Dr. H. A. Nicholson on the Distribution of Graptolites. 347 
brought either to Paris or Kew; and I left them in the care of 
my good friend Mr. Calvert, H.B.M. Vice-Consul at Alexandria, 
well known as an excellent botanist, who gave them to that 
excellent horticulturist Herr Winterstein to keep during the 
winter. Unfortunately these trees did not survive ; but, thanks 
to M. Adrien, of Isle Praslin, and Mr. Ward, I hope in spring 
next, when the weather becomes a little warm, to receive some 
young plants which have been germinated in tubs, and which 
will thus not have had the risk of being transplanted. These 
I shall hand over, when they arrive, to the gardens of Kew 
and Dublin; and I have no doubt they will be well taken 
care of. 
In some of the volumes of Curtis’s ‘ Botanical Magazine,’ 
excellent hints on the cultivation of plants will be found, given 
by Mr. John Smith of Kew. It would be well for our plant- 
growers if they would oftener read through and digest these 
articles. In treating of the cultivation of Lagetta lintearia, 
Lam. (tab. 4502), he remarks on the hints given to him for his 
guidance in growing this plant by Mr. Wilson (who found the 
plants growing on their native soil) :—‘‘ We are always most 
desirous to pay attention to information as regards the native 
habitats of plants; but in cases like the present we have found 
that when too strictly adhered to, successful cultivation does not 
always follow. In our experience we have never found any plant 
thrive by retaining it in its native soil. If we could only imi- 
tate all the various influences of climate that modify and control 
the growth of plants in their native localities, then we might 
do so.” These very correct remarks it will be well to bear 
in mind when the time comes, as I hope it will soon, for us 
to cultivate this fine palm in our stoves; for most certainly 
the Lodotcea will not grow under cultivation in the Seychelles 
Islands, when planted in rocky, stony ground such as the trees 
are found to flourish in in their native forests of Praslin and 
Curieuse, and yet there there is no necessity to imitate the 
climate: how much less, therefore, will it grow with us, if 
subject to the same treatment, when with us it would seem 
practically impossible to imitate the alternate wet and dry 
seasons of the tropics! 
XLI.—WNotes on the Distribution in Time of the various British 
Species and Genera of Graptolites. By HENRY ALLEYNE 
Nicnoson, D.Sc., M.B., F.G.S. 
SPEAKING generally, the Graptolitidee may be said to be cha- 
racteristic fossils of the Silurian period; and the generaliza- 
