Notes and Gleanings. 237 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



Cattleya Dowiana. — The genus Cattleya contains some of the most 

 beautiful orchids, many being unsurpassed in color and size. All are, however, 

 excelled in both respects by the subject of our notice, which is one of the most 

 magnificent of recent acquisitions. It was originally discovered in Costa Rica 

 by Warszewicz ; but the plants forwarded to England were in bad condition, and 

 were lost. It was rediscovered in 1864 by M. Arce, a zealous naturalist, who 

 was collecting specimens of natural history in Costa Rica. The plants sent 

 home by him were purchased by Messrs. Veitch & Son, and flowered in 

 1865. 



The flowers resemble in shape C. Mossice j but the nankeen and purple colors 

 are utterly unlike any known cattleya. They are about seven inches in diameter, 

 and produce five or six on a stem. They are nankeen-colored, except the lip, 

 which is dark velvet-purple, uniformly streaked with golden threads, radiating 

 from the centre, where they meet three other golden lines, passing longitudinally. 

 It is named for Capt. J. M. Dow, of the American packet service, and is figured 

 in Curtis's "Botanical Magazine," tab. 5,618. 



Aquilegia Pyreniaca. — This pretty little dwarf columbine does not exceed 

 nine inches in height. It is by no means a new plant, but has for years met 

 with unmerited neglect. The foliage is small ; but the pale lavender flowers are 

 large, and freely produced. It delights in a warm, sheltered situation, and grows 

 in the sandy detritus of the rocks ; facts which must be studied in the cultiva- 

 tion of the plant. Its hardiness in New England must be proved by experience. 



Besides this species, Aquilegia alpina, with large purplish-blue flowers with 

 white centre, growing about fifteen inches high; A.glaftdiclosa, described and 

 figured in our February number; A.fragrans, with pale lemon-colored flowers; 

 and A. Vervcenana, with variegated foliage, — are well worthy of cultivation. 

 The subject of our notice is figured in " Floral Magazine," plate 322. 



Raising Currants from Cuttings. — In raising from cuttings, the first 

 object to be attained is a clear stem about six or eight inches high, and free from 

 suckers. The cuttings are procured from the growth of the previous year ; and 

 for them the strongest, straightest, and best-ripened shoots should be chosen. 

 All the buds on the portion to be inserted in the ground should be carefully 

 picked out, leaving three or four of the terminal ones, and reducing the cutting 

 to about a foot in length by taking off the unripened points. By removing the 

 buds, or eyes, the trees are prevented from throwing up suckers, which are inju- 

 rious, besides being unsightly, and troublesome to displace. The cuttings may 

 be planted in a shady situation, in rows about eighteen inches apart, and about 

 nine or ten inches asunder in the row. They will generally, in the first season, 

 produce about three shoots each ; all of which may be allowed to grow durino- 

 the summer, in order to assist in the production of roots. If it is intended that 



