February 20, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



243 



fAchiltea millefolium). Stone Crop (Sedum stenope- 

 talum), and Dwarf Juniper (Juniperus communis var. 

 (ilpina). In the rocky canons there is an abundance of 

 Engelmann Spruce (Picea Englemannii) and the Bal- 

 sam Fir (Abies subalpina). The alpine flora is not 

 essentially diflferent from that whiclf I have described 

 for the Kockies in Colorado. 



The Yellowstone National Park region has always 

 been of interest to botanists. For a distance of several 

 hundred miles the 'Northern Pacific skirts the Yellow- 

 stone River. Near Miles City the Tongue Eiver and 

 at Blatchford the Powder Biver with their brownish-yel- 

 low, mud, empty into the Yellowstone. Our eastern 

 Cottonwood and well known Buffalo Berry are familiar 

 objects here. Near Billings low hills skirt this famous 

 stream ; on tlie flood plains one finds the usual Sage 

 Brush and Opuntia. The flood plain of the river is 

 strongly impregnated with alkali; few cultivated plants 

 succeed well here where the mesa abo^e is irrigated. 



The change to Livingston is not very great. We are 

 coutinually ascending thp valley till at Livingston it is 

 about 7000 feet above sea level. The Yellowstone comes 

 out of the mountains from Gardner. The railroad has 

 an imposing building and it might be well for the rail- 

 way to add to the present building and equipment, a 

 museum which should contain all of the interesting ma- 

 terial found in that country of both plants and animals; 

 the many interesting features pertaining to the early 

 discoveries of that country, th,e interesting data pertain- 

 ing to the expedition of Lewis and Clarke and the 

 wonderful discoveries of Colter, who was a member of 

 that expedition and later explored the park. 



The woods about Livingston contain the Western 

 Birch, Alder, Cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) , 

 Crowfoot, Geranium and Monkey Flower (Mimulus 

 Jamesii). 



For the amateur botanist an interesting afternoon 

 may be spent in the environs of Livingston. Those who 

 have the time may well spend a few weeks in the Park 

 to visit the geysers and falls. The Tetons outside of 

 the park are grander and more picturesque than the 

 Yellowstone. 



Ames, In. 



oLc^Xi^^i/'i't.v^^-tX-^ 



British Horticulture 



CHANGES AT KEW 



Mr. W. Botting Hemsley. F. P. S., has recently retired 

 from his position as chief of the herbarium at Kew 

 During his long association with Kew Mr. Hemsley has 

 Gardens, having reached the age limit. His connection 

 with the famous botanic gardens dates back to* 1860. 

 been a prolific writer on scientific subjects. His first 

 literary work was a contribution to Lindley and Moore's 

 "Treasury of Botany," published in 1866. His re- 

 searches are incorporated in a number of valuable works, 

 whil.«t he has been a fn'f|iii'nt contributor to the Journal 



of the Linnean Society, the Kew Bulletin, and some of 

 the leading horticultural journals. He has been elected 

 a fellow of the Linnean Society, and a fellow of the 

 Royal Society, whilst he recently became a correspond- 

 ing member of the German Botanical Society. The 

 position Mr. Hemsley has held is one of great impor- 

 tance and responsibility. The collection at the her- 

 barium comprises two million dried plants, whilst there 

 is also a library of nearly 25,000 volumes. An illumi- 

 nated address expressive of appreciation of Mr. Hems- 

 ley's notable services to horticulture was presented to 

 him, signed by present and former colleagues, and nu- 

 merous botanists who have worked at Kew, besides the 

 botanical staff at the British Museum. Mr. Hemsley's 

 well-earned leisure will be spent in the pursuit of his 

 favorite studies; he has taken up his residence within 

 convenient reach of Kew Gardens. Dr. Otto Stapf is 

 the new chief of the herbarium. 



THE SALE OF INSECTICIDES ' 



In the past horticultural sundrieslnen have been con- 

 siderably hampered in their sale of insecticides by the 

 severe legislative restrictions placed upon them. As the 

 result of persistent agitation on the part of the trade the 

 law has undergone a revision. Under the Poisons and 

 Pharmacy Act, 1908, the list of poisonous compounds 

 which may be sold only by registered persons has been 

 materially revised. Under its provisions there is now 

 a repeal of the exclusive right of members of the Phar- 

 maceutical Society to sell poisonous compounds used in 

 agriculture. Hitherto the chemists have enjoyed a mo- 

 nopoly, protected by the State, in dealing in certain 

 chemical compounds, with the result that they were 

 able to keep up the prices. Under the new Act a better 

 condition will prevail, resulting in a great gain to the 

 horticultural trade generally. It will now be possible 

 for the ordinary florist and nurseryman to stock poison- 

 ous substances for use against insects and fungoid pests, 

 on their getting a license from the local authority. This 

 w^ill enable many traders to add profitable side lines to 

 their shops, whilst with this unrestricted trade the cus- 

 tomers will benefit as regards getting the compounds at 

 a more reasonable figure. The trade triumph in this 

 instance is another proof of the value of well directed 

 organization in securing the object desired. The con- 

 tinuous "pegging away" at last has had its reward. 



London, Enrj. 



yy^H. auiaxc. 



If you like IIoirricuLTURE and appreciate the efforts 

 of Horticdltuhe's Correspondents to provide for 

 you interesting and instructive reading you can show 

 your appreciation in at least two ways. One way is to 

 recommend the paper to your friends and thus help to 

 increase our subscription list. Another way is to pat- 

 ronize Horticulture's Advertisers. That will help 

 us all. 



