1884 .] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
47 
accounted for; ‘ The difficulties which stood in the 
way of an accurate determination of the primaries 
were largely due to an element of confusion intro¬ 
duced by the use of pigments for the purposes of 
experiment. People who were accustomed to mix 
blue paint and yellow paint to produce green found 
it difficult to believe that the green of the spectrum 
w'as anything more than a mixture of the blue and 
yellow by which it w’as bordered ; but an admixture 
of the blue and yellow of the spectrum does not 
produce green, but white. The blue light being a 
compound of green with violet, and the yellow light 
being a compound of green with red, the two together 
afford the three {irimaries, which combine to form 
white. In the paints, on the contrary^, the material 
which appears blue absorbs and quenches red, while 
the material which appears yellow absorbs and 
quenches violet; so that only the green, which is 
common to both, is reflected unchanged to the 
spectator from the mixture.’ ” 
— C2ilE learn from the Gardeners' Chronicle 
that the Golden Austrian Pine [Finns (uis- 
triaca aurea) forms a most attractive object 
in the Kew Pinetum. Though perhaps at present 
hardly of so golden a colour as that asmmed in mid¬ 
winter by the golden form of the common Scotch 
Pir, the younger growths of this variety of the 
Austrian Pine are a decided yellow-green. The 
appearance of the Kew plants indicates that it is a 
vigorous grower. It will no doubt be planted as a 
choice ornamental Conifer by many who have parks 
or pleasure-grounds, and as far as one can form an 
opinion from plants in a young state it wall afford a 
striking contrast to the deep sombre green of the 
type, and prove valuable for planting for effect. I ts 
introduction is credited to Mr. Mongredien, during 
the period when he carried on the Heatherfield 
N urseries. 
— ^JThe Bridal Wreaths of the Athenians 
are said to have been of Hawthorn. At the 
present day, in our own country, the bridal 
wreath is almost entirely composed of Orange 
blossoms on a background of maidenhair fern, a 
sprig here and there of stephanotis blending its 
exquisite fragrance. Much uncertainty exists as to 
why this blossom has been so much worn by brides, 
but the general opinion seems to be that it was 
adopted as an emblem of fruitfulness. According to 
a correspondent of Notes and (Queries, the practice 
has been derived from the Saracens, amongst whom 
the orange blossom was regarded as a symbol of a 
prosperous marriage—a circumstance which is partly 
to he accounted for by the fact that in the East the 
orange tree bears ripe fruit and blossom at the same 
time. 
— ^^Jrunus Pissardi is certainly one of the 
most remarkable hardy shrubs in cultivation, 
so says G. N. in the Gardeners' Chroriicle. 
We know of none which can in any way vie with it 
in the splendour of its intense red foliage. The 
fruits, too, even in a young state, are of a deep red 
colour—a character which perhaps does not obtain 
in any other Plum. The species is still rare in 
gardens—indeed the only locality where we have 
seen it in this country is the Waltham Cross Nur¬ 
series of Messrs. W. Paul & Son—but its rare orna¬ 
mental character is sure to make it a general favourite 
before long. A coloured plate of the foliage and a 
full description of the plant, together with the 
history of its introduction is given in the Revue 
Horticole for 1881. The specific name was given 
by M. Carriere, in honour of M. Pissard (head 
gardener to the Shah of Persia), who sent the plant 
to Prance. It is found about Tauris, an important 
Persian town about 450 kilometres from Teheran, 
where it is still rare and much sought after on ac¬ 
count of the bright colouring of the leaves, and 
particularly of the fruits, which are deep red even as 
soon as formed. Before being ripe these are used 
for the decoration of desserts, and are also eaten 
with salt; when quite ripe they are of fairly good 
quality. M. Carriere recommends that the plant 
should be used for enlivening beds or borders near 
dwellings, as its leaves, flowers, fruit, as well as the 
deep blackish-red shining bark, constitute a perpetual 
ornament. Its dwarf branching habit renders it a 
fit subject to be grown in pots, like Spirseas and 
other similar shrubs. 
— 5123itiTiNG in the Journal of Horti¬ 
culture on the propagation of Eeidia glau- 
cescens, G. R. referring to a recommendation 
to “ insert cuttings of half-ripe wood under a bell 
glass ” observes : “ This does very well, but it takes 
some time to get up a stock unless there is a number 
of plants to commence with. I grow this plant very 
largely, and find the best way to increase it quickly 
is to turn out a plant that is root-bound, cut the 
ball right through the middle, using the roots cut 
off as cuttings. We cut these in pieces an inch 
long, and insert in seed pans. This is done in early 
spring, and they make handsome plants for table 
use by the autumn. They strike readily from the 
leaves, but I much prefer the roots. This elegant 
plant has done well with me treated in this manner.” 
— ®N the question of growing Orchids in 
Vineries, we find the following note in the 
Orchid Album :—In Novemher last, when 
calling at the Grange, Stretford, we found two 
span-roofed Vineries, in which there were good 
crops of Grapes, such as Muscat, Black Alicante, and 
others; and beneath these Vines, standing on the 
curbs, or suspended from the roof, was growing a col¬ 
lection of Dendrobiums, occupying the whole length 
of the two houses, and among them many fine speci¬ 
men plants, with well-ripened bulbs, which promise 
.w'ell for bloom. D. Wardianum giganteum, Devon- 
ianum, crassinode, Ainsworthii, thyrsiflorum, derisi- 
florum, and nobile, are particularly mentioned. The 
plants had been grown in the same houses for some 
time past, and are found to succeed well with the 
treatment given to the Vines. 
— ®^HE President of the American Porno- 
logical Society, the Venerable Marshall P. 
Wilder, offers some very good advice to his 
own and other Societies on the question of Naming 
OF Bruits, advice which might very well be ex¬ 
tended to the names of flowers so far as may be 
practicable. Here is the extract: —“In former 
addresses I have spoken to you of the importance of 
the establishment of short, plain, and proper rules 
to govern the nomenclature and description of our 
fruits, and of our duty in regard to it; and I desire 
once more to enforce these opinions on a subject 
which I deem of imperative importance. Our 
Society has been foremost in the field of reform in 
this work, but there is much yet to be done. We 
should have a system of rules consistent with our 
science, regulated by common sense, and w'hich shall 
avoid ostentatious, indecorous, inappropriate, and 
superfluous names. Such a code your committee 
have in hand, and I commend its adoption. Let us 
have no more Generals, Colonels, or Captains at- 
