the redemption money, if any, to be paid to the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, and to be applied by them (under the 8th section of 9 and 10 Vic., cap. 73) in the augmentation of such benefice or cure.

"That any owner of land in a parish paying an extraordinary rent-charge may apply to the Tithe Commissioners to commute or redeem the same, and the Tithe Commissioners shall, in the even of the parties not agreeing, make an inquiry into the nett value of teh extraordinary charge upon the land so sought to be redeemed, and for that purpose hear evidence on behalf of the extraordinary tithe payer and receiver, and declare the nett value of teh extraordinary charge taken on an average of the nett receipts for the previous seven years, and the terms upon which the extraordianry charge on the various lands belonging to the said landowner in such parish may be commuted or redeemed. And in case of redemption, all the land of such landowner situate in such parish shall for the future be free of all rent-charge except the ordinary rent-charge.

"The committee further recommend that power should be given to the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty to invest the redemption money of the extraoridnary rent-charge in any security in which the Court of Chancery now permits trustees to invest their trust funds, and also that tenants for life, trustees, and other persons having a limited interest in any estate of which the whole or any portion is liable to the extraoridnary charge should be enabled by law to raise the funds necessary for such redemption and to charge them upon such estate."

— PHILESIA BUXIFOLIA.—What a number of grand plants have been introduced to British gardens through the enterprise of Messrs. VIEICH! The present one was first sent to this country by their collector, Mr. W. LOBB. It is an erect evergreen shrub, with Box-like leaves and rosy-red waxy Lapangeria-like blossoms. Planted out on a rockery in the Temperate-house at Kew, where it obtains partial shade from Tree Ferns, &c., it luxuriates, and sends up branches from its creeping rhizomes between the stones, amongst which it is planted. By the way, this species proved hardy for some years at Exeter —a fact not to be wondered at considering the inhospitable shores from which it hails. It would be interesting if any reader of the Gardener's Chronicle would report if it is now growing anywhere in the open air of Britain, and under what conditions. Another plant with which the name of Mr. W. LOBB must also be connected is also flowering well at Kew, viz.,

Desfontainea spinosa; the glossy evergreen Holly-like foliage contrasts strikingly with the large handsome rich scarlet, yellow-tipped, bell-shaped drooping flowers.

— SUGAR CULTIVATION IN SPAIN.—It is estimated that the crop of sugar obtained in Malaga last year amounted to about 5,750,000 kilos. The cultivation of the Sugar-cane in this province is a comparatively new industry. It is said to yield very large profits, and will no doubt continue to be highly remunerative so long as the import duties on Cuban and foreign sugars are maintained.

— HOWARDIA CARACCENSIS.—As in the Mussændas of our stoves, one of the minute teeth of the calyx is in this plant enlarged into a stalked, heartshaped, deep rose-coloured foliaceous bract, which adds materially to the beauty of the gracefully drooping panicles of purplish-rose tubular flowers. At one time this was detected as one of the medicinal barks of commerce, and it is stated that the Bolivians use it in intermittent fevers. It is a member of the same natural order, and is a native of teh country from whence come some of teh Cinchonas which have of late years occupied so much attention. It is now in flower at Kew.

— ASPARAGUS ÆTHIOPICUS TERNIFOLIUS.— This handsome cool-house climber is figured and described by Mr. BAKER in our columns for 1872, p. 1588. It is one of the numberous interesting as well as horticulturally desirable plants collected in South Africa for the late Mr. W. WILSON SAUNDERS by Mr. THOMAS COOPER. In the Winter Garden at Kew, where it has both plenty of root-room and space to develope and exhibit its beauty, it forms a fine object. There are few finer cool-house climbers; under favourable conditions—plenty of root and top room—it produces its racemes of white blossoms in the greatest abundance.

— THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ABERDEEN. —An unfortunate occurrence took place in connection with the arrangements for the flower and fruit exhibition announced to be held recently, under the auspices of this Society. As usual the Society had secured the large tent of the Aberdeen Marquee Company. Owing somehow to the defective stability of the tent and the breeze which sprang up, it came to the ground while the placing of exhibits for the show was being actively carried out. Efforts were made to secure suitable accomodation for holding the exhibition, but after consulting with the principal exhibitors the directors came to the unanimous opinion that it was advisable not to hold the show.

— RUBUS PHŒNICOLASIUS.—The most striking object by far in the winter garden at Kew at the present time is a plant of the Japanese Bramble whose name appears at the commencement of this note. It is a hardy species, but on the gravelly sand of Kew, both against a wall and in the open, there is nothing particularly striking about it; in the coolhouse, however, planted out, and its shoots taken up a stake 12 feet or more in height, the last year's ones forming a column of fruiting branchlets, it is so conspicuously beautiful as to attract the attention of the most unobservant. The leaves are almost snowywhite beneath, the young shoots, &c., are clothed with long scarlet gland-tipped bristles, and the pleasant fruits are a bright, shining kind of orangered colour.

— A WALNUT WOOD FAMINE.—Canadian and American papers are full of complaints of the scarcity of Walnut wood, and fears are expressed that the stock of this valuable tree is being rapidly exhausted. At one time, says The Colonies and India, the province of Ontario, then know as "Canada West," produced an abundance of Walnut of fine quality, but it now yields little or none. In the United States, Indiana has been looked upon as the "Walnut State," but the supply is not now equal to the demand, and the "lumberers" are at their wits' end to meet the requirements of the furniture manufacturers in the States. Considerable quantities of Walnut exist further south, but there are swamps and various other physical difficulties in the way of the full development of the trade there. The threatened Walnut famine is only another proof of the recklessness with which timber is destoryed, not only in

America, but in all new countries. The needs of the present moment are gratified, but no are is taken for the requirements of the future. The planting of young trees as old trees are cut down is seldom systematically carried out, and the consequence is that the supply is gradually exhausted. Nor does the evil end here. As we have frequently pointed out, the whole climate of a country may be altered by the clearing of its forests, and its very fertility seriously affected if the due proportion of forest land to open country is not maintained. There is not a colony, however large and however abundant its natural supplies of timber, which can afford to go on felling and burning without planting. The recent experience of Maritius, and the example which that colony is setting, should be taken to heart by every other colony.

— YUCCA GLORIOSA.—Mr. ALEXANDER MAULE of the Bristol Nurseries calls attention to this plant as suitable for cultivation in this country for the production of fiber and of sugar. Mr. MAULE grows the plant on small ridges a yard apart, and each plant a yard from its fellow. Mr. MAULE estimates that a plant three years old will yield 1 lb. of sugar and 1 lb. of fibre. The previous summer's leaves are stripped off about February.

— ABRONIA LATIFOLIA.—In the herbaceous department at Kew this charming perennial is now flowering freely. It is a vigorous trailer, perhaps better known under the name of A. arenaria. It has a stout fusiform root, which is often several feet in length, and is said to be sometimes eaten by the Indians; rather thick leaves, and umbels of very fragrant, orange-scented blossoms. In a wild state it is common on the sea-shore from Vancouver's Island to Monterey.

— WOOD PULP FOR PAPER.—As an indication of the extended use of wood pulp for paper-making we learn that during the past year in Norway two new wood-pulping factories were brought into action, six more are about to be built, and eight of the nineteen old establishments for the mechanical production of pulp are to be considerbly enlarged. Besides these, there are now in work, with one exception, one chemical wood pulp factory, two pasteboard factories, and seven paper factories. This branch of industry seems specially adapted to Norway, inasmuch as it renders the waterfalls profitable, and so aggrandises the country by means of one of its natural forces, becoming thus, in fact, an entirely new industrial development.

— SERICOGRAPHIS MOHINTLI.—An Acanthad of rambling habit, which, however, does beautifully when allowed a fair amount of root-room, and treated as a climber against glass. Its long scarlet flowers are then produced in profusion, and form a striking contrast with the grassy green leaves. It is now in flower in the Palm-house at Kew.

— THE POTATO DISEASE.—It was observed in a former article that a few only of the Early Rose Potatos died this year after they were half grown—a condition which was once notorious with American varieties. Every plant, however, was carefully examined, and the resting-spores of G. W. SMITH were found both in the substances of teh tubers when decayed or at the base of the young haulm. In the latter case the produce of germination soon anastomosed, but the destruction of the haulm gave no chance of tracing the full development of the mycelium. In the former case the whole of the substance of the tuber, which afterwards rapidly passed into decay, swarmed with mycelium; it was therefore hoped that the result would be easily traced, but on looking at the specimens, which were placed in a position favourable for development, the tubers with the exception of the skin had passed into a liquid mass, without perfecting any fructification, though at first there was a large growth of hyphæ. M. J. B.

— NYMPÆA ODORATA ROSEA.—This is a charming form of the sweet-scented North American Water-Lily, which has recently flowered at Kew, and has been drawn for the Botanical Magazine. It differs, at present, from the commoner type in the smaller size of its flowers (which will probably become larger as the plants get stronger), and their beautiful colour, a lovely rose tint : this is in all probability a permanent character. The variaety is mentioned by Dr. ASA

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