446 
THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Smoke—continued. 
fumes from some works, is Hydrochloric Acid gas, which 
is emitted during the formation of various chemical pro- 
ducts. The only thorough remedy is the stoppage of 
the emission of the gases; but the harm may be lessened 
by restricting these injurious processes to winter, or to 
the night-time if they must go on in summer. 
SMOKE-PLANT. ‘See Rhus Cotinus. 
SMOKE- WOOD. A common name for Clematis 
Vitalba. 
SMOOTH FLOWER. A popular 
Leianthus longifolius, and other species. 
name for 
SMOOTH -FRUITED HORSE CHESTNUT. — 
See Pavia. 
SMUT. The name given to a group of Fungi which 
grow among the tissues of the stamens, ovaries, and 
leaves of many plants, but especially infest the 
Cereals (e.g., Barley and Oats) and other grasses. The 
scientific name of the group is Ustilaginei (from ustus, 
scorched), and refers to the scorched appearance of ears 
of Corn, or of other parts of plants, infested with the 
Fungi. The name Smut also refers to the dirty, sooty 
aspect of the Fungi. In the early stages, they consist 
of interwoven masses of mycelium, the threads of which 
bear numerous spores, either in a group on the tip of 
each thread, or singly on slender branches along their 
- sides, near the tips. The spores vary a good deal in the 
different genera, some being one-celled, others made up 
of cells grouped together to form a rounded mass, each 
cell in which may be fit to produce a new plant, or only 
. the central cell may be fit to do so, the outer ones being 
sterile. In most of the species, the spores are more or 
less deeply coloured, and in the typical Smuts they are 
dark brown individually, and sooty-black when in masses. 
The outer tissues of the host-plant are usually torn open by 
_ the pressure of the ripening spores, and the dark, powdery 
~ masses of spores are displayed and become very con- 
_ spicuous. It does not fall within the scope of this work 
to disenss the Smuts that attack grasses, serious though 
their effects frequently are. Few flowering plants are 
liable to much injury from the Fungi of this group. 
Ustilago violacea destroys the anthers of a good many 
-~ species of Caryophyllee, e.g., Dianthus Carthusianorum, 
D. superbus, Saponaria officinalis, various species of Silene, 
&c.; the spores are ‘one-celled, roundish, and pale violet. 
_ Sorosporium has the spores formed each of a mass of 
several equal cells. 8. Saponarie distorts the anthers of 
the same Caryophyllee as U. violacea; S. hyalinum 
consumes the seeds of Astragalus glycyphyllus, of a few 
= other Leguminose, and of Convolvulus sepium; S. 
-~ primulicolum lives on yotng seeds of Primula elatior, 
r. farinosa, and P. vulgaris, destroying them, but showing 
no sign on the exterior of the ovaries. Urocystis has 
spores like those of Sorosporium except in the outer 
cells being smaller and sterile, the inner larger and fertile ; 
U. Viole causes large swellings in the stalks and blades 
of the leaves, and in the stolons, of Viola odorata; 
U. Anemones causes similar swellings on various species of 
Anemone and other Ranwnculacee ; U. sorospoides covers 
the leaves of Thalictrum minus with dark patches of 
spores, 
_ Remedies cannot be employed owing to the Fungi grow- 
_ ing inside the tissues of the host-plants. The ‘affected 
plants ought to be removed and burned, to prevent the 
spread of the disease. 
5 i (the old Greek name, used by Dios- 
corides, and derived from smyrna, one of the names of 
myrrh ; alluding to the odour of the plants). Alexanders. 
ORD. Umbelliferæ. A small genus (six or seven species) 
of erect, glabrous, _ hardy, biennial herbs, natives of 
, North Africa, and Western Asia. Flowers 
yellow, polygamous, in compound, many-rayed umbels. 
Smyrnium—continued. 
Radical and lower leaves ternato-pinnately dissected ; 
upper ones undivided, or having fewer segments. 
Before the introduction of Celery, S. Olusatrum was 
cultivated as a salad plant, under the names of Black 
Pot-herb, Common Alexanders or Alisanders, and Horse 
Parsley ; it somewhat resembles Celery in flavour, but is 
stronger and less agreeable. None of the species have 
any horticultural value. ` 
SNAILS. What has been already said in regard to 
Slugs (which see) is equally applicable to Snails, except 
that the latter animals possess large and conspicuous spiral 
shells, into which they withdraw at the approach of cold 
or dry weather, and in which they protect themselves by 
means of opercula of firm texture. with which they close 
the opening of the shell. Thus guarded against injury 
from without, they may remain motionless for long 
periods, even for several years. As regards the nature 
of the tongue and of the foot, their general habits, and 
also the methods of remedy, and of prevention of attacks, 
it is needless to repeat what is said under Slugs. Snails 
do not, however, commit such ravages as the latter 
creatures. It is necessary to break the shells to permit 
the remedies employed to reach their bodies. Hand- 
picking is probably the most certain cure. The injurious 
Snails chiefly belong to the genus Helix; but many of 
the smaller species, even in this genus, do no appreciable 
harm. The larger and more conspicuous kinds are: 
Helix pomatia, the “ Apple Snail,” whose shell reaches 
2in. in breadth, and is dull yellowish-white, with spiral 
lines of brown. This Snail is found only in the South 
of England, and is said to have been introduced by the 
Romans, by whom it was eaten, after having been fed up 
for some time, to bring it into good condition for the table. 
H. aspera, the Common Snail, is usually common in 
gardens. The shell may reach l}in. in diameter; it is 
yellowish-brown, with five dark brown lines or narrow 
bands running round it; the epidermis is rough, and 
wrinkled. H. hortensis also occurs in gardens, but is 
commoner throughout Britain (along with H. nemoralis, 
of which it is often regarded as a variety) beside hedge- 
rows or on banks, among tangled vegetation. Both forms 
vary much in colour of the shells, from white or yellow 
to. brown, with from one to five dark brown lines or 
narrow bands around them; or the shells may show no 
markings. The chief difference between the two forms 
is that H. hortensis has the ont-turned lip pale, while 
H. nemoralis has it dark; each is about lin. broad. 
The other species need not be separately mentioned, as 
they do little harm in gardens, or do not live there. 
Snails are preyed on by the larve of Glowworms and by 
other kinds of beetles, e.g., Drilus, Staphylinus, &c. 
Thrushes, blackbirds, and various other birds, feed 
greedily on them; and one of the best methods, when 
practicable, for reducing their numbers is to turn a flock 
of ducks into the place to be cleared. For other reme- 
dies, see Slugs. 
SNAKE GOURD. See Trichosanthes anguina. 
SNAKE-MILLIPEDES. A name applied, by John 
Curtis, to a genus of Millipedes (which see) named 
Julus, because of their resemblance in form to miniature 
snakes. Several of the species are of very frequent 
occurrence ; and, at times, do a good deal of harm to 
Strawberries and other fleshy fruits on the ground, as 
well as to roots of plants, 
SNAKE-PLANT. A common name for Dracunculus 
vulgaris. ; 
SNAKE-ROOT. A popular name for many plants 
which possess reputed curative properties for snake-bites. 
The following are the most important: Actæa racemosa, 
Aristolochia Serpentaria, Casearia ulmifolia, Chiococca 
angustifolia, Liatris seariosa and L. squarrosa, Ophior- 
rhiza Mangora, and Polygala Senega. 
