io6 Notes and Gleanings. 



stand the severest frost. The plant forms a prostrate spreading mass of flat, 

 thick, rounded, bat-Uke joints of a dark-green color, sparingly beset with spines, 

 and in the summer produces numerous bright yellow flowers, which are succeed- 

 ed by red fleshy fruits, which are of a sweetish, tame, insipid flavor. We have 

 to thank Messrs. Hooper of Central Avenue, Covent Garden, for the opportu- 

 nity of figuring this rare and peculiarly-interesting plant. We have been sup- 

 plied by them with growing specimens, and hope in time to be enabled to form 

 in the experimental garden at Stoke Newington an edging of cactuses, which 

 will be at least a novel feature. 



Tunica saxifra^a flore pleno. Double-flowering Saxifrage Pink. — Caryo- 

 phyllaceae. The single-flowering Tiuiica saxifraga is a native of Germany, and 

 has been known in cultivation here for a century at least. It is one of the love- 

 liest hardy herbaceous plants known, and has always been scarce. This double- 

 flowering variety is a novelty introduced here by Messrs. Hooper of Covent 

 Garden, by whose favor we are enabled to figure it. The plant is of light tufted 

 habit, growing about six inches high, and forming a cushion-like mass of grassy 

 leafage, covered from June till October with rose-colored flowers, which are like 

 miniature carnations. There has been nothing of its class introduced of late 

 years more worthy the attention of the amateur of hardy plants than this, as it 

 is not only unique in its beauty, but will thrive in any liglit sandy soil if fully 

 exposed to sunshine. 



AcrocoDiia sclei'ocarpa (L'lllust. Hort., t. 547). — Phoenicaceae. A fine Bra- 

 zilian palm of large growth ; the tall stem crowned with plume-like fronds ; the 

 fruits are hard globular nuts. 



Cibotium regale, the Royal Cibotium (L'lllust. Hort., t. 548). — A fine figure 

 of this well-known magnificent tree-fern. 



Calceolaria pisacoinetisis (L'lllust. Hort., t. 549). — A good figure of a showy 

 species. 



We clip the following from what has been published as the report of a meet- 

 ing of the Alton (111.) Horticultural Society, held on the fifth day of November 

 last : — 



'• Dr. Hull : Before the society adjourns, I wish to bring up one other matter; 

 and that is, the course pursued by ' The Journal of Horticulture ' in puffing un- 

 known and probably worthless fruits into notoriety. [He mentioned several 

 instances, among them the ' Wilder Strawberry.'] A large portion of each 

 number is taken up with puiTs of this fruit, which has never been fruited out of 

 the ground of the originator, and, for aught they know, maybe perfectly worth- 

 less anywhere else. I believe the course being pursued by the Journal is a 

 proper subject for the censure of all horticultural societies ; and would move 

 that this society condemn the action of the editors in the matter spoken of. 



" E. A. Riehl : I second the motion. I am personally cognizant of the fact, 

 that they have written to a person in this neighbrhood, engaged somewhat in 

 growing nursery-stock, soliciting advertisements of any new thing he may have, 

 which they will illustrate, and puff into notoriety. They do this regardless of 

 whether the article is worthy of notice or not I think such a method of con- 



