270 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
as a bedder no proof lias been afforded. Lee's Dwarf Blue (W. Lee), lias 
a very dwarf-growing, robust habit, producing great quantities of flowers 
of a bright deep blue, with a white centre. Its dwarf habit and free pro¬ 
perties promise for it a great run as a bedding kind. Little Gem (Bowie), 
is a very dwarf and compact strong-growing variety of L. Paxtoniana, the 
flowers being white, broadly edged with blue. The specimens of this 
variety were shown so late as the middle of October, and at that late season 
were in excellent condition. This stamps it as a continuous bloomer. A 
second-class certificate was awarded to Blue Tom Thumb (R. Dean), a very 
dwarf and erect-blooming kind, the flower being of a pale blue hue, with a 
white centre ; it blooms profusely and continuously. It has been used as 
a bedding variety during the past summer with great success. 
Other new kinds are Ultramarine (W. Lee), dark blue with white centre, 
a strong-growing seedling from L. Paxtoniana, and a questionable acquisi¬ 
tion because wanting distinctness; Fawn (W. Lee), a variety with pale 
lilac flowers, but of a loose habit; and Sparkler (J. & C. Lee), deep blue 
with white centre, sliowy-looking, but of a very straggling habit. Some 
few others are not worthy a notice of any kind. 
Quo. 
AERIAL ROOTS. 
Me. William EAELEYlias remarked (p. 242), that he was puzzled at seeing 
one of the Vines at Chiswick densely clothed with aerial roots, whilst others, 
apparently under precisely the same circumstances, were not. Perhaps 
it will assist Mr. Earley a little when I tell him, not of a theory, but of 
an example of a like kind. The Vine is notorious for striking root freely, 
and in the wild state this peculiarity would give it another string to its bow, 
in the w T ay of propagating itself by layers, as well as by seeds. Now, 
in studying the nature of certain plants w T e have frequently to consider other 
plants having the same style of conformation and habit; and although 
we cannot say that Nature works invariably by the same rules, yet it is 
always agreeable to the person who is looking out for a proof of his 
particular theory, to find it already accomplished in one of Nature’s well- 
known specimens. In the w 7 hole round of propagating there is not a more 
extraordinary example than that of the common Ivy (Hedera Helix). It 
grow T s from seeds freely, and every little bit of its stem will push out roots, 
and cling like a leech to wall or rock; but when it has once got the upper 
hand, and shows flower and fruit, the branch that has done this deed, 
creeps and clings no longer—it stands out boldly as a bush, and cuttings 
of this bush will form bushes too, mushroom-shaped, and behave them¬ 
selves like any other upright evergreen shrub. 
Many years ago, when I made it my business.to hunt up the history of 
plants, flowers, and fruits, I called at Wrotham Park, then the residence of 
George Byng, Esq., and on the lawn there I saw a neat, compact evergreen 
shrub, wdiich, I was ashamed to own, was quite beyond my acquaintance, 
and I had to ask, with all humility, its name and history. It was the 
common Ivy grown like a tree. 
Now, there may be some difficulty in blaming the Vine for playing the 
same trick upon the propagator ; but vdien we see the various styles of buds 
that propagators have to deal with, it is well worth while to inquire from 
what part of the Vine the eye came that gave birth to the Chiswick plant— 
whether from a genuine fruit spur upon the close system, or from a long 
