190 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



quality, ^e had an opportunity of seeing Mr. James's stock of seedlings when in 

 bloom and although no weeding whatever had been done, there was not a bad 

 flower' amongst them. By far the largest proportion bad flowers that quite sur- 

 passed in size, shape, substance, and colour, the best of the named varieties entered 

 in the catalogues, and the fiaest of the seedlings had flowers of extraordinary sub- 

 stance and fine form. The plants comprising this strain are remarkable for their 

 stocky habit and the large heads of bloom they are capable of producing. Mr. 

 James was awarded three First-class Certificates for seedlings exhibited at a recent 

 exhibition of the Royal Botanic Society. 



Odontoglossim Roezli, the newest of the Odontoglots, has this season flowered 

 superbly in Mr. Day's magnificent collection of orchids at Tottenham. In habit it 

 bears a resemblance to Odontoglossum phalcenopsis, but it quite surpasses that 

 lovely species in the size and more perfect form of the flowers. The flowers are 

 quite four inches across, of the purest white, the base of the petals deep purple, and 

 the base of the lip briglit golden yellow. Mr. Gedney considers it one of the finest 

 epecies of the genus to which it belongs, and one of the most to be desired, because 

 of the facility with which it can be grown. 



The Hollyhock. Disease continues to baffle scientific men and cultivators. 

 Both are familiar with the little plague spot in which it begins, and of the devasta- 

 tion that follow3,jbut neither know how to prevent it nor how effectually to save ths 

 plants attacked. It is easy to talk of " stamping it out," but that means wholesale 

 destruction of valuable collections. The same fungus makes its appearance on the 

 common mallow, Tlf. sylvestris, and thfe miisk mallow, M. moscAafa. It occurs also 

 on AWicBa hirsuta, but less frequently. The grower of hollyhocks would do well to 

 root them out wherever they are to be found, for they are, without question, the 

 nurseries of hollyhock disease. 



Metal Glass. — In Silesia, says Nature, a new glass has been invented by 

 Herren Lubisb and Eeiderer, in Count Solm's glass-works, Andreashutte, its 

 Bitschdorf, near Bunzlau. This glass, which the inventors call "metal glass," is 

 so hard, that when a pane lies on the ground and a leaden hall of forty grammes 

 wei-'ht falls upon it from an elevation of twelve feet, it receives not the slightest 

 imp'ression ; nor is it in the least affected when dipped whilst red-hot into cold 

 •water. "Window panes, lamp cylinders, and other articles made from tliis metal 

 glass, can thsrefore almost be denoted as unbreakable. 



The Cultivation of the Red Cedar, Juniperiis Virgiiuana, is being tried 

 on a considerable scale in Bavaria, North Germany, and other parts of the Conti- 

 nent. No other wood, except the still rarer J. bermudiana, has been found equal to 

 it in the manufacture of lead pencils, and as the consumption for that purpose is 

 very large some of the makers have recommended their Governments to attempt 

 its cultivation. Faber, one of the largest manufacturers on the Continent, has 

 already planted upwards of 5000 trees on his own estate. In North Germany it has 

 been planted in the forests, and on the waste ground by the [side of the railways. 

 "We have not heard of its being planted in this country for commercial purposes, but 

 there is no doubt it would succeed very well, especially in the South, It will bear 

 the wind well, and flourish on the sea coast, and certainly deserves to be more gene- 

 rally planted than it is. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Name of Feen. — M. B. — The fern^ of which we hare received a frond, 

 is Adiantum macrophi/Uum. It requires the temperature of a stove for its 

 successful cultivation, and careful management is necessary in the production of good 

 specimens. 



Pbimkose. — Eev. Arthur B., Pomeror/, Co. Tyrone, — The primrose sent is very 

 pretty, but it is distinct from the variety alluded to. It is well worth preserving 

 and increasing, for it will, doubtless, be useful for spring bedding, because of its 

 high colour. 



Gasdexers' Clue 4t'Leeds. — T. Z)., Sheffield. — There is a Gardeners' Club at 

 Leeds, under the designation of the Professional Gardeners' Friendly Benefit Society. 

 The contributions are IBs. per j^ear, and the benefits are lOs. per week for 



