450 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 01. 188& 
planted for protection, but were found to succeed so well and to form 
so pleasing a feature that the collection was wisely extendol, and with 
the seedlings obtained the varieties include some of the best and most 
distinct. 
For protecting delicate plants or beds of seedlings several methods 
have been tried, that found the cheapest and most convenient; now 
being iron hurdles covered -with green scrim, which breaks the force of 
the wind, yet permits a free Circulation of air. Split bamboos secured 
to hurdles in a perpendicular position have proved similarly useful, but 
rather expensive ; split wood of various kinds has been tried in a similar 
way, and dried Furze tied to hurdles makes a very effective hedge. 
This is emplo 3 ^ed for the larger divisions as protection for hedges of 
Eosa rugosa, of which there are thousands of seedlings, and in some 
cases Clematises have been planted to cover the Furze. Still, speaking 
of hedges, it may be added that Mr. Wilson commends the Cherry 
Plum for this purpose, but to utilise it he takes up stems at intervals, 
and these are worked with choice varieties of Plums, a combination of 
the useful with the ornamental that many could appreciate. At one 
spot, what is termed the “hot bulb ” bed, where the most delicate and 
choice bulbous and similar plants are grown, protection is afforded at 
the back by ground glass with Furze hedges at the side and open to the 
south, but this is an extreme case, and the only one in which glass is used. 
It is really a philosopher’s garden, and is aptly designated “ experi¬ 
mental,’’ for when plants are being tried for the first time, two or three 
different kinds of soil are prepared in the same situation, and it is soon 
found which is preferable. Seeds are sown in different positions with 
the same object in view, and several instances are noticeable of the ready 
way in which the seedlings thrive in some places. Primula japonica, 
for example, sown on the bank of a small rivulet is flourishing low down 
near the water, yet on the top of the bank plants of exactly the same 
age are not one-fourth the size, with comparatively puny flower stems. 
As Mr. Wilson observes, you never know the capacity of a plant until 
you have tested it in a variety of situations, and in illustration of this 
he points to the beautiful glaucous-leaved and bright blue Omphalodes 
Luciliffi. Upon a mound in the woodland is a fine healthy plant such 
as is seldom seen, and which many would be well contented with, but 
on a bank in a more exposed situation another plant is so much more 
vigorous that it might be taken for a stronger variety. 
A word or two about the Gentians must conclude this week’s notes. 
At Wisley Gentiana acaulis seems to have found a congenial home, for 
it both grows and flowers in the most satisfactory manner. By the 
lake is a beautiful bed of it, about 2 square yards of vigorous plants in 
one bright green mass, and upon this 600 large deep blue flowers have 
been counted, a good proportion of which are still fresh. Near this, 
too, are some highly valued gems, varieties of G. acaulis collected in 
the Swiss Alps by Mr. Scott Wilson, our courteous conductor’s son. 
Flowers of these were recently submitted, to the attention of the Koyal 
Horticultural Society’s Floral Committee, when they were much ad¬ 
mired for the interesting variations and delicate tints they displayed. 
There are four well marked forms, one very pale, nearly white ; another 
a clear bright pale blue, very beautiful; a third of a rather deeper blue, 
and approaching a double form ; the fourth, the most remarkable of all, 
being a distinct pink hue, all the blue tint having'disappeared. The 
plants are small and require careful watching, but the characters of the 
varieties have been admirably fi red on paper by an accomplished artist. 
Miss Florence H. Wool ward, who evidently possesses a happj' facility 
of combining in her numerous drawings of plants strict botanical 
accuracy with artistic effect. The lovely Gentiana verna shows its 
brilliant little blue flowers in several places; the rather fastidious 
G. ornata and many others are equally suited with comfortable quarters 
n the Wisley garden. But I must stop for the present, and reserve 
some further observations for another contribution.—L. Castle. 
COCHIN CHINA VINE-VITIS MARTINI. 
An apparently new species of Vine has been received at Kew from 
the Botanic Gardens, Hong Kong. It was sent by Mr. Ford as Vitis 
Martini, Planch. From botanical specimens also contributed by Mr. 
Ford to the Kew Herbarium, Professor Oliver has identified the plant 
as Vitis (Ampelocissus) Martini of Planchon, but he is doubtful whether 
it is specifically distinct from Vitis barbata. Wall., of Bengal and 
Burma. As plants of this Vine have been distributed from Kew to 
correspondents in the colonies it is desirable to place on record all the 
available information respecting it. In the report of the Superintendent 
of the Botanical and Afforestation Department, Hong Kong, for the 
year 1883, the following interesting account is given of the Cochin 
China Vine ;— 
“Another plant of considerable interest'is a new tuberous-rooted 
Vine, Vitis Martini, Planch., from Cochin China. It fruited this j'oar 
in Hong Kong for the first time. The seeds were procured from the 
Botanic Gardens, Saigon, in 1883. The seedlings were planted out the 
same summer and made several shoots, each of which died down in the 
winter. They began to make fresh shoots about the middle of April, 
1881, and grew well during the summer, but showed no inclination to 
flower ; and again died down in the winter. Last summer they started 
vigorously and showed flower about the end of May. Many of the 
bunches, however, failed to develope fruit, owing, apparently, to imper¬ 
fect fertilisation ; but there was a good average crop of bunches on the 
canes irrespective of the failures. The fruit was ripe in October, many 
of the bunches weighing a pound each. The berries, when ripe, are jet 
black, and rather under the average size of ordinary Grapes. The seeds 
are largo in proportion to the size of the berry. The flavour is a peculiar- 
blending of s'weetness and acidity, very pleasant, but tending, in my 
case, to leave a.cirrious smarting sensation on the tongue ; others might • 
not find this peculiarity at .all objectionable. The flavour might be- 
altered, as is well known, by varying the mode of cultivation ; but the- 
size of the seeds is likely to prevent the Grape becoming popular as a 
table fruit ; it may, however, be very well adapted for a wine-pro¬ 
ducer. 
“ A number of seedlings of this Vine were distributed amongst resi¬ 
dents of the colony, but I learn that none of these plants have fruited. 
A few remarks as to the mode of cultivation may therefore be useful. 
The tubers should be planted at a distance of 12 feet apart in well 
manured soil, taking care to keep the manure near the surface, as the 
tubers take a horizontal direction and do not penetrate the soil to any 
great depth. When the shoots appear in the spring it is well to cut off' 
all the weak ones, leaving only four strong canes ; these should be 
trained along a trellis or wall, as the case might be, leaving a width of 
■3 feet between the canes. All the lateral branches should be pruned 
back to within one bud of the main rod, except those laterals that show 
bunches ; but it will be found that very few bunches will be developed 
on the lateral shoots, most of the bunches springing directly from the 
main rods ; but in the case of a bunch springing from a lateral branch 
the branch'Should be stopped at the second bud above the bunch. The 
laterals might be allowed to grow till they are 2 feet long. It will then 
be seen if they are likely to throw out bunches or not. If not, prune 
them back as described, and also pinch back all subsequent growth as it 
appears. It may be found necessary to thin out the leaves to allow the 
sun to get at the branches, but in doing this great care should be taken 
not to 'break or otherwise injure the leaf directly above the bunch. If 
this happen to be accidentally removed the bunch below it will ripert 
immaturely and soon shrivel up. It is an advantage to thin out the 
bunches, leaving a space of 15 or 18 inches between them. It is also- 
advantageous to thin the berries, leaving hardly one-half of the original 
quantity on each bunch ; but I am afraid this process would prove im¬ 
practicable if the Vine were extensively gro-wn, owing to the labour it 
would entail. After the fruit is gathered the “Vines require no farther- 
attention till spring. By wmy of experiment one lot of plants were- 
allowed to grow at will. Some of them threw up as many as a dozen 
suckers and produced laterals in profusion, but they all failed to flower.. 
Another lot was transplanted into -well-manured ground just as the 
crowns began to push in the spring; they, too, failed to flower, and 
presented rather a sickly appearance during the summer. 
“ The Horticultural Press has already suggested that this Vine should 
receive the attention of Vine growers in the wine-producing countries- 
of Europe where the phylloxera has denuded the vineyards of the old 
class of Vines. There being no phylloxera in Hong Kong, I cannot say 
whether the dreaded insect would spare this Vine, but in view of the- 
wonderful improvements that have been and can be brought about by 
skilful and persistent cultivation, it is not unreasonable to surmise that 
this new Vine may ultimately become a wine-producer. It is easily 
cultivated, and seems to be well adapted for a tropical climate, or a 
climate in which the resting season is comparatively cold and the grow¬ 
ing season hot.”—fAcio Bulletin.') 
THE LINNEAN SOCIETY. 
On Thursday last the centenary anniversary meeting of the Linnean 
Societj^ was held at the Society's rooms, Burlington House ; and in cele¬ 
bration of the Society’s centenary there was a considerable addition to- 
the programme of an ordinary annual meeting. The chair was occupied 
by Mr. W. Carruthers, the President, and there was a large attendance 
of Fellows and Associates. On the right of the chair was seated Sir E. 
Owen, Sir Joseph Hooker,,Professor Flower, and Professor Thiselton. 
Dyer, who had been specially selected to take prominent parts in the 
proceedings of the day. There were also present Sir J. Lubbock, M.P., 
and Professor J. G. Allman, former Presidents of the Society ; Dr. H, 
Woodward, Professor Stewart, Professor G. B. Howse, Mr. J. Colebrooke, 
Dr. M. T. Masters, Professor St. George Mivart, Dr. A. Gunther, Sir 
Walter Buller, Dr. A. 0. Prior, Dr. E. Hogg, Professor M. Duncan, 
Mr. J. G. Eomanes, Colonel Grant (companion of Speke), Mr. Bate¬ 
man, and Mr. Olsen of Sweden. 
The Council having decided to make an exception to the general rule 
by admitting a fe--v ladies to be present, seats were reserved for those 
whose relatives were officially connected with the proceedings, as Pre¬ 
sident, former President, Members of Council, Speakers, Treasurer, and 
Secretaries. The following were invited, and were received by Mrs. 
Harting in the drawing-room of the librarian’s apartments :—Mrs. 
Carruthers, Lady Lubbock, Lady Hooker, Mrs. Allman, Mrs. Lj^ell, Mrs. 
Busk, Mrs. and Miss Flower, Mrs. Thiselton Dyer, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. 
Albert Michael, Mrs. Howes, Mrs. Seebohm, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Maxwell 
Masters, Mrs. Crisp, Mrs. Daydon Jackson, Miss Flower, and Miss 
Harting. 
The first business was the election of the King of Sweden as an 
honorary member of the Society. 
The President said that His Majesty took great interest in the deve¬ 
lopment of science, and, considering that this was an important meeting 
of the Society, whose history was of interest in Scandinavia as well as 
in England, it seeme-l to the Council that it would be appropriate to- 
elect the King of Sweden an honorary member. 
The election having been carried by a show of hands, and cheers, 
M. Olsen acknowledged the compliment on behalf of the King of 
