364 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t October 19, uss. 
long a time as possible the marrows must be cut off before they 
are very old. To allow them to remain until they are full-sized 
and full of seed will prevent a constant succession. We grow two 
lots of plants—one to produce seed, the other to supply the 
kitchen. An open situation, close pinching, hard cutting, and 
good feeding throughout is the way to secure abundance of choice 
Vegetable Marrows.” 
- We regret to learn that Dr. Thwaites died at Kandy on 
September 11th, at the age of seventy-two. It will be remembered 
that he resigned the directorship of the botanic gardens at Pera- 
denyia, Ceylon, some time since, being succeeded by Dr. Trimen, 
who now holds that post. Dr. Thwaites was specially noted for 
his studies amongst the lower Cryptogams, Fungi and Algae 
having particularly engaged his attention when in England. He 
was appointed Director of the Ceylon gardens in 1849, which he 
ably conducted until a year or two ago. His chief work is an 
enumeration of flowering plants found in Ceylon, which is useful 
for reference. 
-A correspondent informs us that “ Dahlia Glare of 
the Garden or Fire King, is now very effective in Croxteth 
Hall Gardens, A large bed of the single forms is near it, but 
cannot be compared to the above for richness of colour or free 
flowering. The single variety Avalanche is also effective, and 
these two varieties cannot fail to become popular, and will un¬ 
doubtedly in a short time be largely and generally grown where 
either a display or cut flowers are in request in late summer and 
early autumn.” 
- Many of our readers will be pleased to hear, as we have 
pleasure in recording, that a graceful tribute of esteem was paid 
last week to the Rev. H. B. Biron (whose name is so familiar as 
a successful exhibitor of Roses) in the form of the presentation of 
a valuable purse of gold, with a book containing the names of the 
subscribers, on his retirement from the curacy of Harbledown to 
the rectory of Lympne, 
- Mr. Charles Smith of Wiggington, Tamworth, writes 
that from 1 bushel of 56 tbs. of Carter’s Magnum Bonum 
Potato he has dug 23 bushels of 80 lbs. ; and one large set 
planted alone produced fifty tubers, all of them sound—namely, 
thirty large for table, five medium for seed, and fifteen small. 
He considers the results good, but does not suppose they excel those 
of other cultivators. 
-The reputed only specimen of Cypripedium reticu- 
latum in cultivation is now flowering in Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ 
nursery at Chelsea. It is not remarkable for its beauty, having 
greenish flowers, the sepal and petals of semi-transparent texture, 
showing a network of fine veins, from which its name is derived. 
The lower sepals are broad and fitted closely to the lip, giving 
somewhat the appearance of an additional pouch at the back of 
the lip. A beautiful new species of Ladies’ Slipper named C. car¬ 
dinal is also flowering. In form of flower it is suggestive of 
C. spectabile, and it resembles C. Sedeni in colour, the lip being 
a deep rose colour. It is said to be equally as free as the last- 
named, which is represented in this nursery by a number of plants 
flowering abundantly. 
- “J. W.,” writing on Lady Henniker Apple, says he 
saw a sample the other day grown by Mr. Smith at Mentmore, 
and its large size, symmetrical appearance, and bright colour sug¬ 
gests that this variety is worthy of attention. Compared with 
others in a large collection there was not one so handsome, and 
if the tree is a good grower and bearer the variety should be in¬ 
cluded in most collections. Information on these points, our cor¬ 
respondent suggests, would be serviceable, and he would be glad 
to have the experience of Mr. Smith or others who may have 
fruited this variety. 
- The “ Belgique Horticole” observes that Baron Nathaniel 
Rothschild’s gardener at Vienna has succeeded in crossing Schom- 
burgkia tibicinis with pollen from Laelia purpurata, and plants 
have been raised which are making good progress. What the 
result will be if a cross has really been effected it is not easy to 
imagine. 
- “ S.” WRITES, ‘‘Although the Floral Committee of the 
Royal Horticultural Society displayed at the last meeting an 
unusual anxiety to certificate all the plants they possibly could, 
yet they passed one of the best shown there—namely, Impatiens 
Sultani. Their remarkable liberality in other respects attracted 
much attention and caused some criticism, and perhaps they were 
under the impression that they adjudged this beautiful Balsam a 
first-class certificate when it was exhibited at a previous meeting, 
as many visitors thought would have been done. The award of a 
botanical certificate with which the Impatiens was doubtfully 
honoured conveys to the public the idea that the plant is worth¬ 
less for decorative purposes, which is far from the case, as in its 
free growth, perpetual flowering, and easy culture Impatiens 
Sultani is unrivalled amongst its relatives.” 
- Messrs. J. Jefferies & Co., Oxford, send us a selection 
of Single Dahlias, including several very distinct and hand¬ 
some varieties, which we learn have been raised by Mr. W. H. 
Baxter, curator of the Oxford Botanic Garden, who has paid 
great attention to these plants, and has succeeded in obtaining a 
beautiful strain. Especially notable is one named W. H. Baxter, 
a medium size of good form, the florets 1^ inch broad, rounded, 
brilliant crimson in colour and yellow at the base, which thus 
forms a central ring, imparting a most distinct appearance to the 
blooms. Some of the others are similarly characterised by this 
peculiarity, one being deep purplish crimson and the other bright 
scarlet, each with a yellow zone. Of the self varieties the best 
were the following, unnamed :—Magenta crimson, with broad 
rounded florets ; orange buff, very neat flower of a distinct, but 
popular tint; white, very clear and good flower ; creamy white, 
flower small, but symmetrical and graceful ; claret red ; ruby 
shaded orange ; and several good shades of yellow. The flowers 
were admirably packed in damp moss, but their shattered condi¬ 
tion indicated the one great defect of the single varieties namely, 
not bearing carriage well. 
- A correspondent writes :—“ Some Latin names of 
PLANTS have a great similarity in sound to certain English words, 
though the meaning is quite different. These occasionally give 
rise to rather amusing blunders, and one of the best examples of 
what may be termed literal translation recently came under my 
notice. I was inspecting a collection of plants, among which was 
one invested with interest on account of its rarity, and bearing 
the specific name ‘ nodatum.’ My attendant seemed at a loss to 
understand the meaning of this term, but ultimately came to 
the conclusion that the plant had been so named because the 
collector had lost the date when the plant was discovered. It 
is evident that my informant might advantageously pay a little 
attention to the rudiments of botanical nomenclature.” 
- The greenhouse at the Royal Gardens, Kew, is still as 
gay as could be wished at this time of year. Salvias, such as 
Bruanti. Bethelli, and patens, have been freely employed with 
excellent results, S. Bethelli being particularly good, plants in 
8-inch pots bearing numerous fine heads of rich purple flowers. 
The brilliant scarlet S. Bruanti and the unequalled blue S. patens 
are similarly effective. Very notable amongst the climbers is 
a plant of Swainsonia Osbornii, an extremely beautiful species that 
is by no means so well known as it deserves to be. This specimen 
has now been in bloom some months, and is likely to continue for 
a considerable time yet. The flowers are of a fine, clear, bright 
