December 23, 1880. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 569 
of a Peach tree is the negative body, and something, it matters 
not what, to which the wire that touches it is connected, is the 
positive body, it seems to follow that the electricity would pass to 
the Peach branch to restore the equilibrium, and, as many think, 
cause injury. If the current is powerful enough it would no 
doubt cause injury, as is the case with lightning ; but is it suffi¬ 
ciently powerful ? 1 think not, and it is beyond all doubt not 
general, as it must be to sustain the theory. But that is not all. 
Oxidation appears to be of great importance in the excitation 
of electricity both by friction and in the voltaic battery. Now 
let us look at the Peach trellis. In all the communications re¬ 
ferring to this subject it is the new unoxidised wire that is stated 
to be the most injurious, the old or oxidised wire having little or 
no deleterious effect on the trees. That this is really so I shall be 
able to adduce pretty conclusive proof. The electricity theory, 
therefore, fails on the two important principles that ought to 
sustain it—1, Electricity is universal, while the injury supposed 
to be connected with it is only local ; 2, Injury does not follow 
where the wire is much oxidised, while oxidation is essential to 
the excitation of electricity. 
This subject is alluded to more fully because I have received 
several private letters, the writers of which agree with those 
Fig. 101. —DRACiENA TELLIXGII. 
published that the evil in question is caused by electricity. The 
question now stands thus—the tight tying or abrasion theory 
fails; the cold theory fails ; the electricity theory fails, and we 
must look in another direction for a solution of the problem.— 
J. WEIGHT. (To be continued.) 
DRACAENA TELLINGII. 
The narrow-leaved Dracaenas, so well suited to table decoration, 
were referred to on page 527 ; and the other type—namely, those 
possessing broad leaves and a bold effective habit—now merit 
some description. These are admirably adapted for general 
decorative purposes, and when well'grown and the foliage highly 
coloured there are no plants more imposing, either in groups or 
singly. As in the other section, we owe several of the best forms 
to Mr. Bause’s skill in hybridising, and the one represented in the 
engraving (fig. 101), kindly supplied to us by the General Horti¬ 
cultural Company, is scarcely excelled in attractiveness by any 
other in commerce. The specimen from which the drawing was 
prepared not only possesses all the distinctive characters of the 
variety, but also indicates what can be obtained by skilful culture, 
and is a fair representative of the Dracaenas grown at the Mel¬ 
bourne Nurseries, Anerley. 
D. Tellingii is the result of a cross between D. ferrea and D. 
regina, but is strikingly distinct from and superior to both parents. 
It is of bold, erect, and vigorous habit, with large elliptical or 
