I go 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[June, 





troductions of the name, so far as an argument 

 could be drawn from that fact, would favor a dis- 

 tinct origin. But, as we have already shown, the 

 earlier Herbalists classed these plants with 

 Betonica, and there is every reason to conclude 



Dante's Pronunciation of Veronica.—" G." 

 says: "Concerning the pronunciation of the name 

 Veronica, Dante (if my scansion is correct,) accents 

 the penult, which gives us Va-rb-nee'-ka. He re- 

 fers to the relic of that name." 



[Besides the interest attached to the knowledge 1 that Veronica is a corruption of that word, and 

 of how the word is pronounced by the great Italian j has no relation whatever to the legend of St. Ve- 

 poet, it affords evidence that the name of the plant 1 ronica and the crucifixion ; the adoption of that 

 in question had a different origin from the story ; explanation by scientific men, is not in accord 

 of the cross. So far as we can learn the plant's with that love of positive truth for which they are 

 name has always been pronounced Ve-ron'-e-ca ; usually distinguished. They have here adopted 

 accent on the second syllable, as in Betonica. as a fact, a guess, which we have seen has no 

 The two distinct pronunciations at the earliest in- foundation whatever. — Ed. G. M.] 



Horticultural Societies. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



EXHIBITION NOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS. 



BV M. H. LESTER. 



I spent two hours among the California exhibits 

 at the Exposition grounds a day or so ago. Conifers 

 and fruit trees are looking splendid. 1 was glad 

 to notice among flowering stuff Rhododendron 

 occidentalis, and the pretty Australian Polygala 

 Dalmasiana. The Rose exhibit in this collection is 

 marvelous. Now would be the time to award 

 premiums, when all the roses look so good, and 

 not two months ago when nothing was visible but 

 leaf buds and labels. The grounds are not re- 

 markable for much else at present. 



Inside, the Orchid exhibit is represented by 

 about 8oo plants. I notice in bloom Acropera 

 citrina, Epidendrum oncidioides, E. vitellenum, 

 E. odoratum, E. Brassavola, Lycaste aromatica, 

 L. Deppei, Chysis aurea, and Cyrtopodium puncta- 

 tum with splendid spikes, and several others of less 

 note. 



The exhibits of Cacti, Agave, &c., from Texas 

 are getting small by degrees, and "beautifully less.'' 

 I expect there will not be many left at the close. 



In the plant department there are several speci- 

 mens of Carica papaya— Melon tree— both in fruit 

 and flower. This is the original Papaw. In 

 going through our own houses one may see five 

 varieties of I'assiflora in bloom, — P. princeps 

 racemosa, P. Buchananii, P. Fortdii, P. Kcrmesina, 

 and another with variegated foliage ; 1 forget the 

 name just now. Also Clerodendron Balfourii. I 

 have four good pieces of Phalienopsis amabilis in 



bloom; some Oncidiums, including sphacelatum, 

 and sanguineum. My Dendrobium Wardianum, 

 D. superbum, and D. thyrsiflorum are done. I 

 got two good pieces of D. crepidatum, on fern tree 

 blocks, in bloom for over a month. D. Parishii is 

 fine. D. Dalhousianum has one spike open with 

 42 flowers, and 13 spikes in sight. I shall send 

 you a photograph of this if I can get it taken to 

 suit me. Also several Cattleyas of the Mossias 

 and Labiata percivaliana section. I have had 

 Coryanthes macrantha good, but it only lasts three 

 days after the flowers are open. No Orchid on 

 this place lasts so long in bloom as Galcandra 

 Devoniana. 



No city or place that ever 1 have seen presents 

 such an array of flowers now, and for a month 

 past, as the city of New Orleans. Solanum Jas- 

 minioides, Wistaria sinensis and Rhcyncospermum 

 Jasminioides, 30 and 40 feet high, breaking out 

 through the tops of Meha Azederach and Mag- 

 nolia grandiflora ; with Mareschal Neil, Gloire 

 de Dijon, Reine Marie Henrietta, Climbing 

 Devoniensis, and La Marque. Roses hanging in 

 garlands from tree to tree along the streets, is a 

 sight never to be forgotten. The Crinums are all 

 in bloom now ; also several Yuccas, Panciatiums, 

 AmaryUises, and almost everything else. 



WORLD'S EXHIBITION AND COTTON CEN- 

 TENNIAL—THE CONTINUED DISPLAY. 



BY J. E. W. 



The fine display of Citrus fruits at Horticultural 

 Hall has been well-sustained, both Florida and 

 California having largely renewed their exhibits 



