^klAECH 16. 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



212a 



of the flowering plants in Great Britain 

 have been found in the fossil state, the 

 record for Irehind in this respect is ahnost 

 a blank. It was suggested that there is a 

 large field for investigation in the search 

 for fossil plants of the Arctic type, and in 

 the systematic survey of the extensive peat 

 deposits of Ireland. 



Preservation of Finchamp- 



Stead Ridgres.— The Finchampstead 

 Ridges, forming part of the Bear Wood 

 Estate, command fine views that extend 

 into the three counties of Berks, Hants, 

 and Surre>', and an effort is now being 

 made by Berkshire residents to preserve 

 this lovely spot for all time to the general 

 public. A meeting has been called for 



in the same way a plant fixed in the night 

 position wakes if freed in the morning. 

 Similar conclusions are drawn from the 

 study of leaves not kept absolutely still, 

 but so as to show very minute sleep move- 

 ments . 



HORTICULTURAL 



ension of Wandsworth 



Common. — The "Wandsworth Boi'ough 



EDUCATION. 



(Concluded from page 192.) 



With reference to the lines on which tlie 

 studies of young gardenei's should be con- 

 ducted, it must be ^aid that there is room 

 , for some difference of opinion. Not so long 

 Council have decided to contribute £3,000 ^inoe a scientist, who is recognised as one 



of the leading authorities on educational 

 matters, state<:l that much better progress 

 might be made in the study of science with 

 the aid of good books than by attending lec- 

 tures. There may be something in that 

 view of the case but the best course is un- 



towards the purchase of the twenty acres 

 of land adjoining the Royal Patriotic Asy- 

 lum, for the purpose of extending Wands- 

 worth Common, provided the remainder of 

 the sum necessary for the completion of 

 the purchase be contribute<l by the London 

 County Council, Battersea Borough Conn- doubtediv to attend a course of lectures on 



cil, and the public. 



the subject that is being studie<l, and to 



EHODODENDEON COEXUUIA. 

 A handsome variety, with rich rosy-crimson flowers. A.M., R.Il.S., March 5. Messrs. R. Gill and Sons. Falmouth 



^^arch 8, at Wellington College Hotel, 

 when a scheme will be presented, and the 

 secretary of the National Trust will be pre- 

 sent to render assistance. 



Sleep Movements in Plants 



I'rofe^or W. PfeflFer, who has devoted con- 

 siderable attention to the investigation of 

 Sleep movements in plants, has recently 

 published a paper on the mechanical pre- 

 vention of such movements. The most 

 interesting result recorded in the paper is 

 tiie discovery that the internal changes, on 

 jyuch sleep movement* depend continue 

 tneir normal course even when the leaves 

 are fixed so that thev cannot execute the 

 normal movement*. Thus a plant fixo<l in 



i^Kii position will assume the night 



PO'-ition It relea^ at the riahf Imnr- 



Potato Great Scot. In the notice work at the text-book during the intervals 



accompanpng the illustration of this new 

 round potato, which appeared in our issue 

 for February 27, we, by a slip of the i>en, 

 described it as having been introduced by 

 Mr. J. AV. Cross, instead of having been 



This varietv, it 



hv Mr. A 



ted 



aised 



m a v 

 W. 



J 



McAlister of Dumfries. 



A Sweet Pea Society for 



Wok 



pea 



founded at Woking, Surrey^ with tlio title 

 of Woking and District Sweet Pe^x Society. 

 It is proposed to hold a shosw early m July 

 and to pro\^ide a number of open classes. 

 Mr. L. C. B. Hockin and Mr. W. Hopkins, 

 Westfield Gardens, are co-secretaries of this 

 new venture. 



between the lectures. By taking this course 

 the study will be less irksome, and the pro- 

 gress more rapid. Generally -speaking, it 

 will be wise for the young gardener, even 

 when, he enjoys the advantage of attending 

 a course of lectures, not to take more than 

 one subject at a time. If be does thi*s, and 

 devotes his spare time on two or three even- 

 ings each week to liis stndii^>. he will, at 

 the end of two or thret^ years, ))c in posses- 

 sion of an elementary knowle<lge of the 

 sciences that are the most closely associated 

 with parden management. 



Those who are not so situated as to be 

 able to attend lectures must be careful in 

 the choice of their books, for if any serious 

 mi-take is made in the matter valuable 



