358 



THE GARDENERS" MONTHLY 



[December, 



fourth of the length of the puberulent scale, which 

 is obovate, with the rounded thickish summit en- 

 tire ; seed l}4 lines long, the wing 4 lines long by 

 2^ broad. This unusually distinct species has 

 been found (by Thomas Howell, in June, 1884), 

 only at high elevations in the Siskiyow Mountains, 

 California and on the head waters of the Illinois 

 river, in rather dry rocky ground. It grows to a 

 height of from 100 to 150 feet, and a diameter of I 

 to 3 feet. Bark reddish. The specific name is 

 given in compliment to Professor W. H. Brewer, 

 who in connection with the California State Geo- 

 logical Survey had so much to do with the botany 

 of the State, both in the field, and in the after dis- 

 posal of the collections of the Survey. As he 

 took special interest in the trees of the coast, and 

 collected a large amount of material for their study, 

 it is fitting thus to connect his name with the forest i 

 trees of California. — Pfoc. c^ the Amer. Acad., 

 1884. p. 378. 



Cedrela Sinensis — is the only member of a 

 genus of large trees which is hardy in this country. 

 Jamaica or West Indian Cedar is furnished by C. 

 odorata, which is cultivated in stoves or green- 

 houses in this country ; and the timber of C. Toona, 

 largely used in Australia and India for furniture 

 and general ornamental work, is also grown in 

 England under similar conditions. At Kew, how- J 

 ever, C. sinensis seems as hardy as the Ailantus i 

 glandulosus, which it much resembles in general 

 aspect. It was introduced from China to the 

 Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, rather more than a 

 score of years ago, and for a long time was known 

 in nurseries under the name of Ailantus flavescens. 

 It, however, does not possess the strongly disa- 

 greeable odor of the foliage of the Ailantus, and 

 the whole plant has a yellower hue. The roots, 

 too, are red and not white, as in the Ailantus. 

 Like that, it is readily propagated by means of 

 root cuttings, and, in rapidity of growth and 

 general adaptability for decorative purposes it 

 seems likely to rival the Ailantus. — Garden. 



The Fastigiate Birch (Betula alba var. fas- 

 tigiata) — should find a place in every park and in 

 every collection of ornamental deciduous trees. 

 It is the exact counterpart among the birches of 

 the Cypress oak among the oaks. In addition to 

 the peculiarity of its columnar habit of growth, it 

 has the merit of retaining its dark green foliage 

 much longer than any other variety of our native 

 birch, and indeed longer than perhaps any other 

 cultivated species. I am at present ignorant of 

 the history or origin of this interesting tree ; it is in 



all probability a somewhat recent sport ; at any 

 rate, it was unknown to Loudon. — Garden. 



SCRAPS AND QUERIES. 



Disbranching of Norway Spruce in Winter. 

 — A correspondent says : "I asked Prof. Charles 

 S. Sargent how he explained the trimming of the 

 Norway spruce, about which I have previously 

 written, and he thinks the ends of the twigs are so 

 brittle in very cold weather, that a high wind may 

 have broken them off. Each man has some new 

 theory. I will look after the matter, as I can, the 

 coming winter." 



[We feel, as before stated, that though we have 

 had to admit that squirrels do cut off some 

 branchlets, all the facts show the impossibility of 

 their being responsible for all. And we incline to 

 the opinion that this suggestion is a very reason- 

 able one.— Ed. G. M.] 



Crocking or Draining Pots. — "J. B.," Fred- 

 ericton, N. B., writes: "I think Mr. Henderson 

 has no greater admirer of his business tact and 

 capabilities, than I in my humble way ; but I 

 was both amused and surprised to find in un- 

 packing a box of plants, &c., from his establish- 

 ment, the Bennett roses and American Beauty in 

 3-inch pots, crocked in English style, with one 

 larger one and a lot of small ones at top. Per- 

 haps, after all, Mr. H. has adopted the John Bull 

 fashion in any little rarities." 



[In a personal note our correspondent leaves 

 it "to the Editor's judgment not to publish this 

 paragraph, if thought to be of too personal a 

 nature, or in any way be deemed offensive to 

 Mr. H., for whom he has the highest regard." 



We think we can answer for Mr. Henderson, 

 that he is not one to desire to suppress any one's 

 inquiries — that he is only too happy to have in. 

 quiries, and to answer them. 



And in a general way we might add that it is no 

 proof, that because there is a " crock " in a small 

 pot, that the proprietor would advocate it. In all 

 large establishments it is the interest of the pro- 

 prietor to lead men to think for themselves, and in 

 some measure to feel responsibility for success. 

 They have then to be allowed, in matters of no 

 great consequence, to practice what the pro- 

 prietor himself would not do. In the establish- 

 ments of which the Editor is the head, this is of 

 continual occurrence. 



There are numerous losses from allowing men 

 to have their own way ; but much less than when 



