January 27, 1912.] 



THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 



67 



particularly to specific peculiarities than to indi- 



•The Orchid Review."— The January nurn- 



Hibiscus Hybrids. — An account of the origin 



vidual characteristics. Many trees have bark so ber of The Orchid Review is printed on art of the new Hibiscus hybrids, known in America 



characteristic that their identity is recognizable paper, and in other directions improvements 



are 



as Median's Mallow Marvels, is given by Mr. 



by it alone. The smooth, blue-grey bark of the noticed, the editor showing that he intends to E. Hemming in Mitt. d. Deutschen Dendrolng. 



Beech is an instance; yet many are not able to maintain for the journal a leading place in GeselL, 20, 1911. The object which the late 



Thomas Meehan had in view in devoting him- 

 self to the hybridisation of Hibiscus species was 

 to obtain plants with good red flowers, which 



distinguish it from the bark of the Hornbeam, 

 distinct as the two are when properly examined. 



Associated with the studv of the trunk is that of 



literature dealing with Orchids. There is a 

 beautiful illustration of Cypripedium Lord 

 Wolmer " Westonbirt variety," and the text in- 



the branching, and we can suggest no better eludes a variety of interesting subjects. Amongst should possess the hardiness of Hibiscus 

 winter study than that connected with the per- other articles is one on the vexed question of moscheutos, a species widely distributed in the 

 manent characteristics of the hardy trees. Cypripedium versus Paphiopedilum, which is States of East America. After numerous ex- 



periments and many failures, MEEHAN succeeded 



in obtaining red-flowered hybrids by crossing 

 the tender H. coccineus with H. militaris, which 

 is hardy in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. 

 The hybrids thus obtained proved hardy, and 

 among them were some red-flowered seedlings, 

 which were used for cross-breeding with H. 

 moscheutos. The offspring of this latter cross 

 showed considerable range of colour, some being 

 pale rose, others red or scarlet. Selections from 

 among the best of the mongrels thus obtained 

 have yielded the Mallow Marvels, for which 

 Mr. Hemming predicts a brilliant future. They 

 are vigorous growers, reaching in the course of 

 three years a height of 6-8 feet and a breadth of 

 5-6 feet. An open, sunny position suits these 

 1 semi-shrubby hybrids best, and they thrive most 

 in a deep, rich, moist soil. The plants begin to 

 flower at the beginning of August, and remain 

 in flower for several weeks. Since frost kills 

 them down to the root-stock, Mr. Hemming re* 

 commends that the plants be cut down in 

 autumn to within 5 inches of the ground level. 

 Treated thus, the plants withstand a hard win- 

 ter, and throw up somewhat tardy but vigorous 

 shoots in the following year. 



Professor Bateson on " Genetics. 



• * 



FlG. 30. — VETERAN BEECH AT ASHRIDGE PARK. 



(See page 56, and Supplementary Illustration.) 



" Irish Farming Wo 

 Annual. 



th 



f 9 



Directory and ably dealt with by the editor. 



In dealing with 



This is a useful publication issued by the nomenclature of these plants it must be re- 



Professor Bateson, in his opening lecture at the 

 Royal Institution, expres&ed his intention of 

 dealing with the broader problems of biology in 

 the light of genetic discoveries. The progress 

 that had been made in the study of variation 

 and heredity, by means of Mendelian analysis, 

 shows that variation can no longer be regarded 

 as an indefinite phenomenon. Considering the 

 relation of variation to evolution, though evolu- 

 tion is a generally-accepted theory at the pre- 

 sent day, it is still impossible to give a definite 

 answer to the question, " How precisely has 

 evolution proceeded ?" It is scarcely possible to 

 say definitely how any domestic animal or plant 

 has arisen. Thus, it is generally believed that 

 the Cochin China fowl has come from Gallus 

 bankiva, the Indian jungle fowl ; but no one 

 knows by what exact process of addition or sub- 

 traction of elements this evolutionary process 

 has come about. In a broad consideration 

 of the nature of specific difference, it appears 

 that in all classes of living things there are good 

 species, with sharply-defined fixed characters, 

 and others in w T hich there is little fixity, and in 

 which the systematist finds it impossible to de- 

 cide w T hich are species and which are varieties. 

 Darwin expressed the hope that with the help 

 of his views, such difficulties would pass away. 

 But it is not too much to say that the theory of 

 natural selection fails exactly at the point where 



e Irish Farming World, and contains much membered that the only names used in gardens ^^ ^l^L"!'. "!^!^! "J**^? 



general interest not only to the farmer, but are Cypripedium and Selenipedium (names ac- 

 -also to the gardener. The list of stewards and 

 gardeners in Ireland is, so far as we know, the 



only one of its kind published. Other lists in- ^—, _ - 



^ude the Officers of the Department of Agricul- diums besides the one mentioned. 

 ture, the Council of Agriculture, County Com- 

 mittees of Agriculture, Breed Registration Socie- 



knowledged in Index Kewensis). The number 

 contains a portrait of the late Sir Joseph 

 Hooker, and illustrations of several Cypripe- 



of specific difference. Professor Bateson strongly 

 urged all workers in this field to dismiss from 

 their minds pre-conceptions as to how evolution 

 has proceeded, and as to the part played by utility 

 of structures, and to study the properties of ani- 

 mals and plants exactly as they would those of 



r. William Ward.— The many friends of inorganic substances. The doctrine that the 



principal shows in 1912. 

 furnished, and 



Societies 



Mr. William Ward, general 



manager 



for 



A garden calendar is 



many experts are recognised 

 among the contributors of articles dealing with 

 agriculture. 



degree of fixity of a specific character is a mea- 

 sure of its utility to the organism can no longer 

 oe held. 



Messrs. J. Backhouse & Son, Ltd., York, will 



learn with regret that he has been compelled, by 



reasons of ill-health, to retire for the present gestion that toleration is of as great importance aa 



from active business. selection in the evolution of specific forms. " 



The lecturer concluded with the sug:- 



