142 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
■which cannot fail to be of service. It is hoped that agriculturists, horticulturists, 
and field naturalists will each lend their best support, as the object is a -worthy one. If reli¬ 
able information can only be obtained from competent observers (which on the prepared forms 
would cost them but a few minutes’ occasional labour), it is intended to digest it into a report, 
primarily for the benefit of the observers, and which could not fail to be of great value to the 
country at large. Few but those scientifically or practically concerned know the heavy 
money losses constantly going on from insect causes in the crops, but it is only by co-opera¬ 
tion in observation that the root of the evil can be thoroughly reached. Further information 
may be obtained of the Rev. T. A. Preston, Marlborough, Wilts; or of Edward A. Fitch, 
Maldon, Essex. 
- According to a recent statement of M. Duchartre in reference to 
Forced Lilac^ it appears that by forcing the Lilac in a well-lit forcing-house at 
an average temperature of +15° Cent. [59° Fahr.] perfectly white flowers were pro¬ 
duced. In one experiment a branch of Lilac was allowed to escape into the open air through a 
hole in the glass, while the rest of the shrub was within the forcing-house. Under these con¬ 
ditions the forced flowers were perfectly white, but those which were on the branch exposed 
to the open air expanded a fortnight later, and were of the ordinary lilac colour. M. 
Pigeaux states that it is only the Syringa vulgaris which acts in this manner, the flowers of 
S. persica when forced assuming the ordinary lilac colour. 
- ^HE new Rose Queen of Redders^ wliicb Mr. Noble is now distributing, 
is likely to prove a good bedding-out garden rose, if we may judge from the 
sturdy nature of tbe stock, and the abundant blossoms it is now throwing up. 
The flowers produced now, as well as those borne late in the season, are, as we learn from Mr, 
Noble, of the brilliant crimson tint shown in a plate he has issued, which is from a drawing 
by Mrs. Duffield, but in the height of summer the colour takes on more of the purple or rosy 
hue. For the purpose of flowering in beds, its profusely-blooming habit will, no doubt, well 
adapt it. 
- ^ GROUP of Sweet-scented Hybrid Rhododendrons^ raised by Mr. Davies, 
of Ormskirk, was lately exhibited (April 27) at a meeting of the Eoyal Manchester 
Botanical and Horticultural Society, by S. Barlow, Esq., Stakehill House, Chad- 
derton. The plants, laden with large, finely-formed, pure, and generally deliciously fra¬ 
grant blossoms, were the produce of a hybrid named multiflorum, crossed with R. Edgworthii. 
To the newest variety, named R. foi'ibundum, a, First-class Certificate was awarded; it is 
about equal in hardihood to R. multiflorum; flowers large, erect, open, pure white with 
crimped margins ; habit compact, flowering freely on small plants, very early, as it blooms in 
the middle of April without forcing. Other fine varieties were Countess of Derby, having an 
intermediate habit of growth; the flowers large, pure white, the perfume of a remarkable 
sweetness; a grand conservatory plant. Countess of Sefton comes of the same parentage, 
the flowers pure white, fringed on the margins, with a band of pale rosy purple on each side 
of the corolla. Lady Skelmersdale has pure white flowers, but more trumpet-shaped than 
the preceding, the edges smooth, giving an appearance of fine form to the blossoms ; a most 
attractive variety. Mrs. James Shawe is another white-flowered variety, also remarkably 
free. Duchess of Sutherland is very fine indeed, a robust grower, with large, handsomely- 
formed, pure white flowers, beautifully fringed on the margins. Though the flowers of 
several of the foregoing are white, they are yet quite distinct in character, and differ con¬ 
siderably in form. 
- ^HE Dublin Farmers^ Gazette states that there is to be seen in the 
University Botanic Garden, Ball’s Bridge, a singularly dwarf bushy form of Cryp- 
tomeria Lohhii which in its compact and diminutive aspect bears about the same 
relationship to the typical form of that handsome Japan conifer, that the crabbed and curious 
variety known as Abies Clanbrassiliana does to the parental A. excelsa. 
- ®^HE finely-growm specimens of Primula Marchioness of Exeter shown 
recently from Burghley Gardens owe their health and vigour, in Mr. Gilbert’s 
opinion, to the presence of charcoal in the compost in which they are grown. 
Not only does this furnish a good and necessary drainage, but it also affords valuable root- 
