The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

754 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [DECEMBER 10, 1881.

Orchid Notes. WORK IN THE HOUSES.--Whilst the present exceedingly mild weather continues the houses can be kept at their proper temperature with little anxiety on the part of those who have charge of the fires. There can be no doubt that with such weather out-of-doors the treatment now being given is much better for the plants than when there is heavy snow on the ground, and a continuance of severe frosts for days and nights together. Still whilst it is so mild, the thermometer may safely indicate a few degrees higher than it would be wise to keep if much firing were now being used. The object now, let the weather be what it may, is to induce many to remain in a state of rest, or but slight growth; it will not do, therefore, by excessive heat unduly to excite any into growth, or to hasten on the blooming period. There are always among the cool Orchids some pushing-up flower-spikes, or starting again into growth, and the difference of treatment these require at any period of the year is comparatively slight when the other sections are taken into consideration. These must not be drived off in a bulk, though a partial rest after blooming must be individually encouraged by a slight withholding of water; and so, whatever the season may be, the treatment in this section will be a careful and consistent round of a regular and uniform character, bearing in mind the requirements of indviduals. The temperatures of the houses in the early morning, at 7 A.M., should now be as near the following figures as possible : — East India-house, 60[degrees]; Dendrobium-house, 58[degrees]; Cattleya-house, 55[degrees]; Odontoglossum-house, 50[degrees] to 53[degrees]. If the Phalænopsis, and a few recently imported East India plants, are placed in a separate divisiion, it may range a little higher; but if less air is given it will cause this department to be a little warmer and closer, and will answer the same purpose. When it is practicable, give air on all occasions, especially to the Odontoglossum-house; with the glass outside ranging from 40[degrees] to 50[degrees], little fear need be felt that any harm will follow. The rare and distinct Vanda Cathcarti, where it has been secured, should now be well advanced with flower spikes. This generally commences to show as early as August and September, and the spike and buds come slowly on until the flowers expand by Christmas, or sometimes not till January is far advanced. The flowers last a long time, which is some compensation for the lenght of time one has to wait for their appearance. This will in some cases grow as free as can possibly be desired; in other instances it is just as difficult to manage. One cause of this I believe to be that it is grown in too much heat. This encourages yellow thrips, and once this pest has settled upon it it seems to have the plant completely in its power. The leaves being of a thin papery texture are soon disfigured, and must be cut away; smoking or dipping must then be resorted to, and repeated if the first operation is not successful. The coolest end of the East India-house, where it can have plenty of light, will suit it best. Being a quick grower naturally, it doubtless soon lifts its head above the plants or foliage at its base, and reaching upward it would therefore enjoy an abundance of light. It is also much benefited when growing by being syringed overhead morning and evening, and is most at command when grown in a pot. Among the late additions to the Dendrobium few were distributed more quietly than the singular-growing Findleyanum, and probably not one has given more pleasure, or caused greater surprise, than this. At first, with many growers, it did not appear very deserving, but now it is admitted to be a most beautiful species—very free in blooming, the flowers of fine size, and the colours soft and pleasing. This is best managed in baskets, and during the summer grows very quickly. It flowers on the new growths whilst the leaves, in some instances, are still upon the bulbs; but if these miss blooming the first year they will generally do so the second. It will now be showing flower along its knotted bulbs, and will soon prove it is worthy of all the care that has been bestowed upon it. Wherever it can be obtained it should be added to the collection without delay. Another choice thing of recent introduction is Maxillaria grandiflora. This succeeds best in a pot, in peat and sphagnum, and, grown in the Cattleya-house during the summer, it will have made stout bulbs and leaves, and will now be flowering from the base of the newly formed bulbs. Its erect showy blooms rival in some respects the rare Lycaste Skinneri alba, and should

be represented in the collection by more than a single specimen. Miltonia spectabilis, virginalis, rosea, Moreliana, &c., will now be pushing new growths. Pick out the old peaty soil, and top-dress them with some fresh sphagnum and peat, using some crocks among the soil. Do not shake them out unless it is absolutely necessary, as they do not like to be often disturbed; it causes the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and the plants become weaker in a very perceptible manner. The Cattleya-house will suit these, as well, too, the taller growers, as Clowesii, Regnelli and its variety purpurea; candida grandiflora requires a little more heat than any of them. W. Swan, Fallowfield.

ORCHID SEEDS. I am not sure that the instructions given at p. 733 are quite sufficient for a beginner in the field of raising seedlings. It would depend very much upon how or where the living sphagnum was placed before I should care to trust Orchid seeds on it. If they were sown on a pot or pan of luxuriant living sphagnum I would not expect to see a plant come up. The method usually pursued, and which I have found successful, is this. For instance, if the seeds to be sown are those of a Cypripedium I would select a plant of the same species as one of the parents that had been potted some time—say six months; and I would prefer one that had not too much living sphagnum about it. The surface where the seeds are to be sown should be one of bits of charcoal, tufts of fibrous peat and potsherds, with live sphagnum at intervals. The seed-pods will riper on the plant, and the seed should be sown as soon as the pods open. The seed, which resembles very much the dust in the sunbeams, should be shaken out on to the surface; and if there are any thick roots on the surface the seeds may vegetate on them, and nowhere else (at least, I had an experience of that kind once). I merely took the Cypripedium as an illustration, but it is a fact that the best way to rear seedling Orchids is to sow the seeds on the surface of the compost on which other plants of the same kind are growing. There are, however, such an enormous number of seeds in a pod that it is easy to try them in various ways. I think it was the late Mr. Donald Beaton who sowed Orchid seeds in rather an eccentric manner; but he was successful in raising plants, which was the first point gained, although he stated at the same time that he never reared one. Mr. Beaton filled a flower-pot with water, in which were some good-sized lumps of charcoal; his fingere were held over the hold in the bottom of the pot. The seeds were then sown on the surface of the water, the finger was withdrawn, and the water rushed out, leaving the seeds attached to the charcoal, which was kept moist afterwards. In this way he raised a large number of plants; but it takes a long time before they are ready to be pricked off, and they did not derive sufficient sustencance from the charcoal to bring them on to that stage. J. D.

ORCHIDS IN FLOWER AT GLASNEVIN On December 1 there were sixty-one species and varieties of Orchids in flower here, and of these thirty-one were in flower on November 1. The following is a list of them:— [two columned table]

open the plants are arranged in two sections. The large-flowered variety is grown under the name of P. nobilis. Why it should be elevated to the rank of a distinct species merely because the flowers are larger does not seem to be so easy to answer. P. fragrans nobilis it ought to be, if a distinctive name is necessary. The large-flowered variety is the best certainly, although both ought to be grown in every collection. The sweetly-scented flowers are of teh most delicate white, with a lemon or yellow mark at the base of the labellum. This is also a free-growing plant, and should be potted like Cattleya Mossiae. It favours either the cool or Cattleya-house. J. Douglas.

MR. BULL'S COLLECTION. The following are now in flower at Mr. William Bull's establishment, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.:— [two columned table]

ORCHIDS IN MIXED COLLECTIONS: FERGUSLIE. Mr. Williams, in the Orchid Album for last month gives a very just and appreciative notice of the Orchids grown by Mr. Thomson at Ferguslie, the seat of T. Coates, Esq., and remarks that they were not grown in a house or houses specially set apart for them, but in houses mixed up with stove and finefoliaged plants. My reason for noticing this is, that I remarked the same success attended similar treatment of Orchids by the late Mr. Ingram, at Alnwick Castle. I saw them last autumn, and never saw plants in more robust health grown in a large plant-stove, with fine-foliaged and other stove plants. The Dendrobiums were quite remarkable

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

NOVEMBER 5, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 597 [1 black and white illustration] FIG. 115.—MR. J. T. D. LLEWELYN'S SPECIMEN OF AERIDES ODORATUM PURPURASCENS. (SEE P. 596.)

598 THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. [NOVEMBER 5, 1881.

— SANDERINGHAM.—We hear that two of WEEKS & CO.'s Hyrdo-Caloric Coils have been fixed in the grand saloon at Sandringham for the purpose of improving the warming and ventilation of that apartment, which has not been hiterhto deemed quite satisfactory.

— ANTS IN STOVES.—After trying various means to rid his Orchid-houses of these pests, Mr. BULL finds nothing so satisfactory as sugar and water placed in ordinary ounce physic vials. These are filled two-thirds full with the solution, and placed about the plants. The insects readily enter by the narrow neck, but do not find the exit so easy. It is a singular fact that ordinary sugar has little attraction for them: the sugar used must be the best crystallised kind. From inspection we can testify to the success of the plan.

— MUSHROOMS.—I have just had a communication made to me by an experienced doctor, that several cases have occurred this year of diarrhœa from eating Agaricus campestris, and one of great severity. My remark in this, and other cases of supposed poisoning with undoubtedly good Mushrooms, is simply that the persons who gather them return hungry and fatigued, the Mushrooms are badly cooked and hastily swallowed, so that they are irritating, tough, indigestible masses in the intestines. When properly masticated they are, on the contrary, perfectly wholesome. A schoolmaster who had been employed by BAKER when preparing his history of Northamptonshire, and in his intercourse with his accomplished sister had acquired a considerable knowledge of natural productions, fed his family every year for some time during the autumn months on the fungi with complete security. It is not an example to be followed without a competent knowledge of species. A case of fatal poisoning has lately been reported from Norfolk. M. J. B.

— MARKET GARDEN CROPS.—On the whole market gardeners can scarcely complain of the past spring and summer. There has been a great abundance of greenstuff; and, indeed, so much is now being sent to the market that there is quite a glut of it. The summer-sown seeds for winter and spring crops have done well. Such a plant of hardy white Cos Lettuce has hardly been known for some time, and should the winter be sufficiently kind there will be plenty of Lettuces in May and June. On the somewhat light, and always richly manured ground, of our market gardens, Lettuces generally stand well, and they are always sown sufficiently thick to allow for losses. Up to within the past few days the young plants have grown rapidly, but the recent frosts have now checked their development. The crops of winter Spinach are in every respect most promising. Since the time of sowing the weather has been favourable to a free growth, and acres of vigorous plants can be seen with scarcely a break, so regular is the growth. With the plants have sprung up an abundance of weeds, and hand-weeding has been resorted to to keep them under. In like manner the crops of Lisbon Onion are very good; one piece of 6 acres, sown in drills, is as regular in growth as a field of grass. The hoe has to be in constant requisition, but now is the time for cleaning to be done. On the whole, market garden prospects are promising, but a great deal will depend on the severity or otherwise of the winter.

— DACRYDIUM FITZGERALDI.—Baron VON MUELLER writes:—"Some time ago I obtained through Mr. FITZGERALD fruiting specimens of Dacrydium Fitzgeraldi, which showed the fruiting characters to be those of Pherosphæra, the size and shape of the fruits being all much like those of Pherosphæra Hookeriana|P. Hookeriana]]. Whether Pherosphæra is to be maintained as a genus, or whether it should merge as a section into Dacrydium, depends much on the latitude any one wishes to allow to generic limits in Coniferæ, and I am quite willing also to D. Fitzgeraldi to Pherosphæra."

— "ICONOGRAPHY OF INDIAN AZALEAS."— Under this somewhat awkward title M. AUGUSTE VAN GEERT, of Ghent, has undertaken the publication of a monthly periodical devoted to the illustration and description of the Indian Azalea. The introduction comprises some brief historical details, from which it appears that the Azalea was first introduced into

Holland about 1680, when it was described by BREYNIUS. Three quarto coloured plates are given, with an illustrative text, the English version being undertaken by Mr. THOMAS MOORE, Jun. The varieties figured in this first part are A. alba speciosa plena, which epithet does not apply to three plants, as might be imagined, but to one only; A. Madame Paul de Schryver, and A. antigone. Would that all garden plants of this description had such names as the last, or at any rate something different from the long string of Latin adjetives, which LINNÆUS demolished, but which the horticulturists seek to revive.

— "BRITISH BIRDS."—Another part of Professor NEWTON'S new edition of YARRELL'S History of British Birds has been issued (VAN VOORST). It contains the continuation of the history of the cuckow (sic) and its allies, the hoopoe, the roller, the beeeater, the kingfishers, the woodpeckers. The text combines with the most accurate scientific descriptions matter of a more popular character, relating to the history and literature of the subject. This circumstance alone, apart from the excellent woodcuts, keeps YARRELL'S Birds still a favourite, as it has always been the standard, authority on British birds.

— INSECTS OF MISSOURI.—For ten years Mr. C. V. RILEY annually prepared a report on the insects of Missouri of interest to the cultivator. In this way a vast amount of very valuable information on the habits of insects and their relation to farm and garden crops was got together. It was, however, published in such a form, as a Government report, that it was not readily accessible to the masses. To obviate this inconvenience, or, at any rate, to lessen it, Mr. RILEY has now published a full table of contents of each of the nine reports and copious indices of plants, insects, and illustrations, together with supplementary notes, lists of errata, and descriptions of new species and varieties. There can be no question as to the value of this laborious work, for which those who have access to the volumes will be devoutly thankful, but it is worth Mr. RILEY'S consideration whether a popular volume, containing a condensed account of the several insectes, and the mode of preventing or remedying the ill effects occasioned by them, would not be even more generally useful. At present we have a veritable encyclopædia of information on the phylloxera, the locust, the Colorado beetle, and scores of other insects, but from the conditions of publication it is diffused and scattered ina way that renders it difficult for a professed entomologist to get at all he wants, and almost impracticable for an amateur to do so. In so saying, however, we do not wish to underrate the valuable aid given in the indices now published.

— "THE HEREFORDSHIRE POMONA."—The fourth part of this superb publication is before us, containing eleven coloured plates of great beauty and mostly very faithful representations. Twenty-nine varieties of Apple and thirty-five kinds of Pears are illustrated and described in the present part. The literary matter also includes the completion of the practical treatise on the orchard and its products, i.e, the manufacture of cider and perry, and a note on the orchard in its fianancial aspect and its future by the Reb. C. H. BULMER. The work is to be concluded in seven parts. The woodcut outlines are still coarsely executed and not worthy of the remainder of the volume. Nevertheless, the work must always rank among the foremost of its class, and reflects credit on the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, under whose auspices it is produced.

— THE SMOKE ABATEMENT EXHITITION.— We are requested to state that Mr. J. CAVEN FOX, who was officially employed in the Exhibitions of 1855, 1862, and 1871, and who is so well known to many of our readers as the agent for the sales made in the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, is authorised to act also as agent for the sale of objects exhibited in the forthcoming Smoke Abatement Exhibition, to be held in the Royal Horticultural Society's Arcades and Annexes at South Kensington. Mr. FOX'S office is in the East Arcade, and all communications should be sent to that address.

— NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY.—We understand that the dates for the National Rose Society's exhibitions n 1882 are—for the metropolitan show, July 4, at the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society;

and for the provincial exhibition, at the Sydney Gardens, Bath, June 28. As these dates are too early for the Northern and Midland growers, it is contemplated to hold a third show about the third week in July at some town in the Midland Counties.

— CRYSTAL PALACE SCHOOL OF GARDENING. —The Rev. G. HENSLOW delivered his fifth lecture on the "The Practical Application of Vegetable Physiology to Methods of Propagation," on Wednesday last. The lecturer treated of vegetable multiplication, and showed, first, how this is the only method in certain plants, as some algæ and fungi, and that while conjugation or a union of different cells give rise to new beings, till the elaborate processes carried on by stamens and pistils was reached, yet the vegetative method was never obliterated, and in higher plants often assumed an importance quite equal to the reproductive process by seeds. After enumerating plant organs, viz., roots, subterranean stem-structures, aërial stems, buds, he showed how Nature could utilise each of them as a means for propagating, and that the cultivator might imitate Nature in doing the same. Though roots are usually distinguised from stems by not bearing leaf-buds, yet in many cases they will do so naturally if exposed to the air, and may even be stimulated to bear them by artificial treatment. As far as subterranean stem-structures furnish propagation means there is little to do beyond separating and replanting; but with layering and cuttings of aërial shoots several physiological conditions must be considered, viz., the concentration of the elaborated or descending sap by notching, &c., the regulation of light, heat, and moisture being most important so as to check too great transpiration on the one hand without reducing the excitement to form roots. The choice of and time for making cuttings was then alluded to, and the importance of knowing what is the usual temperature at which any plant thrives, as a cutting from it must be placed at a higher temperature, in order to stimulate it to produce roots.

— FUCHSIA EDELWEISS.—The new Fuchsia Edelweiss, of which we have received copious examples from Messrs. W. HENDER & SONS, of the Bedford Nursery, Plymouth, is one of the largest and finest double whites we have yet met with. Messrs. HENDER themselves say that "grown beside the best double whites they know, including Grand Duchess, Clarinda, Miss Lucy Finnis, Snowcloud, &c., this beats them all in every point; the purity of the corolla is unapproached, while the habit is, we think, equal to that of any of the dark free-blooming kinds. It often has from four to six flowers at a joint, and is scarcely ever out of bloom." It is certainly a most profuse bloomer, and has a noble presence. The tube and calyx is of a rich carmine-scarlet, the tube short )about 1/2 inch long), the sepals 1 1/4 inch long and 5/8 inch broad. The corolla is dense and moderately spreading, showing clear white on the outer surface, and very slightly streaked with rose at the base of the petals. The buds are very large, almost globose, with a short point, about 1 inch long and 3/4 inch wide. The leaf is ovate, about 2 inches long, and therefore, as will be seen, not at all coarse for so massive a flower. It is a very showy and telling variety.

—MESSRS. VEITCH'S NEPENTHES-HOUSE.—A visit to Messrs. VEITCH'S collection of Nepenthes just now will fascinate the plant lover and stir the pulses even of the most indifferent spectator. The free unconstrained way in which the fling their branches about, the luxuriance with which they hang down their goblets, and their remarkable forms and distinct colours leave an impression of as great beauty as singularity. Let no one suppose that there is a monotony either of form or colour among them. It is very much otherwise. There are the gigantic blood-red tubes of N. sanguinea, the long horn-like tubes of N. distillatoria, the bar-like pitchers of N. Rafflesiana, so richly spotted with dark red on a green ground, and with deep wings. To the same general type belong N. Hookeri, N. Domini, and a host of other hybrids, all different but acknowledging a common starting point. Then there is N. bicalcarata, a most robust habited kind with sturdy foliage and bag-like pitchers provided with a vicious looking rat-trap-like apparatus in its lid which renders it very distinct from its neighbours. N. Veitchii is one of the most distingué of the series, with its yellowish-green soft pitchers

MARCH 11, 1882.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 341

winter, and the plants are now producing their flowers in great abundance. The Anemone represents a group of most useful spring flowering plants, commencing with the scarlet A. fulgens, and follwoing on the Apennina, the varieties of Hepatica, stellata, cornonaria, sylvestris, and the varieties of A. nemorosa. All of them do well in the open ground, and when they become firmly established flourish with freedom and do a rare service in the garden.

— CLASSIFICATION OF POTATOS.—In the Revue Horticole is given an abstract of M. HENRY VILMORIN'S classification of Potatos. The main groups are five—yellow, rose, red, violet, and variegated. Each of these five main groups is subdivided according as the tubers are round, elongated, flattened, smooth, or notched. Further points of distinction are to be sought in the eyes, which are violet, yellow, rose, or white, and in the colour of the flowers—grey, lilac, white.

— CAMELLIAS AND HYACINTHS.—On Wednesday Messrs. WILLIAM PAUL & SON, of Waltham Cross, opened an extensive and very interesting exhibition of Camellias and Hyacinths, &c., in the Royal Botanic Society's Garden, Regent's Park. Intending visitors should make a point of going early in the ensuing week.

— SEEDLING POTATOS.—The judging of seedling Potatos by the International Committee at the Exhibition of September 20 and 21 is intended to be as thorough and comprehensive as possible. Raisers of seedlings will find the terms stated in the schedule under classes P, Q, R, S, but it may prevent mistakes and disappointments if we at once endeavour to state the case clearly. An intending exhibitor must at once forward "a sufficient number of tubers of each variety" to Mr. BARRON, Royal Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick, and a memorandum on the subject to the Secretary of the International Potato Exhibition, 23, Upper Thames Street. The judges will require to have before them on September 20 a dish of nine samples of each competing seedling, and an extra parcel of six for cooking, and as a matter of course these should not be exposed to the light in any way, The judges will act on the report as to cropping, on the report as to tasting, and on the appearance of the exhibition samples. The object of all this trouble is, of course, to render the final decisions as much as possible beyond question, and of real public importance.

— THE WEATHER.—General remarks on the temperature, rainfall, and duration of bright sunshine, for agricultural and sanitary purposes, during the week ending March 6, issued by the Meteorological Office, London:—The weather has been very unsettled and dull, with rather heavy rain in the south, and rain, snow, or sleet in the north. The temperature, though lower than during last week, has still been above the mean in England and Ireland, but in Scotland it was slightly below. The thermometer was generally highest on the 5th or 6th, the maxima ranging from 51[degrees] in "Scotland, W." to 55[degrees] at some of our southwestern stations, and 57[degrees] at Hereford. The minima were lower than of late, and varied from 27[degrees] in the "Midland Counties" to 35[degrees] in "Ireland, S." The rainfall has been more than the mean in all districts, the excess in the west and north-west being rather large. Bright sunshine shows a decrease in the extreme north-east but an increase elsewhere. The percentage was greatest (38) in "England, S.," and least (11) in "England, N.W." Depressions observed:—At the commencement of the period the barometer was rising in all parts of our area, with moderate southerly or south-westerly winds; but by 8 A.M. on March 1 the mercury had fallen rapidly, and an irregularly-shaped area of low pressure, around which were steep gradients, was shown over England and Ireland. This disturbance caused at first strong easterly winds or gales in the north, and fresh or strong westerly gales in the south; but as it slowly filled up the force of the wind gradually abated, and by the evening of the 3d had become very light from the east on all our coasts. From the 4th until the close of the period the barometer was highest in the southern part of our area, while depressions travelled in an easterly direction across our northern coasts, giving us south-westerly to north-westerly winds, which occasionally increased to a strong breeze or fresh gale.

HOW TO DISTINGUISH ORCHIDS OUT OF FLOWER* IN the Gardeners' Chronicle, n.s., xiv. p. 750, there is a translation of an analytical key to the vegetative characters of various Orchids and groups of Orchids, originally published by Dr. Pfitzer in the Verhandlungen des Naturhist.-Med. Vereins zu Heidelberg; and in an introductory note thereto most of the technical terms there and here employed are explained. What is there set forth in a tabular form is elaborated and illustrated by additional examples in the book before us. Ignoring altogether the floral characters, Dr. Pfitzer attempts to construct a comparative classification or subordination of Orchids from the characters afforded by their vegetative

[black and white illustration]] W.G.S. FIG. 51.—AERIDES SCHRŒDERI. An example of a monopodial Orchid, in which the main stem continues to grow at the point, the inflorescence shoots being given off at the sides from the axil of the leaves.

organs—that is to say, their stems, leaves, and inflorescences; but partly in consequence of teh great value of living plants of many species, partly in consequence of many species and genera being only known from portions of plants preserved in herbaria, this classification, as the author acknowledges, though embracing all the tribes of the order, is fragmentary and incomplete. Nevertheless, it may serve as a basis for further researches in the same branch of knowledge, and the author has done well to publish the results of his labours at once, instead of delaying it until he could fill up the gaps. At the same time, it is disappointing to find that this massive quarto volume contains nothing nearer finality in the classifi- [classification]

*Grundsüge einer vergleichenden Morphologie der Orchideen (Outlines of a Comparative Morphology [of the Vegetative Organs] of the Orchideæ). Von Dr. Ernst Pfitzer, O. Professor der Botanik an der Universität Heidelberg. 4to, pp. 194. with one coloured and three uncoloured plates and thirty-five woodcuts. Carl Winter's Universitätsbuchhandlung, 1882.

[classification] cation of Orchids according to their vegetative characters than does the abstract referred above. It might have been expected that the author would exhaustively examine the results obtained, and have indicated how far they might be used in conjunction with the characters of the floral organs in a systematic classificatin of the order; but he has not done so. Neither has he attempted the classification of all the species of a single large genus. What he has done is to study a number of species of barious genera—as many, it may be presumed, as offered sufficient materials—and to construct a framework of a classification from their vegetative characters. It is not clear whe value the author himself attaches to his work, or how far he anticipates that characters of the vegetative organs can be utilised in a systematic classification. At p. 7

he mentions that Mr. Bentham, in his essay on the tribes of the Orchideæ,* makes no use of the abstract published in this journal and elsewhere, from which it might be inferred that he considers use might have been made of it. At p. 8 he distinctly states that he would not think of classifying Orchids by their habit alone; yet he does not say how far he would go. We are left to determine how far this is feasible as best we may from the body of work.

With regard to the genera Bletilla, Preptanthe, and the relationship of Phaius, Calanthe, and Limodorum, alluded to at p. 4 as instances of Orchids closely allied in vegetative characters, and even in their floral characters, except the pollinia, it may be mentioned that Blume and Bentham have stated that Bletilla and Preptanthe were separated from Bletia and Calanthe respectively, owing to a mistaken view as to the nature of their pollen. And Mr. Bentham would

*Journal of the Linnean Society, xviii, pp. 281—360.