Jane 10, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
471 
to test the power of bees to appreciate colour, I placed some honey on a 
slip of glass, and put the glass on coloured paper. For instance, I put 
some honey in this manner on a piece of blue paper, and when a bee had 
made several journeys, and thus become accustomed to the blue colour, I 
placed some more honey in the same manner on orange paper about a foot 
away. Then during one of the absences of the bee I transposed the two 
colours, leaving the honey itself in the same place as before. The bee 
returned as usual to the place where she had been accustomed to find the 
honey ; but though it was still there, she did not alight, hut paused for a 
moment, and then dashed straight away to the blue paper. No one who 
saw my bee at that moment could have had the slightest doubt of her 
power of distinguishing blue from orange.” 
The structure of several common flowers is explained, and the subject 
is continusd on chapter ii., which also deals with “ cleistogamous flowers,” 
“ dimorphism,” “ the purpose of honey,” “ the protection of plants,” “ the 
sleep of plants,” “ the scent of flowers,” and concludes with the “ origin 
of flowers,” from which we extract the following remarks. “ Nevertheless 
although flowers present us with these beautiful and complex contrivances, 
whereby the transfer of pollen from flower to flower is provided for, and 
waste is prevented, yet they appear to be imperfect, or at least not yet 
perfect in their adaptations. Many small insects obtain access to flowers 
and rob them of their contents. Malva rotundifolia can be, and often is, 
sucked by bees from the outside, in which case the flower derives no 
advantage from the visit of the insect. In Medicago sativa, also, insects 
Fig. 88.— 1 Olontoglossnm crispum Cooksoni. 
can suck the honey without effecting fertilisation, and the same flower 
continues to secrete honey after fertilisation has taken place, and when, 
apparently, it can no longer be of any use. Fritz Miiller has observed 
that though Posoqueria fragrans is exclusively fertilised by night-flying 
insects, many of the flowers open in the day, and consequently remain 
sterile. It is of course possible that these cases may be explained away ; 
nevertheless, as both insects and flowers are continually altering in their 
structure, and in their geographical distribution, we should naturally 
expect to find such instances. Water continually tends to find its own 
level ; animals and plaDts as constantly tend to adapt themselves to their 
conditions. For it is obvi >us that any blossom which differed from the 
form and size best adapted to Becure the due transference of the pollen 
would be les9 likely to be fertilised than others ; while on the other hand, 
those richest in honey, sweetest, and most conspicuous, would most surely 
attract the attention and secure the visits of insects; and thus, just as 
-our gardeners, by selecting seed from the most beautiful varieties, have 
■done so much to adorn our gardens, so have insects, by fertilising the 
largest and most brilliant flowers, contributed unconsciously, but not less 
effectually, to the beauty of our woods and fields.” 
Two chapters of fitty-two pages are devoted to fruits and seeds, 
respecting which much varied information is given. The forms of fruits 
fl.nd seeds are considered, and the various methods by which the latter are 
■distributed. Referring to the protection of seeds, it is observed that this 
is “ in many cases attained by curious movement of the plant itself,” and 
the Sensitive Plant, Averrhoa Bilimbi and Desmodium gyrans are de¬ 
scribed. As in all these cases the movements are those of the leaves, it 
might be thought that their consideration would have been better in the 
chapter dovoted to them, but that is of little moment. In describing the 
Desmodium, it is said that “the leaflets are perpetually moving round 
and round,” an expression which will not convey a clear idea of their 
motion to a person unacquainted with the plant. The small leaflets are 
situated on each side, at the base of the central larger lobe, and they rise 
alternately by jerks until vertical, and then descend again. 
In the chapters on leaves, the leading points discussed are the differ¬ 
ences of forms and structure, particulars of extremely interesting experi¬ 
ments being incorporated. Numerous illustrations are given, and the 
work, which is neatly houni in cloth, will be valued by all who are 
interested in plant structure. 
GARDENERS AND PREMIUMS. 
On page 439, “ Lathyrus ” is, to my thinking, far below the average 
in his estimate when be says “ it is very questionable if the term appren¬ 
tice applies to 5 per cent, of gardeners.” If young beginners in gardens 
are not termed apprentices I should like to know what they are termed ; 
but as far as my experience goes, I have generally heard them termed 
apprentices, even if no premium has been paid, and it is a certainty that 
no young gardener is termed a journeyman until he has served two or 
three years’ apprenticeship ; therefore I think “ Lathyrus ” might safely 
say, without exaggeration, 50 per cent, instead of 5. But I will admit 
that, as a rule, there is no legal tie made when a premium is paid in our 
profession ; but there are exceptions to every rule, for I could point out 
to “ Lathyrus ” more cases than one where indentures were drawn up 
and signed by a lawyer when premiums were paid. Again, “ Lathyrus ” 
says, “ It is not youths that are first entering gardens who pay premiums, 
but young men that have already served some years,” but I have not 
found it the case. In the place stated at page 417 no premium was 
demanded from young men that were termed journeymen, but merely 
from beginners, or from youths that had served one or two years in a 
second-rate garden, and at the same time fairly good wages were paid to 
the apprentices according to their abilities. Therefore I cannot agree 
with your correspondent in saying that where premiums are received they 
are paid the lowest wages; but I have known places where no premium 
was required, but very low wages paid in lieu of premiums, so in the end 
it amounts to the same thing. Again “ Lathyrus ” seems anxious to know 
where I see “ the resemblance between gardening and any other trade.” 
I will admit that gardening is not generally termed a trade, therefore had 
I known that “ Lathyrus ” had been such a critic I would not have used 
the word, but at the same time there are other callings beside gardening 
that can scarcely be termed trades where beginners have to pay a premium 
or work for very low wages, and, in fact, in some cases, receive no wages 
for the first year.— An Outside Foreman. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM COOKSONI. 
Numerous handsome varieties of Odontoglossum ciispum have been 
introduced, and there are now all gradations from the pure white spotless 
forms that are usually termed O. Alexandra, to the heavily spotted 
varieties either on a white, a yellow, or a rosy ground. One of the finest of 
the spotted type is 0. crispum Cooksoni, which is named in honour of a 
distinguished Orchid amateur, N. C. Cookson, Esq., Wylam-on-Tyne. It 
was introduced from New Grenada, and is remarkable alike for the size of 
the flowers and the richly coloured large spots. The sepals and petals are 
pure white, and upon this the dark reddish-brown blotches show up very 
boldly. Our figure represents a single flower the natural size, and a faith¬ 
ful coloured plate was given in “Williams’s Orchid Album,” vol. iii., 1.118. 
As in the case of all such varieties, this must continue scarce and valuable 
for a long time to come, but it forms a good example of the best of the 
spotted varieties in contrast with the White O. crispum which we have 
previously figured. 
ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY. 
June 9th. 
The second summer Show of this Society is always one of the leading 
horticultural events of the London season, and on this occasion it was no 
exception to the rule, for the entries were numerous, of excellent quality, 
and were arranged in Mr. Coomber’s usual tasteful manner. The principal 
attractions were the Orchids, which formed magnificent banks. The stove 
and gr-enhouse plants and the Pelargoniums were also notable, together 
with the miscellaneous groups from the nurserymen, which invariably con¬ 
stitute such an important portion of these exhibitions. Cut flowers were 
also numerously represented, but fruit was shown by few, owing to the 
season being very late with indoor productions as well as those from out¬ 
doors. Some of the exhibits were good, however, especially the Peaches 
and Nectarines. 
Orchids. —Some grand specimens were included in the classes devoted 
to these, one of the most remarkable being Mr. Douglas’s Odontoglossum 
vexillarium, which had forty-seven racemes, or a total of 289 flowers. This 
was shown in the class for twelve s ecimens, and was much the finest 
plant exhibited. Five classes were provided, each for twelve Orchids, the 
first two for exotic species, or varieries from nurserymen and amateurs, the 
second two for single specimens divided in the same way, and the third for 
twelve Euiopean Orchids, in which there was no entry. The successful 
amateur exhibitors were Mr. J. Douglas, gardener to Francis Whitbourn, 
Esq., Great Gearies, Ilford, who was first both with the single specimen and 
