64 
THE FLOBIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Ap5 
— 5The beautiful Sophronitis grandielora, 
or ratber its more brilliant scarlet companion, 
S. coccinea, is growing with, remarkable vigour 
upon virgin cork in the collection of orchids in 
course of formation by Mr. A. B. Stewart, of Baw- 
cliffe Lodge, Langside, Glasgow. The roots of the 
Sophronitis are small, and thus escape the injury 
stronger-rooting kinds sustain on this material. 
Moreover, it grows in the coolest of temperatures, 
and is surfaced with sphagnum. No finer sight than 
this plant could any one see about December. Apart 
from all this, Mr. Anderson advises to use as little 
cork as possible, and to employ either baskets of 
wood—-teak and mahogany being the best — or 
basket-pots well prepared as to drainage, in which 
cases the general success will unquestionably be 
greater. 
— One of the most distinct of evergreen 
oaks is Quercus adstriaca sempervirens. 
Unlike the ordinary evergreen oak, Quercus 
Ilex, it has large foliage, resembling that of the 
British oak, and which retains its bright green 
colour when those of other oaks are perishing on 
the branches sr decaying on the ground. Quercus 
amtriaca sempervirens, which is grown by Mr. B. 
Smith of Worcester, may be regarded as an ever¬ 
green English oak of a very hardy and ornamental 
character. 
— ffili. D. Wilson, the gardener at Castle- 
hill, the North-Devon seat of Earl Fortescue, 
utilises Back walls for growing grapes, by 
training his vines so as to cover one-third of the 
lower part of the front roof all over; from this 
point he leaves a space of about two feet free from 
leaves between each vine to the top of the house, so 
that the small sacrifice of space made in the front- 
roof trellis may give light and sun to the back 
wall, which thus becomes available for training, 
and more than compensates for the slight decrease 
of roof-space. The whole of the house below the 
vines, moreover, becomes available for growing any 
sort of fruit-trees in pots, or any of the numerous 
varieties of palms, or other fine-foliaged plants. To 
grow grapes on this system, the front vines must 
be planted somewhat wider apart than usual, say, two 
instead of three, that is, about one vine to every one 
and a half rafter. The two end vines should be 
planted at the two extreme ends, in the usual way. 
The back-wall trellis should be at a distance of 15 in. 
from the wall, in order to prevent the bunches from 
rubbing and to give room for development. The 
unsightly back walls are hidden with green leaves 
and fruit, which, together with the plants above 
mentioned, greatly improve the appearance of a 
vinery. 
— ®Inder tlie name of Eucalypsinthe, a 
new preparation from Eucalyptus, is announced 
from France. This liquor is said to have been 
obtained by distillation from the leaves, and to 
be at once grateful to the palate, exhilarating, 
and not only quite harmless, but possessing many 
useful medical properties. This new beverage ap¬ 
pears to be largely made and consumed in Marseilles, 
and it is thought that it will possibly soon become 
as popular as absinthe, and probably to a great 
extent take its place. 
— 2The best time to apply Fire-heat to 
Bipen Grapes, writes a correspondent of 
the Journal of Horticulture , is during the day. 
In dull days raise the temperature to 65° or 70°, 
giving a little air on at top and bottom. Let the fire 
go very low at night, when the house is dark, and little 
air is being admitted. When there is only a bright 
day once or twice a week, do not let the fire go 
out because it is fine, but, on the contrary, keep the 
fire as strong as on a dull day, give more air, and 
let the temperature rise to 80°, 85°, or even 90°. 
This is the time they will colour quickly, and not 
only colour, but acquire flavour, which is more de¬ 
sirable than a fine appearance. Treated in this way, 
it is surprising the progress grapes will make to¬ 
wards maturity in three or four weeks. Of course, 
when day after day is bright and warm, it is unneces¬ 
sary to use any fire-heat. Then do not admit too 
much air. Always keep the heat up about 80° during 
the day, and close the ventilators early enough in 
the afternoon to maintain a temperature throughout 
the night of 65° or 70°. These are the best ways of 
working the heat; but other assistance may be given. 
— Uariegated-Leaved Boses are few in 
number. A year or two since Madame Boths- 
cliild threw out a slioot with variegated foliage, 
which, being worked, has remained constant. This 
occurred at Bray, near Dublin. It has been asked 
whether such a phenomenon has been observed 
before, to which it must be replied that Mr. E. J. 
Lowe exhibited one some years since. 
- Fremont recommends, in order to 
Keep Out Flowers Fresh, the use of a solution 
of five grammes (about one-sixth of an ounce 
avoirdupois) of chlorhydrate of ammonia or sal 
ammoniac in a litre (not quite a quart) of water. 
After numerous experiments, he finds that the 
flowers keep fresh for a fortnight if the stalks are in¬ 
serted in this liquid. 
©bttuarg* 
— 2a ev. Andrew Blokam, one of the best 
known of British botanists, died on February 
2, at Harborough Magna, "Warwick, at the age 
of 76. Mr. Bloxam’s study of the British flora ex¬ 
tended over more than 50 years; he was one of the 
earliest and most successful students of Bnbi, and 
published several papers on this genus. He studied 
the fungi with great assiduity and success, and his 
large collection of them was acquired a few years 
ago by the British Museum. 
- i & R , George Holmes, who was for over 
30 years gardener at Hardwick Hall, near 
Chesterfield, the seat of the Marquis of Hart- 
ington, died on February 3, having attained the 
ripe age of 88 years. He was well known in Derby¬ 
shire for his extensive knowledge of herbaceous 
plants, of which he made a good collection at Hard¬ 
wick, which place he left, with a pension, about five 
years ago. 
— filR. Samuel Woolley, of Cheshunt, 
died on February 5, at the age of 57. He com¬ 
menced his gardening career as a journeyman 
under Mr. Williams (father of Mr. B. S. Williams), 
in the garden of the late John Warner, Esq., of 
Hoddesdon. About 25 years since he was appointed 
gardener to the late H. Bellenden Ker, Esq., of 
Cheshunt, and for several years was a most success¬ 
ful exhibitor of Orchids and Ferns at Chiswick and 
Begent’s Park. When Mr. Ker left Cheshunt, some 
years since, Mr. Woolley took some portion of the 
garden into his own hands, and commenced busi¬ 
ness as a grower of cut flowers for market. 
