160 
chaticus). — Paxton's Flower Garden, p. 113.—Pallas, the 
discoverer of this plant, named it Rhododendron Kamt- 
chaticum, and we wish that what that excellent authority 
had fixed had not been disturbed. We so wish, because 
unless a genus is already overloaded with species, we 
admit of no right to disturb a species included in it, 
except upon much more essential points of difference 
than those on which this is raised to a genus. It is said 
to have a large calyx, but so has Rhododendron barbatum 
and others; it is said to have a corolla deeply divided, 
but so has Rhododendron Oaucasicum; surely the mere 
mode of the stamens spreading is no ground of generic 
difference; for, if we remember right, Rhododendron 
chrysanthum is not very different in this respect; and 
as to the gland at the terminal point of the leaf, why it 
is one of the peculiarities of the Rhododendron, accord¬ 
ing to some writers, to have its leaves with a withered 
point or yellow gland. Moreover, if the Ground-Cistus 
Rhododendron (R. chamceeistus ) is to be retained in that 
genus, we, with diffidence, submit that this genus of 
Rhodothamnus can have no good grounds for being 
created. We do this with less reluctance, because the 
great object of every science is to bring its subjects into 
the smallest possible number of sections, so that the 
mind may not be needlessly burthened. 
M. Pallas found this beautiful and quite hardy shrub 
in muddy places on the mountains of Kamtschatka and 
the Aleutian Islands, situated between the extreme 
northern points of Asia and America. It will not bear 
exposure to our summer heats and dry air, except in a 
damp situation beneath a north wall. It has a creeping 
root, and prostrate leafy stems; leaves close together, 
alternate, stalkless, egg-shaped, with a point tipped with 
a conspicuous gland, edges of the leaves hair-fringed; 
flowers, with corolla, or inner flower cup, flat, like that 
of the primrose, but purple; and leafy calyx, or outer 
flower cup ; stamens ten, unequal in length, and having 
anthers purple, double, and egg-shaped. It was culti¬ 
vated as long ago as 1802, but Messrs. Loddiges, who 
raised it from seed twenty years since, have it now only 
as a bush about ten inches high. “It is admirably 
adapted for rock-work in a shady situation.” 
Rhodothamnus is derived from rliodon, a rose, and 
thamnos, a shrub. It belongs to the Natural Order of 
Heatiiworts (Ericaceae); 10 -Decandria 1-Monogynia of 
Linnaeus. 
Sweet Triciiopilia (Trichopilia suavis). — Paxton's 
Flower Garden, t. 11. Natural Order, Orchids (Or- 
chidace<e).-—This stove orchid is a native of Central 
America; flowers creamy white, spotted with red and 
pink; about six inches high. Flowers in summer, and 
perfumed like the hawthorn. Introduced in 1848. Its 
name is derived from thrix, hah, and pilion, a cap, refer¬ 
ring to the cap of the anthers. 
Various-leaved Parsonia (Parsonia heterophylla ).— 
Journal of Hort. Soc., v. 194.—This genus was named 
in honoiu - of Dr. James Parsons, a Scotch botanist. It 
belongs to the Natural Order of Dogbanes (Apocynacese), 
and to b-Pentandria 1 -Monogynia of Linnaeus. The 
genus was made up of some spedes previously included 
[December 12. 
in Echites. The species now before us was raised in 
1847, in the garden of the Horticultural Society, from 
New Zealand seed. It is a greenhouse evergreen twiner. 
Stem round, clothed with yellow down; leaves very 
varying in form, but chiefly like those of the willow, 
leathery and dull green; flowers cream colour, in one¬ 
sided bunches, rather fragrant; calyx very short; corolla 
pitcher-shaped, with edge five cleft and rolled back; 
anthers tailless, and arrow-shaped. It is a native of 
northern parts of New Zealand. Another species, cha¬ 
racterised by the same changeableness of leaf-form, was 
introduced from the same island in 1847, and similarly 
raised. It is named Variable Parsonia (P. variabilis), 
and is only distinguishable from the preceding species 
by its shining leaves, which are even more various 
shaped, by the flowers being smaller and bell-shaped, 
less hairy, less numerous, but sweeter. It has little 
beauty. B. J. 
THE ERUIT-GARDEN. 
Strawberry Forcing. —We are reminded, by an in¬ 
quiry or two, that mauy difficulties still beset this prac¬ 
tice, whether in the hands of practical gardeners or of 
the amateur. And it is by no means a task of easy and 
certain accomplishment to produce good crops of well- 
flavoured strawberries in the beginning of February, 
even by those who have every needful appliance. Still, 
as it is not only possible, but has frequently been accom¬ 
plished, there are those who will still fearlessly attempt; 
more especially as the fruition of their wishes in this 
respect will constitute a horticultural triumph of no 
inconsiderable character. 
It will not perhaps be amiss at this time to offer a few 
remarks, tending to attract attention to the main features 
of their culture; for it is generally by a close attention 
to one or two great facts that success is attained; and 
young beginners, in the true spirit of quackery, are but 
too apt to place a reliance on a host of small secrets 
which they have somehow picked up in their travels. 
Such should remember the old fable of “ the cat and the 
fox”—the “ single shift” of getting up a tree saved poor 
Pussy, whilst Foxey with his many devices perished. 
Amongst such small secrets may be named the follow¬ 
ing :—The application of liquid-manure, frequent syring- 
ings, top dressings, steamings, &c. All these are good 
in their way and as assistants, but the prime secret of 
successful strawberry forcing does not lie here. We 
have before urged, that good plants alone form the very 
foundation of all success. Who can hope to obtain a 
good crop, even in the open ground, from ill-used and 
late-obtained runners ? And yet here the chances, with 
regard to setting, &c., are as ten to one in their favour. 
Depend upon it, all appliances are vain, unless the 
forcer has a thoroughly organised and matured bud to 
commence with. Without this, anomalous appearances 
will present themselves in every stage : the leaves will 
rise and elongate considerably without the flower truss 
(which in the open ground in May is almost equal in its 
advancement); the flower truss will begin to expand 
with every symptom of malformation before the bloom 
stalk is of a proper length; and, finally, those berries 
which perchance “ set,” will be little more than pigmy 
abortions—one-sided, ill-swellcd, and ripening prema¬ 
turely. To such anomalies the gardeners of the olden 
time were wont to give a set of technical appellations, 
which, like the old term “ blight,” seemed to bid defiance 
to investigation; and belonged rather to that non¬ 
descript catalogue of mysteries which have always 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
