BOTANICAL FRAGMENTS. 47 
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The fresh soil at potting will generally contain enough of moisture to start them into growth ; but 
as they advance in growth they must be liberally supplied with water, as, notwithstanding their 
aversion to stagnant moisture, they are fond of plenty of water when in rapid and luxuriant growth, 
showing the necessity of good drainage. In watering, eare should be taken not to water over the 
young shoots, and never at any time over the leaves, but obtain a moist atmosphere by watering 
round the frame or shelf where they are standing. 
If the bulbs be large they will generally produce a number of shoots, the weakest of which in the 
Gesnera should be rubbed off, leaving from three to seven or eight of the strongest, according to the 
size of the bulbs. The Gloxinia may also have its shoots thinned out to admit a free circulation of 
air amongst them. 
They may be raised from seeds sown in spring, or from cuttings or leaves inserted in sand 
under a bell-glass, and placed on a little heat. These latter will form bulbs which will make nice 
little flowering plants in the spring, if potted in December, after they have had a short rest. These 
will be found very useful for placing amongst other plants in vases, or for drawing-room decoration. 
After the plants have done flowering they should be induced to go to rest by gradually withholding 
water, and placing them where they will get plenty of light. AVhen ripened off, they may be stowed 
away in their pots in any dry place where the temperature never falls below 50 5 till again wanted to 
be started into growth. 
I tried an experiment with the Gloxinias in 18-19; in fact, the same as that suggested by Air. 
Beaton, in the Gardeners 1 Magazine of Botany. I was induced to try it from having observed the 
curious sports in the Laburnum, and I was in hopes that a bud might be formed on a bulb, containing 
within the one bulb the nature of the two plants from which the leaves were taken. But though I 
succeeded in obtaining, in two instances, what appeared to be an amalgamation of the bulbs formed 
at the base of the two leaves, I failed in producing a plant with the constitution of both plants from 
which the leaves were taken : both bulbs have flowered this season, but the flowers were those of one 
only of the parent plants. Not having then had the benefit of Mr. Beaton's remarks, I may have 
failed from want of attention to some little points. I have therefore tried again, and this time, I 
hope, with success, for I have four bulbs which certainly are an amalgamation of two distinct 
varieties of Gloxinia; and I think I have a few more bulbs which are an amalgamation of Gloxinia 
rubra and Gesnera Cooperii. 
[Vi'e shall hope to hear the results of these experiments.] 
BOTANICAL FRAGMENTS. 
tN the death of Dr. II. F. link, Professor of Botany, and Director of the Botanic Garden, at Berlin, 
science has recently sustained a heavy loss : his mind, indeed, was not of the highest order; but his 
energetic, observant habits, and his powers of systematic arrangement gave importance to his labours. 
From these causes Dr. Link's writings, which were numerous, and of which Elementa Philosophies 
Botanica, has been the most useful, rank among the most valuable contributions to botanical science of the 
century in which he lived ; though now superseded by such modern works as that of Schleiden. Dr. 
Link was one of those vencrables who connect the present with the past, for he was contemporary 
with Linmeus. His annual reports on the progress of physiological botany, containing a summary of 
all that had been published during the year, accompanied by sound criticisms and valuable remarks, 
have done much for that department of science. Dr. Link had attained liis eighty-second year, and 
his literary career extends back for more than half a century. — [Lit. Gaz.) 
Schleiden's notion of the production of the embryo, in vegetable impregnation, from the extremity 
of the pollen tube, is concluded by Gsertner to be rendered highly improbable, by reason of the identity 
of type which he found to be exhibited in certain mules, the result of some experiments made by him 
in counter-impregnation. In this view, the Rev. M. J. Berkeley concurs. Two different kinds of 
pollen could scarcely be expected, if such were really the case, to produce two perfectly identical 
plants. — (Journ. Sort, Sac. vi. 2). 
It has lately been ascertained, that the fecundation of the ovarium inplantsiB promoted by moisten- 
ing the stigma with the honey secreted by the flowers. Doubtless this is because no impregnation can 
be effected before the separation of the lobes of the stigma ; and, in consequence of the treatment men- 
tioned, the pollen adheres to it, until that division takes place. — {Ibid). 
The Bolbophyllum Lobbii, described at p. 203 (vol. ii.l, is now made by Dr. Lindley the type of a 
new genus which he calls Sarcopodium. With it are ranged a few other species, which, growing like 
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