74 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 22, 1885. 
thickened corrugated rim, which serves three purposes — first, it 
strengthens the mouth and keeps it distended ; second, it secretes honey ; 
and third, it forms a row of incurved teeth, which descend into the 
pitcher and prevent the escape of insects. In some species this row of 
teeth is strong enough to retain small birds should they thrust their body 
beyond a certain length when in search of insects ; even rats are said to 
have been found captured in some of the larger and more voracious 
Nepenthes urns. Under the microscope, the minute structure of a 
Nepenthes pitcher is both beautiful and interesting. In the interior of 
the pitcher there are three principal surfaces—viz., an attractive, a con¬ 
ductive, and a secretive or digestive surface. The attractive surface is on 
the under side of the lid of the pitcher, and also on the rim. The under 
side of the lid is provided with an abundance of honey-secreting glands. 
This is the bait, which is cunningly provided, so that the victim may be 
led pleasantly on its way to des’ruction. It is found in all the species 
but one—viz., Nepenthes ampullaria. S : r Joseph Hooker, in his presi¬ 
dential address “ On Carnivorous Plants” to the British Association at 
Belfast in 1874, points out very clearly the reason why this species is 
thus exceptional. Unlike the others, its lid is thrown horizontally back, 
and therefore honey secretion on a lid so placed would tend to lure 
insects away from the pitcher instead of into it. 
The glands consist of masses of cells, each embedded in a cavity of 
the tissue of the lid, and encircled by a guard-ring of glass-like cellular 
tissue. The conducting surface extends from the mouth of the pitcher 
down to a variable distance ; it is formed of a fine network of cells, 
covered with a glass-like cuticle, which affords no foothold to insects. 
The remainder of the pitcher is entirely secretive, and consists of a cellular 
floor crowded with circular glands in very large numbers. Each gland is 
like the honey-gland of the lid, and is contained in a pocket of the same 
nature, but semicircular, with the mouth downwards, so that the secreted 
fluid ail falls to the bottom of the pitcher. The secreting glands are so 
numerous that Hooker counted 3000 to a square inch in Nepenthes 
Rafflesiana. These secrete an acid fluid, which is present in considerable 
quantity before the lid of the pitcher is opened. Animal matter put into 
the pitchers, such as small pieces of meat or white of egg, becomes acted 
upon in a short time. Not long since I had occasion to cut off a pitcher 
of Nepenthes Rafflesiana, which contained over twenty large cockroaches. 
Cephalotus follicularis, one of the prettiest and most interesting of plants, 
is worthy of notice. It has been called the Australian Pitcher-plant, and 
affords a good illustration of the confusion which now and again arises by 
the exclusive use of English plant-names. There, is one species of 
Nepenthes, a native of Australia—viz., Nepenthes Kennedyana—this 
plant, and not Cephalotus, which belongs to the Saxifrage family, has 
therefore the best right to the name of the Australian Pitcher-plant. By 
using the scientific name no confusion can possibly occur. This plant, 
then, unlike Nepenthes, attains only a few inches in height, has two dis¬ 
tinct forms of leaves, one flat, like an ordinary leaf, the other having 
pitcher leaves. No doubt it also, in a natural state, captures and digests 
insects. 
THE SARRACENIACEiE, OR AMERICAN PITCHER-PLANTS, 
consist of six species of Sarracenia, nearly all of which have several 
varieties, and a large number of home-raised hybrids, besides one species 
of Darlingtonia and one species of Heliamphora. Except the last-named 
they are all in cultivation, are similar in habit, and are natives of North 
America, where they are found growing in bogs, and even in places 
covered with shallow water. Their leaves are radical, pitcher-shaped, and 
collected into tufts. At the flowering season they send up numerous stems, 
bearing each a solitary flower, the structure of which is quite as remark¬ 
able as that of the leaf. The singular aspect of the flower is due to a 
great extent to the umbrella-like expansion in which the style terminates. 
Tnis is five-lobed, the stigmatic surface being situated at the deflexed point 
of each lobe. The shape of the style, or perhaps the appearance of the 
whole flower, caused the first English settlers in their native place to give 
the plant the name, now also used, of “ Side-saddle Flower.” Both in 
flower and leaf the Sarracenias are totally distinct from every other 
vegetable form. Sarracenia purpurea has been known in this country for 
nearly three centuries for inquaint oldGerarde’s “ Herball,” a characteristic 
figure is given, and he says that he copied the figure, 11 for the strangenesse 
thereof, and hopes that some or other who travell into foreign parts may 
find this elegant plant and know it by this small expression, and bring it 
home with them, that so we may come to a perfecter knowledge thereof.” 
Since Gerard’s time up till 1829 all the known species have been intro¬ 
duced ; but within the last ten or twelve years the number of forms in 
cultivation have been more than doubled, not by those who travel iDto 
foreign parts, but by hybridists. So distinct are some of those hybrids 
that had their origin not been well known they might have parsed as true 
species. 
Sarracenias may be divided into two sections—those having the mouths 
of their pitcher-shaped leaves open in consequence of the lids standing 
erect, thus allowing rain to enter freely, as in Sarracenia Drummondii, 
S. flava, S. rubra, and S. purpurea ; and those having the lids projecting 
over the mouths of the pitchers, entirely preventing rain falling into them, 
as in S. variolaris, and S. psittacina. The structure of Sarracenia issome- 
what similar to that of Nepenthes. The modus operandi by which insec's 
are “ caught and done for ” is also similar. The under surface of the lid 
is baited with a honey secretion forming the attractive surface, but there 
is also a honeyed pathway from the bottom of the leaf leading up to this 
larger feeding ground, to which ants and other creatures are enticed. 
Immediately below the portion covered by the bait is a smooth part 
formed of glas;y cells, overlapping like the tiles of a house, termed the 
conducting surface. Below this again, extending a short distance down 
the tube, is a portion covered with very short hairs pointing downwards 
termed the glandular surface ; and the remaining portion extending to 
the bottom of the tube, which is lined with longer hairs, also pointing 
downwards, is termed the detentive surface. The falling of the insect is 
due to the slippery nature of the conducting surface, where the fly cannot 
take ahold sufficiently strong to support itself, but tumbles to the bottom 
of the well, from whence it is unable to crawl up. The fine sharp- 
pointed bristles, pointing directly downwards, prove a most effectual 
barrier to its ascent. 
An ingenious American has observed that flies which sip honey 
secretion of Sarracenia become intoxicated, and in that condition fall 
down and are drowned. There may be some truth in the statement. I 
tried to get hold of a perfectly sober fly, and taking a member of the 
“ blue-bottle ” army, placed him in the tube of a Sarracenia pitcher, with¬ 
out allowing him to touch a single drop of the nectar, and he could no 
more crawl out of the pitcher than the most dissipated of his American 
brethren. It is astonishing what a large number of flies, wasps, and 
other insects a few plants of Sarracenia will capture in a season. Their 
leaves are usually packed to half the length with insect remains, which 
must be far in excess of the wants of the plant. The liquid contained in 
their pitchers is not distinctly acid, and does not show digestive properties 
very markedly ; but it is very wet, wetter than water. If a fly falls into 
wat j r it may get out, but if it falls into glycerine or into Sarracenia liquid 
it gets wet all over and dies of asphyxia. The liquid product of decom¬ 
position is probably taken up by the leaves. Darlingtonia californica is a 
most remarkable member of this family. It is found on the Sierra Nevada 
of California. The pitchers differ from Sarracenia is being twisted and in 
widening as they reach the apex, which forms a hood. This appendage 
appears as if perforated at the upper part, and terminates in two fish- 
tail-like prolongations, which give it a most curious appearance. The 
Heliamphora nutans, a native of Venezuela, differs from the others in 
having several flowers on a scape which are destitute of corolla. But as 
this plant is not yet in cultivation, we con only express a hope, as old 
Gerard did so long a goregarding Sarracenia purpurea, “ that those who 
travell into foreign parts may bring it home with them, that so we may 
come to a perfecter knowledge thereof.”— Robert Lindsay, Curator 
Royal Botanic Garden , Edinburgh (in Forestry). 
[Since the above was written this interesting plant has been introduced 
into cultivation by Messrs. Veitch of Chelsea.] 
MELVILLE CASTLE GARDENS—MIDLOTHIAN. 
Melville Gardens possess some features of interest, and in one im¬ 
portant respect Melville is more than interesting—it is wonderful, and that 
is in regard to the keeping of the grounds, considering the strength at 
command. Everything is carried out with thoroughness and sound judg¬ 
ment, and there is an air of cleanliness to which many private gardens are 
strangers. 1 The mansion is beautifully situated, and commands exten¬ 
sive, diversified, and picturesque views. But it is with the gardens we are 
most concerned,and we will therefore take a brief glance at each department. 
The kitchen garden, about four acres in extent, and enclosed within lofty 
walls, which are covered from base to summit with healthy fruit trees. 
Similarly fine are the pyramids and standards in the kitchen garden, con¬ 
sidering the nature of the soil, which is very light and sandy, resting on 
gravelly subsoil. Such soil requires much moisture to bring fruit and vege¬ 
tables to perfection. During the past season fruit trees and a great uumber 
of herbaceous plants have suffered severely. But, considering all these 
imperfections, finer, cleaner, and more fruitful examples could not be seen. 
The herbaceous border is about 400 feet long and 14 or 16 feet wide, contain¬ 
ing the best varieties of Delphiniums, Phloxes, Pyrethrums, and about a 
hundred varieties of single and double Daffodils. It also contains number¬ 
less varieties of other herbaceous plants. 
The glass range is in eight divisions, separated by two entrances into 
the kitchen garden, and for strength, lightness, and durability it oould not 
be surpassed. Entering the west door we pass into the latest vinery, which is 
about 100 feet long, chiefly filled with Alicantes and Lady Downe’s, which at 
the time of my visit had splendid bunches from base to summit, some pro¬ 
bably weighing from 8 to 9 lbs. Next is the Black Hamburgh house, where 
this unsurpassed old Grape is grown in grand condition. The next is the 
Muscat house, which is entirely renewed and planted principally with 
Muscat of Alexandria, which have had a good crop. Attached to this house 
is the conservatory, which is the centre of the range. The principal plants 
here are Camellias and Palms, the former planted in a border especially pre¬ 
pared for them, and the remarkable richness of their deep green foliage 
fully indicates that they have everything suitable to their requirements. In 
this house also are two or three other fine specimen greenhouse plants, 
particularly Yucca aloifolia andaDasylirion. Both areabout 6 feet high, well 
furnished with foliage. The side stages are occupied with good assortments 
of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Statices, &c., and these in their time shall have 
many admirers. The roof is regularly covered with climbers, such as 
Tacsonia Van Volxemii, Clianthus puniceus, Habrothamnus elegans,Cantua 
dependens, and Fuchsias. The latter make unsurpassable climbers when 
properly grown, because its long pendent blooms are seen to the best 
advantage. The early vinery is chiefly devoted to Black Hamburghs, with the 
exception of Foster’s Seedling and Gros Colman—one rod of each. All have 
had a heavy crop of good-sized bunches, the berries large and finished well. 
In the early Peach house the trees have had heavy crops of good-sized 
beautifully coloured fruit, the trees always taking the leading prizes at 
northern shows. On the other side of the entrance are two Peach houses, 
each about 50 feet long, the trees in splendid condition. 
Then we turn to the plant houses, commencing with the stove, which 
contains a good collection of Orchids in best of health. On the centre stage 
Pandanus Veitchii, Palms, &c., associated with dark-foliage Dracaenas, are 
shown to great advantage. A very fine plant of Clerodendron Balfourianum 
is planted out in the border, and trained on the roof. It is annually cut 
