JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
June 30, 1881. ] 
525 
they will soon become more compact, as they bear cutting and 
training to almost any extent. 
Plants which may have been blooming throughout the summer 
will have their pots well filled with roots in autumn, and do not 
make such strong growth in a close warm place in winter as late- 
rooted plants do. During winter they open quantities of their 
useful bell-shaped flowers in a greenhouse temperature, but a little 
additional heat is sometimes of advantage in maintaining a full 
supply.—M. M. 
HORTICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE. 
“ Inquirer” appears to have a vivid recollection of his youth¬ 
ful days of high and rigid temperatures. He has known “ the 
men ” blow the glass up, and thus have the heat at the regulation 
point for the foreman. He does not say whether he was one of 
the “men” or the foreman, but that is of little consequence. 
Working under the tyranny of high and stipulated temperatures, 
from w’hich the deviation of two degrees often or always led to a 
“ scene,” I have in the interests of peace and morality been guilty 
not only of thus momentarily raising the temperature, but have 
syringed the hot-water pipes for a quarter of an hour, and so 
gained two or three degrees to preserve my credit as a fireman ; 
but I am afraid the after-condensation was not beneficial to the 
winter Cucumbers and early Vines. I have also found it necessary 
to throw open front and back ventilators on a frosty night to 
bring down the temperature from 76° to 74° at a critical moment. 
If there are any gardeners left who determine that the temperature 
shall be kept “ to a degree,” they may as well know that if they 
are hard taskmasters they are similarly imposed upon, for they 
expect an impossibility, and the men do their best to meet the 
extraordinary demands. But I did not prove an “ unthinking 
pupil.” I thought then the principle of high night temperatures 
and an unflinching adherence to stipulated figures was a fallacy, 
and determined to test the point on the first opportunity. I have 
been testing it for twenty years and find I can produce as good 
if not better Grapes than under the nocturnal driving system, 
while it is a fact that I have saved coals to the extent of more 
than half my wages. Having had experience of both the systems 
referred to, I find that very fine Grapes can be grown under the 
former for a few years, but the Vines then need renovating, but 
under a more natural, and, I think, rational mode of culture, they 
continue healthy and fruitful for an indefinite time. I have 
had as fine sets of Black Hamburghs at a minimum of 50°, and 
Muscats ranging between 55° and 60°, as I ever saw when the 
night temperatures were on an average 10° higher. Yet I cannot 
forget that if now I am successful, then I was—A Culprit. 
REVIEW OF BOOK. 
A Manual of the Coniferce , with Numerous Woodcuts and 
Illustrations. London : J ames Veitch & Son^. 
The aim of this work is to treat of the Coniferous family in a 
manner which shall be intelligible to the commonest understand¬ 
ing, so that those who have not had what is called a scientific 
education will in it possess a text book freed from the ordinary 
conventional technicalities which so much bewilder the uninitiated. 
The authors have succeeded in their object, and we have before 
us a work of 342 pages, which treats of the subject clearly and 
intelligibly. 
The work is divided into three parts. Part 1 commences with 
a “ General Review of Coniferous Plants,” and treats of the struc¬ 
ture of the wood, the organs of vegetation and fructification, the 
secretions, economic properties, the diseases and accidents to 
which the trees are liable, their geographical distribution, and 
their scientific arrangement and nomenclature as given by the 
most eminent botanists. Several pages are also devoted to the 
literature of the Coniferas, which affords evidence that much pains 
and research have been exercised in rendering this section of the 
work both interesting and instructive. 
The second part opens with a synopsis of the genera, species, 
and varieties suitable for cultivation in Great Britain, followed by 
copious descriptive, historical, and cultural notes of the different 
species, arranged in the sections under which they are grouped. 
For instance, the Abies are divided into three sections. I. Picem, 
the Spruce Firs ; II. Sapini, the Silver Firs ; III. Tsugae, the 
Hemlock Firs. The notes on the species in each genus are pre¬ 
ceded by tables in five columns, the first column containing the 
scientific name, the second the synonymes, the third the popular 
name, the fourth the habitat, and the fifth average height of each 
species. Then follows in alphabetical order the notes referred 
to—some brief, some copious, as the subject demands. In the 
treatment of the species and varieties there appears to have been 
no over-writing on the one hand, nor hesitation to incorporate 
matter on the other when anything interesting could be advanced 
relative to the origin, discovery, or peculiarity of the different 
forms ; also, as intimately connected with the subject, biographi¬ 
cal notes are incorporated of such collectors as Douglas, Hartweg, 
Menzies, Jeffreys, Lambert, and Lobb. The references to the 
lives and work of some of the more famed collectors are copious 
and full of interest. We observe, however, an error in indexing, 
for the note in reference to Lambert is on page 180, not on 188 as 
stated. The part of the work under notice is by far the largest, 
embracing 260 pages, and the most important; but whether the 
plan of including the Silver Firs under the head Abies instead of 
Picea will meet with general acceptance is an open question. 
Piceas pectinata, nobilis, Pinsapo, and others will probably remain 
Piceas in the view of the majority of British cultivators, and there 
is at least equal justification for this as for the retention of the 
name Wellingtonia, instead of the more strictly accurate name of 
Sequoia gigantea. 
The question of generic classification as well as specific nomen¬ 
clature in the Coniferae is admittedly a difficult one. The diver- 
Fig. 117.—Cone of Abies bracteata. 
gence of opinion among authorities is strikingly manifest, and 
stands out boldly even throughout the work under notice. In 
respect of some of the species endeavour has been made to amend 
the nomenclature, as in the case of Abies lasiocarpa, with its half 
dozen synonymes, and the true name of which is determined on 
page 94 of the book as being A. concolor; but better reasons are 
given for the substitution of Sequoia for Wellingtonia, jet English 
custom has proved stronger than international science in this case, 
and the popular name is retained. 
The work is copiously illustrated. There are many excellent 
engravings of notable specimens, cones and sprays. The first 
specimen represented is of Abies orientalis, 53 feet high, at High- 
nam Court. Then follows Abies bracteata, 29 feet high, as grow¬ 
ing at Tortworth Court. Lobb said of this species that the “cones 
are quite as singular as the growth of the tree is beautiful.” We 
submit one in proof of this, and also as representing the character 
of the engravings of the work under notice. A. concolor or lasio¬ 
carpa, 46 feet high, is shown from a fine specimen in Mr. Gambier 
Parry’s collection ; but a more perfect and handsome example 
about the same height may be seen at Orton Hall, Peterborough 
(Dowager Marchioness of Huntly’s), and near it, also fine, 
A. Lowiana or Parsonsii, the two trees being quite dissimilar. 
