THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
144 
blues, and have most elegant trailing habits. These are but a few of a pretty and extremely 
hardy section of perennials that are worthy the attention of lovers of hardy plants. The 
most favourable season for propagation is in the spring, when the young growth is well de¬ 
veloped, and this taken off and pricked out into sandy soil will soon root and produce strong 
flowering plants. Most of these varieties also seed freely, and generally reproduce themselves 
from it, occasionally giving some intermediate fonns. 
-^T the Bristol Nurseries, Messrs. Maule have introduced two New Japanese 
Birches^ which from their large (male) catkins, and handsome appearance, are 
worthy attention. One of these Dr. Masters indentifies as the Betula utilis of Don, 
or rather that form of it which Regel calls B. Bhojpattra^ var. suhcordata, an upright 
grower, with the young shoots brownish and dotted with resinous dots, the glabrous ovate 
irregularly serrated leaves gradually tapering to a long point or acumen, the nerves rather 
closely set and prominent, and the male catkins 2^ inches long. The name utilis is preferred 
because it is the earlier name, and one not so uncouth to English ears ; or for garden purposes 
perhaps the varietal name, B. suhcordata, would be the most convenient. The second species is 
B. uhnifolia, var. costata, which might for garden purposes be called simply B. costata. It is a 
weeping form, with the young shoots brownish, sprinkled with resinous dots, the young 
leaves obliquely ovate cordate, rather shortly acuminate, serrate, thinly beset with pale 
appressed hairs, especially along the nerves, and covered on the lower surface with small 
circular glandular scales, and the male catkins nearly 3 inches long. 
- 23r. Alexander Braun died at Berlin, on March 29, at the age of 72. 
He was one of the first of German botanists, and had for many years been Director 
of the Botanic Garden at Berlin^ and an active worker in the Berlin Horticultural 
Society. The Algae, Oharas, and Equisetums were early subjects of his study, and to him we 
are indebted for the first descriptive enumeration of the Selaginellas cultivated in gardens. 
-— Auguste Riviere, who had been for many years Superintendent 
of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, died on April 14, in his 56th year. He 
was a most accomplished gardener, and his lectures on fruit-tree cultufe at the 
Luxembourg were numerously attended and very useful. For some years past he bad been 
at work on a richly-illustrated book on fruit-culture, and he had lately been drawing up a 
memoir on the Bamboos cultivated in France and Algeria. The collections of Orchids and 
Brotneliads under his charge were particularly noteworthy. 
- I^Ir. David Waugh Cunningham died on April 17, at the age of 57. 
He was for many years gardener to Lord Ebury, at Moor Park, Rickmansworth, 
by whom he was highly esteemed; and was formerly gardener to the Bishop of 
London, at Fulham Palace. 
- ;PCr. John Gavin died on April 20, at Melville Terrace, Edinburgh, 
in his 85th year. He had been for upwards of 43 years head gardener to the 
Earls of Moray, at Donibristle, Fifeshire. 
- ffiiR. Alexander Cramb, gardener to the Earl of Ducie, Tortworth 
Court, Gloucestershire, died suddenly of heart-disease, on April 27, in his 68th 
year. Mr. Cramb had been gardener to the Earl of Ducie for many years, and was 
held in high esteem by his noble employer, as well as by a large circle of horticultural 
acquaintances. Arrangements were, we believe, in progress for his early retirement. 
- 3Iohn Russell Reeves, F.R.S., F.L.S., of Woodhayes, Wimbledon, died 
on May 1, in his 73rd year. Mr. Reeves when in China was the means of intro¬ 
ducing several fine plants to this country, some of which, such as Reevesia 
thyrsoidea and Spira3a Reevesii, bear testimony to his good service. He was always a zealous 
patron and promoter of horticulture, and his amiable manners and consistent principles 
procured him the respect of all with whom he came in contact. 
