June 13, 1866. ] 



JOtnmAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COtTAGE GARD^ENER. 



opdde of iron, carbonate of lime, &c. The evil in qnestion he pro- 

 poses to remedy by la>ing a body of porons material beneath the 

 drainat^e-pipes instead of above them; and this, because he has 

 observed that roots always descend by preference to the bottom of any 

 anch porous sabstratum as they may come in contact with. 



Professor De Canrolle, Geneva: On a recent and very exact 

 measurement of the diameter of the trunk of one of the 

 gigantic Sequoias of California. 



M. De Candolle in this paper pave the measnrementa of one of the 

 Irnge specimens of Seqnoia ( Wellington ia) of California— viz., that 

 known as the Old Maid. This tree has been broken off by a storm at 

 a height of 1"28 feet, its base cut across now serves as a dancing-floor. 

 M. de la Ruo Las recuntly measured the diameter of this tree in the 

 following way. A slip of paper was stretched across the diameter of 

 the trunk, the annual rings being marked off with a pencil on the 

 paper, according to the convenient method originally proposed by 

 Angnstiu Pyramus De Candolle. This paper was exhibited by M. De 

 Candolle, and the following details were given. The diameter at 

 about the height of 6 Enghsh feet was 26 feet 5 inches EngUsh. The 

 entire height of the tree, before it was broken by the vnnd, was 

 approximately 350 feet. The number of rings was counted by M. 

 do la Ruo and his assistant, one going from the circumference 

 towards the centre, the other in the opposite direction. The one 

 counted 1223 rings, the other 1245, which were marked on the slip 

 exhibited by M. Do Candolle. Tho mean of the two observations, 

 which is no doubt nearly correct, gives the tree an age of 123i years, 

 which is not an extraordinary one for trees, especially Conifers ; there 

 are, for instance, Yew trees which date back from the Christian Era. 

 The Sequoias grow in a deep mid rich soil, and their rate of growth 

 appears to have been very uniform ; thus on the sHp it may be seen 

 that at the age of 400-500 yeai-s, the annual rings were still thick, 

 wliile in ordinary' trees the layers become thin at from 80 to 120 years, 

 according to the kind of tree and other circumstances. Specimens of 

 the wood were al^o exhibited. 



Professor Caspary, Konigsberg : On the change in the direction 

 of the branches of woody plants caused by low degrees 

 of temperature. 



The author, in this paper, gives with mnch elaboration the result of 

 his observations on the motion observed in the branches of trees in 

 frosty weather. He shows that there is in winter a movement of tho 

 branches to the left-hand side, the amount of which is in direct pro- 

 portion to the intensity of tho frost. 2ndJy. There is in many cases, 

 in adtUtion to the lateral motion, a vertical one from above down- 

 wards, also in proportion to the intensity of the frost. Srdly. In other 

 eases the vertical motion takes place in the opposite direction — that is, 

 the branches move upwards as soon as frost sets in, and rise propor- 

 tionately to the severity of the cold — e.fj., Acer Nognndo, &c. 4thly. 

 In other woody plants the branches are observed to rise in mild 

 weather, and to droop during severe frost — e.f/., jEkcuIus hippocas- 

 tannm, &c. 



Hajor Trevor Clarke, Daventry : On a certain phenomenon 



of hybridism in the Renus Mathiola. 

 Mr. B. Clarke, London : On the floral envelopes of Lauracea?. 



The author regards the floral envelopes of Laoracofe as doable, cou- 

 sisting of a trimeroua calyx and corolla, and supports his views by a 

 reference to those of Laurua itself, the fourth se-pal of which he con- 

 siders to be internal, and bcdongmg to the petahne series, the other 

 two divisions of that series being converted into stamens. He refers to 

 the near affinity of Heruandia {recognised by all authors from Jussieu 

 downwards), and of Gyrocarpeai (pointed out by Robert Brown, and 

 adopted by all subsequent writers), and to the evident relation of the 

 last-named family to Combretaceaj (of which indeed Lindley regarded 

 them as merely a section), and derives, from a comparison with all 

 these plants, further arguments in support of the correctness of his 

 notion. Evidences of near relationship are iiho deduced from the 

 atmcturo of their ovaries and the attachment of their ovules, and the 

 author finally arrives at the conclusion that Lauracoro are " Combre- 

 taceaj, with a superior ovary and sepaloid petals." 



Dr. Alexander Dickson, Edinburgh : On the leaves of Scia- 



dopitys and Phyllocladus. 

 Mr. W. Earley : Ou the preparatory formation of trained 



wall-frnit trees. 



The writer sets forth that the present system of pruning trained 

 trees in the nurseries is objectionable, on the ground ihat the too free 

 nse of the knife injures and often destroys tho constitution of the tree 

 when in a yoaug state, aud is one cause of wall-trees shrivelling and 

 flying. It is also tho cause of a too gross aftergrowth, and consequent 

 nnfmitfulness. He advocates, in place of the present system, summer 

 pinching, which attains the end sought in losa time, and produces a 

 •oonder tree, more favourable to removal. 



Professor Goeppert, Breslau : 



1. On the arrangement of Alpine Plants in our gardens. 



The author condemns the indiscriminate planting, and total ab- 

 sence of order or arrangement of the alpine aud arctic plants culti- 

 rated in our gardens, and considerw that one object ini our botanic 

 gardens shoald bo tha ilLnstratioa of botanical geography. About 450 

 of the flowering plants of Germany and Switzerland may be looked ou 



437 



as truly alpino, and of those abont two-thirda arc grown in the Brcalaa 

 Botanic Garden ; some in pots, others planted out in a simco of about 

 a Prussian acre in extent, planted out amongst various kinds of stona 

 and rock in eight groups, as shown in the accompanying photographs, 

 i he red snow. Protococcus nivalis, grows here in a hollow slab of 

 granite. The plants are arranged in groups according to tlie levels at 

 which they gi-ow in their native habitats. In this way tho relation of 

 vegetation to altitude may bo scon at a glance. 



2. Palffiontology and our botanic gardens. 



The author draws attention to the intimate connection between 

 recent and fossil botany, and gives an account of the steps he hag 

 taken in the Breslau Botanic Garden to illatitrate the latter, by form- 

 ing a model section of tho coal formation, with its characteristic plants. 

 In a similar way the enormous trunk of the Pinites Protolorix, dis- 

 covered and described by the author, serves as a representative of the 

 tertiary formation. The paper is accompanied with photographs. 

 Mr. S. HiRBERD, London : On the naming of plants. 



'* The importance of botanical nomeiicluture to science, art, and 

 hterato re. -—Classical origin of many of tho names of plants.— Namea 

 of plants divided into two classes, natural and artiticiul.— Prevalence 

 of artificial names at the present time ; objections to them. — Proposed 

 revision of botanical hsta.— Proposed eetabhshment of a board of 

 botanical nomenclature." 



Dr. Hilderrand, Bonn : On the necessity of insect agency in 



the fertilisation of Corydalis cava. 



Dr. Hildebrand concludes from his experiments, that the flowers of 

 Corydalis cava, when protected from insects, and thus acted on by 

 their own pollen, form no capsules. 2nd. That fmit is very seldom 

 formed when the flowers of the same raceme are crossed with each 

 other. 3rd. By the crossing of flowers on different individual plant* 

 alone, is perfect fertUisation insured. 



Mr. J. E. Howard, London : Observations ou the present 

 state of our knowledge of the species of Chincbona. 

 *• The chief cause of the confusion in our liuowledge of tho Chin- 

 chonas has been the tendency to systematiKe without a full acquaint- 

 ance with the details. I entirely disbelieve in all the so-called typical 

 forms, and in all the attempts to classify' and arrange them. The very 

 best of these attempts seems to me to break down (as shown by 

 Karsteu), even as regards the exact limits of the genus itself, whioh 

 blends by intermediate links with the other Chinchouaceons genera. 

 I wish to direct especial attention to the spelling of the name of tho 

 genus, whether as Cinchona or as Chinchona; aUo to the name of on 

 allied genus, whether as Cascarilla or as Ladtnbergia. Nothing 

 would tend so well to settle these questions as the free expression of 

 opinion at a Botanical Congress. I would also point attention to iha 

 necessity of considering some as markedly distinct forms rather than 

 OS mere varieties having sub-varieties, uutd all ends in confusion. If 

 this be admitted, the Chinchona pitayensis, C. lancifo.ia, C purpurea, 

 C. erythi-oderma, C. Pelletierana, &c., would take their legitimat* 

 place ; and I propose, by the side of these, to place the C. Bonplan- 

 diana vara, colorata and lutea, as representing a distinct form of th« 

 Loja bark. I would confine the nnmo Chinchona Condamiuea to th» 

 real Quina primativa (if the having cured the Countess of Chinchon 

 entitles it to this appellation), aliolishiug Pavon's barbarous namo 

 Chahuarguera. I have attempted to reduce into practical nsoKarsten's 

 varieties of C. lancifolia — viz., obtusil'olin, obovata. tnnila? angnsti- 

 f oha ? and Aimaguerenson-sis ? The last three I venture myself to 

 Buggest. The varieties of Chinchona Calisaya I do not vtnture to do 

 more than allude to, as, I hope. Dr. Woddell may farther olacidata 

 this subject. In conclusion, I will express my opinion that every well- 

 defined region of the Andes has its own prevalent aud characteristic 

 Chinchonas, which are incapable of being reduced to any one typical 

 form ; and I behove that no one sppcios has been clearly proved to 

 prevail unchanged from end to end of the Chinchonaceous region ; 

 and I think that tho plant*; which resemble each other in distant part* 

 will be found analogous rather than identical." 



Mr. Howard has succeeded in obtaining quinine from tho bark of 

 C. officinalis, which he cultivated in his own Rtove, and procured very 

 nearly as much quinine as is yielded by bark of tho same age in its 

 native country. Phis is probably the first time that quinine has been 

 extracted from bark grown in Europe. 



Mr. H. Ho^\'LETT : On night -covering and shading of plant 



and forcing-houses. 



The author's object is to combine shading with night covering by 

 means of one contrivance fitted to the roof. Ho points out th» 

 necessity for the former, and the great advantages to be derived from 

 the latter ; and suggests that both may be secured, by fitting on tho 

 roof a series of louvre boards moved by levers. The suggi'stion is 

 offered as affording ground for discussion, bat has not been prao^ 

 tically tested. 

 M. Van Hullc, Ghent : Eational method of pruning. 



The writer lissumes that the fruits produced in Kngliiml are abun- 

 dant, but small, and nsuoUy produced by trees left to their natural 

 growth, owing to which they aro neither so handaomo in form nor Bo 

 productive as they might be. Thfir productiveness in England, such 

 as it is, ia due rather to the skill displayed and cost incurred in 

 muMguig the ground than on tU» management of tho trees. Tb> 



