20 MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



off: then wash the skeleton in clean water, and pat it between the leaves of 

 a book to dry. Pear and Holly have a double set of fibres, that must be 

 separated with circumspection ; one set of fibres is more perfect than the 

 other." I must observe that I was not able to procure rain-water for the 

 greater part of the leaves I have dissected, and that I succeeded without. 

 Box leaves I found to require to remain several months in the water. Some 

 leaves of the Spanish Chesnut I once had for more than a year in water, 

 and then was obliged to throw them away unchanged : I have not since been 

 able to try them again. — I have now a Query to propose. I have succeeded 

 perfectly in dissecting the leaves and the floral leaves of the Lime Tree, but 

 the skeleton of the Lime Tree leaves remains green, and no washing will 

 bleach it. Perhaps some reader of the Cabinet will have the kindness to 

 inform me how to bleach them, without injuring the fibre of the skeleton. 

 The above is a dirty, and not a very sweet job, but the admirable beauty of 

 the skeletons, in my opinion, fully compensates for the trouble. 

 Beds., October 13/A, 1835. A Practical Lady Gardeneu. 



REMARKS. 



On the proper Pronunciation of Dahlia. — As it is your intention, in 

 the forthcoming No. of the Cabinet, or its Supplement, especially to notice 

 the Dahlia; allow me to take this fitting opportunity of interceding for the 

 proper pronunciation of the word. — It was called after a Swedish Botanist, 

 Professor Dahl, of Upsula. Now as the ah in his name is pronounced, both 

 in Switzerland and all over the world, broad, as in the English word ah, 

 and as the word Dahlia differs only in having the termination ia added, 

 nothing but ignorant conceit could have inflicted on it the pronunciation, as 

 if written Daylia ; — it is at best but a piece of affected Cockneyism. — Hoping 

 that this brief philippic may be effectual in saving my own ears and that 

 of many others from such mincing,— I am, &c. F. R. Horner. 



On Cape Bulbs, &c. — John Yocng, nurseryman, Taunton, takes the 

 liberty of saying to the correspondent of the Floricultural Cabinet, Vol. III., 

 p. 257, that for several years past he has been paying considerable attention 

 to the culture of Cape Bulbs, and will be glad to communicate with any one 

 of similar pursuits, whether for the purpose of exchange or sale, or inter- 

 change of sentiments, on the best mode of treating this interesting tribe, 

 which he thinks arc too much neglected, believing, as he does, that most of 

 the varieties of Ixia will do as well, or perhaps better, in the open ground, 

 not even protected by a wall, than in a frame or greenhouse. J. Y. has had 

 a bed of Ixias in this situation for about four years, and with no protection 

 for the last two; the bed i3 well drained : the compost, sandy peat. J. Y.'s 

 collection at present consists of about 20 varieties of Ixia (proper), 8 of 

 Tritonia, 6 of Sparaxis, 6 of Babiana, 2 of Trichonema, 3 of Vieusseuxia, 

 9 of Watsonia, 14 of Oxalis, and 30 of Gladiolus, together with some varie- 

 ties received from the Cape last year without names, but of which those that 

 have flowered are good, and not common. J. Y. also has Calochortus va- 

 nustus, C. splendens, C. luteus, Calliprora lutea, Cyclobothra alba, Tritelem 

 laxa, Brodicea (3 varieties), and a few of the scarcer varieties of Cape Bulbs 

 not enumerated in the above list. 



Taunton Nursery, 11 mo. 17, 1835. 



On Picotees. — From the doubts expressed by your Correspondents, Mr. 

 Revell, &.C., I was also led to doubt the dimensions of the Pinks mentioned 

 by Innovator; but permit me to state, that this year I flowered a Mulberry- 

 coloured Picotee, twelve inches in circumference ; also a White Picotee, 

 slightly tinged with purple on each petal, eleven inches in circumference ; 

 both very double. Perhaps this statement may contribute to remove tho 

 doubts of Mr. Revell, Mr. Wigg, and B. M. 1 shall not occupy your pages, 

 at present, by detailing my mode of cultivation, there having been so many 

 and various remarks already made by your esteemed Correspondents, Inno- 

 vator, &c. Emily Armstrongs. 



Caslkrahan, Ireland, 1835. 



