1369.] MISTLETO BOOTS. DAVALLIA HEMIPTERA. 221 



likely to befall plants treated more tenderly, and supplied to excess with heat, 

 shading, and moisture. I ask the opinion of more able practitioners on this 

 subject. The Pine-apple seldom receives notice in our garden literature. 

 Digswell. William Earley. 



MISTLETO EOOTS. 



MENTIONED in these pages, some time ago, that Mistleto cannot be 

 propagated except from seed introduced on the bark of the foster tree ; 

 but I find that in some localities where apple trees are much infested with 

 the parasite, there is a belief that it is produced from the effects of its juice, 

 without seed. This, however, is contrary to the opinion that the alburnum, or 

 pulpy matter in the rind of trees, serves to keep them true to their kinds. On 

 giving further observation to this subject, I found that Mistleto certainly sprouts 

 from the bark of trees without the intervention of seed. Such instances, how- 

 ever, are merely sprouts or germs from the roots of established " mistleto 

 boughs," which creep or grow concealed under the bark of the trees that support 

 them, and of which, on cutting the bark near the Mistleto stem, the roots may 

 be seen appearing like hairs, or when slightly magnified somewhat like common 

 pins. These observations were made on apple bark, from which a Mistleto 

 shoot was broken off last season. The scar or wound resulting from this accident 

 is now surrounded with the germs of Mistleto, even beyond the scar. 



Previous to that, I had examined stems of Thorn trees on which the young 

 parasite was seen sprouting in all manner of ways, and upon parts where birds 

 could not rest to clean their beaks of the viscid matter after they had eaten the 

 berries, — one means by which Mistleto is commonly supposed to be propagated. 

 Nor was it done from rubbing the berries which contain the seed upon the stems 

 of the trees. Having seen that the parasite propagates itself from its roots in the 

 bark, I may suggest that perhaps if pieces of bark which contain such germs 

 were inoculated or budded on the same kinds of trees from which they were taken 

 in spring, Mistleto might be introduced into new localities, especially in the North, 

 where it is not found, though, being very hardy, the climate cannot be a hind- 

 rance to its growth. The process of growing Mistleto from seed is very slow, the 

 germs being hardly visible until after the second season, though after that they 

 quickly form bristly tops. 



Cossey Parle, Norwich. J. Wighton. 



DAVALLIA HEMIPTERA. 



L EW more elegant basket ferns than this have been introduced to our 

 hothouses, and none more suitable for this mode of cultivation. We owe 

 its introduction to the Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, who have 

 obligingly furnished us with the annexed illustration, which scarcely 



shows the segments sufficiently cut. It is one of Mr. Lobb's discoveries in 



Borneo, and has gained a First-Class Certificate. 



