THI-; AMKKILAN HOTANIST 117 



for the fldWcr-gardcTKr arc Keeler's "Our Garden P'lowers" 

 ($3), Saylor's "Book of Annuals" ($1.20) and McSelf's 

 "J lardy Perennials" ($2.75). Sedgevvick's "Garden Month 

 hy Month" ($7.50) is a very comprehensive work and 

 Thonias' "Hook of Hardv F'lowers" is the most comprehen- 

 •-i\e wu ha\e ^ecll hul unfortunately this last is now out of 

 print. 



Many of the l)f>oks mentioned in the foregoing' have been 

 on the market so long that it is likely that they are fast near- 

 ing extinction. All were in print, however, as this was writ- 

 ten. Before another gardening and botanizing season occurs, 

 it is probable that several of these will be no more. Those 

 who ha\c' planned to own copies of them, should lose no time 

 abimt it. 



c 



THE LARGEST FLOWER IN THE WORLD 



By H. K. ZlMMF.RMAX. 



AN }<iu imagine a blossom as large as a carriage wheel' 

 On the island of Mindanao, one of the Philippine group, 

 such a flower was fnnnd by some explorers some years ago. 

 Kar up on the mountains of Parag. 2500 feet above .sea level, 

 they were wandering when they came across some buds larg- 

 er than gigantic cabbage heads. Greatly astonished, they 

 searched further, and presently di.scovered a full-blown blos- 

 som. S-pet'ded. and 3 feet in diameter. It was carried on low- 

 lying, luxuriant vines. The natives call it "Bolo." It was 

 impossible to preserve it fresh, so the discoverers photograph- 

 ed if and kept a few of the petals to press. A single fl(^wer 

 weighed 22 pounds. It was afterwards found to be a species 

 of Rafflcsia. first fomid in Smnatra and named after Sir 



