120 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ May, 
ceeds 50^ in winter, and is frequently lower, tlie summer temperature varying 
from 65° to 65°, and upwards. The plant is in the best possible health, gi-owing vigorously, 
and is heavily laden with fruit. The plant covers the enth’e back of the pit, 40 ft. in length, 
and about 3 ft. in width. In June, 1868, a young plant was planted in the fruiting Pine- 
house, in a mixture of peat, charcoal, and mortar rubbish, the temperature of this house 
ranging from 65° to 85°. It grew amazingly, and this season has borne 12 pods of fiaiit. A 
second plant was planted in quite a cool house, one used for bringing forward roses, the tem¬ 
perature being kept but little higher than that of a greenhouse; this plant has not made much 
progress, but has six pods of fruit. Mr. Bennett notes that he is satisfied the Vanilla will grow 
and fruit in a comparatively low temperature, the only thing required is to know how to 
fertilize the stigma, an operation which, though simple, requires great care and some skill. 
- 0N the back wall of a conservatory at Thorpe Perrow is growing a 
grand specimen of Luculia gratissima. It consists of two plants from the cutting- 
pot, put in with the intention of removing the weaker, but both grew away so 
rapidly that they were allowed to remain. The plants soon covered a back wall 30 ft. long by 
8 ft. in height, and then took to the rafters, seven of which 15 ft. long have been covered, and 
they are now sprawling about in a small half-circular dome. Recently three more rafters have 
been given to4;hem. The plants commence to bloom in October, and last to the end of February. 
The number of heads of bloom this season has been 700, or thereabouts, many of them measur¬ 
ing 8 in. across. This is gi’and for a winter-blooming conservatory plant, and the perfume, 
too, is delicious, equal to that of many Orchids. In March the plant is spurred in just as Vines 
are pruned, without retaining a leaf. It breaks in a very short time, and the shoots are thinned 
two or three times during the summer to allow the leaves room to develop themselves. 
- ®HE Thermo-plastic PuWj^ manufactured by Sir W. Eose and Co., has 
been used in the renewal of the roof at King’s Cross Station. This putty, it is 
said, is peculiarly adapted for fixing the glass in roofs of railway stations, green¬ 
houses, and other buildings where plate-glass and iron or wood sash-bars are used. It hardens 
in a few hours after being used, but will, when exposed to solar heat, sufficient to cause expan¬ 
sion of the glass and metal, become plastic, and on cooling, again retmns to its original firm¬ 
ness, thus preventing the loss occasioned by fractures and leakage. 
- 0NE of the features at the Oxford Show of the Eoyal Horticultural 
Society is to be a class for Antirrhinums in Pots. This, Mr. Bennett observes, is 
a step in the right direction, for the habit of the plant is well adapted for pot- 
cultiue. Last spring he potted a few seedlings in 12-inch pots, and plunged them into the 
open borders; they were once stopped or pinched in only, and they made splendid specimens, 
and continued in flower for some months. 
- ®HE Duke of Buccleuch has introduced an Evergreen Screen in heu of 
the ordinary blank wall so commonly seen in front of town mansions. The plan 
adopted, says the Pall Mall Gazette, is simple and effective :—A series of iron 
posts, some 8 ft. or 10 ft. high, and in double line, each line some 6 in. distant from its fellow, are 
connected together by numerous thick wires, and over the trellis-work ivy is being trained. Well 
watched and watered, the plants will doubtless thrive, and fonn a cheerful-looking leafy screen. 
©bituats. 
— m Victor van den Hecke de Lembeee died at Ghent on January 24, 
after an illness, which manifested itself last spring, immediately after his return 
from the Eussian Floralia. M. Van den Hecke was president of the Societe Eoyale 
d'Agriculture et de Botanique de Gand, and also of the Societi Pomologique ; vice-president of 
the Federation of the Belgian Horticultural Societies, drc.; and one of the most distinguished 
Belgian amateurs of horticulture. The Belgian Government had for many years confided to 
him the Presidency of the Conseil de Surveillance of the State School of Horticulture, a 
function, observes M. VanHoutte, which he filled up to his last hour with as much benevolence 
and amenity as zeal. His loss will be much felt in Belgium. His fine collection of plants is 
announced for sale by auction on the 2nd of May. 
