June 20, 1896 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
675 
and healthy clumps is showing for flower. The 
secret of Mr. Bradshaw’s success with this species is 
explained by the fact that he had a sunk tank built 
of bricks and cement for the special benefit of this 
Iris, which delights in being well supplied with 
moisture during the growing season. This tank is 
filled with soil and planted so that its true character 
is hidden from the eye; while the plants give 
surprise by the wonderful growth they are making. 
The Spanish Irises in many subtle shades of 
colour are particularly attractive at present. Earlier 
in the season, bulbs are represented by Hyacinths, 
Tulips and Daffodils in great variety. Amongst the 
plants now in bloom are Campanula persicaefolia 
Iceland Poppies, Dictamnus Fraxinella, Heuchera 
sanguinea, the hybrid Dianthus multiflorus, Brodiaea 
coccinea, 3 ft. high, the giant Bell-flower (Ostrow- 
skia magnifica), Hemerocallis aurantiaca major, the 
Feather Hyacinth, and the beautiful Calochortus 
(Cyclobothra) pulchella. Several species of Lilium 
do splendidly here. Healthy and vigorous clumps of 
Lilium speciosum, already two years in the same bed 
are preparing to flower grandly. L. umbellatum is 
even finer at present, the stems bearing pyramidal 
masses of buds, sometimes consisting of as many as 
twenty-six on a single stem. The dwarf L. elegans 
is carrying four to six buds. Tropaeolums are repre¬ 
sented here by T. speciosum, which flowers 
splendidly, also by T. polyphyllum, T. tuberosum, 
T. aduncum and others. 
Roses of various kinds are also favourites at The 
Grange, including the various forms of Rosa rugosa. 
While in bud, the pure white flowers of the hybrid 
R. r. Madame Bruant are charming. Sweet Briars 
of Lord Penzance's fine strain have found their way 
here, including the charming salmony-rose Lady 
Penzance, with a yellow centre. Mr. Bradshaw has 
several pieces of rockery for Ferns as well as flower¬ 
ing plants in suitable situations. In all these things 
he takes the most lively interest, amply testifying 
that he loves his garden. 
-- 
MOVEMENTS OF PLANTS. 
This subject was treated upon by the Rev. G. 
Henslow, at the last meeting of the Royal Horti¬ 
cultural Society. The end of the Drill Hall where 
the lectures are usually delivered was enclosed by 
canvas to exclude the daylight, and thus permit of 
the manipulation of the lantern, by means of which 
numerous illustrations were produced upon the sheet. 
In his opening remarks the reverend gentleman said 
that the old difference that was supposed to exist 
between plants and animals, viz., that the latter 
possessed the power of movement whilst the former 
did not, was a myth ; for plants executed many 
movements, some of them very complicated ones. 
The lower organisms, such as the algae and some of 
the fungi, produced zoospores that were gifted with 
powers of locomotion, as for instance in the case of 
the Potato disease (Phytophthora infestans). 
Higher plants also moved in various kinds of ways, 
and he intended to give them a very few instances, 
among the many that might be cited. Movements 
in plants might be divided into two kinds, viz., 
those caused by growth, and those taking place after 
growth. 
The germination of seeds afforded an instance of 
some of the commonest movements. The radicle 
invariably turned downwards after issuing from the 
micropyle. The force of gravity was supposed to be 
the cause of this phenomenon, which was known as 
geotropism, literally earth turning, But the roots of 
plants exhibited another movement besides this, that 
of circumnutation. This means that their points 
describe a circle, and on entering the soil, circum- 
nutate until they find the point of least resistance. 
Hydrotropism, or turning after water was a move¬ 
ment, continued the lecturer, of which instances 
might frequently be seen. Gardeners were fond of 
speaking of the roots of various plants travelling in 
search of water, and this was a very good way of 
describing what really occurred. 
Leaves show movements better than any other 
part of the plant. In Leguminosae, for example, the 
leaves take up a different position during the night 
to that which they assume during the day, in fact, 
to put it into every day language, they go to sleep. 
Such leaves in taking up the nocturnal position 
attempt to shield their upper surfaces, and to assume 
the vertical. Thus some of the leaflets would fold 
inwards until their upper surfaces come in contact 
with each other, and other leaflets would fold over 
these again. 
Mr. Henslow then went on to say that most of his 
audience were acquainted with the Sensitive plant 
(Mimosa pudica) and knew how, if its leaves received 
a slight touch, they would fold up and droop. In 
this case the thickened base of the leaf stalk is 
sensitive to shocks. Climbers, such as the Con¬ 
volvulus, well illustrated the circumnutation of the 
stem, which twists around any object with which it 
comes in contact, with a view to supporting itself. 
Other plants which climb by means of tendrils had 
various parts modified so as to form these tendrills. 
Thus in the Vine and the Passion-flower the tendrils 
were in reality modified flower stalks. In Gloriosa 
superba the leaves bore tendrils at their apices which 
were sensitive on their inner surfaces only. The 
Ivy climbs by means of aerial roots which assume 
the form of tendrils. The Virginian Creeper has 
minute suckers at the ends of the tendrils by means 
of which it takes a firm hold of walls etc., up which 
it may be climbing. 
In describing the movements made by some 
flowers as an aid to cross fertilisation Mr. Henslow 
gave several instances. The corolla of Silene nutans 
opens at night to allow the stamens to protrude, the 
pistil then being immature. The next day it closes, 
to open again the following night, when the stamens 
are seen to be effete, but the pistil receptive, and 
wating to be fertilised by pollen brought from 
another flower. In Genista tinctoria the carina and 
alae are highly irritable, and curl downwards on the 
insertion of the probosis of an insect. The Berberis 
affords an excellent example of irritable stamens. 
In this case the irritability lies at the bases of the 
filaments, and when these are touched, the anthers 
fly up, and striking against the insect, deluge it with 
pollen, some of which is carried off to fertilise 
another flower. 
Trifolium subterraneum well illustrates the 
geotropism of fruits. The pods are buried before 
maturation underneath the ground, and examination 
has proved that those pods which are not thus buried 
contain no seeds. It may be that nitrogenous 
matter is absorbed by the hairs borne by the seed 
pods which are buried, and that the assistance of 
this extra nourishment is needed to make the pods 
mature seeds. Instances of mechanical movement 
said the lecturer, are afforded by Erodium, the wild 
Balsam, the Oat, and Stipa pennata. 
A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Henslow terminated 
the proceedings. 
-- 
BUSH HILL PARK NURSERY. 
Close by Bush Hill Park Station on the way to 
Enfield is the extensive nursery of Messrs. Hugh 
Low & Co., whose head quarters are at Clapton. 
The village of glasshouses is within sight of the 
station, and the line actually runs through the 
nursery. A varied assortment of plants is grown 
here, and something interesting may always be 
found. We went with the express purpose of seeing 
the Cattleyas which are grown here by the thousand, 
but found many other things worthy of notice. 
Orchids. 
The first Orchid house we entered contained great 
quantities of Cattleya percivaliana, imported in 
October last and just commencing to make growth. 
C. Mendelii is in the same condition, and fine stuff 
both will make when established. IJere also C. 
gigas, C. aurea, and C. labiata may be seen. The 
latter consist of established plants brought here from 
Clapton to make their growth. The sheaths con¬ 
taining the blossom for autumn are already showing 
themselves. About 3,000 flowers were cut from this 
batch last year. Cymbidium traceyanum worthily 
finds a place here. A house is devoted to the noble 
Laelia purpurata. 
Cattleya Mossiae is without doubt the leading 
feature of this establishment as far as Orchids are 
concerned; and, in fact, we do not know where to 
find a larger collection of this particular species 
anywhere. Seven houses, each 100 ft. or more in 
length, are devoted to them. The plants are about 
a fortnight or three weeks later than usual, so that 
the fine exhibit at the Temple Show was merely the 
first instalment of them. Very few of those now in 
flower have been given any special name, notwith¬ 
standing the numerous fine varieties which have 
turned up amongst them. As we passed through 
the various houses we merely noted the characteristic 
features of a few of them. Several light coloured 
varieties were notable amongst them, including one 
with a small purple blotch on the centre of the lip, 
and a pale yellow throat. An extensive importation 
made this year, and potted up a short time ago, 
contains many specimens flowering from the 
imported pseudo-bulbs, the sheaths of which are 
perfectly withered up and dead. One of them is 
notable for its oraDge blotch in the throat, and 
another has a broad lilac margin. The dark purple 
lamina of a third is the leading feature, and the 
Other colours are very rich. C. aurea is also plenti¬ 
ful in the same house ; and suspended from the roof 
is a charming variety of C. gigas, with a dark purple 
lamina surrounded by a finely frizzled white border. 
A glorious sight met the eye in a house of estab¬ 
lished plants of C. Mossiae now in full bloom. The 
gorgeous and massive flowers of this species are 
very difficult to beat by those of any other species. 
A large proportion of the plants in 60-sized pots 
furnish a sight not soon to be forgotten. Many of 
these small pieces bear six of their huge flowers. A 
variety has the lip entirely purple to the base of the 
tube, so that the orange throat was obliterated. 
Very handsome is that with a broad white margin to 
the lip. The colour of another is reduced to a small 
purple blotch on the lip. The orange of the throat 
and the purple of the lamina in another is blended 
in a very handsome way. Close by is one with a 
pale purple lip traversed longitudinally with a dark 
purple band, and the orange blotch is very 
prominent. There again the lip is coloured with 
purple and orange, blended in a handsome way, and 
bounded with white. The marbling of the lip is a 
prevailing feature of a large number of varieties of 
C. Mossiae, but some of them greatly excel others in 
this respect. The mottling, marbling, and intricate 
tracery is beautiful beyond description. The central 
blotch in one case is orange-crimson. Choice and 
delicate is that with very pale sepals and petals and 
a white lip overlaid with soft pink. Many of them 
are notable for the immense size of the purple lip 
with a lilac margin. The orange blotch of the throat 
in one case covers the side lobes as well. The throat 
in some cases is of a beautiful bronzy-orange. A 
large number of specimens may pe picked out having 
flowers very closely identical with the originally 
described C. M. reineckeana, but having a slight tint 
of pink on the segments. Allied to this type is the 
pale coloured and charming C. Mossiae E. Ashworth, 
with pure white sepals and petals and a soft plum- 
blue lamina. Only three plants of this variety are 
known to be in cultivation, one of which is in the 
possession of E. Ashworth, Esq., of Wilmslow, a 
second in the collection of Sir F. Wigan, at Clare 
Lawn, East Sheen, and the third here. 
The next house we inspected contained a large 
quantity ofC. Mendelii in 32, 24 and 12-sized pots. 
These have been quite recently imported so that few 
of them are in bloom. One is notable for the rich 
purple hue of its lip. C. aurea and C. gigas again 
make their appearance. At present, however, all 
these are outshadowed by the presence of C. Mossiae 
in full splendour. Many of them have been num¬ 
bered by the collector as of special importance, so 
that their flowering will be watched with great 
interest. Some of the unmarked ones are in bloom, 
and here again we noted C. M. reineckeana. Very 
striking is a form whose lip is almost entirely covered 
with orange bounded with white. Here is a batch 
of varieties with an immense purple lip, with wavy 
and crisped edges, and altogether handsome. The 
measure placed across the petals of one showed it to 
be 9 in. in diameter ; the lip alone measured 2f in. 
across. The orange blotches of many gives place to 
a pleasing and clear lemon hue, beautiful by contrast. 
A few plants of Laelia grand^s tenebrosa show them¬ 
selves here. 
Another house of Cattleya Mossiae shows the 
same extensive range of colour as those already 
mentioned, but we can hardly forbear notice of a few 
very special and beautiful types. C. M. Cynthia has 
soft pink sepals and petals, and a richly marbled lip ; 
it is certainly very choice. The broad petals of 
some and the huge lip of others, almost rivalling C. 
gigas, can hardly fail to arrest attention. A gorgeous 
dark crimson-lipped variety stands out very promi¬ 
nently amongst numerous varieties whose special 
features are the delicacy of their hues. Another is 
of a deep orange from the throat almost to the edge 
of the lip. Another house is filled with newly irm 
ported plants in pots of various sizes according to 
those of the specimens. But what need is there to 
