128 



Garden and Forest. 



[March 13, iS 



White Sports among Roses. 



THESE peculiar developments or accidental growths, dis- 

 covered from time to time among our Roses, are of a 

 most interesting character, and they have either become more 

 frequent of late years, or they have been more closely ob- 

 served and cared for. In any case, the list of such variations 

 has been much extended within recent years. 



Botanical authorities have expressed the opinion that white 

 variations, or albinos, as they are sometimes termed, may be 

 expected among all colored Sowers, and that, consequently, it 

 is not surprising that they should be found among Roses. 

 Up to the present time it is believed, however, that white sports ' 

 have appeared only on the pink varieties, and have been most 

 numerous in the Tea class. Some varieties appear to have a 

 greater tendency in that direction than others. Souvenir 

 d'un Ami, for instance, produced white sports, both in En- 

 gland and in the United States, at nearly the same time. As far 

 as can be judged from descriptions the flowers of the two 

 sports seem to be very similar, though there has prol)ably not 

 yet been a comparative trial of the respective merits of The 

 Queen, the American sport, and Souvenir de S. A. Prince, 

 the English variation. 



Both the above-named sports have been much lauded, but 

 it is rather premature to express a decided opinion on their 

 merits, either for bedding-out or for forcing, though their 

 origin is good, the parent having been a very popular variety 

 for several years. 



Another instance of a sport appearing in duplicate was that 

 of The Bride, whose parent, Catherine Mermet, produced a 

 white flower at nearly the same period in two different estab- 

 lishments, though one of these sports exhibited a tendency to 

 a pink tinge in the centre of the flower. 



So slight a difference as this, however, might easily be caused 

 by a different soil or some peculiarity in treatment. 



Another addition to the list of white sports, of comparatively 

 recent introduction, is the White Bon Silene, the origin of 

 which is clearly indicated by its name, the flowers being simi- 

 lar in size and shape to the type, but pearly white in color. 



It seems somewhat strange, however, that after preserving 

 its original characteristics for over forty years, the Bon Silene 

 should, in 1883, produce a white sport. 



In the hybrid perpetual class white sports have not been of so 

 frequent occurrence, though the cause of this has not been ex- 

 plained unless it be that a majority of Roses of this class are 

 of stronger growth and more vigorous constitution than the 

 Teas, and therefore may not be so likely to produce sports of 

 the character indicated. The absence of color may be due to 

 some inherent weakness of the plant, on the same principle 

 by which the white variegation of the leaves of plants has 

 been accounted for. 



The most notable instance of albino development among 

 the hybrid perpetuals is that of the White Baroness Rothschild, 

 w^hich was introduced in 1882 by Paul. It is much like 

 the type in growth and general appearance, and though a 

 lovely Rose when in perfection, yet, like its parent, it does not 

 flower very freely. 



Holmesburg. Pa. IV. H. TapHn. 



Orchid Notes. 



Cattleya Perctvaliana. — When some six years ago this grand 

 Cattleya developed its handsome blossoms in our collection, 

 there was much discussion as to whether or not it was an in- 

 ferior variety of that Prince among Cattleyas, C. Mossice. 

 After a season's growth, however, the plant proved to be en- 

 tirely distinct, of most easy culture and worthy to rank among 

 the foremost of this noble genus. It is a winter-flowering 

 Cattleya, enriching our houses with its lovely blossoms when 

 Orchid bloom is always acceptable. Four and five large 

 flowers are produced on a single stem of a rich and charming 

 rose color, the labellum being bold and very beautifully 

 marked with deep, velvety purple, and finely fringed. For 

 cutting and decorating purposes it will be found a valuable 

 acquisition, remaining in bloom on the plant for four and five 

 weeks. Varieties of this Orchid are many, and among the 

 numerous plants now cultivated, several white forms have 

 appeared which are still (like most white-flowered Cattleyas) 

 extremely rare. During the summer months this species is in 

 active growth, and an abundant supply of air and moisture 

 will then be found necessary to insure good results, but the 

 direct rays of the burning sun must be carefully avoided. 



Dendrobiuni thyrsijlorum. — A group of this Dendrobium when 

 in blooni is truly a magnificent sight, and when arranged witli 

 ferns and foliage plants its beauty is enhanced. It makes a splen- 



did object for exhibition purposes, its lovely racemes of white 

 and orange flowers are strikingly effective. Its culture is quite 

 easy, producing blossoms in great profusion during April and 

 May, which will remain in good condition three and four weeks 

 if kept in a cool and dry atmosphere while growing. The 

 plants should be so placed that abundance of light and air is 

 available, and during bright weather occasional syringings 

 overhead will prove very beneficial until growth is completed. 

 It will then be necessary to remove tliem to a cooler situation 

 so that the bulbs may mature thoroughly before they bloom. 

 They should be left in these quarters imtil the flowering nodes 

 at the apex of the bulbs show signs of swelling, when they 

 may be returned to their former position to enable the hand- 

 some racemes to develop. Pots or baskets will suit this species, 

 with very little compost about the roots. During January and 

 February the home of this Dendrobium is thoroughly searched 

 by collectors, who ship large quantities to this coimtry. Plants 

 can thus be obtained at a low price. Rarely, however, are such 

 masses received as are frequently developed under cultivation. 

 Out of an importation of several thousand plants it is unusual 

 to obtain a score of good-sized specimens. Large plants of 

 this species still remain rare, therefore, and somewhat diffi- 

 cult to procure. A. Dimmock. 



Summit, N.J. 



Principles of Physiological Botany as Applied to 

 Horticulture and Forestry. 



XI. — The Phenomena of Growth. 



A LL growth in the vegetable kingdom depends on the mul- 

 ■^^ tiplication of cells and the increase of these in size. It 

 . is hard to realize that the organs of the plant with their orderly 

 arrangement and their beauty of form are dependent on the 

 increase in number and size of the microscopic masses of liv- 

 ing matter which we have examined in a previous paper of 

 this series. In the cells of the plant the living matter exists as 

 a comparatively shapeless mass of a soft and yielding sub- 

 stance, and yet this formless matter has given shape to the 

 shell, if we may call it so, in which it is confined. 



Moreover, these shells, or cell-walls, are of extremely diver- 

 sified form and character. Hence it is still more difficult to 

 understand in what way these formless masses can, in one 

 case, give one shape, and in another, another shape to a cell- 

 wall, always with such precision that the sum of these creations 

 appears before us as a plant so definite in the unity of all its 

 parts that we think of the whole as an individual and speak of 

 it as such. Furthermore, each plant has its own shape, and 

 the various species are recognized as such, even small devia- 

 tions from the standard or type being detected by the observer. 

 And yet all of these multiform structures spring from micro- 

 scopic masses of a formless substance. 



This statement, although correct in the main, may be some- 

 what misleading without further explanation. It is only at the 

 earliest period of growth of new cells that this control over the 

 shape of the imprisoning walls can be exercised. During this 

 early period the living matter determines in all respects the 

 architecture of its prison. Later, the hardening walls are no 

 longer plastic, and, then, in the interior of the cavity, the liv- 

 ing matter seems to lie helpless and shapeless except so far as 

 it conforms to the shape of the firm walls around. 



Formation of New Cells. — In the living matter of a young 

 cell capable of multiplication there exists a roundish body, 

 somewhat firmer in its consistence than the rest of the proto- 

 plasm. This body is known as the itucleus. When a cell is 

 about to produce another, by the process termed multiplica- 

 tion (or, by a strange use of language, division), this nucleus 

 undergoes certain changes in its internal structure. The word 

 structure is used advisedly, for, although under high powers 

 of ordinary compound microscopes, it may appear structure- 

 less, yet, with the very best modern lenses and with appli- 

 ances for staining the nucleus, a tangled network can be 

 plainly discerned, which sooner or later assumes definite lines 

 resembling in no slight degree the lines of a map of the earth, 

 with its meridians of longitude and its parallels of latitude. At 

 a certain period in the development there is an accumulation 

 of masses at the two poles, and a sort of an equator can be 

 made out without much difficulty. These accumulations at 

 the poles and the equator characterize the distinct separation 

 of the nucleus into two parts, each of which becomes a new 

 nucleus, each one in its turn to become the seat of similar 

 activities and changes. 



The nucleus is believed to have much to do with the distri- 

 bution of nutritive matters in the forming cells, but exactly 

 how it governs the arrangement of building material is as yet 



