COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
July 31. 
Mr. Crowder, of Horncastle, and Sir. Mitchell, of Louth, 
exhibited stands of plants for sale. The show of roses was 
really splendid, as was also the antirrhinums, in which there 
was much competition; and the judge must have found it 
no easy matter to make his awards. The collection of 
seedling petunias (including a large light-coloured double 
one), raised by Mr. H. Boothby, attracted much attention, 
and was deservedly admired. Mr. Lucas showed some very 
beautiful ones; and Mr. Waite’s geraniums were admired, 
as they always have been. 
319 
proportion of humidity in the surrounding medium. 3rd. 
When glasses are used, to surround the glass with such a 
state of heated air that will keep the moisture inside from 
condensing on the glass, and by that means robbing the 
internal air of its moisture. Are these the means, with slight, 
but proper waterings, that will commonly lead to successful 
results ?—R. S.” 
[There can be no question as to the correctness of the 
principles you mention. Follow them out practically, and 
there need be no complaint; but a little slip in practical 
detail soon runs riot with a principle.] 
DERIVATION OF NEMOPHILA. 
As your correspondent will not even “ comply ” against 
his will, but remain of the same opinion still, permit me, at 
any rate, to endeavour to remove one or two difficulties that 
seem to be in his way. 
First, he will find the word in Homer’s Iliad, A 480, ev 
vefxti (TKiepw. This passage is quoted by Stephens under the 
word repos; and the interpretation of Hesychier given 
awSerSpos tottos kou voygv ex wv locus arboribus densus et 
pascuus. 
Secondly, the question raised in your correspondent’s 
first letter was more as to the matter-of-fact “ how was the 
name firstj^spelt by the inventor,” than as to its classical 
correctness; and of that there is no shadow of doubt. It 
was first spelt Nemophila, and is so still by all botanical 
authorities. 
Thirdly, as to the correctness of the form of the word, 
there is little doubt that the best Greek authors would have 
w'ritten it cpiAoveyos, like (ptAosocpos, or <f>i\oy\vKv?, or <pi\e\\r)v. 
But the late witters might form it as Nuttall did, after the 
analogy of deocpiAos or OeotpiAgs ; or, more closely still, 
Tla/j-cptAt}, a name well known to all readers of Terence. 
Your correspondent’s notions of the correct form being 
Nemophilon, are, I tbink, quite erroneous; and I cannot 
help thinking that he -would confer a favour on all gramma¬ 
rians if he would inform them what is his authority for the 
“ third person, irregular number” of a participle.—1). B. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
ROSES AND CLIMBERS FOR A WALL. 
“ I should feel obliged to you, or any of you corres¬ 
pondents, to give me a list of Roses the best suited for a wall, 
one side of which is due south, the other east; or any other 
climber that would do well in such a situation.—M. M.” 
[Jaime Desprcz, Lamar/,-, Solfaterre, and white and yellow 
Banksian, are the best Roses for such a wall, as they flower 
all through the autumn, except the Banksians. For a 
summer Rose, none are better than Blairii No 2, Spireea 
Lindleyana is a fine climber for a east or w'est wall. 
Ceonothus azureus for a south wall. Teeoma radical)s major, 
and Wistaria sinensis, are two good old wall plants. Then 
the Magnolia grandtflora for the largest leaf, and Cotoneaster 
niicruphylla for the smallest leaf, are all suitable for good 
walls.] 
SYNONYMES OF PLANTS. 
“Mr. G. S. AVintle would feel obliged by any information 
that could be given, through the medium of The Cottage 
Gardener, as to the native country and date of introduction 
of the following plants :— 
“1. Philodendron pertusum. 2. Pandanus javanicus varie- 
gatus. 3. Ananassa variegata. 4. Draccena maculata. 5. 
Caladium rubricaule. 6. Dieffenbachia maculata. 7. Bruns- 
felsia squamosa. 8. Maranta zebrina. M. rosea lineata. 
9. Rhopala corcorvadensis. 10. R. magnifica. 11. R. com- 
plicata. 12. Maranta Warscewiczi. 13. Berberis nepalensis.” 
[1 . Philodendron pertusum,is an unauthorised nursery name 
for Scindapsus pertusus, or Pothos pertusa of old authors. 
It is a native of the East Indies, and w T as introduced to 
Ivew some years back. 2. Pandanus javanicus variegatus, is 
also a trade name without authority; it has probably been 
received from Java, not long since, into some continental 
; collection, where dog latin and contempt for botanical 
authority are propagated as freely as Pansies for the English 
market, to gull the natives; it is one of the best variegated 
plants, nevertheless. 3. Ananassa variegata , is simply the 
common fruiting Pine-Apple plant, a garden sport, we believe, 
of which there are two or three forms. 4. Draccena maculata, 
of the nurseries, is the white-spotted-leaved form of CordyUne 
Sieboldti, and was named by Planchon, a little man who 
does the botany for the Flore des Serres at Ghent. This 
j w'ell-marked Cordyline (the accent is on the i) is a native of 
I Java, whence it was introduced six or seven years since. 
| 5. Caladium rubricaule, is a nursery name for some species 
| of Acontias. G. Dieffenbachia maculata, is a variegated form 
of the acrid Dumb Cane of the AVest Indies; Dieffenbachia 
seguina, alias Arum seguinum, and alias Caladium seguinum. 
7. Brunsfelsia squamosa, is unauthorised, as far as we know 7 . 
8. Maranta zebrina is Calalhca zebrina, a native of Brazil; 
and Maranta rosea lineata, is so named by Sir AV. Hooker ; 
a pretty, well-marked, stemless plant, from Brazil; the rosy 
lines are in the leaves, the dowers of all Marantas being of 
little account. 12. Maranta Warscewiczi, is another well- 
marked kind, recently from central America; the leaf is 
deep purple below 7 , green above, and marbled along the 
mid-rib, 9. Rhopala corcorvadensis, from the Corcorvado 
Mount on the w r est of Rio de Janiero, whence the kinds 
have been brought to continental gardens, and whence they 
find their way to this country with sounding names which 
are made in ignorance, or on purpose, with a view to 
deceive: yet they are beautiful plants, on account of their 
fine leaves or modes of growth. 13. Berberis Nepalensis, 
w r as introduced by the East India Company, in 1847, and 
raised in the gai’den of the Horticultural Society. It is one 
of the evergreen kinds which went by the name of Mahonia.'] 
PRINCIPLES TO REGULATE THE STRIKING 
OF CUTTINGS. 
“ In a back number of The Cottage Gardener, which 
I cannot just now lay my hands upon, Mr. Beaton comments 
upon the impossibility, or next to it, of an amateur managing 
to strike cuttings in a hotbed, or under a glass; and as I 
am a constant reader and subscriber, I shall feel extremely 
obliged by your stating what those difficulties are (the 
principles). I am about to commence striking some 
cuttings, and am always wide awake to learn. I am a lover 
of gardening, though only an amateur. AAffiat I understand 
of the principles of striking cuttings on a hotbed are—1st. 
The relative proportions of top and bottom-heat. 2nd. Due 
UNPRODUCTIVE SAVAN. 
“ A. M. S. has two Swans, the male about two or three 
years older than the female, which is, perhaps, six years 
old. The female has chosen her own site for a nest at the 
side of a pond in a retired situation, perhaps a little too 
damp. She has laid and sat upon her eggs for tw y o suc¬ 
cessive years, but there have been no cygnets, and every egg 
has been rotten.” 
[I should recommend, in this case, that the male sw'an be 
exchanged for another bird, as I have but little doubt that 
the sterile character of the eggs depends on the male 
bird. 
