1843.] 
THE GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
359 
tions to such as. were not then shown, or which displayed. any 
peculiarity not before alluded to. Perhaps the specimen which 
Green, gr. to Sir E. Antrobus, Bt. This plant was in admirable 
health, and had large terminal feathery spikes of white blossom. 
n~ 
» ™ 
ula. The collection of Mr, Green contained some splendid 
vated; Pimelea rosea, dwarfand beautiful; Chorozema Dicksoni, 
18 inches high, admirable; Pimelea hispida, very broad, and 
laden with flowers; a variety of Cactus, like Ackermanni, but 
with blue in the blossoms; Erica splendens, handsome; E. vestita 
alba, very good ; Leschenaultia biloba, brilliant ; with a charming 
Specimen of Erica suaveolens, and also of BE, Beaumontiana. 
Mr. Pawley, of Bromley, exhibited Erica propendens in a lovely 
State; Zichya coccinea, very rich; Chorozema Henchmanni, 
Magnificent, and in a condition which we have never Seen 
excelled; Erica hybrida, a noble plant; E. ventricosa carnea, 
y fine; Gesnera bulbosa, a splendid specimen, another 
Inch of it covered with bloom; Poivrea coccinea, dwarf, and 
flowering liberally ; and Kennedya nigricans, in rich health, but 
Wanting in showy colours. From. Mill, Nurseryman, Stoke 
Newington, there were large plants of Euthales macrophylla, 
and the handsome Hibiscus splendens. Mr. Atlee, gt. 
" ufoy, Esq., South Lambeth, showed, amongst a generally 
inferior collection, a Verbena, like Chameedrys, on a low trellis, 
Well managed; Erica mundula, very small and close, blooming 
profusely ; alarge specimen of BorGnia pinnata, and Manéttia cor- 
difolia, with good plants of Borénia denticulata, Erica elegans, 
and Corrzea speciosa. Mr. Clarke, gr. to W. Smith, Esq., Shirley 
Park, sent Diplacus puniceus, in a handsome condition; Borénia 
denticulata, extremely good reus speciosus, grafted on C, 
Speciosissimus, and both flowering together; Muraltia Heisteria, 
very dense and pretty; Eutaxia myrtifolia, dwarf, and in as- 
tonishing luxuriance; Erica translucens, and Chorozema Dick- 
Soni, beautiful specimens. Mr. Clark, gr. to W. Block, Esq., 
there was shown a favourable specimen of Erica hybrida, and a 
very close Azalea lateritia. The following plants came from Mr. 
Hunt, gr. to Miss Traill, Hayes’ Place; Dillwynia_clavata, 
remarkably well bloomed; Erica odora rosea, an excellent little 
Plant; E. ventricosa stellata, particularly good; Hovea Celsii, 
althy; Bossizea rufa, 3 feet in 
Pimelea decussata, low and rich; Tro- 
men, from Mr. Frazer, Lea Bridge Road, 
Were of inferior quality generally, comprised a. nice plant of 
Oncidium pumilum, on a block of wood, from Mr. Graves, gr. to 
rs. Cannon, Stratford Green ; and a good variety of Oncidium 
ampliatum, from Mr. Redding, ‘The group of tall Cacti, from 
‘on specio: 
which res Wick, the show 
of Fuchsias was by no means what might have been expected 
from the advertisements of growers. The Vi ictri 
most remarkable, and very pretty it certainly is; but as for the 
Temainder, with the exception, perhaps, of F. Laneii, they ure 
Such as it would have been more prudent in the growers to haye 
reserved until they were in a better condition, or better selected. 
ere was a fine collection of shrubby Calceolarias, in slate 
tubs, from Mr. Beck, of Isleworth. The yarieties were, Luna, 
limax, Lady of the Lake, Bleda, King, Standishii, Madonna, 
Lady Douglas, Maid of Honour, Standish’s Beauty, Agnes, and 
Bertha. Calceolaria integrifolia, elegans, and lanceolata, in an 
unusually large and rich state, were sent by Mr. Joynes, of Tot- 
teridge. Mr. Gaines’s Shrubby Calceolarias were Rising Sun, 
Dusty Miller, Favourite, Cyrus, and Sunbeam, Mr. Catleugh’s 
were Commander-in-Chief, delicata, Reform, Commodore, Hero, 
and Caroline. Mr. Catleugh’s Herbaceous sorts were Brides- 
Maid, Lady Sale, Van Amburgh, Lady of the Lake, 
Favourite. rt. Green some new 
and striking seedling Calceolarias, as had 
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Mr. Standish, in the way of C. Standishii, and all very beautiful, 
Beauty, Raphacl, Surprise, Princess 
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rt. 
Orang. 
tal— sj Una; 3, Mr. 
Slow names). 
Te, Erectum, Sylph; Flash, Comte de Paris, Victory, Lilia, 
* ries, Coronation ; 2, 
on Mr. Cockburn, gr. to the Earl of Mansfield, 
imax, Perfection, Alexandrina, Joanof Arc. SEEDLING PrLar- 
UM 
5 t. Beck, Isleworth; Susanna, Mr. Beck, Isleworth; Zan- 
tmmim, Mr. Whomes, gr.’to Mr. E. Foster, Esq., Clewer ; Hybla, 
0 mes. There was a brilliant display of Cinerarias, and 
me good seedlings, especially from Mr, Ivery, of Peckham, A 
collection of Echinocacti, &c., few of which were in flower, fame 
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Edgeware Road, Other objects will have their merits indicated 
But we must notice 
Totteridge, and Mr. Turner, g: 
the former much too ripe, and falling to pieces: and a nice col- 
lection of Bntish Ferns, from, Mr. G. Turner, gr. to the Hon. 
and/Rey, R, Wilson. 
‘Tendency of Branches to direct themselves towards the 
Light.—Whenever aplant (the common Garden-Cress for 
example) is reared upon moistened cotton, in a room 
lighted by a single window, or in a box with a single aper- 
ture, the young stem, instead of rising perpendicularly 
from the soil, as if it were growing either in the open air 
or in complete darkness, inclines itself towards the light, 
preserving at the same time its straightness throughout, 
and forming an angle of a certain number of degrees with 
the ceiling. On the contrary, whenever a growing “plant 
which has been raised either in darkness or in the open 
air, and has taken a vertical direction, is placed in either 
of the above conditions, the young stem first becomes bent 
and then inclines itself towards the light, in two distinct 
and successive phenomena: in the first, the lower part of 
the stem still retains its vertical direction, while the upper 
part is more or less horizontal; in the second, the upper 
portion being a little straightened and the lower slightly 
inclined, the whole of the stem becomes straightened, and 
finally points in the direction of the light. Although a 
plant thus inclines itself towards the side from whence 
the light proceeds, it is not necessary, as MM. de Can- 
dolle and Dutrochet appear to think, that the point of 
curvature should receive any portion of the rays of light. 
This bend does not remain in the young stems after the 
cause which produced if has been removed : the intensity 
of curve is, however, far from being the same when the 
young plants are placed under different circumstances ; so 
that it may be laid down as a general rule that the ten- 
dency of the stems towards the light is much greater in 
proportion as the light is less intense, or the point from 
which it proceeds is low. The medium in which a plant 
is situated has no influence except upon the length of 
time in which the curve is produced ; for both in water 
and in an atmosphere of hydrogen or nitrogen, the curve 
always terminates, though doubtless at different periods, 
by acquiring the same amount, provided all other condi- 
tions correspond. If instead of a case with one aperture 
the young plants were placed in a bag with two openings, 
and thus received the light in two directions, phenomena 
equally curious would be observed. These two apertures 
may be formed in the same side of the box, so that the 
rays of light which pass through them may form an angle 
more or less acute with each other; or the apertures may 
be situated on opposite sides. In the firstinstance, when 
the intensity of the two lights is equal, the stem bends in 
the direction of the resultant—that is to say, of the 
bisector of the angle formed by the two rays. But when 
the power of the two lights is unequal, either from the 
difference in the size of the apertures, or owing to one of 
them being partially shaded, the stem no longer curves in 
the direction of the resultant, but towards the strongest 
light. By the aid of a young plant, therefore, it may be 
ascertained which of two lights is the most intense—or 
which of two glasses is the most transparent; and, under 
certain circumstances, a plant may serve as a correct 
photometer. In the second instance, when the light is 
admitted on opposite sides of the box, provided the 
intensity of the rays is equal, the plant, equally 
balanced between both, neither leans to one nor the other. 
If, on the contrary, there is a difference in the power of 
the two lights, it inclines towards the most intense, unless 
it meets with a sufficiency of light from both sides; in 
which case it no longer grows curved, although the light 
should be more powerful on one side than on the other. 
Tn order to induce these phenomena, it is not necessary 
that all the rays of which light is composed should be 
present; for in all my experiments, either with the 
heliostadt or with coloured and analysed glasses, if I pro- 
ceeded by elimination, the result was, that the plant, 
when exposed to the red, orange, yellow, and green rays, 
grew as if it were in complete darkness— that is to say, it 
never inclined to either side; whereas, under the blue and 
violet rays, it always acquired acurved form. This com- 
plete inaction under certain rays is not owing to the nature 
of the green or colouring matter. When. two lights cross 
—the one a screen of water, the other a screen of spirits 
of turpentine—a plant inclines itself towards the bisector 
—that is to say, it grows as if the light were not obscured. 
As far, therefore, as the phenomenon of motion is con- 
cerned, the chemical rays of light possess no influence. 
As a plant situated between two luminous rays of unequal 
intensity always bends towards the most powerful, I 
could easily ascertain whether the blue or violet,ray exerted 
the greatest influence; and it has always been in favour 
of the blue. Finally, as the stem always curves in pro- 
portion to the deficiency of light, I could easily, by means 
of plants placed in different parts of a dark chamber, 
ascertain whether the darkness were complete.—J. Payer, 
in the Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences at Paris. 
Hopeton Oats.—In the Cobourg Star, an American 
paper, we find that a specimen of the Hopeton Oat, in 
the straw, was presented to the Editor of that journal, 
which, from the root to the top of the ear, measured up- 
wards of 7 feet. The soil upon which it was grown was 
a heavy clay, on a retentive subsoil, which was three 
years since broken up from grass, and afterwards tho- 
roughly tile-drained. The average height of the, crop 
from which it was taken is said to haye been 6 feet. 
In cooking vegetables, the choice of water is very im- 
portant, owing to the different effects produced in their 
texture by hard and soft water. Thus, green vegetables 
and pulse lose both their colour and consistence if boiled 
in soft water, whereas, if boiled in hard water, the colour 
is much better preserved, and the texture less altered. 
If, however, we wish water to act asa solvent, as, for 
instance, in making soap, and extracting the vegetable 
aroma, as well as the animal juices, the purest soft water 
will be by far the most suitable.— Miss Zornlin’s World 
of Waters. 
GARDEN MEMORANDA. 
Newport, Salop.—There is now growing in Mr. Adams’ Nursery 
a plant of the Clianthus puniceus that has survived the three last 
winters, and extends over from six to seven square feet of wall. 
It is at present covered with large clusters of blossom.—May 20. 
Messrs. Waterer’s Exhibition of American Plants, King’s-road, 
Chelsea.—Considerable additions have been made to this splendid 
open in two or three days. Besides an enormous mass of bloom, 
varying in the Rhododendrons from purplish to white, and com- 
prising the orange and flame tints of the Azaleas with the delicate 
waxen-blossoms of Kalmia latifolia, the most prominent feature 
is the fine standard Rhododendrons; they are, within certain 
limits, of almost all sizes and heights, from a great, spreading 
tree, to a low, round-headed shrub. Some tall specimens, with 
comparatively small heads, would make admirable substitutes 
for Orange-trees in the Italian style of gardening; and others, of 
a larger ipti ith b hes d ing down to the ground, 
would be magnificent objects on lawns. We noticed R. hya- 
cinthiflorum blooming well as a standard, and several handsome 
hybrids between R. ticum and catawbiense. The way in which 
the standards are produced is by grafting. The entire collec- 
tion bears evidence of how well even the most delicate plants may 
be transplanted, if proper care is exercised in taking them up 
with large balls of earth to the roots. An immense standard 
specimen, which was brought to the same place two years back, 
has been removed there again this season, and is blooming mag~ 
nificently, thereby showing that the finest plants are not injured 
by shifting. The plants will afford a decided treat to the ad- 
mirers of showy flowers.—E. K., May 23. 
Brown's Nursery, Slough.—Had there been no railroads, and 
we had been compelled, as in days of yore, to walk 20 miles on 
foot to visit our neighbour's garden, a sight of the Tulip-bed at 
this Nursery wow ore than compensate for all the labour. 
Grown under favourable circumstances, as to soil and air, the 
strength of growth and luxuriance of foliage are proportionably 
great, and the blooms are fuller of colour this year than the 
Rosa; Ulysses, broken also by Mr. C. Brown, is a first-row 
Bizarre, and although no doubt raised from Polyphemus, is di 
ferent from that flower, or from Albion, to which latter it has 
compared; for, independently of being only and con- 
stantly feathered, the shape is not exactly like either of those 
flowers, besides expanding less freely, which, during so colda 
season as the present, is a manifest disadvantage. Mr. 
has, however, broken many flowers similar to Polyphemus, some 
of them quite as good, and some inferior to it. One of them, a 
fourth-row flower, is nearly as large as Lawrence’s Sheet 
Anchor, but it is not perhaps quite so close in shape; another, 
which for distinction is called Brown’s Polyphemus, has an 
Madame Vestris, Austria, Strong’s King, and Captain White, 
are all remarkably good; whilst Claudiana, of which we had 
not seen a good bloom this year, is magnificent; Siam, Desde- 
mona, Catherine, Pompe funébre, Parmegiano, and Lac, are 
generally heavy, and not by any means so good as last season. 
We missed a flower which is always good, and has been this 
nb: 
owever, such will not be the case in future. Of Tricolors, 
such as they are, tbere were many fine specimens, particularly 
of Lawrence’s Black Duke, and Willmer’s Duke of York. As the 
blooms are now in full perfection, we should advise those of our 
readers who intend to pay this Nursery a visit (and it will well 
compensate them), to lose no time, inasmuch as one hot day 
would, in sucha season as the present, in all probability cause 
the flowers to drop very rapidly.—W. 
it 
inued from page 304.) 
44. Geography of Piants.—It is very remarkable that 
the Flora of Sicily produces scarcely any, if any, peculiar 
indigenous species, the plants being common, almost 
without exception, to Italy or Africa, or some of the 
countries surrounding the Mediterranean, whereas there 
are several indigenous plants in Corsica and some other 
Mediterranean islands. Mr. Lyell supposes the plants of 
Sicily to have migrated from pre-existing lands; and, as 
the remains of living species of shell-fish and zoophytes 
are found embedded in the strata at the summits of lofty 
mountains in the island, he brings us to this curious 
result, that the families of plants and animals of the Val 
di Noto, and some other mountainous regions of Sicily, 
are of higher antiquity than the country itself; that is, 
that these species flourished elsewhere before the island 
was raised from the depths of the sea, and even before the 
materials of its strata were deposited beneath the waters. 
45. Palestine.—‘‘ A land flowing with milk and honey,” 
is a proverbial expression, characterising a land exuberantly 
productive, not only in the necessaries, but the luxuries of 
life. It includes more than it expresses ; yet even as 
more strictly understood, it is particularly applicable to 
alestine, the rich pastures of which secure ar ample 
supply of very excellent milk, while for the superior 
quality ofits honey it seems at all times to have enjoyed a 
high reputation. Milk and honey, in various preparations, 
occupy a prominent place in the dietary system of the 
people of Western Asia. 
46. The Observation of Nature.—When Anaxagoras, 
the peculiar property of whose mind has been called “a 
certain high-wrought and fanciful sublimity,’’ was asked 
why he came into the world, he answered, ‘To behold 
the sun, the moon, and the marvels of nature.” 
