454 
NEGLECT OE AMERICAN PLANTS. THE ROSE OF JERICHO. 
have to record the addition of another beau- 
tiful gem that bas appeared under the above 
title. It has been exhibited at the South 
London and perhaps other ] daces, but it has 
received a first-class certificate from the 
Society for the Encouragement of Floricul- 
ture ; the only one it has yet bestowed among 
the thousand things that have been exhibited 
there. The Duchess of Sutherland is an edged 
flower of striking qualities, neither heavy nor 
light, but it will be called light. The white 
is purity itself, not a speck or a mark below 
the well-defined edge; good size, bold smooth- 
edged petal, of thick and leathery substance 
and fine texture. We have not seen one so 
much entitled to general cultivation for years. 
All that we regret is, that while Societies have 
been recognising the claims of this flower, 
which they could not by possibility avoid, 
they have rendered their compliment worth- 
less, by extending it to others which have not 
the least claim to merit as compared with it, 
Had the judges who considered it woi'thy of a 
prize, been content to give it one and leave 
less worthy things alone, it had been a 
well deserved compliment, but, to extend 
the same compliment to others not to be com- 
pared with it, was to render the compliment 
valueless ; because, people who see the others 
to which the same compliment was paid, and 
do not see the Duchess of Sutherland, may think 
that it is not any better than those they have 
seen, — and the flower suffers. The Duchess 
of Sutherland is a splendid flower. 
NEGLECT OE AMERICAN PLANTS. 
Just as the hottest months of the year 
arrive, the rhododendron, kaimia, and other 
American plants are making their growth, 
and want the largest possible share of 
moisture ; but as it happens to be at a time 
when the watering-pots are deeply engaged 
with subjects that show more immediately 
their distress, the Americans get neglected. 
They have done their bloom, afforded all the 
amusement and entertainment they could, but 
they no longer attract, and are forgotten. By 
and by, the owners will see their new growth 
stunted, the foliage unhealthy, and the plant 
destroyed ; and they will wonder what it is in 
the ground that disagrees with these favourites. 
It will prove to have been caused by the want 
of water, and the penalty paid for this, is the 
loss of a year's bloom, for there will be none. 
No sooner does the rhododendron, azalea, 
andromeda, or kaimia, begin to develop their 
bloom, than there ought to be a copious supply 
of water, and this should be continued all 
the period that they are growing, for they 
cannot set for bloom unless they are well 
supplied. The Americans, as all know, 
thrive in peat earth, but they also want the 
natural moisture of it, and the shade. The 
hot sun, in gravelly or loamy soil, is soon over- 
powering, unless means be taken to counteract 
the ill effects of exposure and the distress 
incidental to a want of moisture. The best 
way to manage these plants, is to water con- 
stantly, from the time they bloom to the 
period they are set for bloom. Slight rains do 
not reach the roots; the shrubby nature of the 
plant throws off a good deal of wet ; and they 
would literally bear flooding in a hot summer. 
Any trouble is worth encountering, rather 
than to lose our favourites. 
THE ROSE OE JERICHO. 
" De Rosa Hierichuntina liber nnus ; in 
quo de ejus natura, proprictatibus, motibus et 
causis pulchre disseritur (auct. Joa. Sturmio). 
— Lovanii, 1607. 8vo." (96 pp.) 
The interesting description and, illustra- 
tions of the Anastatica Hierochnntina, which 
lately appeared in the Botanical Magazine, 
induce us to notice the above work, which 
Sir William Hooker would seem not to have 
been acquainted with, and to which but lately, 
indeed, our own attention has been directed. 
For what little we know of the life of our 
author, John Storms, ancient Professor of 
Louvain, we are indebted to a biographical 
sketch,* published by Dr. d'Avoine, President 
of the Sociele des Sciences medicates et 
naturelles de Malines, a physician of dis- 
tinction in his native town, and who has 
lately retired from a successful practice, to de- 
vote the rest of his days to his favourite pur- 
suits, — botany and researches in local history. 
John Storms was born at Malines, on the 29th 
of August, 1559, and received his education at 
Louvain. Having graduated as Licentiate in 
Medicine, he greatly distinguished himself in 
his avocation, and at the age of thirty-one 
years, was made a member of the academical 
senate. Soon afterwards appointed Professor 
of Philosophy, he obtained in 1593, the 
degree of Dr. Med. At that time Prof. 
Adrian, subsequently Pope Adrian VI., held 
the royal chair of mathematics in the same 
university. On his promotion and removal 
to Wiirzburg, Storms was elected in his 
room ; and having in the year 1634 been 
raised to the Professorship of Medicine, he 
died on the 9th of March, 1650, at the old 
age of ninety-one years, generally admired 
and esteemed. 
* Notice sur Jean Storms, Doctenr en Sciences et 
en Medicine, Professeur Ordinaire de Philosophic, de 
Math6matiques et de Medecine a l'Universite de 
Louvain, Chanoine de la M6tropole de Cambrai, ke. 
Par P. J. d'Avoine, Doctenr en Mcklticine, &c. — 
Malines, 1843. 8vo. 
