184 THE GARDENER. [April 



aware of this fact, that it had been published before. But there is no secret in 

 the matter. The trees stand in Lord Petrie's Park, Thorndon Hall, Essex. 

 Had these trees been allowed room, they would have been large. I measured 

 one a little better off* in that way than the rest; it was 4 feet 11 inches about 

 1 foot above the graft, and the stock 5 feet in girth about 1 foot below it. 

 There is, of course, a rough ring round at the point of junction. I presume 

 we have yet much to learn on the subject of grafting, as well as on many 

 other subjects. We are too apt to receive opinions without inquiry. Theories 

 are propounded, and followed without thought, much less experiment ; few 

 men have patience to reason out an idea, fewer still to investigate closely; 

 but where an informed mind is propelled by a strong love of nature, research 

 will afford rich enjoyment. Dame Nature is more accommodating than is often 

 supposed. What has she not yielded up to the patience of our hybridisers ? 

 Should the facts here touched upon lead inquiring readers to ponder the why 

 and the wherefore, good may follow, which I am sure is the aim of your use- 

 ful magazine. S. X. 



[This correction of the error does not render the case less interesting — rather 

 otherwise ; for if there is any difference, the Hornbeam is more distinct from 

 the Elm than is the Beech in the closeness of grain, &c. We have received 

 from S. X. specimens of scion and stock, which leave no question about the 

 matter ; and his having named the spot M^here the ti-ees can be seen, botanists 

 and others interested can see for themselves.] 



CALCEOLARIA, GOLDEIQ- PRUSTCE OF ORANGE. 



We poor gardeners, among the many other frailties and weaknesses of 

 human nature, have been denounced by some of the critics for having 

 been all more or less touched by a yellow, scarlet, and blue mania. 

 There may be some truth in the accusation, but there is certainly a 

 great amount of nonsense written on this head. That these colours are 

 indispensable, I think all will admit ; and to such as require a really 

 good yellow, I would advise them to try the golden Prince of Orange 

 Calceolaria. I bedded it last season, and found it most superb in 

 spite of the drought of summer : when Violas had not a bloom on 

 them, it was literally a mass of flower, and continued to be so until 

 the frost killed it. I used it last year, and it was the admiration of 

 all who saw it; in fact, every one exclaimed, "What a splendid yellow !" 

 It is very dwarf and compact, quite shrubby in its habit, a free 

 grower, and has a large quantity of small trusses just raised above the 

 foliage, and is of a most rich brilliant yellow. I had the centre of 

 some round beds last summer that you could not have pricked the 

 point of your walking-stick into without touching the flowers in the 

 whole bed, it was such a mass of bloom. 



Thomas Speed. 

 The Gardens, Chatsworth. 



