238 JOUBNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and Btndying their habits, and he then feels sure there is no class of 

 1 .hints which compensates so well for the comparatively little trouble. 

 When the amateur begins to distinguish between the different species, and 

 in fact becomes a specialist, he will feel that no trouble or expense is too 

 great to enlarge the collection and perfect his knowledge. The author 

 next treats of the Echinocactus, describing the principal species and giving 

 his observations, recommending, not a poor soil, but, on the contrary, a 

 rich one. For Opuntia, Mamm Maria, Cereus, Echinocactus, Ecliinopsis, 

 a good loamy soil, with sand and for Phyllocactus and Bhipsalis loam 

 and peat with sand. — G. B. 



Csesalpinia japonica. By Alessandro Pirotta (Bull. B. Soc. Tosc. Ort. 

 1, p. 9 ; January 1903). — A much-branched shrub, the natural flexibility 

 . I w hose curved branches produces a beautiful effect in the flowering season 

 from May to June. The whole plant is provided with short, thick, stout, 

 spines, and has bipinnate leaves somewhat like the Acacia of Constanti- 

 nople, and the midrib is furnished with very sharp hooks, which persist 

 until the new vegetative growth is far advanced. 



The flowers are arranged 50 together in a thyrsoid inflorescence, and 

 possess yellow petals and reddish anthers, which show up well against the 

 tender green of the foliage. AVith the author flowers have been produced 

 for five years, and at present the plant is forming fertile seeds. 



Multiplication, otherwise than by seed, is effected by means of the 

 roots and by layering, the latter method being perferable if copious 

 flowering is to be obtained. It has been employed with success in the 

 experimental garden at Milan. The plant is useful not only for 

 ornamentation, but also for forming thick impenetrable hedges. 



11'. C. W. 



Camellia, Culture of the. By Pierre van den Bos (Bcv. Hort. 

 Beige, xxviii. No. 9, p. 211). — The author describes the process of budding 

 and grafting of this plant. He adds a list of the best varieties. — G. II. 



Camellias (Journ. Hort. March 26, 1903, p. 272, with a full-page 

 * Qgraving of double varieties). — It is suggested that a good many moderate- 

 sized plants, well covered with flowers, are to be preferred to one or two 

 giants which monopolise the whole central bed of a conservatory. 



C. W. D. 



Campanulas. Tall Bellflowers. By Rev. C. Wolley Dod {Gard. Hag. 

 n. 2576, p. 168 ; 14/8/03). — The finest cf the tall-growing Campanulas 

 for tht open borders are described, with notes on their culture. The 

 lynonymy of the various species is given, which is valuable to the amateur 

 and Qureerymau alike. A good illustraticn is given of the beautiful 

 C. lact i flora. — 11'. G. 



Campanula Vidalii. By S. YY. Fitzherbert (Garden, No. 1641, 

 p. '2117 ; 2/5/08).- I his ( '.tmpuniUa is entirely distinct from the rest of the 

 -« nua, and, although a handsome plant, is rarely met with in gardens. It 

 WM discovered by Captain Vidal on a small island in the Azores in 1851. 

 10 ilia! it has been in cultivation for more than fifty years. It is oi 

 Bhrnbby lml.it, forming a woody stem ( J inches to 1 foot in height, which 



