1877.] 



AND HOB TIG UL TUB 1ST. 



119 



from A.[Syriaca. We forgot, in the haste of 

 paragraph writing, that Asclepias is confined to 

 the New World, and that the name was changed 

 because this plant is not a native of Syria, 

 though growing wild, abundantly, there. We are 

 indebted to a friend for suggesting this error 

 and that of Exochorda to us, such suggestions 

 being always valued by us. 



After all, the error arose from the change of 

 name, hardly with cause. We have Marilandicas 

 Carolinianas, Canadensis, and so on, attached 

 to plants, with little more reason than in this 

 case. It is probable that Gymnocladus Canaden- 

 sis is a wanderer from more southern latitudes 

 into Canada, perhaps by Indians or by some 

 agency as much artificial as the introduction of 

 our silk weed near " Jerusalem." No one ex- 

 pects names to mean just what the words would 

 mean in general application. Csesar Snowball, 

 does not apply to the Legislature for a change 

 of name because he is not white; nor John 

 Black, because he is white. The result of the 

 change of name in the Asclepias is, that many 

 Europeans, as seen by our quotation, seem to 

 keep to A. Syriaca; while others, and all Ameri- 

 cans, probably use A. cornuti. But we, who 

 are horticulturists, must follow the botanists in 

 these things. 



Number of Species of Fuchsia. — Mr. Hemsly, 

 in the Garden, gives a description of all the 

 known species of Fuchsia ; the list foots up fifty- 

 three. 



Fungus on Californian Pines. — Dr. W. H. 



Harkness says that a fungus, Peridermium Pini, 

 grows on the stems of Pinus insignis and P. 

 ponderosa. It germinates beneath the cuticle, 

 and results in "swellings" or knots on the 

 branches. 



Alg^ in drinking Water. — Vast numbers of 

 effects of great importance to mankind are 

 brought about by minute animal and vegetable 

 organisms, of which until a few years ago, we 

 were comparatively ignorant. Prof W. G. Far- 

 low, of the Bussey Institute, at Boston, is mak- 

 ing these a special study, and no more useful 

 work could be pursued. Last year the drinking 

 water of the city of Boston had a peculiar " cu- 

 cumbery" taste. It was supposed that some 

 algsean water plant occasioned this, but Prof 

 Farlow could find no evidence of it. The 

 examination of the subject, however (reported 

 in the Bulletin of the Bussey Institute for 1877), 



led to other discoveries. There are minute 

 water plants which produce nauseous odors 

 when decaying. As a general thing they are 

 harmless, but when decaying in large quantities 

 —and there are at times epidemics among plants 

 as among animals — they may injure water. 

 Birds or fish are good to keep this matter down. 



QUERIES. 



Blue Glass.— H. L., Oak Park, 111., asks: — 

 "Did you ever have the blue glass disease in 

 Philadelphia? It has become epidemic in Chi- 

 cago. Should like to see an article in the Gar- 

 dener's Monthly on the subject, from some one 

 that has tried its effects on vegetation. Is it 

 all humbug? " 



[Experiments with colored glass on vegetation 

 were very carefully made by Prof. Hunt, of the 

 Royal Institution, over thirty years ago. The 

 writer of this went over Dr. Hunt's experiments. 

 Common mustard seed was sown in different 

 pots, leaving an inch or more of space for the 

 plants to grow. Flat panes on the pots, and in 

 some cases colored bell glasses were used. Some 

 colors certainly seemed to make the seeds sprout 

 sooner and ihe plants to grow stronger for a 

 time, but they became weaker in the end, and 

 generally died first ; some of them died when 

 very young. It is so easy for any one to try 

 these things for himself, that we regard a mere 

 "opinion" by an Editor of a magazine as of 

 little account. All we can say is, that what- 

 ever may be the cause. General Pleasanton's 

 grapery did at one time and we suppose does 

 still, for we have heard nothing to the contrary, 

 do him infinite credit.— Editor G. M.] 



Climate of Coalville, Utah.— A correspond- 

 ent from this place writes :— " I am living in an 

 altitude of about 5600 feet above the altitude of 

 New York City, and here the mercury runs down 

 to 25° and 30° below zero, as it did last month. 

 Nothing in the shape of fruit has been grown 

 here. I have planted apricots, peaches, apples, 

 blackberries, currants and raspberries, but all 

 have been killed in previous Winters." 



Poisoning by Rhus.— A. R., N. Y. City, writes: 

 —"For public benefit add, when your space 

 admits of it, a remedy against poisoning by 

 'Rhus toxicodendron:'— Fluid extract of Grin- 

 delia robusta, 30 to 40 drops in half a tumbler 



