202 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGHST. 
[ September, 
Quercus sclerophylla, of Lindley.—This species is an introduction of Mr. 
Fortune’s from North China, and is figured in Paxton's Flower Garden i. 59, fig. 
37. The branches are glabrous ; the leaves are Gin. long, 3 in. broad, bright 
green above, glaucous beneath, coriaceous, oblong-acuminate, and coarsely serrated 
near the apex. Dr. Lindley describes it as a “ very fine thing,” as indeed is 
shown by the annexed outline figure from a leaf of one of Messrs. Yeitch’s plants. 
Though some of these Evergreen Oaks may have succumbed to one or other of 
the great frosts which proved so fatal to many similar plants, still, for the 
southern and western districts of England, for Ireland, or even for the west coast 
of Scotland, such plants might still be planted by connoisseurs with a reasonable 
hope of their ultimate survival. 
Quercus Burgerii, of Blume.—A fine plant, with bushy habit, the shoots 
spreading, angular, olive-coloured, ultimately smoky-brown. The leaves are 5-6 in. 
long by 1 J-lf in. broad, leathery, dark shining green above, paler beneath, oblong 
lanceolate, with a long acumen, entire or slightly crenate-serrate near the point, 
tapering at the base into a yellow petiole 1 in. in length, which spreads horizontally, 
and is slightly winged near the top. The buds are glabrous, globose, becoming 
ovoid, and having blunt, suborbicular scales. The species is described as having 
tomentose shoots, and some of the dried specimens show this. In the cultivated 
plant, however, the shoots are glabrous. Of this species, two varieties are culti¬ 
vated in the Oombe-wood collection, namely : Q. Burgerii pyramidalis , which is 
distinct as a garden form in its pyramidal habit, shorter leaves, and oblong 
scales. The shoots of this are angular, glabrous, of an olive-brown colour ; the 
leaves being 4-5 in. long, nearly 2 in. broad, leathery, light green above, paler 
beneath, oblong, entire or undulate, with a long, often twisted, acumen, tapering 
at the base into a yellow spreading petiole 1 in. in length; and the buds oblong 
obtuse, with glabrous, oblong, obtuse scales, slightly membranous at the edges. 
Q. Burgerii robusta , a robust-growing shrub, with stout ascending branches, 
altogether of stouter habit than the others; the shoots are nearly cylindrical, 
clear olive-brown, ultimately darker; the leaves are 5-6 in. long, nearly 2 in. 
broad, leathery, dark green above, paler beneath, oblong, with a comparatively 
short and abrupt acumen, entire or undulate, the base rounded, and the petiole 
l^in. long, reddish above, yellow beneath, not at all winged; while the buds 
are ovoid, with glabrous, ovate, pointed, reddish scales. The three forms here 
referred to Q. Burgerii are distinguished readily from Q. glabra by their longer 
petioles and more decidedly acuminate leaves.—T. Moore. 
GOSSIP ABOUT TULIPS. 
« AST season—as it may now be termed, being over and passed—cannot be 
regarded as having been one of the most favourable for the Tulip, or 
indeed of any other florists’ flower, although, so far as I have seen, their 
^ growth has been good, the bloom has been good, and the bulbs have proved 
to be of fair average size, which, after so doubtful a season, is matter of con- 
