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.

20 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE [January 6, 1883.

the circumstances that many of the appointments and fixtures for the new year are not made till some weeks or months have elapsed, we have not been able to insert many of the dates of the smaller provincial exhibitions. The dates of all the more important exhibitions, whether in London or the provinces, have been included, as well as the usual Calendar information. The table of mean temperatures is taken from Mr. GLAISHER'S reduction of the Chiswick observations, and, representing the average of forty years, may be taken as an indication of the probable temperature in the vicinity of London. In the Southern Counties, and by the sea, the winter temperature is usually a little higher, in the North a little lower, than that of London and its vicinity. In spring, especially on the eastern side of the island, the temperature rules lower than about London.

— PALM SEEDS.—We hear from Mr. JOSEPH STEVENSON, Honorary Secretary, Agri-Horticultural Society's Garden, Madras, that he experiences great difficulty in making exchanges of Palm seeds. At the present time the garden authorities possess qualities of seeds of the following Palms:—Corypha umbraculifera, Livistona mauritania, Elæis guineensis, Caryota urens, Areca catechu, and several varities of Phœnix, and would be glad to receive offers in exchange from some of our readers.

— THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW.—The total number of visitors to the Royal Gardens, Kew, for the year 1882 was 1,244,167. This is 407,491 in excess of the number for 1881, which in its turn was greater by 111,254 than the number of visitors in any previous year. As in 1881 the Sunday visitors (606,935) were about equal in number to those on all the other days of the week put together (637,232).

— INDIRECT EVIDENCE.—The fact that the American Vines resist or do not succumb to the Phylloxera is being acted on in a large scale in France, the American Vines being used as stocks whereon to graft the better Vines of France. At first there was some doubt as to the real efficacy of the process for practical purposes, but that doubt is now settled, and, as if to prove it, thefts of American Vines from nursuries have become frequent. Thus, near Montpellier one night 850 plants were stolen, and from another nursery a number of cuttings, valued at £200. The variety most affected by the marauders is one namked Othello.

— — JAPANESE VINES.—In view of the everincreasing losses caused by the Phylloxera it is said that the French Government have despatched a Commission to studty the Vines of Japan, and which are cultivated in that country up to the snow line. M. PLANCHON is about to publish a description of the species, of which several are known in herbaria, and some are in cultivation.

— — ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— The following is a summary of the privileges of Fellows and members for the current year:— A Fellow paying four guineas a year is entitled:— I. To two tickets, both of which are transferable, and will admit the Fellow or the bearer without payment to the Gardens and to the Great International Fisheries Exhibition to be held therein, and to all shows in connection therewith. Each ticket will also entitle the bearer to a season ticket holder's place at the opening ceremony of the Fisheries Exhibition, to be held in the Royal Albert Hall, for the reduced payment of 5s. 2. To admit daily (Sundays excepted) eight friends by written order to the garden at Chiswick. 3. To visit the shows at 12 o'clock, being an hour earlier than the general public. 4. To receive forty orders giving free admission on all occasions until April 15, from which date till May 1 the Gardens will be closed, except to Fellows. These orders will be available on the payment of 6d, during the Fisheries Exhibition on all shilling days. 5. To a share of such seeds, plants, and cuttings of Vines and fruit trees as the Society may have in sufficient numbers for distribution by ballot or otherwise. 6. To purchase the flowers, fruit, and vegetables grown at Chiswick, which may not be required for scientific purposes by the Scientific, Fruit and Floral Committees. 7. To receive a copy of the publications of the Society. 8. To the right of voting at all meetings. 9. To be relieved (on giving previous notice in writing) from the payment of subscriptions while resident abroad. 10. To free admission to the reading room and Lindley

Library. A fellow paying two guineas a year is entitled to one ticket giving the same privileges of admission as in No. I; half the privileges mentioned in Nos. 2, 4, and 5; the same as Nos. 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Present guinea members are entitled to one ticket, not transferable, giving the owner admission on all ordinary occasions, and to all shows at Chiswick and South Kensington, but not to the annual or special general meetings or fêtes or conversazione of the Society, and which does not entitle the member to vote on any matters relating to the affairs of the Society. Entrance fees of new Fellows joing are suspended for the present.

— TITHE COMMUTATION: SEPTENNIAL AVERAGES. — Mr. MONTAGUE MARRIOTT, Editor of Willich's Tithe Commutation Tables, writes:—As the result of the corn averages for the seven years to Christmas, 1882, published in the London Gazette of this evening—viz., Wheat, 5s. 10 1/4d. per imperial bushel; Barley, 4s. 4 1/2 d. per imperial bushel; Oats, 2s. 11 1/4d. per imperial bushel—I beg to state that each £100 of the tithe-rent charge will, for the year 1883 amount to £100 4s. 9 3/4d., or about 2 1/2 per cent. less than last year. The following shows the worth of £100 tithe-rent charge for the last seven years:—For the year 1877, £109 16s. 11 1/2d.; 1878 £112 7s. 5 1/4d.; 1879, £111 15s. 1 1/2d.; 1880, £109 17s. 9 1/2d.; 1881, £107 2s. 10 1/2d.; 1882, £102 16s. 2d.; 1883, £100 4s. 9 3/4d. The average of £100 tithe-rent charge for the forty-seven years elapsed since the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act is £103 2s. 0 1/2d.

— ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND. —The dates of this Society's exhibitions for 1883 are as follows:—Spring exhibitions, Thursday, April 19, and Thursday, May 17; Summer show, Thursday July 5; Autumn show, Thursday, Sept. 6; Winter show, Thursday, Nov. 22.

—THE FLORA OF BRITISH INDIA.—We are glad to welcome another instalment (the ninth) of this very serviceable work, published by Sir JOSEPH HOOKER, with the assistance of other botanists (REEVE & CO.) The present part contains, among other orders, the Ericaceæ, Sapotaceæ, Oleaceæ (Jasminum) and various other orders elaborated by Mr. CLARKE, while Sir JOSEPH enumerates the Primulaceæ and Apocynaceæ. Rhododendrum lovers will be interested to see the latest revision of the Indian species by Mr. CLARKE, who has had the advantage of Sir JOSEPH's materials and co-operation, in addition to his own extensive collections and personal experience. The Malayan species (from which originate the so-called greenhouse species of gardens) are grouped together under the sub-genus, Vireya, characterised by the thin walls of the capsule twisting after dehiscence, and with very long-tailed seeds. Here come R. malayanum, jasminiflorum, javanicum. The true Rhodendrons are distinguished by a woody capsule, the valves of which do not twist, and by wingless seeds; here are placed R. arboreum and all the Sikkim species. The R. argenteum of gardens is referred to R. grande of Wight. R. æruginosum is reduced to R. campanulatum, R. Aucklandi to R. Griffithianum. Of the Primroses we have already spoken, but we add that P. imperialis is referred to R. prolifera. We may add that this part concludes the third volume, and as it has brought the record as far as Apocynaceæ it may be presumed that the work is now about half finished. The work comprises an immense geographical area, including the whole of India and Malaya.

— LONICERA STANDISHI.—A fine specimen of this—probably the earliest flowering of all the Honeysuckles —trained to the front of Museum No. 1 at Kew is now bearing numbers of its creamy-white very fragrant flowers. Though perfectly hardy it delights in such positions as the one just noticed, and although not a climber produces longer growths and flowers more freely against a wall than in the open. This species (figured in Bot. Mag., tab. 5709, and in Gard. Chron. 1878, vol. ix., p. 106) is sometimes confounded with the similarly fragrant L. fragrantissima and L. brachypoda. The two former were sent from Shanghai to the Horticultural Society by FORTUNE.

—BILBERGIA NUTANS.—A considerable number of Bromeliads are highly ornamental and desirable stove plants; but, in this country at least, the whole order is comparatively neglected, except in a few establishments. On the Continent the case is to a considerable extent reversed, and private collections of these interesting plants are not uncommon. Heat and moisture are the principal requirements of most of the showy species—where these can be given the cultivation is remarkably easy. Bilbergia nutans is not by any means one of the handsomest species, but its narrow bright green leaves, the central peduncle clothed with the large bright red bracts, the drooping flowers with bright green ovaries, sepals flushed pink, and petals green with deep blue margin, form a peculiarly pleasing combination. It is now in flower at Kew, and a good figure from Kew specimens is given in the Botanical Magazine, vol. 105, tab. 6423.

— TREATMENT OF FROZEN PLANTS.—In a climate like that of Britain, where in winter one week may be summer-like in its mildness, and the next almost arctic in character, bundles of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants sent by goods train must sometimes fare rather badly. As some of our readers might be puzzled how best to treat a frozen mass of vegetation, the following extract from vol. xvi. of the Iowa Horticultural Society may prove of interest:— "Two or three years ago I received, about the 1st of April, a bale of choice plants from Painesville, Ohio. The last of March had been summer-like, and all promised so fair, my order was packed and sent. By some mishap, I did not find the goods until they had been in the express office three or four days. The day they came the express man set the bale in an open coal-shed. That night a new winter came on. I received the package and brought it home as solid as a boulder. These were the choicest of plants: Strawberries, Raspberries, Roses, Peaches, flowering shrubs, &c. They had been nicely packed in wet moss. When I opened the bundle it was with difficulty I could break the packages apart. The ground was frozen 4 inches thick, so that nothing could be set out. I dug a pit and buried the plants in the earth. When the ground was fit for setting-out, I found the plants in the pit in good order; and setting them out I never lost a plant. A. D. Field, Indianola, Iowa."

— VEGETABLE PESTS.—As an instance of the rapidity and thoroughness in which several of the Cactaceæ naturalise themselves in many countries, the following clipping from a leading daily affords striking evidence:—"A Bill has been introduced into the New South Wales Legislative Assem- bly for the purpose of empowering the Government to devote a certain sum to the eradication of the wild Cactus plant, popularly known as the 'Prickly Pear.' So rapid has been the spread of this vegetable pest that whereas, according to the statement of one member, £50 would have sufficed thirty years ago to rid the colony of it, a million sterling will, before many years, be required for such a purpose. It was stated that one proprietor of land in the colony had spent £1000 on his property in trying to destroy this mischievously prolific plant, but had not yet succeeded."

— THE PHYLOXERA IN SOUTH-WEST FRANCE.—The Vigne Américaine gives the following statistics for the Department of Hérault, which may suffice to give our readers some notion of the extent of the disaster in one Department only. The number of hectares destroyed annually (a hectare = rather less than 2 1/2 acres) was as follows:—In 1880, 19,000; in 1881, 20,427; in 1882, 26,267. The number of hectares treated by submersion during the same years was respectively, 1588, 1626, and 2283. The number of hectares treated by carbon sulphide for the same period was 1875, 4632 and 3541 respectively. The number of hectares treated by sulfo-carbonate of potash was 868, 1578, and 751 for the years before mentioned. The number of American Vines used as stocks whereon to engraft the finer Vines has increased from 2624 in 1880 to 10,918 in 1882 in the Department in question.

— SENECIO MACROGLOSSUS.—Of the enormous genus to which it belongs this is, probably, with the single exception of the handsome New World species, S. pulcher, the largest flowered one. It is a striking plant with evergreen Ivy-like glossy leaves borne on long slender twining stems. Its large pale yellow flower-heads are produced in midwinter, and afford a fine contrast to the dark shining foliage. The plant is admirably adapted for trellis-work and well fitted for dwelling-room culture. At Kew a fine specimen trained to one of the rafters is, at present,

JULY 30, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 145

— PODOPHYLLUM EMODI. — At the present time the scarlet fruits of this Himalayan herbaceous plant are very ornamental; they are said to be much better than the sweet, slightly acid ones of teh only other species of the genus, the United States May

[black and white illustrations] EWS Sc FIG. 32. — PHALÆNOPSIS VIOLACEA (SEE P. 144.)

Apple, P. peltatum. Though the fruits are edible, the leaves and roots of both are probably poisonous; indeed, the leaves and roots, drastic and poisonous, is distinctly stated of P. peltatum by Dr. ASA GRAY. The resin—podophyllin—which has obtained a footing in this country, and is used in medicine as a substitute for mercurials, is derived from the last-named plant.

— ADENOCALYMNA NITIDUM.—This is a Brazilian climber, belonging to the natural order Bignoniaceæ. It has large Allamanda-like golden-yellow blossoms, which are freely produced by the plant on the roof of the Victoria-house at Kew. A. comosum,

a species with rather smaller flowers, is in bloom in the Palm-house.

— THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MATÉ. — Maté, or Paraguayan tea, is known to be extensively used in South America, and almost universally in Brazil, the common practice being to pour boiling

water on some of the powder (consisting of ground leaves and twigs of certain species), the to suck the infusion through tubes provided with strainers. MM. D'ARSONVAL and CONTY (says the Times) have recently inquired into the action of this substance,

administering it to dogs, either by injecting into the veins or by introduction into the stomach, and they have observed a remarkable effect of it on the gases of the blood. It diminishes the carbonic acid and oxygen both of the arterial and of the venous blood to a large extent, sometimes a third or even half of the normal quantity. This action, which is less

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