MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 
Stlkrllnnrnits Untirts. 
Large Lose Trees. — I have often heard amateurs, when admiring some of the large specimens in the 
nurseries here, express astonishment at their prodigious size, which they attribute to then’ great age, and good 
soil. But it must be told, that the system of priming has as much to do in this matter as the age of the trees, or 
the soil in which they grow. The oldest of the large trees here cannot number more than twelve years, though 
there are others much older not half the size. Often have I seen Rose trees full of shoots, nearly all proceeding 
from the base of the head, owing principally to close pruning. When the knife is applied, whether in autumn or 
in spring, the greater part must be removed, for there is not room enough for the whole to he developed. Now, it 
is not the production of a number of branches I consider inj urious : if the tree is m a healthy and vigorous 
condition this is natural and advantageous. But why should they not be obtained in such positions that they 
may be of permanent benefit to the plant—be made to extend its size, and render less thinning necessary ? This 
may be done. Two years ago, after having pruned a number of large specimens in which I had observed this 
error, I watched for the bursting of the buds, with the view of practising disbudding. When they had shot forth 
about half an inch, I took a knife with a sharp point and commenced my search at the heart of the tree. From 
here I rubbed off, close to the bark, a great number of buds, leaving only such as, from then' position, promised 
to increase the size or improve the contour of the head. If a bud was pushing where there was a gap, such was 
left; the others were thinned, leaving those which took a lateral and outward course of growth. Proceeding 
upwards, I cleared the centre of the tree pretty freely, leaving only just so many buds as seemed necessary to 
preserve it from becoming straggling. Towards the top and circumference, also, the buds, where crowded or 
likely to cross each other, were removed. A month after the first looking over, fresh buds had broken, and thus 
was opened a prospect of more gaps being filled, the outlines of the heads being still improved, and their size 
extended. They were looked over again and again, and the same plan followed out. The growth was in 
consequence more vigorous than that of the previous year, and the flowers fine. On the fall of the leaf in 
autumn, the succeeding course of action was apparent. The trees were pruned as usual, and there was 
little mind exercised in the operation — little thinning required—no necessity to look at the tree for some 
minutes before one could determine where to begin; which, in my early attempts, I must confess, I have often 
done, owing to the interminable interlacings of the shoots. The second and third year the same plan was followed, 
and the trees are now of handsome form, large and healthy, producing an abundance of good flowers. It should 
be stated that the first year they were taken in hand, they were watered once a-week for two months with liquid 
manure. The sole reason for this was that the soil in which they grew had become impoverished. AVe apply the 
plan of disbudding to pillar and weeping roses, as to others, by rubbing out any buds that may appear disadvan- 
tageously situated. In the youngest stage of the tree, the buds left to produce flowers and flowering shoots for 
the subsequent year, should stand about six inches apart on the main branches : intermediate buds should be 
rubbed out. The laterals produced in after stages may also be disbudded; but masses of flower being the object 
sought hei’e, the practice should not be too freely resorted to. A few words on summer priming or thinning seem 
called for. If disbudding can be carried out there is no need of summer thinning ; but, if it cannot be, then the 
latter practice maybe followed to advantage. So soon as the plants have done flowering look them carefully over, 
thin out the weak unhealthy shoots, and even some of the stout and healthy ones, where they approach each other 
too nearly : each shoot should stand free and exposed on every side. It is surprising to see how stout and firm 
the shoots become, and how the leaves increase in size after summer thinning. The summer kinds submitted to 
this treatment usually continue their growth by the elongation of the main shoots, the buds on the axils of the 
leaves remaining dormant; but, with the autiunnals, the buds push forth the entire length of the shoots, and the 
second flowering is complete. The trees are improved in both cases, for the shoots grown at this period will 
produce the finest flowers in the subsequent season.— Paul's Rose Garden. 
The genus Chrysothemis. —M. Decaine, who has made the Gesneraceous plants his particular study, separates 
from the genus Besleria, some species which had become associated with them. He defines the genus as having 
a campanulate calyx with five teeth, to the sinuses of which correspond as many more or less prominent wings, a 
corolla nearly regular with two projecting folds on its lower lip, included stamens, two-lobed stigmas, and 
a notched fleshy glandular disk. It includes three species, of which the author has given the following accoimt:— 
“ Chrysothemis aurantiaca is a herbaceous plant, received from the Antilles. It grows with a stout fleshy 
glabrous stem about two feet high, having some resemblance to the stems of some Labiatae or Scrophula- 
rineae ; it is green, and clothed with fine whitish down. The leaves are opposite, large, oval elliptical, acuminate, 
crenulate, bullated, clothed on both sides with very short bright hairs, especially on the upper side, of a glaucous 
green below ; they are attached by a robust fleshy and canaliculate petiole. The peduncles which issue at the 
axils of the leaves are cylindrical, and terminated by a cyme of three flowers, having the pedicels purplish, and 
accompanied by lanceolate bracts. The calyx is campanulate, of five unequally toothed segments, and of a 
cinnabar colour, pubescent, and presenting in then- length five prominent angles. The corolla is slightly bilabiate, 
velvety at the outside, glabrous at the inside, having a tube which extends beyond that of the calyx, and a limb 
with five rounded lobes of a bright yellow colour, having several dotted lines of carmine on the face. The stamens 
and style are enclosed. The ovary slightly angular and velvety, has, at the base, a broad fleshy- gland furnished 
with three small lobes. Chrysothemis aurantiaca thrives in a mixture of peat and loam. It should be grown in 
the shade, and a humid atmosphere. It flowers without intermission from August till the end of October, after 
