284 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [December, 



of the Versailles Nursery, Hammersmith, has obviated, by grafting a young shoot of Dahlia 

 imperialis on a tuber of one of tho liliputian kinds. The scion at onee branches out into a 

 pyramidal head, the upper branches of which are clothed with flower-buds. The grafted 

 plant, in fact, looks as though the top of one of these tall Dahlias had been removed and struck 

 as a cutting. Comparatively few persons can give this noble plant sufficient head-room 

 under ordinary circumstances ; but this successful experiment of Mr. Salter's will brino- it 

 within the reach of all who have a moderate-sized greenhouse or conservatory. The plant 

 requires a littlo extra heat just to bring out the flowers. 



@£he leaf of the Victoria regia is enabled to sustain a great weight, 



owing to the deep cell-like compartments formed by the prominent reticulated 

 ribs of the under-surface. In some experiments recently made by Mr. W. Sowerby, 



in the Regent's Park Botanic Garden, a not very perfect leaf was found capable of bearing up 

 a load of 43G lb. 



■ Some of Mr. Banks' new Fuchsias, sent us by Mr. H. Cannell, are 



remarkable for their size and beauty. One is quite a monster, the corolla being 

 fully 3 in. in expansion, the individual petals lA-in. long, and If in. broad. 

 Another refined expanded flower measures fully 2^ in. across the corolla, both these being 

 of a reddish violet ; while a third, nearly equal in size, has a rosy lilac corolla. 



■ Huring the past autumn, fruits of the Mango have been offered for 



sale in Oovent Garden Market, thereby realizing a prediction made many years 

 ago by the late Sir Joseph Banks. These fruits had been obtained from Madeira. 

 The Mango had already fruited at Chatsworth, in the gardens of Lord Powis, and elsewhere, 

 but this is supposed to be the first time it has been offered for sale in this country. 



3£he correct name of the plant known in gardens as Acalypha tricolor, 



a name given to it by Dr. Seemann, has now been ascertained to be Acalypha 

 Wilkesiana. It is one of the most striking of foliage plants, and is not only 

 beautiful in itself, but affords variety. Dr. Seemann in his Flora Vitiensis thus remarks on it : — 

 ''This shrub attains about 10ft. in height, and its foliage has generally the colour of our 

 Copper Beeches ; but very often the leaves assume a great variety of tints — pink, yellow, and 

 brown, and then the plant is highly ornamental. It is often cultivated by the natives." 



®he following Presentations have recently been made : — To Mr. James 



Barnes, on the occasion of his leaving Bicton. This testimonial consisted of a 

 silver tea service, on which was the following inscription : " Presented to Mr. 

 James Barnes, for 30 years director and manager of the Bicton Gardens, &c, by attached 

 friends, in recognition of his manly sincerity, integrity of character, and benevolence and 

 geniality of disposition ; and in appreciation of the valuable services he has rendered, through 



a long and useful life, to horticultural science, practical gardening, and agriculture." To 



Mr. Thomas Baines, on the occasion of his removing from Bowdon to the vicinity of London, 

 with his esteemed employer, Horatio Micholls, Esq. This presentation consisted of a gold 

 watch and an address. The latter, illuminated on vellum, and mounted in a handsome gilt 

 frame, was as follows : "Presented, with a gold watch, to Mr. Thomas Baines, by the gardeners 

 and friends of Altrincham, Bowdon, &c, on his leaving the neighbourhood, as a mark of their 

 esteem and regard, October 27, 1869." The watch bore a similar inscription. 



©bt'tttavg, 



j©R. Maclean died in the early part of October last at Colchester, 



where he had resided for the last fifty years. Horticulture loses in him one 

 of that small band of practical experimentalists whose labours are so valuable. 

 Though in practice as a physician, his leisure hours were devoted to horticulture and floricul- 

 ture, and his name will be especially remembered in connection with new Pinks and new Peas. 



fHR. Henry Tait, of the Sydenham Nursery, Kelso, died on November 



11th. He had been for thirty-six years a nurseryman of that town. 



