144 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
- ®he following method of Making Soot-Water has been recommended : 
—Sift through a fine sieve enough soot to fill a 4-gall, watering-can, or other 
vessel; in this vessel gradually and thoroughly mix the soot with water; then 
pour the mixture into a larger receptacle, filling that up with water, taking care that the soot 
should be evenly mixed in the water. Then gently push all the scum off the surface with a 
new besom, and sift fresh lime over the surface of the mixture. This lime will carry every 
impurity quickly to the bottom. It is better to use pond-water than pump, and rain-water is 
better than either. If not wanted for a fortnight the mixture will clear itself, but if wanted 
sooner the lime should be used. This soot-water may be employed for syringing Pelargoniums 
and other plants, many of which seem to enjoy it. 
- ^T one of his recent lectures at South Kensington, Professor Dyer, 
after observing that the bright Tints of Flowers are to a considerable extent shared 
by the young growing shoots of plants, and that Mr. Herbert Spencer had even 
suggested that in the often bright colouration of young foliage we see the origin of the colours 
of flowers, went on to say, “ The leaves of a young shoot are rudimentary, and so in a sense 
are the leaves which make up a flower; both consume prepared nutriment, both absorb 
oxygen, both are often brightly coloured. In the former case, a time for sober work—starch 
manufacture—comes, and the gay colouration is exchanged for green. In the latter case, the 
leaves are never called on to do work of that kind, and they best serve the interests of the 
plant by displaying to the last the vividness of their tints ; for it can hardly now-a-days be 
doubted that it is from no mere gayness, no mere benevolent display of beauty, that plants in 
this way delight us, but simply because it brings about with the greatest certainty the trans¬ 
ference of pollen from one flower to another, which seems an essential condition to the vigor¬ 
ous perpetuation of the race.” Insects are attracted by the tints of flowers, the colour 
appearing to suggest by association the presence of nectar, and access to this is generally so 
barred in the real flower that the insect, before it satisfies its wants, gets smeared with pollen, 
which it carries to other plants. 
- 0ne of the novelties of the French gardens is a Clematis Viticella nana , 
which was raised at the Paris Museum. Its flowers resemble those of the species, 
but are larger, and of a rosy lilac. The plant is only from 16—20 in. high, and 
is not only very floriferous, but perpetual-blooming. In fact, its shoots as they are developed 
are terminated by flowers, in such a manner that the plant is almost constantly pro¬ 
vided with them. This dwarf C. Viticella, observes M. Carriere, shows us how new characters 
appear—consequently how species are formed. Proceeding from a climbing plant which 
flowers but once, this is dwarf and not climbing, and its flowers are brought forth in succession 
during the summer. 
- % new manure for Fruit-culture has been brought forward under the 
name of Cancerine. It consists of a peculiar species of crab, with a horny, not 
calcareous, shell, and which occurs abundantly on the shores of New Jersey. 
The unfortunate crustaceans are speared, thrown into heaps, crushed, kiln-dried, and 
ultimately ground to powder. The horny shell contains much ammonia, hence its value as 
a manure. 
- ®he French florists have, it is said, succeeded in obtaining a Double 
White Zonal Pelargonium. This prize was raised by a nurseryman at Toulouse, 
who has disposed of his stock to M. Boucharlat, of Lyons. The plant in question 
is a sport from Beauty—a single-flowered white variety with a pale flesh- 
coloured centre. 
- Professor Hugo Von Mohl died at Tubingen on April 1. He was 
Professor of Botany and Director of the Botanic Garden at Tubingen, as well as 
one of the editors of the Botanische Zeitung; he was also a copious and most 
accurate writer on vegetable anatomy and physiology, his publications in this department of 
botanical science being of the highest authority. 
