290 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ September 29, 1881. 
are not confined to the fluid element, but anything captured on 
the bank is carried down to the cell to be devoured. The eggs 
are deposited and hatched also in a submerged cocoon. 
In the genus Ciniflo we find webs that are constructed in an 
irregular manner, and made of a flocculent, sticky silk, which soon 
becomes discoloured or dirty. These spiders have an additional 
pair of spinnerets, which are covered with flat plates ; each of 
these contains about two thousand minute holes. Agelena laby- 
rinthica is the spider which we so often perceive along the hedges, 
or on the clumps of bushes upon heaths. The exterior of the web 
is a mass of white and stout silk, spreading out for some distance, 
having lines leading to a tube or tunnel, at the bottom of which 
the spider lurks. The spiders of the genus Tegenaria occur in 
passages, rooms, and outhouses, their webs being sheet-like and 
rather angular, having a nest or hiding place in one corner below. 
These spiders are brownish, with a double row of markings along 
the abdomen, and long stout legs, often hairy. Some of the 
species, such as T. domestica, seem to subsist chiefly upon house 
flies, and they have the peculiarity of thickening their webs from 
time to time until they appear almost papery. In winter they are 
active, except during extremely cold weather, when they may be 
so far tamed as to take insects from the hand. T. atrica, which 
makes a large web of dark silk, endeavours to place its web 
across a gap or opening, by which flying insects are likely to try 
to pass. In damp rooms woodlice have been seen crawling in or 
near the webs of these house spiders, but they are not interfered 
with. Though apt to engage in combat I once observed one of 
them run from its own web into that of a neighbour’s who had a 
boisterous fly, and the two having mastered it feasted upon it 
amicably.—J. R. S. C. 
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., writes respecting the Presen¬ 
tation TO Mr. J. Dominy as follows:—“Will you kindly make 
known the result of our endeavour to raise a small fund as a 
recognition of the services to horticulture and the personal worth 
of Mr. John Dominy on his retirement from the service of Messrs. 
Veitch & Sons 1 I have received £262 10.?. Gd. from 114 sub¬ 
scribers. After paying for advertisements, £13 4s., and a few other 
small expenses, I shall have £250 to present to Mr. Dominy. I 
should mention that many of the subscriptions were accompanied 
by letters which showed that the writers had a great regard for 
Mr. Dominy. Indeed, the testimony to his personal qualities and 
to his skill as a raiser and grower of Orchids has been most 
emphatic. With the consent of the Council of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society I propose to present the fund to Mr. Dominy 
after the meeting of the Council on October 11th, at 3 p.m. I beg 
to thank the subscribers for the liberality and ready kindness with 
which they have contributed.” 
——- We are informed that Messrs. J. Veitch Sc Sons, Chelsea, 
had a handsome Collection of Nepenthes at the Hamburgh 
Exhibition on the 14th to 18th inst., when the grand gold medal 
and the States medal were awarded to them. The collection was 
greatly admired, and included a number of the most attractive 
forms in cultivation. 
- In reference to flowers at General Garfield’s 
funeral the following cablegram has been received from America 
—“ The floral ornamentation is most lavish. Indeed such enor¬ 
mous quantities of flowers have kept pouring in from all quarters 
that those in charge of the arrangements are in a difficulty as to 
how they shall dispose of them. They have come by trains in 
great bulk, as if they were the commonest merchandise. Yet in 
spite of all this profuse floral tribute there rests on the coffin lid 
but one floral decoration. It is the exquisitely lovely wreath 
sent by the Queen of England.” This wreath, we are informed, 
was composed of white Roses, Stephanotis, and Smilax leaves. 
- Messrs. W. Hender & Son, Plymouth, send us examples 
of their Double-floret Dahlia, with the statement that it has 
been twice certificated, the Judges “ considering it to be probably 
a forerunner of a new race of Dahlias, as the inner florets may 
become elongated and so alter the present appearance of the 
Dahlia considerably.” The variety is certainly a remarkable 
one, and is really entitled to the designation “ double,” for most of 
the florets include two and some three smaller florets. This gives 
the head a peculiar appearance, especially as the larger florets 
are somewhat quilled. In general form the bloom is globular and 
solid, the colour being a bright shade of scarlet. 
•- We regret to have to refer to two accidents to gar¬ 
deners that have recently occurred. Mr. Wildsmith of Heckfield 
sustained serious injuries by having been thrown out of a trap 
last week, but he is now, we are glad to learn, progressing favour¬ 
ably ; and we are also pleased to hear that Mr. Simpson of 
Wortley, who recently broke his leg, is now so far recovered as 
to move with the aid of a crutch. We hope to hear of the speedy 
and complete recovery of these well-known gardeners. 
- A correspondent observes—“ Amaranthus melan- 
cholicus ruber has this season been admired by numerous 
visitors, as it is more showy than such plants as Coleus Verschaf- 
felti, Iresine Lindeni, and Dell’s Beet growing near it. It is 
superior to the three above mentioned ; it is more compact in 
growth, brighter in colour, and bears pinching well. The un¬ 
usually hot summer undoubtedly was very favourable to it. Where 
it succeeds well it is a great acquisition among bedding plants.” 
- “ D. C.” writes—“ Tropasolum speciosum is singularly 
capricious. I had a plant which, till a good situation was found, 
was placed against a kitchen garden wall facing nearly south and 
apparently a dry situation. By accident it was left there, and 
having been covered with flowers this summer I have desired the 
gardener to leave it permanently. In the hot weather it was a 
little scorched, but I had tried it before in north and appropriate 
situations with no good results, so I conclude it to be a capricious 
plant. It is most beautiful even in the extreme north of Scotland, 
and all points to a damp and cool aspect as the most likely, 
though I have seen it fail to flower in a damp Yorkshire dale this 
autumn.” 
- “W. K.” sends the following note—“ On visiting Kew a 
few days ago my attention was attracted by some trees of Pyrus 
baccata, which are planted freely in the shrubbery borders with 
excellent effect. These trees are of double value for shrubbery 
work. In the spring they bear abundance of snowy-white 
flowers, and in autumn they look equally handsome laden with 
their rosy fruits. These fruits could be used in a variety of 
ways for decorative purposes with admirable results, arranged 
in vases associated with flowers-find Grasses.” 
- The same correspondent observes that “ In the Orchid 
house at the above-named establishment may now be seen in 
flower a fine plant of Dendrobium aureum var. philippi- 
nense. The flowers are similar to the typical form, but larger 
and of a lighter colour. The pseudo-bulbs are very different from 
the species, being about 4 feet in length. The plant is flowering 
profusely from the old stems, producing four and five flowers 
from most of the joints. When the variety becomes better known 
it cannot but find favour with most Orchid-growers. It is at 
present comparatively new, having been introduced to this country 
about twelve months ago. Mr. Low, at Clapton we believe, first 
introduced it. Dendrobium formosum var. giganteum is another 
valuable Orchid, and is also in flower in the same house. The 
flowers are pure white with a broad band of bright orange at 
the base of the labellum ; they are produced from the extremity 
