BRIEF REMARKS. 89 



produced by these dwarfs were again fertilized by their own farina, 

 and, although seeds were produced and vegetated, the plants could not 

 be kept alive ; but after various durations of existence, from two to 

 eighteen months, they finally disappeared. One of the dwarfs above 

 named, which we have called Bride, fertilized with the pollen from 

 another distinct hybrid, lias, however, produced some very healthy 

 seedlings. A remarkable example of the varied nature which hybrid- 

 izing effects in the Rhododendron is afforded in a hybrid raised from 

 It. catawbiense, by a large yellow Ghent azalea. The object was to 

 raise a hardy yellow hybrid, but in this we have been disappointed, as 

 it has proved to be pink, and we have named it Deception. It is an 

 extraordinary cross : we never recollect meeting with so decided a 

 sport. It resembles neither of its parents, being one of our best 

 growers, with foliage large and thick, of a bright green, and, when in 

 a young state, it lias the appearance of being coated with varnish. 

 Another remarkable sport is a hybrid, which we have called Towardii, 

 raised from Catawbiense by Alta clarense, being a perfect giant in 

 every respect. The foliage is very fine, and the flowers, both indi- 

 vidually and in the truss, remarkably large, each forming a perfect 

 cup. We know no Rhododendron equal to it in size and perfection of 

 flowers." 



Rats. — A remark is inserted in the Midland Florist, of a miller 

 at Sneinton, near Nottingham, whose mill had been much infested by 

 rats ; twelve years ago he took out the soil as low as the foundation of 

 the walls, forming a trench about a foot wide all round ; he then carted 

 a quantity of refuse from the gas-works and filled it up : since that 

 time he has not had a rat in his mill. 



These vermin being destructive in gardens, perhaps the application, 

 in some way, of such kind of refuse, may be found efficacious. 



Dwarf Pinks. — In Belgium there is a celebrated Pink grown in 

 pots, known by the name of " The Dwarf Pink of Verviers." The 

 flower-stem only rises about four inches high, and blooms so profusely 

 that from 150 to 200 are produced from a plant grown in a pot of 

 seven inches across the top. Its culture is particularly confined to 

 the inhabitants of Leige and Verviers, who take an especial interest 

 in it. And besides the original kind, whose flowers are of a delicate 

 rose-colour, they have a race which have smaller flowers, the colours of 

 which are, red, purple, white, and striped red and white, and a pale 

 yellow. They are very fragrant and charming ornaments for the 

 window, where, having the full influence of the sun, they succeed the 

 best: they do well too in the sitting-room. 



The process of cultivation to have plants blooming so profuse re- 

 quires tiiree years' previous treatment. The plants are so densely 

 grown as to thickly cover the surface of the soil, and tends to keep the 

 soil in a moist condition for a longer period than otherwise would be 

 the case. 



Camf.llia reticulata. — Many of the readers of the Cabinet are 

 aware that this Camellia is a very straggling grower, and usually 

 becomes an unsightly plant. To remedy this defect, M. Neumann, a 

 celebrated grower of Camellias in France, states, " Last year, selecting 



