318 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



the leaf is marked with streaks and colours similar to 

 the flower. There is one of that sort in our Tulip-bed, 

 which is confirmation strong that flowers are metamor- 

 phosed leaves. These are phenomena rejected as absurdi- 

 ties by those persons who repudiate every discovery in 

 Nature which does not come within the scope of their 

 own pre-conceived notions, and who exhibit a degree of 

 violence in their opposition to it, proportioned to their 

 ignorance of the subject. The investigation of Morpho- 

 logy should be pursued with an earnest and honest desire 

 to elicit truth, rather than a determination to find some 

 flaw in the operation, by which they might raise a cla- 

 mour against the principle and its supporters.— W. F. 



Keune, Ley bourne Grange. ' _ 



Seedling Pelargoniums.— I have flowered plants ot 

 these three weeks ago, that were raised from seed sown 

 August 28, 1843. The size of the plants will show that 

 they are not stunted specimens. They stand 18 inches 

 above the surface of the pots, and are 2 feet m circum- 

 ference. The thickness of the stems is H inch, and 

 numbers of the leaves measure either way G inches.—./. 



Sherriff, Lodge Road t Hockley. 



De Candoltes Prodromus.— l laving just received the 

 eighth volume of De Candolle's" Prodromus," I am sorry 

 to find the Monograph of the Primulacea by Duby very 

 inferior in its execution to the others, and it is a pity to 

 see so many omissions. For instance, amongst many 

 others, what has he done with Primula helvetica (Don.), 

 fig. in the Bot. Cabinet, t. 348 ? Is it Primula microcalyx ? 

 No mention is made either of the name, or figure. What 

 has he made of Primula Simsii, Botanical Magazine, t. 

 1161 ? This is passed unnoticed, like P. helvetica, as is 

 also P. nivea (Fisch.) These probably are only varieties 

 of P. villosa, but they ought to be taken up. When a 

 Monograph i3 written in such a valuable systematic- 

 botanical publication as the 44 Prodromus," it ought to be 

 done with extreme care, and, if possible, without the 

 omission of any described plant ; but these omissions, in 

 my opinion, arise from extreme carelessness. Indeed, the 

 details seem very indifferent when compared with the 

 other Monographs. In the same volume, Sir J. E. Smith's 

 "English Flora," which is our standard authority for Bri- 

 tish Plants, is passed over, and not quoted for the three 

 Primulas — which belong to Britain — as is also English 

 Botany. It will be beneficial, I imagine, if you will notice 

 these omissions; and if you will examine the Monograph 

 you will find many more. By noticing these omissions, 

 M.De Candolle may be induced to supply the deficiencies 

 in the Appendix to the next volume. Should Mr. Duby 

 be engaged to write any more articles, it is to be hoped he 

 will bestow more care, and not suffer so valuable a work 

 to fall off in public estimation.— F. B. IV. , Cambridge. 

 A Full Trap. — Mr. Marsden lately found in a small 

 common iron spring rat-trap, in his shop at Cabus, near 

 Garslang, ho less than four lull-grown rats ; two of them 

 were held by the tail, and the other two each by a leg. 

 I saw them in this pleasant position. — Facile. 



Miscellaneous. — " Delta" remarks, that he never saw 

 a honey-bee extracting either honey or 'pollen from the 

 Polyanthus. He writes, that he has long been both an 

 apiarian and a large grower of Polyanthuses, and that he 



has taken particular notice of the fact. Mr. J. Linton, 



of JIulme, Manchester^ informs us that he lately cut a 

 Cowslip out of his garden, with a bloom consisting of 

 180 pips, and a stem 1 foot long. This, he considers, 



is rather remarkable. A Gardener states that Spheno- 



gyne speciosa stood the winter of 1842 with him, under 

 a wall having a south aspect, and flowered in March, 

 1843. He has this year sown seed in the open ground, 

 and says that the plants are about half an inch high. 



The Rev. John Thorley's bee apparatus was presented to 

 the Society by Sir Charles Whitworth, in 1763, and was 

 e model recommended to be followed by apiarians, the 

 Society having at that time offered 200/. to the persons 

 who should collect the largest amount of merchantable 

 wax without destroying the bees ; and from that year to 

 1821 the Society continued to encourage, by their re- 

 wards, every real improvement in the management of 

 bees. In Varro, " De re Rustica," Book III., chap. 16, 

 a curious account of the profit to be devived from bee- 

 keeping, beginning with " De fructu authorem habeo," 

 &c. &c, the translation of which is as follows :— " Of 

 the fruit (profit) I have not only a witness who says he 

 lets out his bees for 5000 lbs. of honey by the year, 

 but also our friend Varro, who had with him in Spain 

 two rich brothers, soldiers, to whom their father left a 

 small country -^house, and a little field of about one acre ; 

 near to the house they formed an apiary, and also a 

 garden, which was planted with Thyme, Cytisus, and 

 Balm. Taking one year with another, their profit from 

 bee-keeping never amounted to less than 10,000 sesterces, 

 equal to 83/. 6s. %d. English money." The following 

 bee-houses and hives, &c. &c, were placed on the table, 



[Mat 18, 



winter it should never be raised higher than 64' 

 means. — Botanical Register. 



b y~axtifi5ai 



Erica Murrayana Mr. Murray's Heath ir. » 

 Shrub.) Ericaceae. Octandria Monogvnia.— This il/nT^ 9 *** 

 other worthy result of experiment in the intermix., £„; ls 



ties. 



intermixture of 



It was reared from seeds by Mr. A. Turnbull of nS?^: 

 Castle Gardens, near Hamilton, Scotland, and has been «S^£ 

 him after his friend Mr. Murray, of the Glasgow lJ„t an il7^!5 ** 

 Mr. Turnbull favours us with the following :— " E ar Stat "^ 

 being a dwarf compact grower, and E. vestita coccinea a ran!!!!" *" 

 grower, my object in crossing them was, if possible, to wt »r a |-5 

 with the dwarf habit of the former, and the brilliant fW.~ # v f 

 latter. With this view I impregnated E. aristata minor Si 5* 

 pollen of E. vestita coccinea, in the spring of 1337 Tkl , 

 ripened freely, and were sown in the autumn of the same tJIa 

 few of them vegetated the following spring (1838), and th7rl 

 mainder twelve months after. As I could not spare room fh 

 keeping them all, so soon as I could form some idea of their hato 

 1 destroyed all those that approximated most nearly to the nS 



but their description would occupy too much space, 

 viz.: Espinassk's Bes-house— Milton's Common- 

 straw Hive; Do., with cap; Do., with revolving-top ; 

 Miniature Apiary ; Box Hive, with interior cases ; Huber 

 or Leaf Hive; Unicomb Observatory Hive ; Storified Box 

 Hive ; American Transparent Bee Palace — Nun's Im- 

 proved Hive, with pavilion and collateral apartments, hav- 

 ing athermometer and ventilatorattached — Neighbour's 

 Improved Single Box Hive ; Cottage Hive, with venti- 

 lators and thermometer; Ladies' Glass Observatory 

 Hive ; Simple Cottage Hive— Sholl's Bee Castle, with 

 pavilion, &c. ; Hive of Glass; Portable Barrel Hive— 

 Thorley's Bee Apparatus. 



Hebiefos. 



The Cryptogamous Plants of Dr. Roxburgh, forming 

 the Fourth and last Part of the Flora Indica. 



By W. Griffith, Esq. 

 The name of Roxburgh stands first among those of the 

 botanists who have investigated the vegetation of India. 

 Although not a man of high scientific attainments, and 

 living at a time when the true principles of classification 

 were little known, yet his extraordinary diligence, zeal, 

 and good sense, more than compensated for such defi- 

 ciencies. It is not much to the credit of other botanists 

 that so little justice should have been done to his labours. 

 For years a manuscript copy of his "Flora Indica," in the 



Societies. 



SOCIETY OF ARTS. 

 May 15. — Sir J. J. Guest, Bart., M.P., V.P., &c, 

 in the chair. The Secretary read a paper on the Im- 

 proved Management of Bees ; the materials for .which 

 were partly obtained from the Society's Transac- 

 tions, but chiefly from Mr. Milton, Mr. Neigh- 

 bour, and Mr. Sholl, apiarians. Several bee-houses 

 and hives, as recommended by the above-named, were 

 placed before the meeting. — Mr. Sholl's bee3 have 

 been at work on the Society's premises since April 17, 

 and the results of their labours were shown to the meeting. 

 The first accounts of bees are contained in the writings 

 of Varro, Pliny, Columella, and others. By Columella, 

 the celebrated writer on husbandry in the reign of Clau- 

 dius Caesar, the subject is treated at considerable length, 

 and contains all the information on the subject known in 

 his time. About the 16th century this subject attracted 

 the attention of many eminent persons in various parts 

 of Europe. Gervase, Markham, Gawson, Stephens, 

 Sufflet, and others translated the (i Maison Rustique " 

 in 1529. In 1539, Ruccellai produced his beautiful 

 poem '• Api ;" following these, Mr. Thomas Hylland Ed- 

 mund Southorn, were busily engaged on the subject. 

 In 1609, Charles Butler, the father of English 

 apiarians published his " Feminine Monarchic," 

 containing valuable observations on the instinct and 

 habits of bees. In 1654, we find that great architect, 

 Sir Christopher Wren, while at Oxford, engaged in the 

 delightful study of bees, (a large drawing of whr se stori- 

 fied hive, consisting of three tiers of octagonal boxes, 

 was shown to the meeting). In 1655 Mr. S. Hartlib 

 drew the attention of apiarians to the subject of glass 

 hives and boxes. Dr. Butler, and all before his time, 

 used only common hives, made either of reeds or 

 straw. Maraldi in France, Swammerdam in Holland, 

 and Dr. Gedde (1675), Dr. Warder, and the Rev. John 

 Thorley in England, all paid much attention to the subject. 



library of Sir Joseph Banks, was, in this country, the 

 only accessible record of his labours ; his Indian editors 

 of the work, Drs. \Y allien and Carey, carried it no fur- 

 ther than a second volume, oat of many that would have 

 been required ; and when, at last, the bulk of his manu- 

 scripts was published by his sons, in justice to their 

 father's memory, no botanist revised the sheet?, so that 

 the work appeared with all the blemishes arising from 

 ignorant Indian transcribers. Yet it is a monument of 

 industry that Dr. Roxburgh's relations might well be 

 anxious to raise, and the foundation of the systematical 

 botasy of the peninsula of India. Mr. Griffith, the act- 

 ing superintendent of the Botanic Garden, Calcutta, has 

 now stepped forward, and, in a manner worthy of his dis- 

 tinguished rank as a botanist, has rescued from oblivion 

 Dr. Roxburgh's account of the Cryptogamic vegetation 

 that was known to him. 



The Cryptogamic plants described by Dr. Roxburgh 

 were chiefly Ferns; and Mr. Griffith hopes, by the pre- 

 sent publication, to secure for his name the authority to 

 which they are justly entitled. He calls upon botanists 

 to " exert themselves, and determine that his MS. names 

 shall not be passed over in favour of any other MS. 

 names, given in neglect of Roxburgh's characters, descrip- 

 tions or drawings ; any more than zoologists will show 

 countenance to similar names in the most marked case of 

 the zoological labours of Buchanan ; " and adds, " I wish 

 here to call the attention of the scientific world to the fact, 

 that no explanation has been yet given by Mr. John 

 Edward Gray, of the appearance of copies of Buchanan's 

 zoological drawings, without the slightest acknowledg- 

 ment, in the ' Illustrations of Indian Zoology' of General 

 Ilardwicke." 



the specimen sent, while the other one is very different, beingcont 

 tracted at the mouth of the corolla, in the way of E. epistomj 

 None of the plants exceeded eight inches in height when the* 

 bloomed, and I think they are likely to continue dwarf in their 

 habit, while their general appearance will certainly bear a con- 

 siderable resemblance to the Vestitas." E. Murrayana appears 

 quite to have realised Mr. Turnbull's wishes ; for its habit isverv 

 like that of E. aristata, and the flowers are as rich as those of the 

 male parent. It is a most beautiful hybrid, and other similar 

 ones, which we have received from Mr. Turnbull, are almost 

 equally good. The specimens evinced the highest state of health 

 and Mr. T. cultivates his plants according to the well-known, 

 treatise of Mr. M'Nab.— Paxton's Magazine of Botany. 



GARDEN MEMORANDA. 



The Arboretum at Derby. — Amidst the benefactori 

 of the human race, none stand more conspicuous than 

 the late Joseph Strutt, Esq., who* with an effective libe- 

 rality and determined kindness, was spared to commence, 

 carry on, and complete the (emphatically speaking) gar- 

 den of the poor. I visited this place on Sunday even* 

 ing, the 21st of April last. The gardens open only ia 

 the afternoon. I observed a happy seriousness on the 

 countenances of the visitors — a subdued enjoyment which 

 spoke volumes in favour of the judgment of the noble- 

 minded man who had thus provided the means of bring- 

 ing the works of the Almighty under the eye of those 

 who, all the week, are busily engaged in earning their 

 daily bread. Parents, with their children of variow 

 ages, might be seen quietly sitting on the /nany sab* 

 stantial seats provided for them under the shade of treety 

 or strolling on the walks, admiring the early flowers on 

 the shrubs ; all the shrubs have a name attached to tbem, 

 very conspicuous, yet not so as to be offensive to the 

 fastidious eye. Bricks are made for the purpose; they 

 are set on end, the upper angles being bevelled off. The 

 name is painted on the angle and covered with glass, 

 which keeps off the wet effectually ; I only observed two 

 in all the garden but what were as legible as the first dsy 

 they were put down. It was amusing to see the children 



0? ten years trying to read, r.c doubt to them hard name!, 



and puzzling their little heads to make them out. I re- 

 marked the good behaviour of those "children of the 

 poor," as amidst the many hundreds that were m the 

 garden. I only observed one instance of rudeness, m two 

 boys throwing stones at each other. It was instantly 

 checked by the eider people, and the boys slunk away 

 ashamed of their conduct. The garden was, as is gent- 

 rally known, laid out by the late Mr. Loudon, and tte 



NOTICES of NEW PLANTS WHICH are EITHER 



USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL. 



Cymbidium Pendulum, var. brevilahre. Short-lipped thick- 

 aved Cymbidium. (Stove Epiphyte.)- Orchidacere. Gynandria 

 Monandria.— As far as our experience goes, the ordinary varia- 

 tions to which Orchidacese ar« subject, are in all respects analogous 

 to what is met with in other plants, and as is exemplified by the 

 plant before us from Sincapore, in which, while the lip becomes 

 shorter, broader, and with a much blunter middle lobe, everything 

 e: remains so exactly the same, that nobody can entertain a 

 doubt about the specific identity of the plant with Cymbidium 

 pendulum. The vertical plates of the lip, in particular, are 

 quite uftchang showing, as we find it always shown, that the 

 elevations and processes of the surface of the lip are of the utmost 

 importance 111 considering the limits of species. Eria bractescens 

 and longilahris, furnish the converse of the rule. They are much 

 alike, and their labella vary in form in a manner not unlike that of 

 C. pendulum and C. p. previlabre; but with a change in the form 

 of the lip occurs In t! • plants a most material alteration in the 

 form of the labcllar processes, and both are connected with other 

 peculiarities in the appearance of the two species. This plant 

 was received by M< Loddiges fron r. Cuming, who found it 



at Smear* It should be gi n in turfy heath-mould, of rather 



c!< r texture than that commonly used 'fur Orchid ous plant 

 The pot should be well drained, in order that all superfluous water 

 may pass off freely, otherwise the roots will perish. Like some 

 other species of the genus, this requires an ample supply of water 

 at all times; and the atm< here to be kept as i; r as possible, 

 especially during the growing season. To prevent the leaves from 

 being scorched, the house should be slightly shaded in sunny 



execution of his task does credit even to him. Brort 

 substantial walks lead down the centre, branching ott 

 diagonally, and returning np each side ma«^ 

 ;orm. They are hid from each other by raised mow* 

 of various forms, sufficiently high to prevent persons .«- 

 ing over. The named specimens stand sing y on , tw 

 Grass, at such a distance from each other as then ^ 

 habits, as to size and form, will require when fully grown- 

 They are, consequently, conspicuous objects, and dn 

 attention even from the most heedless. In ™ e f ° 

 previously to its being laid out, there were some larger 

 trees ; these are judiciously preserved, and sea 

 placed under them. It is, I think, however an ofereg^ 

 that these our common trees are not nameo. ^ 



people pay attention to the names, was evident 1 

 fact that the early flowering shrubs, such as 

 Prnnus, &c, were crowded by even well-dr essed^ £ 

 persons, who were reading the > names, ana, it 

 stances, copying them. I would just observe £ * B|h 

 that the labels contain the botanical nan £ ** § 

 name, native country, and year of ^^Zte, and 

 means of refining the manners, elevatin ^^ aQ 



subduing evil propensities, giving the 1 instruclioDf 

 innocent and rational amusement, ana e j ^ 



the Derby Arboretum is much to be aa ced # m 



away delighted at the good effect : up ^^ wef e 

 already. The garden is we 11 kept , ^ 8nd 



smooth and free from weeds, the brass ^ 



of a good colour, and the bed * *^ e hoUg h the gar- 

 Many of the Ribes are fine specimens, aitn B 

 dens have only been finished three years. • 





Miscellaneous. Jan . 31, 



Mr. Fortune.-!**^ dated Hong-Ko * , A 



have been received by the Horticultural ^ ^ 

 that time Mr. Fortune was well, ana u & cons ider- 



from Shanghae and other northern parts, ^ ^ able ( 

 able number of plants, a portion of wnic ^^ tQ 8l ,u 

 despatch by the Cornwall, a fine ehij jj" ^ be the 

 It is hoped that many valuable acqui^ lled far 



result of this first trip. Mr J rt " n « d V rinf , and gene- 

 inland, visiting the gardens of he M-nd-n m ** 



rally receiving the greatest civility from * ^ v8n0 as 

 Nine glazed cases, a large number of** t0 Europe, 

 objects of natural history, are now on the, , ^ 



The Deodar.— The largest plantation ° df j 8 tha. 

 weather. In summer the temperature should never be allowed to , ,, . c w hi c h we have ye»- 



rise much above £0" by day, nor to jfoJl below C8« at night ; but in I ncent and usetul tree, 01 wu 



