92 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
plant. It is of vigorous habit, attaining 6 ft. or 7 ft. in height, with sub-elliptic 
leaves from 3 in. to 6 in. in length, and very numerous flowers, of a beautiful soft rosy tint, 
arranged in a paniculate bunch, which recalls the inflorescence of the Lilac. F. syringseflora 
flowers from October till February. The culture is most easy. To have flne plants, it is 
recommended to plant them out in prepared soil early in the season; to pinch-in freely, so 
as to obtain well-furnished plants, the last pinching taking place in July or August; and on 
the approach of frosts to take up the plants, pot them, and place them in a greenhouse, where 
they will flower about the time stated. 
- H. 0. SoEBY, the President of the Sheffield Naturalists’ Club, 
stated at a recent conversazione that he had studied the Changes that had occurred 
in the Colouring Matters of Leaves and Flowers during their development from a 
rudimentary to a perfect state, and the connection between them and the action of light, 
and had found that there was, apparently, a most remarkable correlation. When more and 
more developed under the influence of light, coloured compounds were found more and more 
easily decomposed by the action of light and air, when they were no longer parts of living 
plants, but dissolved out from them. There was thus, apparently, some condition in living 
plants which actually reversed these reactions. He had also found that in the more rudi¬ 
mentary state of the leaves of the highest classes, the coloui'ing matters correspond with 
those found in lower classes, and in the case of the petals of flowers, their more rudimentary 
condition often corresponded with some other variety, which thus appeared as if due to a 
naturally arrested development of a particular kind. This principle would perhaps serve to 
explain the greater prevalence of flowers of particular colours in tropical, or colder regions, 
and at different elevations. Mr. Sorby is about to extend his inquiries, to determine (what 
he at present only infers from the indications of his previous experiments) whether light, with 
a relatively greater amount of the blue rays, might not be relatively more favourable to the 
cryptogamia than to the flowering plants. 
- ^OME improvements in Flower-pot Covers^ Blinds^ Mats^ ^c., which 
require to be rolled, have been introduced by Mr. Spear, of Bury Street, London. 
He takes strips, fillets, or laths of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and 
drills a series of small holes through the same to receive the cord or string, which is by 
preference elastic; while, between every fillet or lath and that next adjoining it, he places 
beads, balls, or other separating pieces with corresponding holes. Cords or strings are then 
passed through the holes in the strips, fillets, or laths, and in the beads, balls, or other 
separating pieces, and an article of ornamental appearance which can be rolled up or curved 
into any desired form is thus obtained at a small cost. For flower-pot covers, the rows of 
beads should get gradually smaller as they approach the part that is to come near the bottom 
of the pot, so that the cover when folded round the pot may partake of a conical form corre¬ 
sponding with that of the pot. Hooks or other fastenings are added at the ends of the cover, 
to allow of its being fastened round the pot. 
- ®HE Douhle-flowered Chinese Larkspur (^Delphinium sinehse flore-pleno) 
is specially referred to by a correspondent of the Irish Gardeners' Record^ who 
says:—“ A bed of it, during the past summer, was one of the most beautiful 
objects imaginable, as if a patch of purer and deeper ether than the far-famed Italian skies 
can boast, were transferred to earth awhile. It is perfectly unaccountable why this plant is 
not more extensively grown, as it is perfectly hardy, and its cultivation of the easiest. It is a 
true herbaceous perennial, and may be readily increased in the spring by division; or cuttings 
taken off when the shoots are but a few inches high will root freely. It also comes very freely 
from seed, which should be sown in boxes or pans, and kept in a cold pit or frame during 
the winter. In procuring seed, be careful that the true variety is obtained, and that it has 
nothing of the ‘ candelabrum ’ strain in it. The height of this double-flow.ered Delphinium 
is usually from nine to twelve inches.” 
- <By tbe following Italian Method of Preserving Grapes^ it is said that tlie 
clusters can be preserved until Easter, as fresh and palatable as when cut. They 
are gathered in small quantities on clear, dry days, removing any decayed berries ; 
they are then fumed with benzine, and laid (not in contact) between fine corn- 
leaves, in drawers or trays, carefully closed against air and dust. 
