40 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. April 17. 
seen any of them will have a tolerable idea what they 
are like. The flowers are produced in spikes; they are 
mostly small, but very pretty, and of various colours; 
chiefly pink, rose, yellow, purple, red, and white. 
Some of them are very tiny objects, not more than 
four inches high, whilst others reach the height of a 
foot-and-a-half; one species is scandens, or climbing. The 
most curious part of these plants is the irritability of 
the stamens. These hang down, and when the pollen 
is ripe, and ready to be discharged upon the stigma, 
they have the power to spring up and scatter the 
fertilizing powder, so as to fructify and produce seeds. 
I have watched them for a considerable time, but never 
noticed this action spontaneous; a breath of wind, or a 
touch of an insect, seemed to be necessary to produce 
the effect. One species (S. recurvum), I have observed 
to be more irritable or more easily excited than any 
other. I have taken a pot of it, when in full flower, 
and let it drop rather smartly upon the stage of plat¬ 
form; the stroke almost invariably caused five or six, 
or more, of the stamens to jump up like as many 
sporting Jacks-in-a-box. It was a curious and very 
pleasing exhibition of the wonderful way in which 
Nature effects her purposes. This curious phenomena 
may also be effected by touching with a pin the stamens 
of any of the species that are not so easily set in motion 
as the one I have mentioned. In S. graminifolium the 
anthers and stamens are comparatively large, and, con¬ 
sequently, this curious and surprizing irritability is 
more conspicuous. 
The Messrs. Henderson, at Pine-Apple Place, possess 
a great number of the species of this tribe. I have, 
many times when I was there, had the pleasure of 
giving great enjoyment to visitors, by showing them 
the wonderful machinery of the flowers of these curious 
plants. I never met with a visitor who was not greatly 
pleased and interested with this exhibition of means to 
an end and for a purpose. If the plant had not been 
gifted with this power, the situation of the pollen would 
have prevented the plants from perpetuating their race 
by the production of seeds. The flower itself, though 
so curious in its mechanism, is not what is called 
showy ; but examined by a microscope of moderate 
power it is exceedingly beautiful. 
I may here state that the plants are not expensive; 
some species are as low as Is. 6d. each, and others 
3s. Od. The latest introduced species, S', mucronifolium, 
is the only dear one—it is 10s. Od.; but will, no doubt, 
soon be much less, when propagated in numbers. 
I trust, from the above very brief description, that I 
shall excite every lover of plants that has a greenhouse, 
to endeavour to procure a few of the species of these 
interesting plants. I assure such persons that they will 
never regret the expense of procuring them. When in 
flower, they will be a constant source of pleasurable 
enjoyment. I can also assure them that they are not i 
difficult to grow, may be easily propagated, and will 
thrive well in a small as well as in a large greenhouse, 
l or their culture, and a list of species, I must beg a 
little indulgence till my next paper on the subject. 
T. Applkby. 
{To be continued.) 
ADVICE TO YOUNG GARDENERS. 
{Continued from Vol . XIII., page 492.) 
VISITING EXHIBITIONS. 
In my last paper addressed to my younger brethren, 
1 pointed out the advantages of visiting gardens and 
nurseries. 1 now propose to recommend them to 
inspect, also, occasionally, exhibitions of the products i 
of the garden at the various Horticultural Meetings, but 
more especially those at Chiswick and the Regent’s Park. j 
There they will see plants and fruits grown to perfection. | 
I am quite sure no gardener worthy of the name could 
inspect such excellent productions without feeling j 
desirous to improve his own productions at home. He 
would also there see the best of the new plants then in j 
flower, and could judge of their merits. He would also 
meet with many gardeners, some of the best in the king¬ 
dom, and might converse with them on the various 
improvements now in progress. 
1 have always strongly recommended gardeners, in 
various parts of the country, to visit London for a few 
days when these exhibitions take place. A little extra 
exertion to get his work so forward as to allow this time, 
and a little extra carefulness of his means, should be 
put into practice by each gardener for a few weeks 
previously; which pains and care would be well 
bestowed for this purpose. 
I have, also, whenever I had the opportunity, pressed 
upon the gardeners’ employers the great benefit and 
improvement, to say nothing of the pleasure, their 
gardeners would receive if allowed the time and oppor¬ 
tunity of (at least once a year) seeing these great metro¬ 
politan exhibitions. I know many, very many, gentle¬ 
men, who very liberally not only allow their gardeners 
to see these examples of horticultural skill, but even 
give them tickets, and pay their expences. This is very 
praiseworthy, and I am sure such hberality redounds to 
their advantage, by raising in their gardener’s mind a 
desire and the knowledge to excel. 
By way of contrast to such liberality, I know, also, 
there is an evil, or rather a misconception, often attends 
on such exhibitions. Some gentlemen, seeing fruits 
and plants so superior to those the^ have in their own 
gardens, go home dissatisfied with- their gardener, and 
charge him either with neglect or with unskilfulness. 
Let me respectfully state to such gentlemen, that they 
should not only visit the place where the fruit or plants 
are exhibited, but also the place where they are grown. 
I he expences of such plant-exhibitors as Mrs. Lawrence, 
Mr. Colyer, and others, are very great indeed. They 
have large houses expressly built to grow those grand 
specimens. They allow their gardener every thing he 
requires in plants, in proper soils, in proper pots, and 
plenty of assistance. Nothing is spared. Then, again, 
in growing fruits at such places as Her Majesty’s 
Gardens at Erogmore, as the Duke of Sutherland’s at 
Trentham, as the Duke of Mailborough’s at Blenheim, 
as the Duke of Norfolk’s at Arundel Castle, as Sir 
John Cathcarts at Cooper’s Hill, and various other 
places, from whence such fine plants are sent to be ex¬ 
hibited, no expence is spared of money or labour to 
bring the fruit to the highest condition. 
If a gentleman wishes his gardener to produce first- 
rate plants and fruits, he should allow him every 
needful means, both in materials and assistance in 
labour. To expect a man to excel without means is 
unreasonable. 
In the matter of exhibitions, this year, 1855, will be a 
remarkable one. The Crystal Palace Company, advised, 
no doubt, by Sir Joseph Paxton, have issued advertise¬ 
ments and high prizes in schedules, for an exhibition 
to be held in the Glass Palace at Sydenham. The 
prizes are so liberal, that they are sure to bring forward 
all the best jflants and other garden productions in the 
country. Every gardener that can by any means so 
manage should be there. I may venture to say, there 
are many hundreds of gardeners that have not yet seen 
the wonder of the age, the Crystal Palace. They will 
not only see the finest productions of the gardens, but 
they will have the opportunity of seeing the Palace 
itself, with all its beautiful contents—works of art and I 
science, almost without number. If any one fifty years j 
