326 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUBE AXD COTTAGE GAEDESER. 



[ AprU 18, 1872. 



with an erect caudex (stem), but wliich do uot in any way 

 assume the proportions of a trunk. This form is well repre- 

 .sented in Aspidium trifoUatum. Such a mode of growth 

 is called fasciculate and erect. When the growth is fascicu- 

 late, but bent down instead of standing erect, it is then 

 called fasciculate and decumbent ; an example of this may be 

 readily found in the genus Asplenium. Then we have tufted 

 (cjEspitose) vernation or growth, which is brought about by 

 the growth of offsets, which spread out and root all round the 

 original crown, thus forming a dense tuft. 



Another modification of the stem is the rhizome, which is a 

 fleshy prostrate stem, the form of which may be dirided into 

 two sections, the first example being clothed more or less 

 densely with chaffy scales. These invariably creep upon the 

 surface, and in the language of the pteridologist are called 

 epigteous squamose rhizomes. A famUiar example of this mode 

 of gi-owth wOl be found in the Haresfoot Fern, DavaUia 

 canariensis. 



The second form of rhizome is quite destitute of scales, and 

 is always to be found below instead of upon the surface of the 

 soil. It is called a hypoga>ous rhizome, and may be found in 

 such plants as Pteris esculenta and P. aquiUna. 



There is yet another modification of the stem which it will 

 be necessary to advert to, and this is called a sarmentum. It 

 differs from the epigmous rhizome, inasmuch as its point of 

 growth is seldom, if ever, in advance of the developed fronds, 

 which is always the case with the former. The sarmentum 

 may be either epigajous or hypogieous. 



The various modes of growth which the stem assumes have 

 also been classified by pteridologists. Thus, the manner in 



which the Tree Ferns produce their fronds is called fasciciilate ; 

 when the fronds are produced one after the other they are 

 called uniserial ; when placed wide apart they are said to be 

 distant ; and if somewhat close, contiguous. Again, when the 

 fronds are attached to the stem by a joint, and fall clean away, 

 they are said to be articulate ; whilst if, on the contrary, the 

 fronds are not jointed to the stem, and do not fall clean away, 

 leaving a distinct mark showuig where they have been, then 

 they are said to be adherent. — Expebto Ckede. 



THE PKIMEOSE. 



In Mr. Eobson's interesting article on Primroses (page 306), 

 he speaks of planting out the greenhouse species, Pi-imula 

 denticulata ; he means, I think, Primula erosa, often incor- 

 rectly called and sold as P. denticulata. The true P. denti- 

 culata has no powder on its stem or leaves, has more toothed 

 leaves and larger flowers than P. erosa. I3oth have flowered 

 well here on rootwork. We find Primula cortusoides amcena 

 does best in sheltered places with a north aspect ; with &vt. 

 east a few degrees of frost purj^led the flowers. — Geobge F. 

 Wilson, Weyhridge Heath. 



[The Primula genus is veiy abundant in flowers this year. 

 We recently visited the garden of a very old florist who raises- 

 thousands of seedUngs annually. He is quite an original, and 

 divides all the species into two gi-oups — " them as is single- 

 flowered, and them as is bunch-flowered." We have seen some- 

 unusual sports this spring — a Primrose (Primula vulgaris) with 

 umbels of large pale yellow flowers was shown to us within a 

 few hom'B of this being printed. — Eds.] 



FUMIGATING. 



Aboct this time or a little later we often hear" from amateurs, I suigle plant is shown in the drawing. The tobacco smoke ie 

 ' I have a plant covered with fly." Jly mode of fumigating a | to be blown in from a pipe. The larger plant is covered with £V 



Bheet of newspaper tied at the top and pasted together at the I on a wet cloth, and the hole at the top is covered with a wet'ragi 

 joining. The small plant is covered with a garden pot placed | The tobacco is placed in a common tobacco pipe. — H. G, 



I THiXK a paragraph on these flowers may be interesting to 

 Bome of your readers. Of the single varieties I, of course, 

 prefer the Giant or Czar to any other. Many of your corre- 

 spondents consider the two as identical. There is certainly 

 very little difference, but I am almost inclined to think that 

 the Giant, which I beheve was introduced by Mr. Stedman 

 some years before the appeai'ance of the Czar, is the stronger 

 grower_ of the two. In other points they are about equal. 

 The Giant is a very strong-growing, free-blooming, and large- 

 flowered sort, and is one that is sure to give satisfaction to 

 every grower of the Violet. Next after the Giant or Czar I 

 think I should place Eussian superba, a flue new variety, but 

 not quite so strong a grower as the preceding ; it is, however, 

 a profuse bloomer. The flowers are very dark in colour, large, 

 very sweet, and it is a good winter bloomer. Kext after this 



VIOLETS. 



— perhaps equal to it — I should name Devonieusis, which is 

 an exceedingly good autumn and winter bloomer, although I 

 have not yet found it a free grower here. Then there is the 

 London, which I would recommend as being the freest-growing 

 and the most profuse-blooming of all Violets, but the blooms 

 are rather small. The Eussian and the Scotch Blue are also 

 good varieties, and the White Eussian is useful where white 

 Violets are desired. 



Whilst on the subject of single Violets, which I certainly 

 prefer to the double ones, I must remark that I hope to see 

 great improvements made in the Violet in the course ol a few 

 years. By raising from seed I believe it is capable of improve- 

 ment in shape, in size, and in other points besides these. I 

 have raised a few seedlings from the Giant, and I must say 

 that the result has been so far gratifying to me. They have 



