HARBWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



229 



following notes show that it lengthens pretty quickly. 



(1) August 3rd, 9.30 a.m.— Flower bud just 

 overtopping spathe-lobes, tube about one inch long. 

 August 5th, 6.30 a.m. — Tube 4 inches long ; 9 P.M. 

 same day, 5 J inches long, and flower fully expanded. 



(2) August 15th, 7.45 a.m.— Tube 2h inches long ; 

 8.15 p.m., same day, flower just expanding and tube 

 Si inches long. A few words in conclusion about the 

 preparation of specimens (male) for the herbarium. 

 It is almost impossible to obtain examples of long- 

 tubed flowers by the ordinary method of drying, as 

 they invariably stick to the paper, and the tube breaks 

 to pieces when the paper is opened ; but if the fresh 



Anthers 



Fetal r 

 Sejjal 



Fig. 14T. — Male flowers (magnified). A, Top view when just 

 expanding, and before the petals and sepals are reflexed ; 

 B, Side view, petals and sepals reflexed. 



An I hers 



Fig. 142. — Pistil of male flower (much magnified). 



specimens are pressed in cloth or blotting paper for a 

 few minutes to take up the superabundant water, and 

 then laid on a drying sheet the size of the one on 

 which they are to be mounted, gummed on the upper 

 side, the mounting sheet laid on the top, and the 

 whole transferred to the press without turning them 

 over, good results will be obtained, as they will 

 be found firmly mounted and perfectly whole when 

 the papers are changed. Short tubed specimens, 

 being stronger, may sometimes be well dried in the 

 usual way. 



David Douglas. 

 Dumbiedykes Road, Edinburgh. 



Pear grafted on Whitethorn. — In a cottage- 

 garden in county Antrim, I met with several grafts 

 flourishing on thorn scions, some were bearing good- 

 sized pears. — S. B. 



A BOTANICAL RAMBLE ROUND BATH. 



WE almost began to fear we should never be 

 able to start off plant-hunting till the burn- 

 ing heat of a July sun should make it anything but 

 pleasant work. Day after day the rain had made us 

 put off our excursion. At last, however, upon a 

 bright June morning, and after an early lunch, we 

 seized our collecting case and started off. The 

 district we had determined to look up may be 

 characterised as a homely one, being fairly close to 

 the city. We had decided to take a survey of 

 Hampton Downs and Rocks, and then returning to 

 the road, make for Limpley-Stoke and Turleigh, 

 Wilts, by field and road. Our tour of necessity led 

 us first of all up that interminable hill called Bathwick, 

 which makes one think he will never reach the top. 

 The longest lane has a turning, and so I suppose the 

 most wearisome hill ends in a level ; at any rate, after 

 quietly plodding on, we at length arrived at the top 

 of Bathwick Hill, and turning to the left passed into 

 a cornfield, a path through which led to Hampton 

 Down. By the side of this path are found Veronica 

 chamadrys, Viola tricolor, Ranunculus arvensis, 

 Stellar ia media, Geranium p//sillum, and G. dissectum. 

 On a wall in this field Saxifraga tridactylites was 

 flowering abundantly, and a very pretty appearance 

 it made. Turning our attention to the field itself, 

 we espied several fine plants of Silene inflata. This 

 field brought us into a lane, with a small copse on 

 each side, a most charming sylvan spot, and one 

 abundant in material for research. Of the Micro- 

 Fungi to be obtained there I hope at some future 

 time to have something to say ; but to return to our 

 subject. On each side of this lane we found various 

 plants, viz., Galium aparine, Sherardia arrcusis, 

 Potentilla fragariastrum, Fragaria vesca, Lotus cor- 

 niculatus, and Vicia sativa. Penetrating into the left- 

 hand copse we came across Listera ovata in abun- 

 dance ; here too we found Geum urbanum and some 

 plants of Ranunculus auricomus, with the flowers fast 

 dying off. Passing into the right copse we found 

 Buuiuin Jlexuosum, and many plants of Adoxa 

 mosc/iatellina , some still in flower, and most of the 

 leaves covered with Puccinia saxifragarum. Of 

 course Nepeta Glechoma was abundant almost every- 

 where in the lane. Passing on to the Downs, we 

 were refreshed by a glorious breeze. A short walk 

 across the Downs brought us to the Rocks, which, 

 with their wooded base and rugged form, have a 

 very picturesque appearance. Before continuing our 

 researches we are compelled to admire the splendid 

 home scene from this height, which without doubt 

 affords the most picturesque view in the neighbour- 

 hood. Below us are verdant meads intersected by 

 the Avon. The Avon and Kennet Canal and the 

 Great Western Railway, which leaving the main line 

 at Bathampton, just below us, runs to Weymouth. 

 Above the meadow to our right is Bathford, with its 



