354 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 13, 1359. 
it, chlorophyll; ■which we shall consider fully when remarking 
upon the leaves of plants. 
Under the cellular integument occurs the baric, which, in 
annual plants, or branches of one year’s growth, consists of a 
single layer, scarcely distinguishable from the wood; in older 
stems and branches it is composed of a3 many layers as they are 
years of age. It is in the innermost of these, which is called 
the liber, that the vital returning circulation and secretions are 
carried on for the time being almost exclusively. These layers 
are concentric, or, as they are usually termed, cortical layers; 
they are thicker in feeble plants than m more vigorous plants of 
the same species; they are formed of waving, longitudinal fibres, 
the meshes of the net-work they thus constitute being filled with 
pulp. If the outer bark is destroyed, but the wound does not 
penetrate below the liber, the wound is healed up, otherwise the 
removed part is unregenerated. In some roots, although only 
annuals, the bark is composed entirely of liber, and is very thick, 
as in the Carrot and Parsnip, in which it is remarkably separated 
by a light-coloured annular mark, from the central or woody 
part. The liber is composed of various longitudinal tubes, in 
which the true sap of the individual descends after elaboration 
in the leaves ; consequently here arc found in the most concen¬ 
trated state the substances that are the peculiar products of each 
plant, as the resin of the Fir, the bitter principle of the Cinchona, 
or Peruvian hark, &c. 
It is called liber, the Latin for a book, because it was used for 
writing upon in ancient times before paper was invented. It is 
the finest and most delicate of the layers, being often reticulated 
most beautifully, as in the liber of Daphne lagetto. 
These facts relative to the functions of the bark at once suggest 
a warning against the injury inflicted by stopping the pores of the 
epidermis, on the stem and branches of a tree. Through those 
pores oxygen and water are absorbed, and carbonic acid is 
evolved, the same as in the leaves, which operations are all parts 
of the process of elaborating the sap. It is no trivial inspiration 
of oxygen ; for in twenty-four hours, the branch of an Apple 
tree has been found to inhale five times its own volume. 
If the fibres emitted by the Ivy, by which they cling to other 
trees for support, do not aid it in obtaining nourishment, yet by 
filling their respiratory pores, they are injurious, and should 
never be allowed to cling around serviceable trees.—J, 
(To be continued.) 
NEW OR EAEE PLANTS. 
Cheikostemon platanoides (Mexican Hand-plant.) 
Op this very curious and brilliantly-flowered tree, we cannot 
do better than quote the following from Sir W. Hooker’s notes :— 
“ It was towards the latter part of the last century (about 
1787), that a scientific expedition, under Sesse and Mocino, was 
sent by the Spanish Government to Mexico, then called New 
Spain, and where the attention of the botanists was attracted by 
a remarkable tree, venerated from time immemorial by the In¬ 
dians on account of the peculiar structure of the large and very 
conspicuous flowers, which have their five stamens so arranged 
as to resemble the human hand, including the arm and wrist. It 
was believed to be a solitary tree, of which no other example 
existed, or could exist, in the world. Nor was it till about 1801, 
that a pupil of Professor Cervantes detected forests of the same 
tree in Guatemala, and near the city of (hat name. ‘ This tree 
had, consequently,’ write Humboldt and Bonpland, -who gave to 
this new genus the name of Cheirostemon, ‘ been transported by 
the Indians of Toluca from its native woods, and that, too, long 
before the conquest of America, since it is recorded in the writings 
of authors previous to the celebrated expedition to Mexico, 
under the Indian name Macpalxochiquauhitl, signifying Hand- 
flower-tree. It was, however, never botanically noticed till 1795, 
and then by Professor Cervantes. So great an object of curiosity 
was this with all the inhabitants of New Spain, that the flowers 
were gathered witli avidity by the Indians even before their full 
expansion, and thus seeds were not allowed to ripen. Cuttings 
were transported to gardens in Mexico, by Sesse and Mocino ; 
and at length them labours were rewarded by one, and only one, 
succeeding.’ 
“ Humboldt and Bonpland brought seeds to Paris on them 
return from Mexico, but none of them germinated. More perfect 
seeds were afterwards readily obtained. Humboldt, in 1811, 
speaks of its being in collections at Paris and Montpellier; and 
not long after, Mr. Lambert seems to have introduced it to 
English gardens. A fine plant had been long in cultivation at 
Kew, where it has attained a height of twenty-three feet, but 
never showed any disposition to flower. Happily Charles 
Dorrien, Esq., of Ashdean, has been more successful, and fine 
and perfect flowers were produced in his garden in the spring of 
1859. The specimens arrived in the most perfect state possible, 
and were accompanied by the following notes :—‘ The tree is 
evergreen, but loses part of its leaves in winter, so the branches 
are bare in the lower parts. It seems to like a temperature of 
about 50° or 55° in winter. The first blossoms are (May 27th, 
1859), gone oif, but there are now four more expanding. The 
flowers secrete (in the nectaries at the base within) a quantity of 
liquid like sugar-and-water, tasting and smelling like toast-and- 
water. Each blossom continues about a fortnight in perfection 
before it begins to fade. The plant propagates easily by cuttings.’ ” 
—(Botanical Magazine, t. 5135.) 
Rhipsalis sarmantacea ( Sarmenlose Blip sails). 
Native of South Brazil. Grows on the branches of trees, and, 
perhaps, on rocks. Flowers white.— (Ibid. t. 5136.) 
Myosotidium nobile (Antarctic Forget-me-not). 
This beautiful Boragineous plant is a native of Chatham 
Islands, near New Zealand. Blooms in March and April. 
Flowers blue in the centre, with white edges.— (Ibid. t. 5137.) 
Aerides Wightianum (Dr. Wight's Aerides). 
A native of Ceylon and other parts of India. Blooms in June ; 
flowers yellow, but “ its chief beauty arises from the varied colour 
of the labellum when closely examined.”— (Ibid. t. 5138.) 
Aeeca saiuda (Southern Areca or Betel Nut). 
Native of the northern and middle islands of New Zealand. 
This Palm flowers here in winter.— (Ibid. t. 5139.) 
NOTES FROM PARIS. 
The French, in general, are fond of showing off—of making a 
fine outward display in everything. Yet there is, at least, one 
exception to this rule, and which is the more remarkable, that in 
England generally, and round London in particular, a certain 
amount of outward show is considered necessary by those engaged 
in the same pursuits. Every nurseryman with us must make a 
respectable appearance from the public road. His borders near 
the gate are planted with the most showy flowers and ornamental 
shrubs. Everything, in short, is done to attract the eye of those 
who pass along, and magnify the extent or beauty of the place. 
The very reverse of this is the invariable rule in Paris, and 
people would never suppose, in passing along the street that, 
perhaps, they were just within a few paces of some beautiful 
garden. All the nurseries I have seen here have gates and walls 
more befitting a prison or a fortress, and through which no light 
is permitted to penetrate. I have, indeed, on one cr two occa¬ 
sions, had no little difficulty in finding them out, or effecting an 
entrance. 
At the opening up of the fine of the new Boulevard de Prince 
Eugene, people were astonished to find that nearly the whole 
district had been occupied by nurserymen and market-gardeners. 
But it is to be observed, that nurseries and market gardens here 
are all on a small scale; but very few of them exceed an acre in 
extent, and many of them are much less. 
A few days ago in passing along the Rue de Charonne, which 
is intersected by the Boulevard just named. I noticed by the 
merest chance the old weather-beaten sign-board of Thibaut and 
Keteleer, at the top of a high, gloomy wall, and ponderous wooden 
gate as usual. I was familiar enough with the name of this firm, 
and I resolved, though I had but little time to spare, not to let 
the opportunity slip of paying it a visit for the first time. I may 
just say I was politely received, and made very welcome to return 
whenever I pleased, and now I shall give you the result of my 
inspection. 
The ground is but little morn than half an acre, but it is 
quite a bijou in neatness and beauty. I did not notice the 
number of houses or their dimensions, but I think there may 
be some ten or twelve constructed parallel with one another, but 
all separated by about five feet, and this space is filled with 
something like tan or other material nearly up to the glass. 
They have all doors at both ends. But with the exception of the 
