482 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ June 11, 1885. 
begin with the Christmas Rose and we end with it. Closely follow- 
ingwe have Winter Aconites and Snowdrops, some species of Crocus 
Rhododendron prsecox, Iris reticulata, Chionodoxa or Snow Glory, and 
in the two last named we have two of the gems of spring. The former 
I always hear spoken of as a charming plant, but in some cases the 
latter is mentioned in disparaging terms and brought into comparison 
with Scilla sibirica. To those who thoroughly know both there is no 
need for comparison whatever. None can gainsay the intense blue of 
the Squill and admire it ; and who, having seen it in good form, can 
fail to admire that pleasing combination of colours which so 
characterises the “ Snow Glory?” For floriferousness the latter is 
the best. As a plant for naturalising it is simply unique among spring 
bulbs, and its free seeding qualities will ere long make it one of the 
most popular of hardy plants. On comparing the two plants the 
Scilla is not adapted for naturalising, nor does it seed with the re¬ 
markable freedom of the Chionodoxa ; in some soils, too, the Scilla 
degenerates, and I have also experienced it suffering severely from 
the attacks of slugs. Still in themselves the two plants are so widely 
distinct that I consider there was abundant room for the reintroduc¬ 
tion of the Chionodoxa, and should the progress of the former be 
marred by the latter it only goes to show which plant is most appre¬ 
ciated ; both, however, are very beautiful, and their appearance in 
spring most welcome. I have upon more than one occasion compared 
a bed of the seedlings of the Snow Glory to a bed of spring Onions, 
and I know of no better comparison ; and who, may I inquire, has ex¬ 
perienced the Siberian Squill springing up with such freedom as this ? 
Where the Chionodoxa flowers this spring there let its seeds fall or at 
least a portion of them, and just before they are ready to fall from 
the capsules loosen the surface of the soil beneath them ; into this 
they will fall, after which cover lightly with a little fine soil. You 
will find them in abundance next spring after the manner I have 
stated.—J. 
HISTORY OF THE OSAGE ORANGE. 
There are several interesting points in the botanical history of the 
Osage Orange. It is peculiar that the tree is native only in Arkansas, 
and is not generally common even there. It was noticed by the early 
travellers along the Red River and other tributaries to the Mississippi. 
Its elastic wood was long held in repute by the Indians for bows, and they 
called the tree Bow-wood. The French fur dealers gallicised the name, 
making it Bois d’Arc. The first botanist to notice the plant was the 
famous Thomas Nuttall, at one time professor in Harvard. About 1810 
he first saw living plants. These were grown in a garden in St. Louis. 
Recognising in the plant the type of an entirely new genus, Nuttall 
named it “in honour of the celebrated geologist, philosopher, and patron 
of natural science, William Maclure” of Pennsylvania. It is conse¬ 
quently known as Maclura. On account of the Orange-like nature of the 
tree he named it “ Orange-like Maclura,” M. aurantiaca. In some parts 
of the country it is said to he known as Bodock, a contraction of the 
French Bois d’Arc. 
The great resemblance of the tree and its fruit to the Orange is also 
peculiar, and especially when we consider that its true nature is very 
widely different. In aspect the young or fruitless tree is much like the 
Orange, while anyone who has seen its peculiar warty fruit must have 
thought of a green Orange. Coming from the country of the Osage 
Indians it became known as the Osage Orange. The plant belongs to the 
Nettle family, along with the Nettles, Elms, Figs, Mulberries, Cow-tree, 
Breadfruit, Banyan, and Indiarubber tree. All are familiar, no doubt, 
with the nature of the Mulberry fruit—a long cluster of fleshy and 
thickened flowers. The large fruit of the Maclura is a dense aggregation 
of separate, thickened flowers. The wood is solid, heavy, and durable. 
It takes a good polish and is ornamental. The following from Nuttall 
gives an idea of the appearance the tree made in its native country when 
first seen by a botanist:—“ We saw a few old, ill-grown trees on the 
banks of the Pottos, a few miles from Fort Smith. It was only on the 
rich low bottom lands of Red River, near the confluence of the Kiamesha, 
that we beheld the Maclura in perfection, forming a great part of the pre¬ 
vailing umbrageous forest, and attaining an elevation of 50 or 60 feet and 
a diameter between 2 and 3 feet. At all times it strikes the beholder as 
something remarkable in the northern forest by the beauty and splendour 
of its dark and shining foliage, and its strong resemblance to the Orange.’’ 
—(American Cultivator.) 
CORONILLA GLAUCA. 
It is in many respects fortunate that the rage for new plants doe3 n ot 
entirely drive out of cultivation old ones of merit; still there is as much 
honour in restoring an old acquaintance to the position it justly deserves 
as in introducing a new comer to notice. Many old neglected plants are 
being brought back to do duty in the same way as our forefathers made 
use of them, or, by a different mode of treatment, they are directed into 
some other channel of usefulness, and are then found better than some 
recently introduced plant which is both scarce and costly. I have a 
weakness for old plants, and amongst those which I admire for their 
beauty and utility is that to which attention is now called. 
Coronilla glauca has long been known to the gardening world, and had 
it been a stove plant, instead of one of the hardiest of our greenhouse < 
subjects, it is likely it would have been oftener met with than it now is ; 
but as it is so easily cultivated, and all but perfectly hardy, I have no 
hesitation in calling on all those who wish to have as good a display as 
possible in the dead winter months to commence its cultivation. With 
ordinary care it will bloom in the autumn, several months earlier than 
the Cytisus, which it in some degree resembles ; nay, the Coronilla will in 
fine sunny seasons set its flowers sufficiently early in the season to expand 
into full bloom early in the autumn. I think I have seen one growing 
out of doors in full bloom by the middle cf September, and I am not 
sure if it was not much earlier than this ; the season, however, was par¬ 
ticularly warm and dry, alike favouring early growth and the ripening of 
the wood, and also tending to hasten the embryo buds to expand into 
full blossom. The situation was sunny, but the ground in which the 
Coronilla was grown was also occupied by neighbouring plants and 
fruit trees. The Coronilla, checked in its early progress, finished its 
growth by well-ripened flower buds, which quickly developed themselves 
into bright clusters of rich yellow bloom which continued a long time 
in perfection, and even when they were gone the plant had not the 
bad appearance which many other fine-flowering plants present when 
their flowering is over, for its foliage is ornamental at all times. 
Perhaps the best way to manage this plant is to strike a number of 
cuttings every year, and assuming them to be in small pots at the end 
of the season, let them be put into larger ones about the time tie_y 
begin to grow, using a good proportion of sand in the mixture. If it 
be considered necessary to repot a part of the stock again, it should be 
remembered that the earlier in the summer the growth is completed 
the sooner the plants will be in bloom. To rootbound plants standing 
in the full sun, and in a position where their roots are not tempted 
to run into the ground below, water must, of course, be given in suffi¬ 
cient quantities to prevent flagging. Let them have as much sun as 
possible, and, unless the latter part of the summer be very dull and 
sunless, you will be rewarded by well-formed plants obtained without 
any training, and loaded with flowers, which will come in at times 
when bloom of any kind is acceptable. With good management a suc¬ 
cession of bloom may be kept up till the middle of February, after 
which the Cytisus and other plants take their place. I may add that 
the Coronilla will survive moderately mild winters when growing in a 
favourable position, and in such places will bloom also in autumn after 
a hot dry summer, but the chances of its doing so are not sufficiently 
great to render indoor culture altogether unnecessary.—J. R. N. 
At a general meeting of the Royal Horticultural ' Society, held 
last Tuesday, Major-General Courtenay in the chair, the following can¬ 
didates were unanimously elected Fellows—viz., J. H. Batty, B. Field, 
Wyndham Gibbes, Col. Sussex, W. Lennox, Francis MacGowan, A. B. 
Mitford, C.B. 
-In noticing the Herbaceous and Alpine Plants at the Man¬ 
chester Show the name of the owner of the winning collections in the 
amateurs’ class was omitted, and the gardener’s only given; we are de¬ 
sired to state that they were from Mr. Broome’s garden at Didsbury. 
- The Northamptonshire Horticultural Society will hold two 
shows this year—one in Delapre Park on August 3rd, and the other on 
the Northampton Racecourse on September 9th and lOih. Numerous 
classes are provided, the prizes being liberal, including several contributed 
br friends of the Society in the district. 
—— We have received from our correspondent, “ S. P. E. S.,” 
examples of bulbs being formed in the axils of the leaves of a Tulip. 
These are well developed, one of them being the size of a walnut. These 
furnish good examples of the fact that bulbs are really underground buds, 
though they are sometimes produced above ground. 
- Jeyes’ Gardeners’ Friend. —We have been favoured with a 
quantity of this compound for trial, and have found it effectual as a 
destroyer of weeds and moss on garden paths, and as a powerful insecticide. 
Care must be taken, however, with this as with most insecticides, not to 
use it too strong, so as to injure the foliage and young growths of plants ; 
and this can easily be done by reducing its power with water. 
- The summer Exhibition of the Lee, Bl&ckheath, and Lewisham 
Horticultural Society, is announced to be held on July 8th and 9th. 
Amongst other special prizes a silver memorial cup will be presented by 
the President, John Penn, Esq., in memory of the late President, Dr. Carr. 
This cup is the property of the Society, and after the formal presentation 
