Notes and Gleanings. 247 



TyD/EA and Achimenes. — All the species of each genus are so closely 

 allied, and so very much alike, that they are separated on account of differences 

 which only a botanist would detect. The most noticeable differences are, Achi- 

 menes has a two-lobed stigma, the ovary bordered by a ring-formed glandular 

 disk. Tydasa has a stigma two- cleft, and the ring- formed disk composed of five 

 distinct glands. 



Labels for Fruit-Trees. — The most enduring labels are those formed 

 of lead, with the names of the kinds of fruit-trees impressed or indented with an 

 iron stamp about half-way through the lead. The labels should be three inches 

 long, one and a half wide, and have a hole through a shoulder left in the middle 

 or one side of the label. The label should be fastened to the tree with stout, 

 flexible lead wire, allowing room for the tree to grow. You will require punch 

 letters of the alphabet, and the figures corresponding to that of the year in 

 which the trees were planted, if you care to date their planting. Labels of this 

 kind only perish with the lead. These are the most durable labels we know. 

 Zinc labels are also good, and last a long time, if the names of the trees be written 

 on them with proper ink, which may be made of one drachm each of verdigris 

 and sal-ammoniac powder, half a drachm of lampblack, mixed with ten drachms 

 of water. The labels should be made bright by rubbing them with sand-paper; 

 then write the names upon them immediately in a clear, bold hand, with a quill pen. 



Begonia Pearcei. — This very beautiful species is botanically allied to B. 

 cinnabarina, and it was introduced from La Paz by Mr. Pearce. It possesses the 

 double quality of having both beautiful leaves, and large, showy flowers : the plant 

 has also a very desirable habit. The foliage is very pretty, the upper surface 

 being of a dark velvety green, traversed by pale straw-colored veins, and the 

 under side of a dull red color. The flowers are large, bright yellow, and borne 

 on slender stalks in clusters of two or three. Sometimes only one flower is 

 borne on a peduncle. When this is the case, the flower is much larger : some 

 which I have seen were as large as a five-shilling piece. 



I have no doubt that this beautiful begonia may be had in bloom all the year 

 round, if care be taken in propagating and resting the plants at the proper time ; 

 and as the flower-trusses are produced in large numbers, and the color of the 

 flowers is rich, it will be found invaluable both for summer and winter decora- 

 tion. The plant thrives well in a mixture of peat, leaf-soil, loam, and silver-sand, 

 and is easily propagated by cuttings or leaves. 



To have it in bloom throughout the year, it will be necessary to propagate 

 plants every two months. The young plants should be grown in a brisk tem- 

 perature, and as near a glass as possible. As soon as they have become well 

 established in their pots, a little weak manure-water will assist them very much 

 if given once or twice a week. A well-grown plant in a 4S-sized pot will afford 

 a constant succession of bloom for three months. After the plants have done 

 flowering, water should be withheld for a period of three or four weeks ; when 

 they may be gradually started into growth again, so that, after two or three 



