168 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[August 24, 1816. 



aa the flower buds selected are thus prepared they must be 

 enclosed in a paper bag until properly suited for the application 

 of the pollen. This may be from one to two days ; but some- 

 times, if the buds are very far advanced, they may be acted 

 on immediately, and again a few days afterwards, which will 

 increase the chances of success. Care moat be taken to keep 



The tuber only needs to be planted in a mixture of 

 loam, peat, and sand in the spring and be placed in a genial 

 temperature, when the plant will grow freely, and in due time 

 flower profusely. It is most attractive for conservatory or 

 room decoration, being remarkable for its eleganoe and in 

 bsing quite distinct from other plants with which it is likely 



the flower as closely covered over as possible, so that they may 

 not be impregnated except by the hand of the operator. The 

 pollen should be oolleoted in apieoe of blue paper by holding it 

 under some flowers and jarring the branch several times, when 

 a shower will fall. This should be quickly rolled up and ex- 

 cluded from the light, and may be kept for weeks to be ready 

 to operate with. This is done by taking up some of the polleu 

 collected on a camel-hair pencil and applying it gently to the 

 female organ or pistil. Aa before stated, thia operation should 

 be again repeated in a day or two. The flower should then be 

 covered by a paper bag, and when the fruit has formed thia 

 may be removed and one of muslin supplied, which should be 

 kept on until the fruit is ripe, so that nothing can carry it 

 away. The seeds should be sown in the autumn, and the next 

 year plants will be obtained a foot in height. These should 

 be taken up and removed to some secure place where they will 

 not freeze, and be replanted again in the spring. Fruit may be 

 expected on these seedlings in from four to five years' time. 



DIOSCOREA RETUSA. 



Colonel R. Trevor Clarke informs us that " this Diosoorea 

 was one of many moat curious and interesting plants oollected 

 by Cooper in South Africa, and presented to the Horticultural 

 Society by Mr. Wilson Saunders. As the plants were not cal- 

 culated to make ribbon borders or other such delights of the 

 day, they were overlooked by the Fellows ; but I tested all or 

 most of them, and keep them still ; and a Cassonia labelled 

 ' Teatudinaria ' ia now one of the handsomest plants in my 

 conservatory. 



" Dioacorea retuea ia a very striking plant whether trained 

 parasol-fashion in a pot or allowed to climb and ramble as a 

 conservatory ornament, with its Hop-like aspect and pleasant 

 fragrance. It seems to require a warmish, or so-called inter- 

 mediate, house, to Bhow its full capabilities, although in effect 

 it is hardy, or nearly so." 



We may add that this plant was exhibited in splendid con- 

 dition by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons at the Great Inter- 

 national Exhibition at Brussels, and perhaps no plant was more 

 generally admired. As occupying the central position in the 

 rich group of Orchids, &c, its appearanoe waa most striking; 

 its graceful habit and distinct pendulous racemes having a 

 fine contrasting effect with the more highly coloured plants by 

 which it was surrounded. The cultivation of this plant is very 



Fig. 19. — Dioscorea retusa. 



to be assooiated. After the plant has flowered it may be plaoe'd 

 in a sunny place in the open air to mature its tubers, and bo 

 started into growth again early in spring. 



It is a plant which is likely to become popular, and is well 

 worthy of notice as a distinct and ornamental summer decora- 

 tive plant. 



DEATH OP ME. PEARSON OP CHILWELL. 

 Horticulture has sustained a severe loss in the death of 

 Mr. John R. Pearson of Chilwell. The sad event took place 

 on the afternoon of Monday the 14th inst., at his own house 



