1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 343 



able that in both these instances the Dumber of male flowers should decrease in 

 proportion to the existence or vigour of the central female one. 



'•'The male and female flowers of Euphorbia fulgens are formed much alike. 

 The female occupies the centre, and seems really but a prolongation of the main 

 stem, on the top of which is an articulation from which the ovarium springs. 

 The capsule readily falls from this articulation when mature. From the base of 

 the female central peduncle spring weaker peduncles, colourless, appearing 

 indeed almost like filaments, articulated at about the same height as the female, 

 only above the point bearing a short filament and anther — the caducous part 

 before referred to. No one can fail to see the correspondence of plan in these 

 different parts, and I think that nothing but the favourable position in the direct 

 line of axial vigour made the central flower a female one. 



"Cases occasionally occur in which a tolerably strong head of wholly male 

 flowers will develop the central axis into a peduncle almost as long and vigorous as 

 those which bear female flowers. But the flow of vital force — if I am correct in 

 using this term — not being quite sufficient, the final goal of natural perfection 

 in the female form was not reached. These cases do not occur often, but are well 

 worth looking for, as they show so clearly the dividing line between the forces 

 which govern the male and the female sex." 



The practice of stealing plants and cuttings at flower-shows appears 

 just now to be getting most inconveniently and alarmingly common. 

 Only recently several cases have occurred of slips being torn from new 

 plants when on the exhibition-table. Bad as is the practice we have 

 seen in operation in Ireland, of the public sweeping from the tables 

 whatever they could lay their hands on of cut flowers (not being alto- 

 gether disregardful of fruit) as the hour for closing the exhibition came 

 round, this practice of stealing cuttings and branches is much worse, 

 as it will operate to deter many from showing new plants of value. 

 London and the provinces form no exception to this. How it is to be 

 remedied is well worth consideration. Happily the act is of rare occur- 

 rence, at least in so far as such acts are made public. 



The annual festival of the Gardeners' Koyal Benevolent Institution, 

 being also the twenty-seventh anniversary of its celebration, was held 

 at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on the 29th of June, the Earl 

 of Derby, one of the vice-presidents, presiding, and among the company 

 was the Nawab Nizam of Bengal, in gorgeous apparel, resplendent 

 with diamonds and precious stones. From statements made by the 

 chairman on proposing the toast of the evening, it appeared that since 

 its formation the Society has expended upwards of £15,000 in giving 

 relief in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules ; that at 

 the present time there were fifty-four pensioners enjoying the bounty 

 of the Institution, which number, by a recent election, has been aug- 

 mented to sixty ; and that it has invested in the public funds the sum 

 of nearly £8000. While the position of the Society had been one of 

 steady and unvaried prosperity, the comparative smallness of the list 

 of subscribers was much to be deplored, and the chairman hinted that, 



