THE ILLUSTRATION llMim, ol.l 



HORTICULTURAL CHRONICLE. 



December, 1875. 



— The Fungus Show at Perth. — This show was held 

 on Sept. 29* and 30 th and Oct. 1 st and proved very successful. 

 Many of the principal British cryptogamists were present, 

 and the show of species is described as the most compre- 

 hensive ever seen, some 150,000 specimens. Many were of 

 great interest and rarity, and there were several additions 

 to the British flora. A full account of the meeting is given 

 in the Gardener's Chronicle for October 9. The show at 

 Hereford was rendered specially important by a valuable 

 paper read by Mr. W. G. Smith on the reproduction of 

 Coprinus radiatus, illustrated by beautifully coloured draw- 

 ings of large size. 



— Gaeden Varieties oe Tobacco. — The tobacco, Nico- 

 tiana tabacum, has given birth to a number of handsome 

 varieties, ornanient;il both from the amplitude of their foliage 

 and the colour of their flowers , and they add not a little 

 to the embellishment of a garden ; but many of our readers 

 will , doubtless , be surprised to learn that it is not permitted 

 to grow them in France. The cultivation of Tobacco is 

 restricted to certain departments, and elsewhere it is strictly 

 interdicted. France is probably the only country in the civil- 

 ised world in which such arbitrary regulations exist. 



— Monograph of the Lilies. — At the present time 

 a magnificent work is in course of preparation in England; 

 and it is of such a character as to recommend itself both 

 to the botanist and the horticulturist, not alone for the 

 interest of the subject, but likewise on account of the manner 

 in which it is to be treated. We allude to Mr. Elwes's forth- 

 coming monograph of the splendid genus Lilium. Mr. Elwes 

 himself has traversed Asia Minor and various other countries 

 of the Levant , where he had opportunities of studying many 

 species in their native habitats , and of enriching his fine 

 collection at Cirencester. From a horticultural point of view 

 he has met with the most valuable assistance from Mr. Max 

 Leichtlin, of Carlsruhe, who has given him access to his 

 collection of cultivated Lilies, which stands unrivalled at 

 the present time. Botanically, he has the co-operation of 

 Mr. J. G. Baker, assistant curator of the large herbarium 

 at Kew, and one of the botanists , who, with Mr. Duchartre, 

 are best acquainted with the numerous forms presented by 

 this genus, the synonymy of which is in many cases exceed- 

 ingly perplexing. Mr. Elwes's monograph will be published 

 in large folio, in about six parts, at one guinea each, each 

 part containing eight coloured plates from drawings by 

 Mr. W. H. Fitch. 



— Uses op Spanish Moss. - During the last few years 

 a curious Bromeliaceous plant, Tillandsia usneoides, which 

 is exceedingly common in the tropical and subtropical 

 regions of Spanish America, has been extensively employed 

 in various ways. It grows in tufts on trees , and bears a 

 general resemblance to an Usnea in its manner of growth. 

 In the trade it is known under the names of Spanish Moss, 

 barba de viejo, Old Man's Beard. At the present time the 



enjoy a nuimu auji.^.ncic. 



-ATBEBrBOHTHBMl86 



large tree has been sent to tl 

 the sources of the Mississi] 

 diameter. The tree from wh 

 diameter at the base , and ! 

 of concentric rings it is est 

 was 2120 years. The porti< 

 feet long, and a room of c< 

 up in the hollow centre. 





OiiiTUAiiY.- The death is ai 

 horticulturist, Dr. Plant, w 

 devoted themselves to the cult 

 ceased was 85 years of age , h 

 in October last. 



Horticulture has sustained I 

 Albert Bruchmiiller, a collect 

 teresting plants to Europe. , 

 United States of Colombia. 



Mr. Bruchmiiller was born I 

 successively attached to the fi 



