September 30, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
“ In botanical letterpress description the recurrence of numerous 
technical terms unaided by illustrations is always a difficulty, and 
frequently a source of discouragement to beginners ; the usual method 
of acquiring a knowledge of these terms being very laborious, and the 
consequence is that the attempt to master it is often abandoned. 
_ “ And even when the description is accompanied by full illustra¬ 
tions of the individual plant there is the danger of undue attention 
being devoted to the latter to the neglect of the descriptions of the 
ordinal and generic features. The student is too often satisfied if he 
can apparently identify his specimens by a general resemblance to the 
illustrations, even though he may gain little or no knowledge of the 
reasons for their classification. 
“ With a view to obviate these objections and to supply the want 
referred to, the author has adopted a new method of utilising illus¬ 
trative figures. These figures represent the separate parts or dis¬ 
sections characteristic of the orders and genera, and are disposed in 
harmony, with verbal analytical arrangement; they form, in fact, a 
series of illustrated analytical tables, the application of this principle 
to. the figures and the combination of verbal and pictorial analysis 
being the special features of this work. 
“ That illustrations are a more powerful as well as a more alluring 
and ready means of imparting knowledge than letterpress alone will 
not be doubted. As.the eye travels rapidly over the illustrated page 
it takes in at one view the contents, and there is presented to the 
mind a comprehensive idea of the subject. So with regard to this 
work; a. few references to an illustrated analytical table will go far to 
familiarise 'he mind with the relationship which exists between the 
various pa;ts of the plants, and the impression produced will soon 
deepen and become fixed on the memory. This pictorial method 
resembles, more closely than any other the natural process, or that 
which is intuitively followed in the comparative examination of the 
parts of the plants themselves.” 
The first portion of the work is devoted to the delineation of 
the great divisions of the vegetable kingdom, the Exogens, 
Endogens, and Acrogens ; then follow the illustrated characters of 
the natural orders, and then the genera arranged under their 
respective orders. The symbolical figures and dissections are 
placed on the left hand page, the one facing it containing the 
verbal description corresponding to the illustrations. As an 
example of this we give the accompanying engraving, representing 
the Poppy order, which indicates the method employed better 
than mere description could do. 
4, PAPAVERACE/'t 
0 y 
many 
4-ZO 
Redcrrrhite 
7 . Pap aver. v. 
9 
Yellow 
2 Meconopsis. 
‘ Sf. ^ 
/ 
( \J Violet 
3. RQEMERfA. 
y 
I e H° ,r 
4. Chelidon/um. 
' o 
y 
Yell, or red 
S. Glauc/um. 
4. POPPY FAMILY. 
r 
Corolla regular, polypetalous, in¬ 
ferior. Sepals 2. Petals 4. Sta¬ 
mens many. Capsule 1 or 2-celled; 
placentas 2 to 20, many-seeded. 
Capsule 1-celled ; placentas 4 to 20 
(forming imperfect cells). 
Capsule globular or oblong. Petals 
red or white . 
Capsule obovate. Petals yellow .. 
Capsule 1-celled ; placentas 2. 
Capsule linear, bristle-pointed. Pe¬ 
tals violet. 
1. Poppy. 
2. Welsh Poppy. 
3. Itcemeria, 
Capsule linear, smooth-pointed. Pe¬ 
tals yellow . 
4. Celandine. 
Capsule 2-celled ; placentas 2. 
Capsule very long, curved. Petals 
yellow or red. 
5. Homed Poppy 
It will be seen from this that the author has confined himself to 
the natural order and genera, leaving the species to the ordinary 
handbooks of British botany. The work may therefore chiefly be 
considered as representing the general variations and prevailing 
forms of our native plants without being a guide to the determina¬ 
tion of species ; but as the genus to which a plant belongs can be 
readily found on Mr. Messer’s system, the species could soon be 
ascertained by consulting one of the “ British Floras.” It is only 
necessary to add that the figures are well chosen and clearly 
drawn, the nomenclature correct, and the general execution of the 
work very satisfactory. It will undoubtedly prove of great assist¬ 
ance to youthful students of botany, and to such we cordially 
recommend it. 
SAXIFRAGA MUSCOIDES var. RUBRA. 
This pretty little Saxifrage ought to be in every garden. Those 
who saw it at the Manchester Whitsuntide Exhibition in Mr. 
Brownhill’s of Sale, Manchester, collection of herbaceous and 
alpine plants will not soon forget it. With me it has been flower¬ 
ing since about Easter in the open garden, and during the 
dry weather in spring and early summer it were one mass of 
bloom. In August of 1879 I had two plants which I divided 
into forty-two plants, which were very small, but in spring of the 
present year they were about 6 inches across, beautiful green 
circular patches—yes, green ; almost when every other thing in 
my garden were brown or almost dead. It would make a beautiful 
edging either separately or planted alternately with Daisies, 
Aubrietias, or similar dwarf plants. It ought to be divided 
annually, which adds considerably to its well-doing.— JAMES 
Percival. 
A QUEENSLAND FLOWER GARDEN. 
Poets have sung of the flowers of eastern realms, and artists 
have pictured the floral wonders and delights of sunny lands, but 
for ability to produce in perfection a diversity of such beauties of 
Nature Queensland cannot be surpassed, even if equalled. Climate, 
soil, situation, and skill in cultivation are all requisite, and are all 
to be found there. It may be admitted that there are places more 
favoured than Australia with native floral charms, though these 
are acknowledged to be considerable, and the north-eastern colony 
has more than its relative share of the vegetable fair ones. But 
without dwelling upon the denizens of the forest, or describing 
the blossoms which so profusely adorn the valley and hill, let us 
turn to the story of a flower garden as described in the “ Queens¬ 
land Calender.” The duties of the florist are those laid down 
each month. 
In January, the height of summer, he has to regulate the growth 
of climbers, examine Dahlias, stake and tie plants, weed beds of 
Verbenas, Petunias, and Pelargoniums, sow annuals for autumn, 
propagate Carnations, bud and train Roses, shade and water plants 
in pots. February has many of the finest plants in perfection ; 
but Chrysanthemums have to be tied up, decaying stems to be 
removed, annuals trimmed up close to the stem, Stocks to be 
planted for flowering, bulbs that have done work to be taken up, 
and seeds to be saved. March is the bulb-planting month. 
Showy annuals are sown in vacant places, Roses are pruned, and 
Carnations planted out. In April much transplanting is effected 
before the cold dry wintry winds come. Bulbs are still planted 
and Roses propagated. Dahlias are taken up, tubers are dried, 
Stocks, Pansies, and Wallflowers arc sown or planted, and the 
garden is kept clean. May brings the Camellia in flower ; Hya¬ 
cinths are planted, borders are manured, and the Roses attended 
to. Some Roses are for standards or dwarfs, the former orna¬ 
menting stony or clayey soil. The display of Roses at colonial 
Rose shows would astonish some European gardeners. June has 
cold nights in Queensland ; so, especially m the south, choice 
flowers need protection against frosts, however hot the day when 
once the sun has risen. Softwooded plants for bedding-out are 
now propagated, and cuttings of Pelargoniums are taken. Dahlia 
roots are stored, grass plats formed, and hedges planted. 
July, the coldest month, may sometimes, but very rarely, have a 
temperature of 30°. This is the spade and fork- time, while flower¬ 
ing shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants are duly placed about. 
Roses are kept in bloom by pruning. Annuals and biennials are 
sown, and some bulbs, Gladioli, and Amaryllises, are planted. 
Fuchsias are increased from cuttings, and Begonias, Gloxinias, &c., 
have to be repotted. In August overgrown herbaceous plants are 
