of Sugar-cane, and products of spice trees in deli- 
cately perfumed variety. The pudding is, however, 
of so composite and representative a kind that not 
only does animal life administer to its construction, 
but the domestic fowl adds its share, so that the 
beasts of the pasture, the poultry of the yard, the 
corn from the field, and the fruit trees of the 
garden, all administer to its coipplex and varied 
composition, for truly a real Christmas pudding is 
a domestic dainty that is fearfully and wonderfully 
made. Probably no dish of which we partake con- 
tains so many diverse constituents, obtained from so 
wide a geographical area. The flour may be home- 
grown, or it may have come from Russian steppes or 
Western American States. The Raisins, delicious, 
sweet, juicy morsels that the modern cook will in the 
Christmas pudding cut up and spoil, are perchance from 
far California, or nearer Spain. Greece or the Ionian 
Islands may send us the Currants which so bother us 
in their strange appellation, because they, too, are not 
Currants at all, but are the fruit of the Vine also. 
From the West Indian Islands perhaps come the 
Oranges and Lemons, which give the prized candied 
peel, and the rich spices have inhaled their pleasant 
odour under equatorial sunshine. Truly does a Christmas 
Plum-pudding in its cosmopolitan and heterogenous 
compound represent the universality of British com- 
merce — of the world peacefully and profitably con- 
quered. Our contemporary, the Lancet, which now 
and again persists in disturbing our torpid minds 
with some alarming facts as to evils, moral and 
physical, which we have long borne far too listlessly, 
at least compensates us somewhat by the assurance 
that Plum-pudding is capital stuff after all, though by 
middle-aged humanity oft held in terror as promotive 
of indigestion and dyspepsia. To children especially 
this is welcome news, and we shall not be surprised 
if the youngsters quote to careful and perhaps over- 
nervous Paterfamilias the Lancet authority in favour 
of yet another helping. Puddings, of course, vary in 
"tfualit&^nd perhaps it is in the sense of “ goodness ” 
so called or otherwise ih^: they are good for our 
stomachs or the reverse. The plain well-boiled 
Plum-pudding is, if not’ eminently nutritive, at least 
substantial diet. The rich fruity pudding, which the 
goddess of the kitchen regards as “ good,” is perhaps, 
like old port wine, .^productive of ills to which the 
flesh will become heir. Like to Potatos, however, 
the goodness or otherwise of the puddings depends 
very much upon the cooking ; and whether the Lancet 
dictum be accepted with faith or incredulity, at least 
we can give no better advice than that the pudding 
should not only be boiled, but should be so thoroughly. 
— Tulipa brachystemon (Regel, in Garten - 
flora , t. 1099) is not much to look at, according to 
the figure, but there is no telling what cultivation may 
do for it, as few things improve so much by cultiva- 
tion as the Tulip. 
Maxillaria grandiflora, — This fine 
Orchid, now flowering at Kew, is a native of the 
Andes of Peru, and has been authorised by Lindley, 
although few books recognise it under that name. 
Humboldt; Bonpland, and Kunth, Nov. Gen ., 
i., 88, have figured it as Dendrobium grandiflorum. 
The massive wax-like flowers are produced singly on 
the peduncle, and are white, with the exception of 
the labellum, which is brown, tipped with yellow. It 
forms a pleasing contrast to the popular Lycaste 
Skinneri, and although of smaller dimensions would 
rival it in utility for cut flower purposes ; and seeing 
that white flowers are often in great request its beauty 
and utility are good recommendations. 
-—-The Arrangement of Plants.— Just a 
word to those who .have still to make their 
arrangements for Christmas. Every one having 
any connection with a garden is on the qni 
vive in Christmas week, but in the plant 
department there is more bustle and a greater 
display of earnestness than in any other. To 
cut the matter short, there is more work to 
be done in this department, which accounts for 
the hurry. A lot of ordinary tying up, trimming 
and digging, may be done without much mental 
effort, but the plantsman must use his head as well as 
business, and can say from experience that there is a 
vast difference in their calculating powers, and an 
equally great difference, as a consequence, in their 
work. This is not written either in disparagement 
or discouragement of any one — far otherwise. The 
man who does not excel in one thing may do so 
in another. But to return to the subject, there 
is more due to accurate calculation in this matter 
than is often thought of or admitted. If there 
are three or more houses to be arranged so 
as to present a gay effect, there must, or ought 
to be, some idea of degree of. attractiveness that 
each should present according to its position and 
status as a plant structure, for these, like the gar- 
deners who manage them, have each a status of their 
own. A man, therefore, who would excel in arranging 
plants must be able to take an approximate estimate 
of the material at his disposal, and the area that he 
has to furnish, and keep this in his mind’s eye all the 
while the work is progressing, or he will probably 
have a preponderance of flowers in one place, and 
next to none in another, or he may be actually short 
of material of any kind at the finish to complete his 
arrangement. This kind of calculation may be largely 
acquired by practice, and we know of no knowledge 
that is more useful, as it enables the young gardener 
to see in his mind’s eye the consummation of important 
work before it is actually begun. He will probably 
be able to point out obstacles to his master, who can- 
not always be in one place, but who will be ready to 
appreciate and respect foresight in his assistant of 
whatever age. 
Black Currant, Champion {Florist and 
Pomologist , December). — This is the finest Black 
Currant yet produced, the berries being very abun- 
dant, of large size and fine flavour. To be sent out 
by Messrs. Carter & Co. 
— — The House of Hurst & Son.— On Satur- 
day evening .last Messrs. Hurst & Son’s annual 
dinner was held at the Three Nuns Hotel, Aldgate 
High Street. AJ)out seventy employees of the firm 
and visitors sat down to a capital spread under the 
presidency of Mr. Hugh Aiton, who subsequently 
gave the toast of the evening, “The House of Hurst 
& Son,” in eulogisfic terms. Mr. Sherwood paid a 
like graceful compliment to “The employes ,” and a 
very pleasant evening was spent. 
Fixing of the Dunes.— I n the article on 
this subject at p. 679, the writer inadvertently stated 
that the Elements of Sylviculture was translated as 
well as published by Messrs. Rider & Son. It 
was translated by Mr. Fernandez and Mr. H. 
Smythies of the Indian Forest Service, and pub- 
lished only by Messrs. Rider. 
— Glasgow Royal Botanic Institution.— 
The annual meeting of the proprietors of the Royal 
Botanic Institution was held recently, under the 
Presidency of Mr. William Connal, and we learn 
from the sixty-fifth annual report of the directors 
that the revenue from annual subscriptions, 
£ 1353 *&r. 6d., shows this year a decrease of 
£33 2 s. 6d. t although the number of subscribers has 
increased. This diminution is no indication of a 
waning interest in the garden on the part of sub- 
scribers, but is entirely due to an alteration that has 
been made in the date of issue of tickets to sub- 
scribers. The value of the property in the garden 
has during the past year been largely increased. Not 
only is there a new range of plant-houses, one of the 
finest, if not the finest in the country, but the collec- 
tion of plants has been augmented in value, mainly 
by donations, by several hundreds of pounds. The 
Winter Garden has proved one of the greatest attrac- 
tions of the garden during the past year. Now that 
the new range of houses is in a condition far enough 
advanced to admit of the reception of plants, the 
Palms and other unsuitable plants have been removed 
from the Winter Garden, and the building will now 
be devoted entirely to the purposes of a tem- 
perate plant-house, for which it was reconstructed. 
Until the new range of plant-houses is in a condition 
to allow of the proper disposition of the plants there- 
in there must be a constant shifting of the specimens, 
lid yg uccit necessitated oy me ounamg oper- 
ations ; but the most important work completed 
during the past year has been the re-arrangement of the 
herbaceous ground for study. A most instructive 
addition has been made to the collections in the 
garden, in the formation of a tank for water and 
marsh plants. The Professor of Botany in the 
University has been regularly supplied with speci- 
mens for teaching, and his students, to the 
number of 185, have had facilities for study in 
the garden. As the new range of plant-houses is 
nearly completed, the directors will, in conformity with 
their statement in last year’s report, soon have to con- 
sider what steps they ought to take to provide proper 
accommodation for the teaching of botany in the 
garden. This matter is one of considerable urgency. 
The report embodied a letter from Professor Balfour, 
which laid before the Board a statement of the needs 
of a Botanical Institute such as ought to exist in the 
Glasgow Botanic Garden. The Botanical Institute 
should, it was said, contain :— Lecture hall, seated 
for no fewer than 350 ; laboratory accommodation, 
museum, herbarium, and library. Three ways have 
been suggested by which this accommodation may be 
provided — by enlarging the present building, by 
acquiring North Park House, or by the erection 
of a new building specially designed. The last 
was the scheme favoured by Professor Balfour, who 
remarked — “ For a few thousand pounds all that is re- 
quired can be provided. Surely that amount will be 
forthcoming?” There was also appended a letter from 
Sir T. D. Hooker, which stated — “Whether, then, for 
its use as a means of instructing the public by object 
lessons, or of obtaining valuable and interesting plants 
for the garden, or for increasing the value of the 
establishment by enabling it to benefit mankind 
through its cultures, I would venture to urge the 
claims of a Museum of Economic Botany on the 
garden authorities quite independently of its use to 
the Professor, of Botany, which is of itself a suffi- 
cient argument for its establishment. I have only to 
add that such a museum is the most inexpensi ve of any, 
whether as regards construction, contents, or main- 
tenance.” The report proceeds : — “ The directors:; 
have gratification in announcing that a continued 
hearty response is given to their appeal in last year’s 
report for donations. On no previous occasion have 
they had the pleasure of recording so much liberality 
as they have this year. Amongst the 700 or 800 
plants received are many of great rarity and value, and 
many of much interest economically, as well as 
botanically.” 
— Asystasia scandens. — This evergreen 
climber is now flowering in the stove at Kew. Being 
a native of Sierra Leone, in West Tropical Africa, it 
delights in a moist warm temperature, and the flowers 
being produced in terminal racemes, free growth 
should be encouraged, and the shoots tied in full 
length. The large pale cream or white coloured 
flowers are tubular, and much widened towards the 
mouth. The plant belonged to the extensive 
and valuable collection of the late Mr. Jo ad of 
Wimbledon, and, although not new, is worthy of 
cultivation. It is figured in the Botanical Register , 
1847, t. 31, as Henfreya, and in the Botanical 
Magazine , 4449, but in the latter under the name of 
Asystasia scandens. Here it will be seen that the 
bracts, usually so conspicuous in the inflorescence of 
other Acanthads, are of secondary importance, and 
almost unnoticeable. The greater part of the order 
consists of weeds belonging to warm countries, to 
which the present plant is an exception. 
Camellia Don Pedro [Florist and Porno- 
ogist, December) is a very beautiful variety. White, 
shaded with rose, regular enough to please the eye 
without that excessive formality which suggests 
flowers “stamped out” of Turnips to order. Hort. 
Bull. 
Garlic in Spain. — A recent report on the 
trade and commerce of Cadiz states that there has 
been a falling off in the quantity of Garlic exported 
from thence. This decrease amounted to 247,609 
kilos, and was due to the fact that steamers bound to 
the West Indies and South America (where the 
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