24 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 10, 1866. 



a marginal gland, or nerve, near the base on the tipper edge, and that 

 the veins form narrow costal areoles, from which parallel forked veins 

 run oat to the margin. Concerning --Eseulus indica and jEsculus cali- 

 forniea, both handsome Chestnuts, which come into bloom after all 

 others are over, notes were read from the " Botanical Magazine," 

 vols, lxxxiv. and lxxxv., in which both are fignred. They form, it was 

 stated, hardy moderate-sized trees of considerable beauty ; but .ISsculns 

 indica was said to be somewhat difficult to cultivate. Mr. Berkeley then 

 made some remarks on a disease in some Grapes that had been sub- 

 mitted to his inspection. In these the stalks were more or less 

 withered, and the berries shrivelled like raisins, but without retaining 

 their sweetness. They exhibited spots of decay, and with respect to 

 these there was this peculiarity, that they had occurred at three diffe- 

 rent times, and that there was 'always a clearly-defined line between the 

 healthy and decomposed portions of the berry. The first spots of 

 decay had dried np, others had formed, and these had been succeeded 

 by a third set. This peculiar disease, as well as some others, is attri- 

 buted by Mr. Berkeley to a low state of vitality. As nil instance of 

 disease proceeding from a contrary condition of the plant, the gummy 

 exudations frequeutly seen on the bunches were mentioned, and Dr. 

 Hogg had drawn his attention to the fact that superabundant matter 

 ia frequently thrown off by the stigma, where it forms a globule, and 

 the pollen being thus prevented from acting on the stigma, the fmit 

 fails to set — a common cause of complaint with some varieties. 



Mr. Batemau said that before he made any observations on the works 

 sf Nature he would direct attention to those of art, as exemplified by 

 specimens of the application of a process by which leaves, Feins, Sea- 

 weeds, etc., may be impressed on porcelain, a clever invention, which 

 we owe to Mr. Cox, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, Regent 

 Street. By Mr. Cox's " Ceramic Petalocaust Process " as it is called, 

 the characteristic outlines and v< nation of Ferns, leaves, feathers. Sea- 

 weeds, and other natural objects are reproduced and indelibly burnt 

 iu upon the surface of every description of china, &c, at, it is said, 

 much less cost than by mere pictorial agency. By this process. Mr. 

 Bateman remarked, the inventor had done on imperishable porcelain 

 what Mr. Henry Bradbury had some years ago effected on perishable 

 paper in that grand work produced by Messrs. Bradbury & Evans — 

 "Nature-printed Ferns." Here, then, we might have a fund of en- 

 joyment, for ladies might have their Fern sets or their Seaweed sets, 

 just as they now have their Fnchsia sets and their Rose sets. A 

 coloured plate of the beautiful Camoensia, discovered by Dr. Wel- 

 witsch in Africa, was next exhibited, and as it belongs to an order of 

 plants whose seeds are easily imported, a hope was expressed that it 

 might not be long before it was introduced into this country. Atten- 

 tion was then directed to a cone of Gunnera scabra, perhaps the 

 largest hardy herbaceous plant in our gardens. It was perfectly hardy 

 in the miserable climate of North Staffordshire, and on account of 

 the size and beauty of the leaves it was well worthy of cultivation by 

 those fond of fine-foliaged plants. That it was not so extensively 

 grown as it deserved, might be partly attributable to its being slow of 

 increase. Those who were curious to see it would find a plant of it in 

 the herbaceous garden at Kew. Blooms of the Tulip tree, together 

 with others of a fine variety of it. called Liriodendron tnlipiferum ob- 

 tnsilobuni, at present in great beauty in the Society's garden at Chis- 

 wick, then came under notice. A tine avenue of Tulip trees at Dres- 

 den having been mentioned, it was remarked that in its power of endur- 

 ing the smoky atmosphere of towns, the tree would probably be found 

 to be a rival to the Plane. 



Orchids were the next subject to which Mr. Bateman directed atten- 

 tion. Among those from his own garden was Proinenrea citrina, one 

 pseudo-bulb of which had produced two ilowers of different colours, 

 one being bright yellow, the other pure white. He had never seen a 

 similar case among Orchids ; but be recollected Mr. Clowes once 

 showing him a Miltonia, from opposite sides of a pseudo-bulb of which 

 issued flowers of different sizes. It was, indeed, difficult to say where 

 the pranks of this curious race of plants might end. Cut specimens 

 were shown by W. W. Buller, Esq., and it was stated that at the next 

 meeting that gentleman would probably have something to say in re- 

 ference to the cultivation of Orchids and double-glazing. Among cut 

 flowers of Orchids from Mr. Anderson, gardener to T. Dawson, Esq.. 

 Meadow Bank, Glasgow, was a beautiful variety of Dendrbbinm in the 

 way of densiilorurn, bieolor, or Grillithii. With respect to Cattleyas, 

 Mr. Anderson asked where C. Mossia^ ended and C. labiata began. 

 That question had been answered a year or two ago. C. quadricolor, 

 Wagneri, and Warneri, were all well-marked varieties of the one 

 species, which went all through the Isthmus of Panama, till in the 

 ■ form of C. labiata it ended in Brazil. Pescatorea cerina, shown by 

 Messrs. Veitch. next occupied attention, and it was stated that though 

 a woodcut of it had been published some years ago by Dr. Lindlty. no 

 coloured plate of it had as yet appeared, but that one would shortly be 

 given in the " Botanical Magazine." The plant had been named in 

 compliment to M. Pescatore, one of the most enthusiastic lovers of 

 Orchids which the French empire ever produced, and rivalled only by 

 Consul Schiller among the Germans. In connection with Angraecum 

 caudatum, a cut specimen of which was shown to the meeting, Mr, 

 Bateman remarked that about this time lost year he had the honour of 

 naming an Angrscum after Capt. Grant, one of the discoverers of the 

 source of the Nile ; and he now had to direct attention to another, 

 named after the distinguished traveller M. du Chaillu, in commemora- 

 tion of his discoveries in West Africa, in the country of the hideous 



gorilla. This species, which is figured in the " Botanical Magazine ' 

 of the present month, was said to rival the A. caudatum of Sierra 

 Leone. After the last meeting, Professor Owen, said Mr. Bateman. 

 had shown him a Cyrtanthus hearing umbels of glowing crimson 

 scarlet flowers, and a plant of it now exhibited still gave indications of 

 considerable beauty. This was said to have been sent to Professor 

 Owen by Mr. Bain, the discoverer of the strange Dicynodonts, or two- 

 fanned reptiles of South Africa, (fossils of the Trias period), and was 

 stated to have been found in the Karroos, or ravines of a mountain 

 range about 8110 miles north of Cape Town, and at an elevation of 

 10(t0 feet above the sea. Iu summer it succeeds out of doors in this 

 country, but in winter it requires the protection of a greenhouse. The 

 plant shown was presented to the Society, and Mr. Bateman moved 

 that a vote of thanks be given to Professor Owen. 



Mr. Bateman next offered some remarks on Sirex juvencus, which 

 has been comparatively unnoticed for many years, though its attacks 

 are much more frequent than generally supposed, and a piece of a dead 

 Larch was furnished by G. C. Antrobus, Esq., of Eaton Hall. 

 Cheshire, as an example of the way in which this insect perforates 

 timber All races of trees, said Mr. Bateman, have their peculiar 

 insert pests, thus Larches. Pines, and Silver Firs are each attacked by 

 different enemies. All know how destructive Scolytus destructor is to 

 Elms, and that about this time of the year the Hylurgns pnuperda 

 bores up the centre of the vonug shoots of Pine trees, causing them to 

 snap off with the first gale of wind. These pests confine their depre- 

 dations to live trees : but Sirex juvencus is even more to be dreaded. 

 Curtis several years ago stated that the Sirices appear to be most de- 

 structive to dead tie. s and timber, which is not surprising when it is 

 atati d that the eggs are deposited by hundreds, and that the maggots 

 when full grown are about 1J inch in length. S. juvencus made its 

 appearance during July, August, and September m Fir groves in Nor- 

 folk Suffolk, Hants, and Yorkshire, aud specimens of it were shown to 

 Mr Curtis bv the Hon. Charles Harris, who detected it in Fir planta- 

 tions at Heron Court, the seat of Lord Malmesbnry. " With us, 

 said Mr Hams, " at the age of twenty the Fir trees die to a great ex- 

 tent The summer of 18'2. r > and 1826 was peculiarly destructive to 

 them, from its intense heat and drought, and I am certain that I never 

 saw anv trace of a Sirex except on dead trees. The smell of the tur- 

 i entine would fully account for this, and the only spot where we could 

 detect the Sirex in a standing plantation of shorter trees was on some 

 dead stumps that had evidently been overgrown." From this it 

 appears that the mischief arises from allowing dead trees to remain 

 standin" or lying about ; and timber ought to be well examined before 

 it is employed in building, " for," said Mr. Curtis, " I understand that 

 considerable numbers of the males have been taken flying about the 

 tower of York Minster, no doubt seeking the females which were issu- 

 in" from the timbers that supported the roof, and which would be of 

 course greatlv weakened bv tlie continued operations of the larva;, as 

 well as rendered more combustible by the multitude of passages and 

 the quantity of dust which they create." Singularly enough, said Mr. 

 Bateman Mr. Curtis's prediction as to fire was soon verified ; for in 

 18-29, vei-v shortly after the above was written, 1 oik Minster was the 

 scene of "a conflagration. Mr. Batemau added that he had only be- 

 come acquainted with Sirex juvencus about this time last year, and it 

 was marvellous, he said, that after eluding exposure for nearly a 

 quarter of a centnrv its evil deeds should now be proclaimed. It was 

 also stated on the authority of Mr. A. Murray that the insect had 

 made its appearance with Mr. Thomson, of Banchory House, Aber- 

 deenshire. Mr. Buller said he had known this Sirex for years in 

 Devonshire, where it appeared to confine its operations to wood either 

 wholly dead or decaying. Palings and Larch posts were attacked by 

 it lr.it he had not seen it on live' trees. Mr. Bateman here remarked 

 that it seemed only to make its appearance after very hot summers, 

 but wbeu detected every possible means should he used to extirpate it. 



Weekly Show, Juhi ltli.—ki this Meeting there was a good ex- 

 hibition of vegetables, and some excellent trays of Carnations and 

 Picoteos In the class for twelve Carnations, Mr. Hooper of Jme 

 Nursery, Bath, took the first prize, and Mr. Shaekell, of Oldhelcl 

 Nursery, Bath, the second ; thev were beautiful blooms, as were also 

 the twelve Picotees exhibited by the same gentlemen, by whom the prizes 

 were taken in the same e.rder. For the best basket of miscellaneous 

 cut flowers, Mr. Mclndoe, gardener to Coles Child. Esq., of Bromlev. 

 took the first prize, and Mr. Bartlett, of Hammersmith, the second. 

 In the collection of vegetables, Mr. Mclndoe was again first Mr. 

 Youn", gardener to R. Barclay, Esq.. of Highgate, second, and air. 

 Plester, of Elsenham Hall Gardens, Essex, was thud. In the mis- 

 cellaneous class, Mr. Butcher, gardener to A. Bond, Esq., took a first- 

 class certificate for a very fine specimen of Fulham Cabbage, and Mr 

 Youn" was similarly rewarded for a large specimen of the Enfield 

 Market, which is a mere form of the former. Two mentonous de- 

 signs of flower gardens were shown by Mr. Brown, of Sonthwood 

 Lane, Highgate, and Mr, Hill. Angel Kow, Highgate. The former 

 took his plan from that of the International Exhibition and both re- 

 ceived extra prizes. Mr. Ward, gardener to F. N. Miller, Esq.. 

 Bishop Stortford. received a second prize for three handsome Pines ; 

 and Mr. Young, gardener to R. Barclay, Esq., extra prizes for a col- 

 lection of Caladiums. and one of Agaves ; also a first-class certificate 



' for Leptopteris suierta, and one of the second class for Erica Pai- 



' mentieriana rosea. 



