August 22, 1878. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
1535 
asserts that the Red Maple is, according to his observations, 
really dicecious, having only flowers of one sex on the same 
tree. But the male and female flowers are similar in outward 
appearance at first opening, except that the small pistil is not 
developed in the male flowers. The female flowers have 
anthers of full size, and are supposed to be of both sexes, but 
the fact is that the anthers do not develope after the flower 
has opened, and shed no pollen. This is a very remarkable 
survival from a condition when the flowers were perfect. It 
is not uncommon to find trees originally female sending forth 
male branches, but Mr. Meehan has not found male trees pro- 
duce female branches. The male flowers were found fragrant, 
the female not so.—(Nature.) 
DENNSTAIDTIA DAVALLIOIDES YOUNGII. 
SEVERAL months ago I purchased a plant of the above Fern, 
or rather a Fern bearing the above name, for I am now in 
doubt whether my plant is rightly named. When it was 
received it was in a small pot, and was dwarf in growth and 
had very finely cut bright green fronds. The plant was potted 
in a mixture of turfy loam, leaf soil, and charcoal—no peat— 
and was grown in a moist shaded place in a cool stove or 
intermediate house. It has grown with great luxuriance, and 
instead of being a low-growing Davyallia-like plant as I sup- 
posed it would be, it almost as much resembles an Alsophila 
but without its coarseness. I have asked the advice of two: 
neighbouring gardeners and am now more puzzled than ever, 
for one says my plant is true and the other that it is not. 
Fronds are -produced nearly 4 feet long and with very thick 
stems, which grow nearly upright and then arch gracefully. 
Tam not disappointed with my plant, for while it is robust it, 
is yet elegant ; but my doubt is that itis true to name. Can 
you enlighten me ?—W. B. L., Lancashire. 
(We think your plant is correctly named. Dennsteedtia. 
dayallioides Youngii is a stately-growing yet graceful Fern, 
(ge 
IS ff I 
NIN, 
Fig. 21—DENNSTZDTIA DAVALLIOIDES YOUNGII. 
as the accompanying truthful engraving, obligingly sent to us 
by Mr. B. S. Williams, sufficiently represents.—EDS. ] 
NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 
By what we have seen in more places than one we are 
satisfied that a word of warning is necessary against with- 
holding water to such an extent, as appears yet too common, 
from the roots of VINES IN POTS with a view of ripening the 
canes. Only evil can result by permitting the foliage to flag 
and become prematurely brown by allowing the roots to 
become excessively dry. The roots must be kept in a fresh 
healthy state, and the leaves should be encouraged to retain 
their green hue, and their change should be as gradual as 
possible. With heat, light, and air the canes will mature 
admirably without drying the roots extremely, and plumper 
buds in autumn and better bunches in spring will result tham 
if the Vines have been erroneously checked and starved with 
the view of accelerating the maturation of the wood. 
ONE of our contemporaries, who is distinguished for his 
hypercriticism ‘and occasional abortive attempts at wit, tells 
his readers that “whatever may have been the riches of the 
Hanging Gardens of Babylon, itis pretty certain that, all things 
considered, they were not excelled by what may be seen in 
some of the west-end squares.” He then counsels his readers. 
to visit ‘‘an area decorated with a dozen hanging baskets 
variously furnished.” (!) We often hear of descents from the 
sublime to the ridiculous, but a greater descent could hardly 
be imagined than to compare the glorious terraced gardens of 
Babylon with a dozen hanging baskets in a west-end London 
area—a dozen of the “biggest Gooseberries’’ we have heard of 
this year. 
