THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



37 



the Pitcher is in a young, forming 

 state, the lid in some species is closed. 

 As it develops, it opens, and even then, 

 water is found in the receptacle, which 

 proves that this fluid is a secretion of 

 the plant. After the lid is fully open, 

 no doubt additions are made to the 

 water by rain and heav}' dews. In 

 this water, insects and even small ani- 

 mals are often drowned. A very re- 

 markable quality of the fluid is that it 



HAS A CERTAIN DIGESTIVE POWER, 



and it is believed that the plant derives 

 some direct beneflt to its growth by 

 the consumption of insects. Plants of 

 this class have thei-efore been called 

 Carnivorous or Insect-eating plants. 

 The Pitchers vary in size to hold from 

 half a pint to nearly a quart of water 

 each. 



The Asiatic Pitcher Plants are no 

 strangers to American hot-houses. The 

 plants require, in cultivation, condition 

 of treatment not very unlike those 

 suited to the Orchids. — From Popular 

 Gardening, with cut. 



SUITABLE TREES FOR THE LAWN. 

 (Concluded.) 



BY p. E. BICKE, OTTAWA. 



The American Chestnut (Castanea 

 Americana ) is valuable for its wood and 

 nuts, and is ornamental in its appear- 

 ance. It grows wild in the woods in 

 the neighborhood of London, Ont., to- 

 ward Byron, whei'e there is a handsome 

 grove. So far, I have never been suc- 

 cessful in raising this tree from the nut 

 in Ottawa, although I cannot say for 

 certain that it was the severity of the 

 winters that destroyed my seedlings. 

 In its native liabitat it gi-ows on high, 

 poor, gravelly soil. Its beautiful large 

 glossy beach-shaped leaf gives it a fine 

 appearance. The tree grows from forty 

 to fifty feet high, and would require 



large grounds to show it off" to advan- 

 tage. 



The Japanese Chestnut (Castanea 

 Jajionica) is said to be hardier, is 

 dwarf in form, and has larger nuts. 

 I am testing its ability to withstand 

 this northern climate. If it should 

 prove hardy, it will be a great acquisi- ^ 

 tion to our nut-bearing trees ; at any 

 rate, it would be a paying tree to plant 

 by the acre in western Ontario, for the 

 sake of its fruit. 



The Thorn (Cratmjus). — Some of 

 the wild species are very handsome, 

 bearing a profusion of blossoms and 

 fruit. The Cockspur {Cms galli) grows 

 to twelve or fifteen feet high ; its red 

 berries give it a very oi-namental ap- 

 pearance in the autumn. The double- 

 flowering varieties of Europe are very 

 attractive. I have found the plants of 

 the latter fairly hardy here, although 

 they have never flowered. I have had 

 them growing for ten years past. In 

 western Ontario they should be a suc- 

 cess. 



The Catalpa Speciosa is fairly har- 

 dy, although the moi-e tender shoots do 

 sometimes kill back in exposed locali- 

 ties. Its large heart-shaped leaves make 

 the tree attractive. 



Linden, or Basswood (Tilia). — This 

 native tree is too well known to need 

 description. I merely mention it to 

 call attention to it as a street tree, for 

 which its fine umbrageous foliage pecu- 

 liarly fit it. Its sweet-scented blooms 

 in the early spring have a peculiar 

 charm for the bees, and bee-men count 

 the honey made from its inflorescence 

 amongst the best flavoi-ed and clearest 

 that is sent to market. 



Cut-Leaved Linden (Tilia Lacini- 

 ata Riihra) is very striking, hardy, and 

 pretty ; it has bright rose-colored young 

 wood. 



The European Linden^ {Tilia Euro- 

 pea) is very suitable for avenues. The 



