sialianieenl 
Ys 
1843.] 
THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
911 
named Hortus siccus of hardy arboreous and fruticose plants, 
either species or marked varietics, the growth of season 1843,— 
. M‘Nab was read, recommending 
jonnon, a 
journeyman gardener, at Archerfield ; which report was unani- 
mously approved of, ‘The hherbari 3 ab 
containing upwards of 500 specimens, with names and localities. 
Among ewvtra articles, or those for 
Fry’s Pippin, of crop 1842, in a good state of preservation, from 
From the Inverleith Nurseries, 
here were sent for exhibition a 
well-grown plant of Erica hyemalis, in flower, and the beautiful 
and rather rare Manettia bicolor, also in flower, for which a 
wi 
sinense, for which a similar award was made to Mr. 
Simpson, gr. to Captain Wemyss; and from the garden at 
Gosford ,House, a collection of twenty-four named Chrysan~ 
themum blooms, neatly laid down on paper by Mr. Addison. 
eill, Secretary, read to the meeting the following commu~- 
nications :—1, A report by Mr. J. M’Nab, Curator of the Experi- 
mental Garden, as to a collection of detached or extracted seeds 
(not cones) of Himalayan Conifers, presented by the Highland 
and Agricultural Society in April last, and which had been care- 
The seeds of Abies Morinda 
and Pinus e but none of the Pinus 
Gerardiana or Cedrus Deodara hadgerminated. 2. A report, also 
ackenzie, Bart., 
for his zeal and attention in making such interesting and useful 
i ciety. 4, An account of a substitute 
for glass for covering Melon-frames, &c., consisting of calico or 
pook-muslin, overlaid with a transparent gummy liquid which 
resists the entrance of rain, prepared by Mr. Whitney, chemist, 
Shrewsbury. 5. on p i ne-fruit wall- 
trees by means of hay-netting, and on the atility of brick-tiles 
placed on the border in promoting, by radiation, the ripening of 
the wood and fruit of such trees; by Mr. Barron, gr. to the Earl 
of Harrington, at Elvaston Castle. 6, The journal of Mr. James 
JWNab’s Horticultural tour in England, in July last, when he 
visited the Arboretum at Derby, and the Botanical collections at 
Chatsworth, Elvaston, Woburn, Frogmore, Ealing Park, Chis- 
wick, Hackney, Clapton, &c. 
BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
Nov. 30.—This was the first meeting for the season—Dr. Neill 
in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected, viz..—Drs. 
N. Buckley, Rochdale, Lancashire, and C. Kingford Vacy, Laun- 
ceston, Cornwall; and Messrs. J. E. Errington, M. Inst. C. E., 
and T. Eccleston, as non-resident Fellows ; and W. Brown, Esq., 
R.N., as a resident Fellow, Numerous donations since last 
eeting, both for the library and museum, were announced. 
of a Botanical excursion, 
mountains. Dr. Grab . Bel 
ob pote recent additions to the Flora of the Isle of Wight, and 
of the many species or varieties of Rubi occurring in that island, 
‘one of which, considered by Dr. Salter to be Rubus suberectus, 
was particularly inte! sting from its size, almost reaching that 
of a small tree, and with leaves above six incbes in length, Mr. 
Brand read a communication from Dr. W. H. Campbell, respect- 
ing the Eta Palm-wood of British Guiana, whieh’ is of extrem 
ed in the colony, among other things, for 
& robably owing to its containing much 
Dr. Campbellalso mentioned several other kinds of wood, 
equally remarkable for their solidity and weight, for their great 
beauty, and for the high prices they bring in this country for 
C 
lightness, and is us' 
NOTICES ov NEW PLANTS WHICH ARE EITHER 
USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL, 
IRRHOPETALUM AURATUM. Gold-edged Dirrhopetalum. 
(Stove Epiphyte.) Orchidacez. Gynandria Monandria.—. 
the singular species of this genus the present is one of the most 
interesting. It hangs down from the branch of a tree, or a piece of 
charred wood, which it soon overruns with its delicate green roots 
with a little sphagnum about its roots to retain moisture. Like 
many species of Pleurothallis, § 
atmosphere in winter as well asin a 
be remembered that the more light and heat, the more water is 
required, During the warm summer months, hen the tempera- 
ture of the house (although shaded) can sea} ely be kept below 
0°, the water required will be twice as much as is necessary in 
winter, when the temperature should never e raised above 50° 
5° ifici ANS. ical Register. 
or 55° by artificial means- Botan ee i: ey eae 
ni Monogynia. — There 
n this beautiful species and E. 
(stove Shrub.) Cactacex. 
is a near resemblance bet 
truncatum, with its varict 
very similar, and the appearance 0: 
branches, is likewise of arelated character. 8 are, 
more slender in &. Russellianum and more decidedly chain-like, or 
having the parts between the joints more regular and less flat- 
tened. Our present species, has, moreover, a tendency to pro- 
duce longer shoots, which, from their greater tenuity, are more 
ery fit associate for E. truncatum, 
and a good acquisition to any collection of the tribe. But its 
principal merit is in the hue of its flowers, which is most peculiar 
It is really mixed with the crimson in the texture of the flower, 
i Unlike E. truncatum, it 
is 
and in this state makes a capital plant for placing on the outside 
istic appearance if grafted on a standard Pereskia aculiata, 
4 Aid ae ences 
mmed C: 
or any of the strong-growing kinds of Cereus, Its flexile 
branches will then have an opportunity of showing their true 
character, To obtain young specimens from cuttings it is only 
necessary to keep alittle damp moss round any of the branches, 
at a joint, and there will speedily be roots formed at that place. 
Indeed, the plant roots freely atits joints, in a moist atmosphere, 
ith such external application. It was found by Mr. Gar- 
dener on the Organ Mountains of Brazil, and named after the 
that appearance has gone off, and the foliage is now of a deep rich 
glossy green. While the peautiful yellow flowers ar 
and show 
from the offensive smell of that species. In the garden of the 
Horticultural Society it proves to be a greenhouse shrub, requir- 
grows freely if potted in a compost consisting of peat, loam, and 
sand in equal proportions. The pot should be well drained, and 
a few pieces of potsherds mixed through the soil. Plenty of air 
and water must be given in summer, and shade in sunny days. 
In winter the plant should be placed in some airy place free from 
frost, and be watered in fine weather. may be propagated by 
cuttings in the usual wa) otanical Register. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
New Hardy Oak.—Vhis Oak, the Quercus glabra, 
was sent to Paris from Leyden, in 1836, and has perfectly 
succeeded there; for itis now 4} feet high. It is little 
known, in q of its r bl. to. a Laurel 
more than to an Oak. It takes very well from cuttings, 
placed in bottom-heat under a bell-glass; a plant propa- 
gated in this manner four years ago, and in the open 
ground for three years, is doing very well. It was pro- 
tected by a hand-glass in the winter for the two first 
years ; the third year it was destined to undergo all the 
severity of that winter, if there had been any. I should 
think that under a hand-glass it has sustained at least 
eight centigrade degrees ; this makes me believe that we 
could cultivate it, if not under the climate of Paris, yet, 
certainly, under that of Anger, where acclimating becomes 
every day more easy, and where the soil suits so well the 
trees and plants of Japan. From what M. Siebold says 
in his Work, it appears that this tree has all that is de- 
sirable as an object of propagation. This Oak, he says, 
isa large upright tree, branching out at the top, its leaves 
are tough, of a bright green underneath, perfectly entire, 
and remain three years upon the tree. Since I have had 
it at home, I have not discovered that it has shed its 
leaves. The catkins are very numerous and upright ; the 
acorns ripen the following year, like those of other ever- 
green Oaks. In Japan they eat the fruit, which tastes 
like Chesnuts. There are some varieties of this. The 
wood is hard and heavy, and is used in making agricul- 
tural implements, and different utensils for other pur- 
poses. It is propagated by seeds and by grafting. ‘This 
beautiful Oak was introduced to Leyden in 1830, by 
seeds which germinated on the passage from Japan to 
Holland. I tried to graft it on a common Oak, but did 
not succeed. Ishould think that if it were grafted upon 
our evergreen species, we should have better success.— 
Neumann, in Rev. Hort. 
Zinc Labels, to write on with a common Pencil.— 
Slightly rub with pumice-stone the part of the label 
upon which you wish to write, then write upon it with 
a common lead pencil, and when the letters have been 
exposed to the air for two or three days, they are in- 
delible. If you wish to efface the writing, you must rub 
the label with the pumice-stone, and if the labels become 
covered over with earth or oxide, rub your finger, slightly 
wetted, over them, and they will reappear. Old zinc is 
preferable to new for this purpose. M. Paul Manoury, 
gardener in the Garden of: Plants, of Caen, made this 
discovery several years ago.—Rev. Hort. 
Action of Rools on Glass—Dr. Jackson stated that 
he had noticed the fact that glasses in which Hyacinth 
bulbs had been grown, were corroded. He had also 
noticed the same effects on bottle glass, which had lain in 
garden mould. He supposed that the plants had the power 
of decomposing glass as well as the felspar of granite, and 
of appropriating to their use the potash contained in it, 
and that this was the source of the potash coutained in 
the ashes of plants.—Proceedings of Boston Society. 
Application of Dr. Boucherie’s Method for Improving 
the Appearance and Quality of Wood, by the Injection of 
various Fluids.—We learn from the Revue Horticole that 
Dr. Boucherie has obtained permission to make trial of 
his method on some trees in the Forest of Compiégne. 
Two modes of effecting the penetration of the wood are 
adopted. When the trees are in leaf, the natural suction 
js sufficient to cause the ascent of the foreign fluid from 
the bottom of the tree to the extremity of the leaves. But 
when the leaves have fallen, the trees require to be cut 
and laid in a horizontal position; and by pressure the 
fluid is then forced into the tissue, the sap, which offers 
but little resistance, being at the same time expelled, The 
rapidity with which the foreign fluid is substituted for the 
natural sap of the tree surpasses conception. As an in-- 
stance, the trunk of a Beech, 524 feet in length, and 2 feet 
9,88 inches of mean diameter, and consequently contain 
ing 328 cubic feet, had 186,743 cubic inches, or 6734 
gallons of sap expelledin 25 hours; and in the same period 
195,897 cubic inches, or 7064 gallons of pyroligneous acid 
were injected. From this experiment, which was very 
carefully conducted, it may be inferred, in the first place, 
that the wood of the Beech is solid to the extent of about 
two-thirds of its volume; hence one-third remains as 
space destined for the circulation of sap. Secondly, thatin 
its natural state a tree of advanced age contains vacuities 
into which the sap no longer penetrates, since as above 
706% gallons of fluid were injected, and only 6733 ex- 
pelled; this may be attributed to the diseased state 
of certain portions of tissue not permeable to the 
sap by natural propulsion, but which are capable of being 
filled with the acid when the latter is injected with suffi. 
cient force. M. Boucherie has thus been able to intro- 
duce preservative acids into the pores of trees, expelling 
at the same time the sap, an active agent of corruption; 
thereby insuring for wood work an incalculable duration. 
By the same procedure, calcareous substances in solution 
are introduced; these render the wood much harder, 
stronger, and almost incombustible; qualities valuable for 
constructions generally, and particularly for ship-building. 
By this and certain chemical processes, the colouring: of 
wood is also effected ; and tints of blue, green, red, yel-* 
low, and violet, are communicated—not a dull uniform 
tinge, but heautiful variegations according to the windings 
of the cellular tissue.|| 
New Botanical and Horticultural Books.—Endlicher’s 
“Genera Plantarum,’’ 3d Supplement ; Schleiden’s 
“ Grundziige. der Botanik,” vols. i. and ii.; De Can- 
dolle’s ‘‘ Théorie Elémentaire de la Botanique,’’3d_. 
Edition; Lindley’s ‘Théorie der Gartenkunde,”’ trans-- 
lated into German by Professor Treviranus. 
Vegetable Irritability —Gentiana sedifolia, a native of 
the Cordilleras.of Guayaquil, at the height of 9000 feet, 
possesses, in a striking manner, the property of instantly 
closing its blossoms om being slightly touched by the 
finger ; and so completely is this effected, that one hardly 
recognises the same plant which, a few moments before, 
was expanding its deep azure flowers to the sun’s rays. 
It is a curious circumstance, that cold, or probably some 
other cause connected with atmospheric rarefaction, 
should, in this instance, excite vegetable irritability. The 
reverse happens with respect to the Mimose, many of 
which are natives of the temperate mountain region ; -yet 
none of these contract their leaves on being touched ; 
while other species of the same family, abundantly dis- 
tributed on the sultry savannah that borders the coast, 
manifest that property in a very remarkable degree.— 
Jameson, in’ Hooker's Journal of Botany. 
Climate of Quito; its Orchidacee—The western side 
of Pichincha, fronting the Pacific, is frequently obscured 
by dense fogs, sweeping across the face of the paramo, 
occasioned by ascending aerial currents, charged with 
moisture, intermingling with the cool mountain atmo- 
sphere ; while that of the table land of Quito, unless when 
disturbed by the transient effect of a thunderstorm, is re- 
markably dry and transparent. This may be one reason why 
no trees are found on the plain of Quito, excepting such 
as have been planted round the “‘ haciendas.’’ At Pichan, 
12,986 feet, where the western descent commences, we 
have, instead of shrubs, large forest-trees clothing the pre- 
cipice to the height of nearly 14,000 feet, associated with 
a few Alpine forms, as Lychnis (No. 115), Cerastium 
(No. 108), a gigantic Draba (No. 77), and a stinging 
Loasa, with a flower of the colour and size of an Orange. 
From this point down to the level of about 8,000 feet, 
the forests frequently break into clumps or patches with 
vacant spaces of soft green pasture, very much resembling 
English park scenery. Nothing can exceed the richness 
and variety of the flora of this region.. The gorges, or 
wooded defiles, are resplendent with Fuchsias, Thibaudias, 
and Begonias, entwined with Tacsonias and Alstroemerias ; 
nor can I conceive anything finer than the curious genus 
Loranthus, vegetating on the large forest-trees, and dis~ 
playing aloft a profusion of splendid blossoms. One 
species, in particular, produces a large cluster of pendant” 
flowers, each measuring about 10 inches in length, and 
resembling the finest coral. From their peculiar mode of 
growth, none of these shrubs have been hittierto introduced 
in a living state, and consequently no idea can be formed 
of their extreme beauty from the mere inspection of a dried 
specimen. Amid the multitude of fine flowers that embel- 
lish these tropical forests, those of the Orchidacez deserve 
particular notice. Perhaps no class of plants displays so 
much diversity in the construction of the corolla, while 
the whole group is at once distinguished as constituting 
an extremely natural bl The bl whic! 
some of the flowers bear to certain animals has not escaped 
the observation of these people, little inclined as they are 
to investigate the natural productions of their magnificent 
country. The fine genus Anguloa, a native of the pro- 
vince of Loxa, produces a flower which, from some 
fancied resemblance to a bull’s head, has received the name 
of ‘el Torito.’’? Cyrtochilum pardinum is a native of the 
alpine forests of Cuenca and Loxa. The cattle farm of 
Surucucho, verging on the paramo, over which is traced 
the main road to Naranjal, presents a greater number of 
the more minute species than any other locality with which» 
Tam acquainted. We have a description. of these from 
the able pen of Professor Lindley ; and though important 
for the advancement of botanical science, I doubt -much 
whether they will be ever seen in a living state. The 
genus Stelis, of which there is a vast number of species, 
is lesa affected by cold than the generality of plants 
