HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 209 



manner of sowing the seeds, and treating the young seedlings, has been to 

 allow the fine dust-like seed to fall from the ovaries as soon as they show 

 symptoms of ripeness, which is readily known by the ovaries bursting open 

 on one side. When this takes place, they are either taken from the plant 

 and shaken gently over the surface of the other Orchid-pots, on the loose 

 material used for growing them in, or on the pots prepared for the purpose, 

 after which, constant shade, a steady high temperature, with abundance of 

 moisture, are all requisites which are absolutely necessary to insure success. 

 In the course of eight or nine days after sowing, the seeds, which,, at first 

 had the appearance of a fine white powder, begin to assume a darker co- 

 lor to the naked eye, and, if looked at with a Codrington, or even a sim- 

 ple lens, evident signs of vegetation may be perceived, which increase until 

 the protrusion of the young radicle and cotyledon takes place, which varies 

 from a fortnight to three weeks. From this period of their growth, the 

 young plants grow rapidly, and the rootlets lay hold of whatever material 

 is supplied to them. If the seeds happen, either accidently or intentionally, 

 to be made to vegetate on bare wood, as in some instances has been the case, 

 the young roots extend themselves in different directions, adhering closely 

 to the bark, and making great progress compared with the growth of the stems, 

 thus affording beautful examples of the manner in which epiphytical plants 

 fix themselves so firmly on the highest boughs of lofty trees in tropical 

 forests, as well as accounting for the isolated positions they frequently oc- 

 cupy in their natural state. The principal difficulty to contend with in 

 rearing the young seedlings has been found to consist in . their treatment 

 during the first year, particularly the winter months, when they are very 

 liable to perish, if anything approaching to extremes of moisture, draught, 

 cold, or even heat be permitted ; though a steady medium of all those re- 

 quisites is necessary. The second year's growth has been one during which 

 the plants made much progress, and the only two kinds which have been 

 brought \o a flowering state have bloomed the third season. These are 

 Epidendrum crassifolium and Phaius albus. D. M. Glasnevin Botanic 

 Garden, Dublin, in Flor. Cabinet. 



SWEET SCENTED VERNAL GRASS. 



We have been furnished by Dr. Emerson with a copy of the following 



communication, addressed by him to the editors of the Boston Cultivator, 



where it was published in the number for the 22d of April. It relates to a 



subject particularly interesting to those living in the vicinity of Philadel- 



22 



