1885. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



341 



probably extended. As to the name of this plant 

 it certainly seems appropriate enough when we re- 

 member that it flowers in the last spring month. 



Rochester, N: V., Aug. 12th, iSSj. 



[It may be a 'matter of some interest why the 

 Podophyllum got the name of May-apple ; the 

 flowering in May could hardly have suggested it. 

 In Virginia the fruit of the Passion flower is also 

 called May-apple, and there is some resemblance 

 in the form and taste of the fruit. Possibly one 

 kind gave the name to the other. 



Those, botanically inclined, may find more than 

 this question of name derivation in the May-apple. 

 It is placed in the family of Berberries — Berberida- 

 ceae. A careful examination of the flowers and 

 fruit of the wild ginger, Asarum Canadense, and 

 indeed the creeping roots, the whole habit and 

 character will show morphologically a close rela- 

 tionship; and though Aristolochiaceae, to which 

 the wild ginger belongs, is necessarily placed far 

 away in the natural arrangements made by the 

 botanists, we shall see how derivation will set 

 at defiance even the best devised system of botan- 

 ical classification. 



This'is a point the Editor hoped to work up 

 some day for the edification of systematic botanists ; 

 but life is short and duties numerous. It is one of 

 those things younger men may get interested in. 



—Ed. G. M.l 



«-•-» 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Host Plants of the Mistletoe — That the 

 Mistletoe will be found on a plant abundantly in 

 one period of the world's history, and in the same 

 region centuries later be found chiefly on other 

 plants, is extremely interesting in connection with 

 the supposed change of climate with time. Our 

 note on this topic has attracted some attention, 

 and we should be glad to have further notes on 

 the subject. What is wanted is to know the pre- 

 vailing host plants from as many localities as pos- 

 sible. 



We believe we are not mistaken in our impres- 

 sion, that in the upper waters of many Virginia 

 rivers, for instance the Gauley, Greenbrier, Kana- 

 wha, New River, Shenandoah, Rapidan, Roanoke, 

 and others along which the writer has collected 

 plants, the Mistletoe was more frequently associ- 

 ated with the elm than any other tree. The oppor- 

 tunity for collecting in the lower or coast line 

 counties has been more limited. 



The Atamasco Lilies. — It is perhaps unfor- 

 tunate that the language of flowers has not the 



same meaning to the horticulturist as to the botan- 

 ist. So far as botany is concerned, the light flow- 

 ered Atamasco lily — Zephyranthes Candida— is 

 the same as Z. atamasco, and is given as a 

 synonym of the latter in modern botanical works. 

 But as horticulturists must keep the bright pink 

 form separate from the whitish one, we have to 

 recognize Zephyranthes Candida as especially de- 

 noting the latter. We migh* in common parlance 

 say " White Fairy Lily " when referring to the Z. 

 Candida, but as Z. Treatae is white also that would 

 make confusion still. 



Immediate Influence of Pollen on Fruit. 

 — At the meeting of the American Pomological 

 Society Prof. Lazenby said that his experiments 

 with the Crescent strawberry, though showing 

 some immediate influence he thought, were not as 

 satisfactory as those of the previous year. 



Mr.Fuller took a more advanced view than any 

 yet recorded ; the pollen had not only an immedi- 

 ate influence on the fruit, but also on the whole 

 plant. A detail of the facts on which Mr. Fuller 

 bases this conclusion will be looked for with much 

 interest. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



The Mistletoe in Virginia. — " Mrs. M. H. 

 G." writes : " In your issue of the Gardeners' 

 Monthly and Horticulturist, date October 

 1st, 1885, I notice an article on the mistletoe, in re- 

 ply to an inquirer signing himself ' Student.' In 

 this you tell him that the State of Virginia pro- 

 duces the mistletoe on the elm. 



" I am a Virginian by birth, and resided in that 

 State up to the time of my marriage, my father 

 owning a plantation in .-Albemarle County, which 

 is about the centre of the State. Of other counties 

 I cannot speak with confidence, but in this one, 

 we never lound mistletoe except upon the oak." 



Dead Trees in Louisville. — Messrs. Nanz & 

 Neuner write, that there can be no manner of 

 question that the water gas killed the Louisville 

 trees ; which, from sad experience in Philadel- 

 phia, even those who have not seen the trees, can 

 readily believe. 



Mistletoe in South Carolina. — Mr. H. W. 

 Ravenel, Aiken, S. C, remarks : "In regard to the 

 question of ■ Student,' referred to in October num- 

 ber, about the host of the mistletoe, I will say that 

 as far as I have observed in this region, the para- 

 site is more common on water oak than on any 

 other tree. Here in the streets of Aiken, there are 



