78 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



numbers of the less common form often grow together, 

 forming considerable patches in localities where the 

 ordinary form is abundant, would lead to the pro- 

 bability of that being a distinct variety of T. Europcea. 

 If this is so it would further indicate, that through 

 such a variety the species is in a transition state, and 

 that it is striving, by adding a story to its height, to 

 compete the better with its grassy neighbours in the 

 common struggle for existence. 



Other forms also occur with one or two axillary 

 branches, but, as such, are not so common or constant, 

 they do not give so much promise of forming a per- 

 manent variety. The fact, however, that they are some- 

 times met with ought to be recognised as existing, 

 although only occasional forms of the species. 



In winter, the Trientalis seems to disappear entirely 

 from view. A party of us had a diligent search for 

 plants about the end of March last year in a wood 

 where we knew there was plenty, but we could not 

 find a leaf or a stem showing itself among the mis- 

 cellaneous mass of withered foliage with which any 

 wood is covered at that season. The Trientalis is 

 essentially a visitor of the summer, and while it is at 

 its best about the end of June, or the beginning of 

 July, by the first of August the flowers are getting 

 very scarce. It is, therefore, only during a short part 

 of the year that this plant flourishes, but it is a 

 favourite with all lovers of flowers who make its 

 acquaintance, and its graceful appearance amply 

 rewards a search for it where it is a stranger. Speak- 

 ing from a Glasgow point of view it is probably not 

 found in Clydesdale, except at one secluded spot in 

 Renfrewshire, where, from its being confined to a 

 little space, it may have been introduced by some 

 admirer. When it once gets a footing in favourable 

 soil it spreads very rapidly. We have seen instances 

 of this in the case of woods, which about half-a-dozen 

 years ago had not a plant, and are now all covered 

 with luxuriant] specimens. 



To cultivate this little gem you require an open, 

 peaty soil, for this is the kind of ground in which it 

 delights to dwell. Decaying leaves and bits of wood 

 in the act of rotting are the leading constituents in 

 the favourite soil of the Trientalis. The roots do not 

 go deep in the earth, but they run considerable 



distances near the surface ; and when you dig them 

 up carefully you find that they like to lie in close 

 contact with some decaying branch, or to pierce their 

 way through the softer ones, so as to bring the young 

 rootlets and the root hairs into immediate connection 

 with what evidently supplies the plant with suitable 

 soil food. As a garden plant, when successfully cul- 

 tivated, it can rival many of the "prouder beauties," 

 and not less there than in the unfrequented hilly 

 wood, can its lovely flowers claim the attention which 

 delicate beauty commands. 



RECENT ARTICLES AND PAMPHLETS 

 WORTH READING. 



O 



N a Diagram for a Model of the Solar System 

 to Scale," by Arthur Cottam ("Trans. 

 Hertfordshire Nat. Hist. Soc," January).—" On the 

 Schwendener Theory of the Constitution of Lichens," 

 by Fred. Leroy Sargent (" American Monthly Micro- 

 scopical Journal," February). — -"On the Causes of 

 Glacier Motion," by W. P. Marshall ("Midland 

 Naturalist," February).— " The Birth of Matter" 

 ("Eng. Mechanic," Feb. 25). — " The Relations 

 between Geology and the Mineralogical Sciences " 

 (the Annual Address to the Geological Society, by 

 Professor Judd), (" Nature," Feb. 24 and March 3). 

 —"The Earthquake" (" Nature," March 3 and 10) 

 —"Cerebral Localisation" ("Nature," March 10 

 and 17)—" Recent Discoveries of Carboniferous Vege- 

 tation in Yorkshire " (" Trans. Leeds Geol. Associa- 

 tion," Part ii.). — " The Relations between Evergreen 

 and Deciduous Trees and Shrubs," by F. T. Mott 

 ("Midland Naturalist," March).— " On Melanism," 

 by T. D. A. Cockerell (" Entomologist," March).— 

 "Agricultural Experiments with Iron Sulphate as a 

 Manure," by Dr. A. B. Griffiths ("Journal of 

 Chemical Society," March 10). — "The Literary 

 Value of Science," by Neville Lynn (" Garner," 

 March 1).— " A Key to the Rotifera," by Dr. T. S. 

 Stevens (" Journal of the Trenton Nat. Hist. Soc." 

 Jan.). — "Tobacco-Growing in England" ("English 

 Mechanic," March 11). — " Wonderful Plants" 

 ("Gardeners' Chronicle," March 5). 



HOOKER'S STUDENT'S FLORA AND THE LONDON CATALOGUE. 



{Continued from p. 56.] 



I CANNOT help thinking that a Plant List, arranged alphabetically with the synonyms of different 

 authors, would be of great value just now. It would not be difficult of preparation by any one 

 having acccess to the various British Floras, and would form a useful companion to the " London 

 Catalogue," or indeed to any one of the "Floras" now published. 



The following are mainly changes of rank and posit 



Sub-species 



»» 



Variety 



Ranunculus fluitans 

 R. tripartitus 



LepidiKDi Smithii 

 Viola sylvatica 

 /'. arenaria . 

 Cerastium latifplium 



on, with but few alterations of name : — 

 Elevated to rank of species. 



