December 3, 1891. 1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
479 
earning into contact with the meat, made it tender. It was just the 
commencement of digestion by the plant. The tree was now made use 
of in what were called Papaw pills for indigestion. There was a family 
of plants called the Sarracenia. On examining the interior it was found 
that the ledge was covered with hairs. Then there was a number of 
little glands which secreted honey and attracted the insects. As soon as 
the insect got on the hairs these gave it no foothold, and it had to go 
downwards. Under certain atmospheric and other conditions insects 
and flies got caught in such enormous numbers that they died, decayed, 
and the whole pitcher rolled to pieces. There was also what was called 
the true Pitcher-plant. Nepenthes was the name of it. It was found in 
the Malay Islands, where it abounded. It secreted water, and the insect 
was drowned. The insects got caught in great quantities, and there was 
no doubt whatever that the plant absorbed them. With respect further 
to the ferment process, it was the same which we saw in operation in 
seeds which were sown in the spring or in the winter. It was a wonder 
to many how a seed with no root could remain in the soil without 
nourishment. But it did not go without nourishment. A grain of 
Wheat possessed the vital principle in a granule at the end. The rest 
was that upon which this vital principle was sustained and which caused 
it to send forth roots downwards, and to sprout upwards into the sun¬ 
light and air. The lecturer then gave the principal components of 
Wheat, and pointed out that the least nutritious part was that which 
went to form white bread. Our digestive organs did exactly the same 
thing as the embryo in a plant. When we called ourselves human 
beings there was no essential difference. There was unity with diversity 
running throughout the whole. 
Much interesting discussion followed the lecture, and a cordial vote 
of thanks to Mr. Henslow concluded the proceedings. 
Good Varieties of Boses. 
Although the lateness of the season deprived us of outdoor Boses 
in quantity till the middle of June, we have had no reason to complain 
of either the quantity or quality of the blooms at our disposal since that 
time, as we have been able to cut a continuous succession up to the 
present time (October 23rd), and it would be hard indeed to find any 
other hardy plant, shrub, or tree which would yield such a long 
succession of fine flowers. It is therefore no wonder that the Bose still 
maintains such a firm hold on the affections of the British people, 
combining as the flowers do in so eminent a degree the three essential 
qualities which all flowers require to enable them to approach a high 
standard of perfection—viz., a pleasing scent, good colour, and fine form. 
The scent of the Bose is acknowledged to be perfect, the colours of some 
of the varieties are among the loveliest, and the half-opened buds of 
many kinds of Teas are such models of exquisite form, that no one could 
suggest an improvement. Add to these good qualities the hardiness 
of the plant which bears these floral beauties, and there seems no reason to 
doubt that the Bose will still remain the queen of flowers. Here Boses are 
great favourites, and are preferred to all other flowers for the embellish¬ 
ment of the breakfast table, and for placing in small specimen glasses 
to be arranged in groups according to their colours. In consequence of 
the great demand for them we grow them extensively, and give them 
special attention. All varieties are prized, and many old kinds that are 
seldom met with are cherished here for the wealth of bloom they produce 
or for some special quality they possess. Although old Boses are grown 
in quantity and well cared for new varieties are not neglected ; the aim is 
to get plenty of Boses and plenty of variety among them, and being 
favoured with many warm sheltered spots, where climbing kinds can be 
trained against walls, we manage to have a long season for Boses in the 
open air. Even now we have quantities of fine Teas in positions so 
sheltered that they will require very sharp frosts to injure them. Now 
that the planting season has arrived a few remarks on some sterling 
kinds may be of service to readers of the Journal who contemplate 
planting. 
Among Hybrid Perpetuals A. K. Williams has with us produced some 
exceptionally fine flowers of good form, and being a vigorous grower 
should be in every collection. Boule de Neige, though only a small 
flower, is the purest white Bose among this section that I am acquainted 
with, and produces quantities of flowers throughout the summer, and is 
also a good late bloomer ; flowers are even now opening daily on bushes 
in an open and exposed position. Captain Christy is a very free- 
flowering kind of a soft flesh colour, but unfortunately the flowers with 
us do not open well, the outer petals becoming slightly browned before 
they are fully developed, while other varieties growing beside them 
thrive remarkably well. Queen of Queens and Madame Marie Verdier 
produce flowers of an exquisite rose colour, which seem to be always 
admired, and deservedly so, their colours appear so fresh and pleasing. 
Dupuy Jamaiu and Fisher Holmes are fine deep coloured flowers of good 
form. The finest of all crimson scarlet flowers with us this season has 
been Mrs. Harry Turner, being good alike in size, form, and colour ; it 
has given us the best blooms of the season. That old favourite, G6n£ral 
Jacqueminot, still attracts great attention, and surpasses many more 
recent introductions. John Hopper is one of the most abundant bloomers, 
the flowers being of a pleasing shade of rose. Jules Margottin has both 
a peculiar and pleasant scent, and a bright cheerful colour; and the 
beauties of La France are so well known as to need no farther comment. 
Louis Van Houtte is conspicuous and beautiful on account of its fine 
broad petals and good form. Marquise de Castellane is an unique Bose, 
of a bright rose colour, tinted with silver. 
Merveille de Lyon is the grandest of all light coloured Boses, the 
flowers being of exUa large size, well formed, and the growth made 
being very vigorous. Other fine varieties are Pride of Waltham, flesh 
colour ; Prince Camille de Bohan, dark crimson ; Senateur Vaisse and 
Thomas Mills, both bright red ; and Ulrich Brunner, flowers very large, 
cherry red. 
Tea-scented. 
Although the flowers of the many varieties in this section are not so 
showy as the Hybrid Perpetuals, their delicate, waxy-looking petals, 
which possess so many beautiful tints of colour, and their delicious scent 
cause them to be more highly prized than their hardier companions. 
Anna Odivier is a large and beautiful flesh coloured flower, the 
petals of which are particularly smooth and glossy. Catherine Mermet 
is a grand variety, bearing light, flesh-coloured flowers. To grow them 
to perfection they require the protection of a wall, or a position under 
glass. Climbing Devoniensis is a very strong grover, and on that 
account is extremely valuable for covering high walls, and few creamy 
white flowers are more beautiful than those which this fine variety 
produce. Due de Magenta has very sweet flowers of a salmon-rose 
colour, and is especially suitable for growing as bushes. Innocente 
Pirola is a lovely flower, both in its pure white form, and also when, as 
is sometimes the case, a pink tint is present. Ma Capucine, W. Allen 
Bichardson, and L’Ideale are three very attractive varieties, ko flotvers 
of which are various shades of coppery yellow. It is a wonder they are 
not more generally grown. Of the three 1 prefer the first named, which 
is a seedling from Ophirie. Ophirie is also an excellent Bose for 
covering walls, as it produces great numbers of medium-sized blooms of 
a peculiar rose colour. It is a very old Bose, but it is highly prized 
here. Madame Lambard, being of a bright red colour, is perhaps the 
most striking among Tea Boses, its form also in the bud is perfect. 
Madame de Watteville, white-salmon tint, is both remarkable and 
beautiful. Marie Van Houtte, pale yellow, is one of the gems of this 
section of Boses. 
Niphetos, and its climbing form, are indispensable white varieties. 
Perle des Jardins is another fine yellow Bose, especially in soils where 
the flowers attain that desirable canary yellow colour. Beine Marie 
Henriette in habit and vigour of growth resembles the well-known 
Gloire de Dijon, but the colour is red, and as may be supposed, is a 
most useful and beautiful kind. Safrano and Madame Falcot are 
apricot and pale yellow in colour respectively, and delightful Boses in 
the bud, and are well adapted for training against walls. The Bride, a 
new American sport from Catherine Mermet, resembling its parent in 
all points except the colour, which is ivory white. 
Where Boses are planted in beds or against walls they well repay 
special attention in the preparation of the soil. This should be dug to 
a depth of at least 2 feet, and in damp positions have 6 inches of broken 
bricks or old mortar rubbish placed at the bottom to provide drainage. 
It is not everyone that can obtain good turfy loam for placing upon 
Bose beds, but where such can be had there is no question about the fine 
results which may be obtained by using it, and if only a small quantity 
can be spared for the purpose, this should be placed in immediate 
contact with the roots to induce quick and healthy root-action. A good 
layer of soot and wood ashes in equal quantities should be mixed with 
soil as the work of digging proceeds. The soil should also be enriched 
with well rotted manure. This should, however, be kept away from the 
roots at planting time.—D. W. C. 
Choice Boses for General Cultivation. 
I AH not at all surprised that “ W. B. Baillem” does not consider 
the list of Boses I recommended for general cultivation at the end of 
my last analysis to be as perfect as it should be. The fact is, no two 
rosarians, however experienced, would recommend for this or any other 
purpose precisely the same varieties. 
As your correspondent justly says, “ It is indeed an awkward task to 
make out a list of a certain number of best Boses suitable for all and 
sundry.” In the first place soils and climates differ greatly, so that we 
occasionally come across varieties which are easy enough to manage in 
one locality, but which refuse to grow in others. For instance, I have 
eight-year-old plants of Horace Vernet on three different stocks, in¬ 
cluding the Manetti, which still continue to thrive and flower well; 
whereas Xavier Olibo, which “ W. B. E.” finds <l not more difficult to 
grow ” than Horace Vernet, I failed to keep alive on any of these three 
stocks ; indeed, after persevering with this beautiful H.P. for five years 
I was at last reluctantly compelled to discard it from my collection. 
Then, again, it is not the number of reliable Boses which puzzles the 
compiler of a selection of this kind, but their scarcity. He is, therefore, 
obliged to introduce a good many varieties which for some quality or 
other do not come up to the ideal standard he has set up for his guidance. 
For example, no choice selection would be considered complete without 
a few “ dark velvety crimson ” Boses, and yet I do not myself know 
a single variety of this colour which I could thoroughly recommend 
for ordinary garden cultivation. In my opinion such a Bose should be 
a good grower and certain flowerer. It should have a sound and hardy 
constitution and be little subject to mildew, while its blooms should be 
