784 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



be borne in mind that no rocks of any kind can possibly be ornamental 

 to a garden unless they are either natural or appear to be so, and are 

 associated with suitable plants." — E. T. C. 



Rodgersia, The four Species of. By A. Henry (Gard. Chron. No. 

 817, p. 131, fig. 44 ; Aug. 23, 1902). — Descriptions are given of the four 

 species, and a figure is given of B. pinnata, which is now flowering at 

 Kew for the first time in Europe. It is a native of Yunnan, where it 

 grows on cliffs 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is perfectly hardy. 

 This species is remarkable for its peculiar leaves, which are described as 

 semi-digitate ; the flowers are reddish, and grow in a somewhat narrow 

 cymose panicle ; it attains a height of rather more than three feet. This 

 genus is nearly allied to Astilbe. The three other species, B. podophylla, 

 B. cesculifolia, and B. Henrici, are described, and their native localities 

 given. — G. S. S. 



Root Sensitiveness (Beih. Bot. Cent. bd. xii. ht. 2, pp. 243-247). — 

 As the result of several experiments similar to those carried out by Sachs 

 as to the positive thigmotropism or sensitiveness to contact of the growing 

 zone in roots, Professor Newcombe suggests that the effects are really due 

 to traumatropism, i.e. injury at the points of contact. He finds that no 

 curvature is produced by glass, the wood of Pinus Strobits, or that of the 

 Tulip-tree. — G. F.S.-E. 



Roots of Herbaceous Plants, Studies on. By T. Friedenfelt 

 (Flora, vol. xci. pp. 115-208 ; figs. 1-20 ; t. xvi.-xix.). This is a very 

 exhaustive treatise on a subject too little discussed, the relation of root 

 habit to that of the plant as a whole and to external conditions. It well 

 deserves translation in extenso into the pages of the Journal, but is un- 

 suitable for abstracting. — M. H. 



Rosa Wichuraiana and its Hybrids. By Philomel (Garden, 

 No. 1,598, p. 7; 5/7/1902).— Description of type and hybrids. "The 

 type is a creeping Rose, and most useful it is for covering a large area 

 with its fast-growing, trailing shoots, plentifully clothed with the 

 brightest foliage imaginable, and in August with immense bunches of 

 single white flowers. But if used simply as a ground trailer much of its 

 beauty is lost. The best plan is to place a few good- sized logs in the 

 centre of a bed and allow the growths to creep over them, producing a 

 lovely mound of snowy flowers when other Roses are fading." The 

 hybrids bloom earlier than the type, and none possess the Ivy-like flat 

 growth in the same degree. — E. T. C. 



Roses, Attar of. Anon. (Journ. Hort. p. 293 ; September 25, 

 1902). — The production of this in Eastern Roumelia is yearly decreasing, 

 and though Roses are more cultivated there than ever, the commercial 

 value of the product diminishes rapidly. — C. W. D. 



Rose, The true York and Lancaster. By W. R. Raillem (Journ. 

 Hort. p. 512 ; June 12, 1902). — It is said that the two-coloured varieties 

 of Bona gallica, generally called York and Lancaster, are not the true 



