1880 /] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
143 
perfect seed, and stands in no need of private 
shambles ; and if we admit that a very small 
insect might get entangled in the liquor of the 
Drosera , and die in the struggle, it would not 
alter the case, for a slice off the leg of a midge 
would be far too large a joint for such a plant 
to make away with. We may see that its 
mail-clad leaves may be for its defence in time 
of need, just as we see the bee carry a sting, 
and the serpent a fang, which are not used for 
winning their food. Dr. Lindley stated that 
the number of plants that were of no service 
to man was very great; so we are sometimes at 
a loss to find out what service minute subjects 
render to us, leaving ancient herbals out of the 
question. Therefore, although we may differ 
on good grounds, there may yet be some truth 
on both sides. Some beautiful theories were 
propounded to the Scottish clergy, and were 
rejected for want of proof. So the “hoight 
of fine language ” goes for little more than 
Oobbett’s phrase,—mere “hardnessof mouth.” 
Surely, any subject that contains all that is 
needful to propagate its species should get 
credit for the same ; and every botanist knows 
that this test is the normal one,—the rule, 
with only a very few exceptions. Our native 
Drosera is a golden button on the robe of 
Flora; the exotic Droseras are still more ela¬ 
borate. But we should confuse the subject, 
unless we confine it to the denizen of 
the bogs of our moors and commons, where 
the school-children may hunt it up when they 
go out for their summer holidays.—A. Forsyth. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
S HE Belgian National Horticultural 
Exhibition, part of a greater Exhibition 
held to commemorate the jubilee of Bel¬ 
gian independence, was opened on July 20th, and occu¬ 
pied a portion of the general exhibition building and of 
the surrounding garden. The profusion of noble Palms, 
Perns, Cycads, glorious Aroids, and such-like, pro¬ 
duced a line effect, but as a whole it lacked colour. 
The first procedure was to elect the international 
juries, of whom Dr. Eegel was named President, and 
Dr. Masters General Secretary. The first class, 
which struck the key-note of the exhibition, con¬ 
sisted of a collection of stove or greenhouse plants 
introduced into Belgium since 1830 (the Liberation 
year) by the exhibitor or his “ascendants.” M. 
Linden was the only exhibitor, and amply merited 
the 1st prize, which was awarded to him. The col¬ 
lection comprised eighty-fivo examples—Marantas, 
Aroids, Bromeliads, Palms, and Perns—of which 
may be mentioned as samples Eucharis amazonica, 
Pteris tricolor, Cocos Weddelliana, Dichorisandra 
musaica, and Anthurium Andreanum. For a group 
of 100 species and varieties of greenhouse plants in 
or out of flower, M. Linden also obtained the 1st 
prize. In M. Van Houtte’s group was a plant of 
Cardwellia sublimis, in bloom—a plant not often 
seen in flower, but, as shown, not very effective. 
M. Jacob-Makoy showed, among other things, Aralia 
amboinensis, with large circular palmated leaves, 
the leaflets stalked obovate acuminate, dark 
shining green — an effective and ornamental 
plant. Much of the interest of the show centred 
in the New Plants. Amongst these, M. Linden 
showed Myodocarpus fraxinifolius, an arbores¬ 
cent Araliad from New Caledonia, with dark- 
green Ash-like leaves; Geissois racemosa, from New 
Caledonia, with large palmate leaves, having stalked, 
oblanceolate serrate segments, and large Magnolialike 
intrapetiolar stipules; Colocasia neoguineensis, with 
hastate leaves, which are green, sprinkled with white 
spots; Amorphophallus Peyri, from the Seychelles, 
an Aroid with stiff, cylindric, erect leaf-stalks, 
creamy-pink in colour, and marked with thin, close, 
longitudinal, blackish lines: the blade of the leaf 
palmate, with narrow lanceolate-acuminate, entire 
dark-green segments; Pothos aurea, a creeping plant, 
with fleshy cordate-ovate leaves blotched with yel¬ 
low ; Dieffenbachia Leopoldii, with deep green vel¬ 
vety leaves, traversed by a central white stripe; 
DracEena Lindeni, a variety with lanceolate spread¬ 
ing leaves of a yellow colour, banded lengthwise 
with stripes of green ; Aralia gemma, a remarkable 
and pretty Araliad from New Caledonia, having the 
brownish purple-spotted stem of so many of its 
allies, and the pinnately-lobed leaves cut up into 
unequal lobes, segments, and teeth, in a manner not 
easy to describe, the effect produced being that of 
coarse lace ; Aralia regina, with palmate leaves, cut 
into long linear drooping segments, of a dark olive- 
green colour; Caraguata cardinalis, a Bromeliad, 
with yellowish-green outer, and orange-scarlet inner, 
leaves; Aspidium Germinii, with crested pinnae; 
and Adiantum celebense, a species with lanceolate 
pinnules. Mr. Jacob-Makoy showed Marattia Moorei, 
a species with purple stems and gracefully curved 
much-lobed fronds, with rather broad toothed seg¬ 
ments. Among M. Linden’s collection of Orchids 
was a fine specimen of Vanda Lowii, perhaps the 
most remarkable Orchid in the exhibition. 
— ££he Prize offered at the Oxford Bose 
Society’s Show on July 6th, for six of Mr. 
Bennett’s Pedigree Boses, was taken by Mr. G. 
Prince, who staged Duchess of Connaught , a distinct 
silvery rose, with bright salmon centre, grand form, 
large and richly scented; Hon. George Bancroft , 
bright rosy-crimson shaded purple, a large flower 
of the Lord Macaulay type, fine form, first-rate; 
Dulce of Connaught, long large buds of deep velvety 
crimson, edged with red, altogether a good exhibition 
rose ; Jean Sisley, fine form, full, outside rosy-lilac, 
pink centre, holds together well; Beauty of Staple - 
ford, after the character of Alba rosea, but stouter, 
petals large, nicely reflexed, outer range pinkish- 
rose, shading off to a deep rose in the centre; and 
Pearl, smaller than the above, but a perfect gem, 
colour flesh-white. These flowers attracted con¬ 
siderable attention, the general opinion being that 
the “ Hybrid Teas ” will become very popular 
among exhibiting rosarians. 
— &t Chiswick, the Dianthub Heddewigii 
stood out on a south border during the past 
severe winter, passing safely through the 
ordeal, and coming early into bloom. It would not 
bo difficult to have these pretty and useful Dian- 
