July 7, 1888.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



17 



dant conidia, or spores, of great size, slightly larger 

 even than the large conidia of the Potato fungus 

 itself. The accompanying illustration (fig. 2), enlarged 

 400 diameters, shows a single branched thread out of 

 the millions of handsome fellows produced by a 

 single diseased plant of Hellebore. 



As far as I know, no Peronospora has hitherto 

 been recorded upon Hellebores; and Dr. Cooke 

 writes me from Kew to say " We have nothing (i.e.. 



have contracted this disease. Peronospora ficaria; 

 grows commonly upon two Buttercups — viz., Ranun- 

 culus ficaria and R. repens, aud from these weeds it 

 has, no doubt, spread, with the worst results, to 

 Hellebores. 



As the fungus produces resting-spores in the putres- 

 cent foliage, which will probably remain alive in the 

 ground for several years, it behoves all gardeners 

 who have their plants attacked by this Peronospora 



Notices of Books. 



Fig. 2. — pekokospoha on" hellebores, isee p. Pi.) 



in the way of Peronospora) that I find on Hellebore." 

 However, the fact remains that for two seasons, 

 garden Hellebores have been mown down whole- 

 sale in the spring by the Peronospora before us, 

 whether in sun or shade, or under glass, all appear 

 to perish on facing this foe. 



Mauy botanists would make a new species of this 

 Peronospora, but it is better to consider it as a 

 robust and virulent form of Peronospora ficaria;, 

 Tul. This is Dr. Cooke's view and mine. 



It is not difficult to point out how Hellebores 



to carefully destroy with fire all affected examples. 

 Specimens have been sent to the British Museum 

 and Royal Gardens. Kew. Wortkington G. Smith, 

 Dunstable. 



Best of All and Wilson Junior Black- 

 berries. — Mr. A r ERTEuAxs sends us sprays of these 

 American Brambles laden with flowers, and with 

 abundant promise of fruit. Even apart from their 

 value as fruit producers, these Blackberries are re- 

 markably handsome in bloom, and well suited for the 

 wild garden on that score alone. 



The Native Flowers of New Zealand. 

 Illustrated in colours. By Charles Hetley. 

 Judging from the specimens before us, this should 

 form an excellent series of illustrations of the more 

 showy New Zealand plants. The drawings are true 

 to Nature, and not too highly coloured. They are 

 not intended for botanical purposes, but with a very 

 little more attention to detail they might be made 

 as serviceable to botanists as they are pleasing to 

 the lover of flowers. Messrs. Sampson Low & Co. 

 are the publishers. 



The Book of Beekeeping. By W. B. Webster. 

 (Upcott Gill, 170, Strand.) 

 Amid the numerous bee-books this may be 

 recommended to beginners for the simplicity and 

 clearness of its teaching. It does not claim to rank 

 as a scientific treatise, but as a handy guide for the 

 beginner it may be strongly recommended. 



Home Correspondence. 



LEAFY CLEMATIS FLOWERS.— Herewith, I send 

 some Clematis blooms, i.e., if they are worthy of the 

 name, and am at a loss to understand why they fail 

 to produce any colour. We have heieeight varieties 

 and all partake (more or less) of this character. The 

 soil they are growing in is of a gritty nature, and was 

 taken from the road-side, the position is open, but 

 sheltered from north winds, and the plants are attached 

 to a trellis erected for them. Can the soil be at 

 fault, or some atmospheric condition peculiar to this 

 locality? Double Narcissus here come single, and I 

 have noticed the colouring in zonal Pelargonium H. 

 .Tacoby is not nearly so dark as in the Western 

 counties. Tom Stone. [The outer parts of the flower 

 are all more or less replaced by leaves, the pistils and 

 some of the stamens and pistils are normal. Pro- 

 bably the amount of heat was deficient at a particular 

 period and induced leafy, rather than petalline de- 

 velopment. Ed.] 



DOUBLE-FLOWERED PRIMULAS FROM SEED.— 

 The red and the white varieties are easily managed. 

 1 sowed a packet of seed of each on April 1, 1887. 

 and the plants raised began to flower in October, and 

 lasted in flower until Mav last. The white-flowered 

 were double in every case and the flowers large. 

 The scarlet is very pretty — quite double, richly 

 coloured, the plants robust, and very abundant 

 bloomers. These Primulas I find excellent, both for 

 cutting from and to employ in house decorations. 

 The same kind of treatment as that afforded the 

 single kinds suits them. They can be propagated 

 true from seeds, and also from cuttings placed under 

 a bell-glass. W. Smyths, The Gardens, Basing 

 Po./:, Alton. 



ROSES FOR THE SAND HILLS. — Amongst the 

 plants to plant on sandy downs there is none more 

 promising than Rosa rugosa. It is its natural 

 station, "for I once saw it covering the sandy 

 beaches of Northern Japan, near Awamori, Nippon. 

 I am going to have the experiment made next winter 

 in the downs near Fumes, with a large batch of seed- 

 lings I raised for the purpose. J. van V., Brussels. 



THE GARDENERS' ORPHAN FUND.— As the bulk 

 of the voting papers for the ensuing election are 

 doubtless now filled up. will you permit me to re- 

 mark upon the fact that although there are ten can- 

 didates for the six vacancies on the Fund, only two 

 of that number, so far as I am aware, have issued 

 special appeals to the subscribers or have in such way 

 canvassed for votes. That so far is satisfactory 

 and right, and will encourage the committee to frame 

 a rule which should render canvassing in any form a 

 disqualification. The particulars issued to the sub- 

 scribers by the committee of the respective posi- 

 tion of the various candidates, seem to be fair, 

 and so far as I can see the friendly appeals issued 

 add nothing, whilst in one case matter of grave 

 importance, which shows the receipt of an income 

 hv the mother from other sources, is withheld. 

 Private appeals, therefore, do not seem always to 

 favour the claims of the most necessitous. However, 



