I 
182 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
is SO intense under sunlight as to be almost dazzling. White Perfection was 
certificated by the Eoyal Horticultural Society in 1873, and Eoyal Purple and 
Eose Queen in 1874, the latter having also gained a similar award when exhibited 
at the Eoyal Botanic Society. Eoyal Purple, which is remarkable for its solidity 
of colouring, was bred between Queen of Crimsons and Purpureum, two fine 
varieties referred to at p. 90 ; and Eose Queen, which is remarkable for its 
brilliancy, originated from a light rose-coloured seedling crossed with Queen of 
Crimsons. Mr. Little keeps a pedigree of all his high-class seedlings, and the 
publication of the results of some of his principal crosses would be extremely 
interesting.—T. Mooee. 
ISOLEPIS GKACILIS [PYGM^A]. 
'HIS is a pretty little grass-like plant, easily grown either in a room-window 
or in the conservatory; and being of a most refreshing green colour all 
the year round, it deserves more general culture as an effective decorative 
plant than it at present receives from amateur gardeners. It is readily 
multiplied by dividing established tufts, and grows well in any moderately rich 
sandy soil, if supplied with water liberally. A plant has stood in my sitting-room 
window for the last six months, treated as a sub-aquatic, the base of the pot being 
set in a flat pan filled with water and constantly replenished. Grown in small pots it 
is valuable to the decorative florist for forming borders and margins to flower 
boxes and stands, its permanent character being a great advantage.—F. W, 
Buebidge. —[The proper name of this plant is Isolepis pygm(Fa.~\ 
FUNGI ON TKEES. 
r HEN fungi grow on the roots and stems of trees close to the ground, it is 
a sure sign the trees are decaying. If the roots of such trees were to be 
examined, they would doubtless be found to be affected by fungus-spawn. 
This, however, is not the origin or cause of the decay, which may arise 
from various causes, but the decayed roots and tops afford proper nutriment 
for the fungi, which are either attracted to them from the soil, or from spores 
floating in the air. In corroboration of this view, I may instance the fact of toad¬ 
stools growing on decayed flower-stakes close to the ground ; these acting as con¬ 
ductors for the spawn to ascend to the surface, and thus complete the last stages 
of its growth in a similar way to that noted of toad-stools growing on the stems 
of trees. 
If the trees are not too far gone towards decay, the best remedy is to remove 
the soil, to carefully cut off the decayed roots, to rub off the spawn which adheres 
to the healthy ones, and to cover them with fresh soil, free from rotten leaves, 
commonly called leaf-mould,” because all such materials are conducive to the 
growth of fungi. Formerly, like many others, I used “ leaf-mould ” when plant¬ 
ing young fruit trees, but now I prefer fresh soil, even though rather poor, for the 
reason above referred to. 
