446 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Smoke continued. 



fames from some works, is Hydrochloric Acid gas, which 

 is emitted during the formation of various chemical pro- 

 ducts. The only thorough remedy is the stoppage of 

 the emission of the gases ; but the harm may be lessened 

 by restricting these injurious processes to winter, or to 

 the night-time if they must go on in summer. 



SMOKE-PLANT. See Rims Cotinns. 



SMOKE - WOOD. A common name for Clematis 

 Vitalba. 



SMOOTH FLOWER. A popular name for 

 Leianthus longifolius, and other species. 



SMOOTH - PRUITED HORSE CHESTNUT. 

 See Pavia. 



SMUT. The name given to a group of Fungi which 

 grow among the tissues of the stamens, ovaries, and 

 leaves of many plants, but especially infest the 

 Cereals (e.g., Barley and Oats) and other grasses. The 

 scientific name of the group is Ustilaginei (from ustus, 

 scorched), and refers to the scorched appearance of ears 

 of Corn, or of other parts of plants, infested with the 

 Fungi. The name Smut also refers to the dirty, sooty 

 aspect of the Fungi. In the early stages, they consist 

 of interwoven masses of mycelium, the threads of which 

 bear numerous spores, either in' a group on the tip of 

 each thread, or singly on slender branches along their 

 sides, near the tips. The spores vary a good deal in the 

 different genera, some being one-celled, others made up 

 of cells grouped together to form a rounded mass, each 

 cell in which may be fit to produce a new plant, or only 

 the central cell may be fit to do so, the outer ones being 

 sterile. In most of the species, the spores are more or 

 less deeply coloured, and in the typical Smuts they are 

 dark brown individually, and sooty-black when in masses. 

 The outer tissues of the host-plant are usually torn open by 

 the pressure of the ripening spores, and the dark, powdery 

 masses of spores are displayed and become very con- 

 spicuous. It does not fall within the scope of this work 

 to discuss the Smuts that attack grasses, serious though 

 their effects frequently are. Few flowering plants are 

 liable to much injury from the Fungi of this group. 

 Ustilago violacea destroys the anthers of a good many 

 species of Caryophyllece, e.g., Dianthus Carlhusianorum, 

 D. superbus, Saponaria officinalis, various species of Silene, 

 &c. ; the spores are one-celled, roundish, and pale violet. 

 Sorosporium has the spores formed each of a mass of 

 several equal cells. 8. Saponarice distorts the anthers of 

 the same Caryophyllew as U. violacea ; 8. hyalinum 

 consumes the seeds of Astragalus glycyphyllus, of 'a few 

 other Leguminosce, and of Convolvulus sepium ; 8. 

 primulicolum lives on young seeds of Primula elatior, 

 P. farinosa, and P. vulgaris, destroying them, but showing 

 no sign on the exterior of the ovaries. Urocystis has 

 spores like those of Sorosporium except in the outer 

 cells being smaller and sterile, the inner larger and fertile ; 

 U. Violw causes large swellings in the stalks and blades 

 of the leaves, and in the stolons, of Viola odorata ; 

 U. Anemones causes similar swellings on various species of 

 Anemone and other Ranunculacece ; U. sorospoides covers 

 the leaves of Thalictrum minus with dark patches of 

 spores. 



Eemedies cannot be employed owing to the Fungi grow- 

 ing inside the tissues of the host-plants. The affected 

 plants ought to be removed and burned, to prevent the 

 spread of the disease. 



SMYRNIUM (the old Greek name, used by Dios- 

 corides, and derived from Smyrna, one of the names of 

 myrrh ; alluding to the odour of the plants). Alexanders. 

 ORD. Umbelliferai. A small genus (six or seven species) 

 of erect, glabrous, hardy, biennial herbs, natives of 

 Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Flowers 

 yellow, polygamous, in compound, many-rayed umbels. 



Smyrnium continued. 



Radical and lower leaves ternato-pinnately dissected; 

 upper ones undivided, or having fewer segments. 

 Before the introduction of Celery, S. Olusatrum was 

 cultivated as a salad plant, under the names of Black 

 Pot-herb, Common Alexanders or Alisanders, and Horse 

 Parsley ; it somewhat resembles Celery in flavour, but is 

 stronger and less agreeable. None of the species have 

 any horticultural value. 



SNAILS. What has been already said in regard to 

 Slug's (which see) is equally applicable to Snails, except 

 that the latter animals possess large and conspicuous spiral 

 shells, into which they withdraw at the approach of cold 

 or dry weather, and in which they protect themselves by 

 means of opercnla of firm texture, with which they close 

 the opening of the shell. Thus guarded against injury 

 from without, they may remain motionless for long 

 periods, even for several years. As regards the nature 

 of the tongue and of the foot, their general habits, and 

 also the methods of remedy, and of prevention of attacks, 

 it is needless to repeat what is said under Slugs. Snails 

 do not, however, commit such ravages as the latter 

 creatures. It is necessary to break the shells to permit 

 the remedies employed to reach their bodies. Hand- 

 picking is probably the most certain cure. The injurious 

 Snails chiefly belong to the genus Helix; but many of 

 the smaller species, even in this genus, do no appreciable 

 harm. The larger and more conspicuous kinds are : 

 Helix pomatia, the " Apple Snail," whose shell reaches 

 2in. in breadth, and is dull yellowish- white, with spiral 

 lines of brown. This Snail is found only in the South 

 of England, and is said to have been introduced by the 

 Romans, by whom it was eaten, after having been fed up 

 for some time, to bring it into good condition for the table. 

 H. aspera, the Common Snail, is usually common in 

 gardens. The shell may reach liin. in diameter; it is 

 yellowish-brown, with five dark brown lines or narrow 

 bands running round it ; the epidermis is rough, and 

 wrinkled. H. hortensis also occurs in gardens, but is 

 commoner throughout Britain (along with H. nemoralis, 

 of which it is often regarded as a variety) beside hedge- 

 rows or on banks, among tangled vegetation. Both forms 

 vary much in colour of the shells, from white or yellow 

 to brown, with from one to five dark brown lines or 

 narrow bands around them ; or the shells may show no 

 markings. The chief difference between the two forms 

 is that H. hortensis has the out-turned lip pale, while 

 H. nemoralis has it dark; each is about lin. broad. 

 The other species need not be separately mentioned, as 

 they do little harm in gardens, or do not live there. 

 Snails are preyed on by the larva of Glowworms and by 

 other kinds of beetles, e.g., Drilus, Staphylinus, &c. 

 Thrushes, blackbirds, and various other birds, feed 

 greedily on them ; and one of the best methods, when 

 practicable, for reducing their numbers is to turn a flock 

 of ducks into the place to be cleared. For other reme- 

 dies, see Sings. 



SNAKE GOURD. See Trichosanth.es angnina. 



SNAKE-MILLIPEDES. A name applied, by John 

 Curtis, to a genus of Millipedes (which see) named 

 Julus, because of their resemblance in form to miniature 

 snakes. Several of the species are of very frequent 

 occurrence ; and, at times, do a good deal of harm to 

 Strawberries and other fleshy fruits on the ground, as 

 well as to roots of plants. 



SNAKE-PLANT. A common name for Dracunculus 

 vulgaris. 



SNAKE-ROOT. A popular name for many plants 

 which possess reputed curative properties for snake-bites. 

 The following are the most important: Actaea racemosa, 

 Aristolocliia Serpentaria, Casearia ulmifolia, Chiococca 

 angustifolia, Liatris scariosa and L. squarrosa, Ophior- 

 rhiza Mangora, and Polygala Senega. 



