104 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[MAncn, 
Dr. B. has shown that Ihe pollen tube is not 
a continuous tube, but consist of a series of cells 
formed successive!}', growing througli the tis- 
sues of the pistil, — in the Tiger Flower, at the 
rate of one inch in six hours — and this even 
when the upper end of tlie tube is destroyed. 
He also observes that the pollen tube does not 
penetrate the cmbrj'o sac, but that nevertheless 
the contents of the tube enter to the embryo 
sac, after which the embr3'o commences to form. 
The Finer Sorts of Clematis. 
Tlie climbing species of Clematis are general 
favorites, and some of them, such as Clematis 
Flamimila, Viticclla, etc., have been known in 
the gardens these hundred years, and our native 
late flowering C.'F»'^/«;'(/;irt— always admired 
in its wild state, both in flower and fruit — should 
be seen much oflencr in cultivation than it is. 
This wild species, known as Virgin's Bower, 
and Traveller's J03', is found in ratlier moist 
places and may be transferred to the garden. 
But these old varieties are quite eclipsed by 
their newer relatives from China and Japan, 
CLEMATIS LANUGINOSA. 
which have come to us within a few years. Still 
they are not as common or as well known 
as they should be. Clematis patens, from Ja- 
pan, and C lanuginosa, from China, liave 
given origin to some varieties, the flowers of 
which are of enormous size, and of great deli- 
cacy of texture and color. Tliey are perfectly 
hard)-, grow about six feet liigli, and will suc- 
ceed in any soil not too heavy and wet. In 
June and July, they are covered with flowers 
like those represented in the engraving — which 
gives that of C. lanuginosa, one of the largest. 
It is impossible for us to represent in an engrav- 
ing the delicacy and softness of the bluish lilac 
color of this flower. Tliere is a variety pallida 
whicli is of a much lighter shade. The flowers 
of Clematis patens are nearly as large as the 
above, and of an azure blue, with brown sta- 
mens; it has in the gardens and catalogues 
sometimes the names C. ctrulea, and C. asiirea 
(jrandiflora. This species has produced several 
named varieties, among which are: Amelia, 
pale lilac, with yellow stamens ; Helena, flowers 
at first greenish, but becoming pure white; 
Sophia, white, bordered with violet; Louisa, 
yellowish white, with brown anthers ; and mon- 
strosn, with partly double pure white flowers, 
which are smaller than those of the other varie- 
ties. The plants should be set in a sheltered 
place, as their largo and delicate flowers soon 
have their beauty destroyed by any violent 
winds. C. jlorida is also a Japanese species, 
which has been a long while in cultivation. It 
climbs to the hight of 13 or 15 feet, and bears a 
great profusion of large white flowers. There 
is a double variety, which is also white, and a 
purple one called C. Sicboldii, which was former- 
ly grown only as a green-liouse plant, but which 
lias proved tolerably hardy. All of the above 
should, in cold localities, be laid down and cov- 
ered with earth, and they will bloom all the 
finer if tins be always done. Like manj' choice 
tilings, these varieties are multiplied slowly. 
They are grown from layers and cuttings, and 
the choicer sorts are mostly propagated by 
grafting upon the root of some of the more 
common species of Clematis. The uurseiy cat- 
alogues have them at 50 cents and upward, 
according to their rarity. AVe have only noticed 
those whicli may be had in our nurseries; there 
are several fine varieties advertised by Euro- 
pean florists, which are not yet offered here. 
