January 5 , 1882 . ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 9 
- A PLANT which is much more valuable than is commonly 
supposed is Justicia calytricha. When cut the inflorescence 
is most useful for vases, and it lasts in beauty a considerable time. 
The flowers are very numerous and of yellow colour ; they do not 
individually last long, but open in succession. Not only is the 
corolla yellow, but also the calyx, which is formed with long 
slender lobes about equal to the corolla in length. These give a 
character to the inflorescence. In the Cambridge Botanic Garden 
this plant forms quite a useful and ornamental feature in the 
stove. There it grows in the soil beneath the stage and pipes, 
quite hiding the latter with luxuriant foliage. Hundreds of 
flower heads have been produced during several weeks, and 
almost always it may be found in bloom. It grows better as 
above situated than in pots. If pot culture is desired the chief 
consideration is to overcome so far as possible its naturally tall 
habit. To this end it should be cut back periodically, and to 
form a specimen several may be planted together in a pot. It 
is fond of moisture, and to produce the best result strong shoots 
must be grown for flowering. This is the Justicia flavicoma of 
Lindley, under which name it is sometimes known. It is a native 
of Brazil. 
- We have been requested to publish the following an¬ 
nouncement—“ The retirement of Mr. Thomas Moore from the 
Gardeners' Chronicle, and, as we may reasonably suppose, from 
literary work in general, had so far become known before it was 
accomplished that a movement was made for its recognition. A 
meeting of his friends was called to consider the propriety of 
signalising the event by a handsome presentation and a formal 
expression of good wishes. The result was the formation of a 
Committee, and a resolve that the presentation should consist of 
a substantial service of plate, the remainder of the programme 
being left undecided for the present. It will be understood, we 
hope, that we heartily concur in the spirit of the promoters, for 
if ever an earnest worker for science and humanity deserved a 
tribute of ‘ public and personal regard,’ Mr. Moore has the 
highest claims on our gratitude and sympathy. We learn that 
the subscription list has opened well with many entries of five 
guineas to oue guinea, but lesser sums will be welcomed by the 
Committee, who desire above all things that the gardeners of 
Great Britain and the isles thereof should manifest their appro¬ 
bation of the proceeding. The Hon. Treasurer is William Paul, 
Esq., Waltham Cross, Herts ; the Honorary Secretary is Shirley 
Hibberd, Esq., 15, Brownswood Park, London, N.” 
- Few greenhouse plants are more indispensable for flower¬ 
ing in the month of December, and in the winter months gene¬ 
rally, than is the yellow-flowered shrub CORONILLA GLAUCA 
from the south of Europe. In habit it is perfectly under control, 
and by pruning at different times may be had in flower over 
a long period. A freer-flowering plant could not be desired. 
Several hundred good specimens were cut for botanical pur¬ 
poses in the Cambridge Garden a short time since from a few 
plants. It is of course well known in the London market, but 
may not be grown in some gardens where it would be most 
useful. 
- The following additions have been made to the Com¬ 
mittees of the Royal Horticultural Society— Scientific 
Committee : Professor J. Bayley Balfour, Drs. Michael Foster and 
Low, and Messrs. Anderson-Henry, J. G. Baker, R. D. Blackmore, 
Arthur Grote, R. J. Lynch, J. H. Mangles, and Thos. Moore. 
Fruit Committee : Messrs. W. Denning, Thos. Laxton, S. Lyon, 
A. Paul, and G. Paul. Floral Committee : Rev. H. Harpur 
Crewe (Chairman), and Messrs. C. Green, Shirley Hibberd, W. B. 
Kellock, and D. C. Lathbury. 
- Mr. J. C. Spyers, writing in the last issue of the “ Gar¬ 
dener,” gives the following particulars concerning the treatment 
of NEWLY IMPORTED Angr^ecums— “ At once cut away all dead 
and decaying parts, and lay the plants for the first few days in a 
very shady part of the intermediate house. Old basket lids or 
something of the kind should intervene between the moist shingle 
on the stages and the plants. After about a week the foliage 
may be cleaned and the plants hung up, roots uppermost, in a 
shady part of the East Indian house. They may then be dewed 
over with the syringe morning and evening. The moment the 
centre or youngest leaf begins to grow pot the plants in a 
mixture of crocks and charcoal, and afford a little more light. 
Water should be poured in amongst the roots and crocks every 
two or three days, and the foliage will be greatly helped by 
frequent spongings. As roots pu-h give them sphagnum moss to 
run in. It should be pressed in firm ; but 1 inch thick will be 
ample for the small-growing species, while strong sorts may take 
from 3 to 6 inches, according to the length of their stems.” 
- “ Seldom,” says the Journal of Forestry , “ has a season 
been so favourable for tree-planting as the autumn that has 
closed, and while farmers and others are complaining of the ex¬ 
traordinary nature of the seasons, the planter of trees has at least 
much cause for contentment. Growth was quickly made during 
the summer, and stopped early, so that most trees were in a 
state fit for transplanting at an unusually early period. Wise 
and energetic people at once perceived and took full advantage 
of this, and began their planting operations betimes. They are 
now reaping the benefit of being early in the field by seeing an 
extra large breadth of plantations laid down in the best possible 
condition, and the prospect of a late, cold, ungenial spring gives 
them very little concern. It is far otherwise with the dilatory 
man who has let the splendid, season slip past while he has been 
only ‘ thinking ’ about planting. He has missed his best chance, 
and is now tormented with anxiety about the endurance of the 
winter and the probabilities of a late and bad spring, when his 
planting must be done under disadvantageous circumstances, and 
the work rushed through wdth reckless haste. Numerous and 
costly losses are the vexatious result of such a thoughtless system, 
and those who practise it in these days of better knowledge 
deserve to suffer for their w r ant of energy and perception. Every 
intelligent planter knows that there are but few circumstances in 
which it is not better to plant in autumn than in spring, and only 
in those few exceptional cases is it excusable and preferable to 
delay planting till spring.” 
THE ARRANGEMENT OF CUT FLOWERS. 
Simplicity without tameness, fulness without crowding, 
warmth and richness of colour without gaudiness, lightness, ele¬ 
gance, and freedom without looseness or a ragged unfinished 
aspect, one or two prominent colours as the groundwork and key 
of the arrangement, and, lastly, an imperceptible uniformity and 
connection void of formality and stiffness—these are the most 
important fundamental points in the arrangement of cut flowers, 
which are not to be ignored with impunity, for while agreeing to 
the exercise in its fullest scope of individual taste, it is well to 
keep fanciful ideas within due bounds, and to refrain from eccentric 
attempts at novel arrangements that clash with the dictates of 
good taste. In order to be quite safe in a matter of such impor¬ 
tance, let me earnestly advise students of this delightful branch 
of gardening to cultivate taste by making every arrangement a 
lesson, and to thoroughly grasp the cause of every success as well 
as every failure. Such efforts invariably lead to success ; it may 
be, perhaps one ought to say must be, a success of degrees, for, as 
I have already explained, to be a master of this art one must 
possess natural gifts developed by culture, but which no culture 
can supply. 
In dinner-table decoration simplicity of design is of much im¬ 
portance, those which are at all complicated or crowded seldom 
proving quite satisfactory. By way of example a description may 
be given of two tables arranged recently. The first, a large table, 
had five trophy cups along its centre, each one having three 
pyramids of handsome compact white flowers of Mrs. Rundle 
Chrysanthemum and Maidenhair Fern at its base. Between the 
