29i 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Sempervivum urbicum. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 



7398). Nat Old. Crassulacece. Native of the Canary Islands. It inhabits 



rooks, walls, and roofs iii Teneriffe. It flowered at Kew in 1902. Leaves 

 an rosplate, I 0 ins. long, H in. broad. Panicle, very large, 3 ft. high. 

 Flowers with a pale yellow corolla, j in. in diameter — G. H. 



Sisyrinchium paniculatum (Joum. Hort. April 30, 1903, p. 376). 



This native of Australia, otherwise known as Libertia panicidata, is 

 much praised as a greenhouse bulb, with a panicle of flowers of dazzling 

 whiteness. It is grown in the border of the temperate house at Kew. 



a w. d. 



Snow : Influence in causing Seeds to Germinate. By G. 



Magne (Le Jard. Jan. 20, 1903, p. 21).— It is said that snow has 

 a special influence in promoting the germination of seeds, not only of 

 Alpines, but of border perennials and annuals. The writer sowed seeds 

 of many species, in the latitude and altitude of Paris, under snow in the 

 middle of November ; most of them germinated within a month, including 

 such tender kinds as Primula verticillata. The writer ventures a con- 

 fident opinion that the same seeds kept till spring and then sown in the 

 open ground would have germinated very slowly, if at all. — C. W. D. 



Soils we Cultivate, The. By J. J. Willis (Gard. Mag. n. 2576, 

 p. 169 ; 14 3 03, and following numbers). — A series of articles dealing 

 with the constituents of garden soils, in which the subject is discussed 

 from a scientific and practical point of view. They are worth the perusal 

 and study of all engaged in soil cultivation. — W. G. 



Sophora viciifolia. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. tab. 7883).— 

 Nat. ord. Leguminosce, tribe Sophorcce. Native of China. It flowered at 

 Kew in 1902. A low, much branched spinescent herb, 2-4 ft. high, 

 pinnate leaves, and a purple calyx and white corolla. — G. II. 



Spanish Chestnut Trees, Disease of. By P. Hariot (Le Jard. 

 April 20, 1903, p. 122). — A disease caused to the root of the Spanish 

 Chestnut by a fungus, Mycelophagus castanece, is very prevalent in the 

 South of France. — C. W. D. 



Sphedamnocarpus pruriens. By Sir J. D. Hooker (Bot. Mag. 

 tab. 7*!U). — Nat. ord. Malpighiacea, tribe Bannist erica?. Native of South 

 Airica. It is a lofty, climbing shrub, with silkily tomentose branches. 

 is kvea 1-4 ins. leng. The flowers sub-corymbosely clustered, with 

 crisped petals of a golden-yellow colour.— G. II. 



Spigelia splendens. By G. Bornemann (Die Gart. p. 363, May 2, 

 1908). Spigelia rmx/rilandica, a North American species, is quite hardy in 

 England, It baa bright Bcarlet and yellow flowers, and is very showy. 

 I*"t still more i iVective is the tender Spigelia splendens of Guatemala. 

 Il baa B oompaol growth, with large ovate leaves, and well above the 

 ornamental foliage arc a number of racemose flowers, which are bright red 

 with white tips. The plant is raised from seed, and is as easily grown as the 

 Boadel Lobelia. Though such a showy plant, it is rarely seen in culti- 

 vation. — G. R, 



