856 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 2, 1896. 
phase in the physiology of plant life—a 
subject that is too often neglected or 
altogether ignored by the plant cultivator. 
“ Etiolated or blanched plants,” says Mr. 
Darwin, “differ from normally grown speci¬ 
mens (i) in the absence of chlorophyll, and 
(2) in form.” He might also have added 
that they differ in texture and internal 
structure. This latter feature is of the 
greatest importance to the gardener ; for 
the relative absence of woody matter and 
internal thickening is essential in the case 
of plants intended for human food ; and 
their presence is equally desirable in plants 
used for decorative purposes. The writer 
on this occasion, however, confines himself 
entirely to the meaning or raison d'etre for 
the phenomenon as it presents itself in 
various plants. 
He takes the well-known case of the 
Potato, which has sprouted in the dark. 
The internodes of the stem elongate greatly 
and the leaves remain small. Other plants 
behave differently, for any observer may 
note that both flower-scapes and leaves of 
Daffodils Hyacinths, Tulips, and various 
other plants, especially of the monocotyle- 
donous types become unduly elongated 
when improperly exposed to light. Let us 
add another case or two, namely, that of 
Rhubarb covered with a blanching pot or 
grown in a forcing house kept dark ; and 
Beetroot. The leaf-stalks of the Rhubarb 
elongate but the blade continues small. On 
the other hand, the relative proportions of 
the blade and the stalk of the leaf of 
Beetroot remain unaltered when subjected 
to the blanching process. The facts of the 
case are found to be that those things not 
having a tendency to elongate greatly under 
natural conditions, do not or cannot alter 
their behaviour as far as form is concerned 
when placed in darkness. 
Mr. Darwin considers that etiolation or 
blanching is simply a phenomenon of 
adaptation to overcome the disadvantages 
of being placed in darkness. Some author¬ 
ities consider that where blanched leaves 
remain small, it is due to a want of formative 
material, which the leaves would have been 
able to elaborate, had they been exposed to 
fight. Batalin made some experiments to 
determine this point and ascertained that 
the etiolated leaves of certain plants, when 
exposed for short periods every second or 
third day, but not sufficent to develop 
chlorophyll, grew several times as large as 
those that were kept continually in the dark. 
The reasoning is that plants make an effort 
to reach the tight as speedily and economi¬ 
cally as possible. This they do by elongating 
certain portions physically best adapted for 
it, and with the smallest expenditure of 
material. It is no advantage to a Potato to 
produce large leaves, while still under dark¬ 
ness and unable to assimilate. As soon as 
the plant or the growing points of the same 
have reached the light, the latter is practi¬ 
cally the signal for this abnormal kind of 
growth to cease. The fact that the inter¬ 
nodes of the stem of the Potato, but the 
leaves and flower-scapes of Daffodils and 
Hyacinths, and only the leaf-stalks of 
Rhubarb elongate in darkness, merely 
indicates that those portions are physically 
best adapted for producing the elongation 
necessary to reach, the light. Those plants 
or portions of them which are not adapted 
for growth in length under ordinary condi¬ 
tions, do not become excessively elongated 
in darkness. Sachs observed that the 
hypocotyledonary portions of seedlings with 
hypogean cotyledons like the Pea and Bean, 
do not elongate much when grown in dark¬ 
ness. There are exceptions to most or all 
rules, however, for the hypocotyl of Iris 
Pseud-Acorus elongates considerably, if the 
seed has been buried deeply previous to 
germination, This is necessary to bring the 
first leaf to the surface of the ground so that 
it may be exposed to light. Sachs points 
out that climbing plants do not develop 
their internodes excessively when grown in 
darkness. They do this to their utmost 
capabilities under ordinary conditions in 
their search for light ; and it is our opinion 
that they soon become exhausted for lack 
of material to continue such rapid develop¬ 
ment unless the leaves are assimilating a 
fresh supply. 
The gardener looks upon the blanching of 
Rhubarb, Seakale, Leeks, and Celery ’with 
equanimity, if not with positive pleasure. 
He is decidedly annoyed with the same 
phenomenon in Hyacinths or Narcissi, as 
well as with other plants when they become 
“ drawn,” which is simply a lesser degree 
of the same process at work. He is not 
always to blame when obliged to grow 
plants in heavily-built houses or those 
having a tall roof. He should, however, 
study the lesson thus presented by plants in 
deep pits or those in badly-lighted houses 
struggling for a better share of the light so 
necessary to their welfare. The softer their 
tissues, naturally, the sooner will they show 
signs of distress. By previous reflection 
and timely arrangement much of this evil 
could be prevented. If the plant benches 
are too far from the glass, and especially in 
in cases where the front or sides of the 
house or pit are constructed of brick or 
wood, the plants should be elevated on 
something so as to get the full advantage of 
light. Depth is necessary for the accommoda¬ 
tion of tall plants, but it must be remem¬ 
bered that close to walls, especially those 
facing the north, the light is very feeble, 
and all the lower parts of plants, both 
shoots and foliage, so situated, are under 
great disadvantages in the matter of light. 
- »i- ■ — 
Nightingales are very -plentiful in Kent this year, 
judging by the frequency with which their song is 
heard. 
The Flower Show at Lytham to be held in 
August next promises well. Twenty stove and green¬ 
house plants will be a feature of the show. 
The Ulster Horticultural Chrysanthemum Society 
has decided to throw open to the three kingdoms the 
nurserymen's class for cut blooms. This is a move in 
the right direction, and it is to be hoped that it will 
be extended to gardeners on a future occasion.— J.G. 
A Primrose Carnival was held at the Palace, 
Plymouth, on the 29st ult., when the building was 
festooned and garlanded with tons of Primroses 
and other flowers. A large and fashionable company 
assembled during the evening. 
The Cuckoo is reported to have been heard at 
various places in the south of England, including 
Hendon. It was heard at Camberwell on the 21st 
ult. The familiar double note was also heard in the 
neighbourhood of Harlington. A swarm of bees 
was taken near the latter place on the 19th ult. 
Late-planted Daffodils.—It is frequently stated that 
hardy bulbs of this class should be planted early 
rather than late, but the masses of Daffodils planted 
by Messrs. Barr & Son in the Royal Botanic 
Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park, show how accomo¬ 
dating they are and that they may be had in bloom 
at the ordinary season notwithstanding. The plant¬ 
ing was not commenced till the beginning of 
December last and was continued till the middle of 
that month, yet the masses of bloom have been very 
showy. 
Gift to Sheffield Botanical Gardens.—His Grace the 
Duke of Norfolk has just presented twenty-five large 
Palms and Ferns to the Botanical Gardens at 
Sheffield from his hothouses at Arundel. Some of 
the tallest were 25ft high, and the heaviest half a 
ton in weight. Sabal umbraculifera, Latania 
borbonica, Dicksonia squarrosa, Cibotium regale, 
Cyathea medullaris, Seaforthia elegans, and Cordy- 
line indivisa, were soma of the more notable kinds. 
It took five of the Midland Railway Company's 
drays to remove the plants from the station to the 
gardens. 
Leeson Park, Dublin.—Complaints are being made 
that the trees in this park, with few exceptions, are 
quite without protection, and some of the best of 
them have been gnawed and greatly injured by 
horses. 
The Phoenicians, it is averred by a correspondent 
of one of our contemporaries, introduced Daffodils 
to Cornwall while visiting that part of the country for 
tin. We strongly surmise, however, that the story 
is founded on mere supposition. 
Plates of Chrysanthemums. — Owing to the increas¬ 
ing complaints against the exaggerated plates of 
Chrysanthemums, says The Melbv.rne Leader, 
recourse is now being had more frequently to the 
camera for flower reproduction for publication. 
British-grown fruit.—The great exhibition of 
British-grown Fruit, inaugurated by the Royal 
Horticultural Society, will be held at the Crystal 
Palace on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd October next. The 
schedule of prizes and other matters relating to the 
show is now to hand, and we note that prizes are 
offered for fruit in 136 classes. 
The Scilly White Narcissus is identical with 
White Pearl of Guernsey. The little cup-like crown 
is pale lemon-yellow, but otherwise the flowers are 
white. White Pearl of Guernsey must not be con¬ 
founded with Sutton’s White Pearl, which is the 
more nearly pure white of the two and certainly a 
fine thing. The crown has little more than a 
suspicion of lemon in it on first expansion, passing 
off paler as the flower becomes fully developed. 
Royal Horticultural Society.—The next fruit and 
floral meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society 
will be held on Tuesday, May 5th, in the Drill Hall, 
James Street, Victoria Street, Westminster, from 1 
to 5 p.m. At three o’clock a lecture will be delivered 
by J. G. Baker, Esq., F.R.S., on “ The Species 
and Varieties of Cultivated Tulips.” An interesting 
feature of this exhibition will be a large collection of 
original paintings of Irises and Daffodils by Mr. M. 
J. Caparn, of Oundle, Northants. 
A patriarchal Mahaleb Cherry—As far as we 
have ever seen, the finest specimen of Prunus 
Mahaleb in the country may be seen in the grounds 
of E. H. Watts, Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick. It is 
only 25ft. h : gh or thereby, but twice or three times 
as broad, with numerous spreading limbs, covering 
a considerable area of ground. For a fortnight past 
the tree has been simply a mass of bloom covering 
the twiggy branches and giving the tree a dense and 
massive appearance. The tree is very old, but is in 
robust and vigorous health, and certainly an 
ornament to its surroundings. 
A Great Auk’s Egg.—At their sale rooms, on the 
20th ult., Messrs. J. C. Stevens, King Street, Covent 
Garden, sold a great auk's egg for 160 guineas. 
There is a small fracture on one side of the shell, 
otherwise it is in a state of good preservation. It 
was sold by order of the executors of the late Mr. J. 
Hack Tuke, of Hitchin, Herts, and after a keen 
competition it was knocked down to Mr. Noble. 
Mr. Hugh Reid, of Doncaster, bought it in May, 
1841, from Frederick Schultz, of Dresden, and 
parted with it the same year. A fine specimen of the 
egg of Aepzornis maximus was sold at the same time 
for forty guineas. The only egg of Aepzornis 
Grandidieri that has ever been offered for sale in 
this country was knocked down at thirty-five guineas. 
All are very rare eggs. 
Bickley and Bromley Gardeners' Association—At a 
meeting of this association recently, Mr. Rogers read 
a paper on “ The Cultivation of Seakale.” His 
method of procedure with this vegetable was to 
break off the thongs when lifting the plants in the 
autumn, and to lay them in soil, till they begin to 
make fresh growth. He planted them out in April 
or the beginning of May, and in the autumn follow¬ 
ing they were fit for forcing. The crowns were then 
lifted, placed in 12-sized pots, over which others 
were inverted, and placed in a Mushroom house or 
other convenient place. A warm discussion 
followed, many members holding views in favour of 
the old method of planting the crowns in clumps 
outdoors, so that they could be forced in situ by 
placing manure over them. In replying, Mr. Rogers 
considered that for early work their system of lilting 
was better then the old method, and it did not entail 
any more labour. 
