The Scientific Notebooks of German Orchidologist Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Kränzlin

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

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