NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



237 



Bryologfical Fragments. By Dr. Wilhelm Lerch {Flora, vol. xcii. 

 1903, pp. 83-101 ; 10 cuts). — The twig-leaves of Sphagnum show certain 

 constant differences from the stem-leaves. In the former, each hyaline 

 water-cell occupies a mesh in the continuous network of green chloro- 

 phyll-cells ; in the latter two or more hyaline cells may touch, and each 

 only half fill the mesh, owing to the fission of a primitive hyaline cell ; 

 this is termed a ' union ' (' verband '). Such unions may again be converted 

 into continuous ' rows ' by the intervening green cells enlarging and losing 

 their contents. The perforations of the water-cells are of two kinds ; 

 in the leaves of the twigs the perforation is circular, due to the absorp- 

 tion of the membrane within an annular swelling, and retains its 

 original shape ; the large pores on the leaves of the stsms are very 

 irregular, and are modified by progressive absorption of the cell-wall after 

 their formation. Their character is easily demonstrated by staining with 

 methylene blue or methyl-violet ; however the tingibility of the cell-wall 

 varies. — M. H. 



Bryophyllum crenatum (Gard, Chron. No. 839, p. 59, fig. 29; 

 Jan. 24, 1903). — A newly introduced speci3s of a well-known genus, 

 from Madagascar. It is an attractive plant, with a panicle of flowers ; 

 with purple calyces and yellow petals the leaves are rounded, deeply 

 crenated, and of a greyish-green colour. This plant was described in the 

 Journal of the Linnean Society by Mr. Baker in 1884. — G. S. S. 



Bulbiferous Ferns, Propagation of. By Jules Rudolph {Bev. 

 Hort. Jan. 1, 1903, p. 11). — A good practical note on the layering of 

 bulbil plants produced on the fronds of some species of Ferns. — G. T. D. 



Bulbophyllum clavatum and its allies. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. 

 Bev. p. 190, June 1903). — Particulars of this section of Bulbophyllum 

 are included. — H. J. C. 



Bulbs, The Misuse of {Garden, No. 1641, p. 291; 2/5/03).— 

 Wild gardening is delightful when rightly done, bat there are many ways 

 of doing it wrongly, and one of the easiest is to buy hundreds of thou- 

 sands of cheap bulbs and to plant them at random in wild ground 

 without any special plan or design. 



Good planting in wild ground requires as much knowledge as any 

 other kind of gardening, and a great deal more caution ! 



If the character of wild ground is not to be destroyed, it is necessary 

 to plant as Nature plants — never showing too many kinds of things at the 

 same time. When Primroses are in bloom in the woods, they are nearly 

 alone, or there may be Primroses and Wood Anemones. After them 

 come the Bluebells, just intergrouping with the pink Campions that, for 

 the most part, follow them. — E. T. C. 



Cacteae and Succulents. By F. de Laet {Die Gart. p. 277, March 

 14 ; p. 289, March 21, 1903).— The author, who is passionately fond of this 

 class of plants and grows them as near to perfection as possible, recom- 

 mends the beginner not to start with large collections, but to be satisfied 

 with a few plants, and by degrees add more, attending to them himself, 



