1062 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
, December 26, 1903 
be seen amongst some of the species of Cornu s, including the 
dwarf C. canadensis, a very pretty herbaceous plant for the 
rockery. Other members, however, show this same character, 
so that Davidia involucrata might very well be a member of 
the same family. 
Another strange plant is Eucommia ulmoides, which is in- 
teresting as adding a new family to> the list of those producing 
rubber. It is also remarkable, in that it is hardy, whereas 
most other rubber plants are tropical subjects. Its hardiness 
we discussed in the early part of the year. A new order has 
been formed to include this and a few other plants, including 
Tt'o-chodendro-n analiode®, having very peculiar flowers, as we 
have on former occasions stated, when the shrub was in bloom. 
Great expectations have been raised by the introduction of 
several new species of Vine, and belonging to different- sections 
of the genus. A number of these we briefly described so-ine 
weeks ago. If they prove perfectly hardy they will be acquisi¬ 
tions fc-r the covering of -walls, and prove perfectly distinct 
fro-m their better known relations, popularly known under 
the name o-f Anipe-l-opsis, but belonging really to the same 
genus. Some- of these- newer introductions also assume very 
beautiful tints in the autumn. 
The- Rose family has always supplied us with plants -of great 
horticultural value-, and Central China, still contains some very 
useful plants belonging to genera already more or less widely 
represented in gardens. These include suc-h -as Rubus, Pyrus, 
Rosa, Spiraea, and Co-toneast-er. Tire flowering of these will 
be looked forward to- with interest. The handsome character 
of Spiraea He-nryi is an assured fact- if it flowers at all as 
free-ly as represent ed by the dried specimens collected in China. 
It is mo-st closely allied to S. canescens of our shrubberies, 
having leaves nearly of similar form, and a profusion of small 
white flowers produced o-n short twigs or spurs all along the 
side of the main branches, and very effective in the mass on 
account of their purity and immense numbers. 
A very striking plant is Viburnum rhytido-pliyllum o-n accoun t 
of the long, wrinkled leaves, recalling to- some extent tho-se of 
Buddleia globo-sa, and therefore remarkably distinct from any¬ 
thing of the kind we have hitherto- had under cultivation. A 
new Honeysuckle is amongst the- introductions, and bears some- 
resemblance t-o Lonicera Caprifolium, an old garden plant, 
sometimes found run, wild in this country. The new-co-mer, L. 
trago-phylla, has golden-yellow flowers more or le-ss tinted with 
red. 
A very handsome Rhododendron—namely, R. auriculatum—- 
is notable for the- size- of its leaves and funnel-shaped flowers, 
which are- either pure white or tinted with rosy pink. Various 
other interesting species of tree remain to prove t-he-ir character 
in this country, including members: of the Bireli, Chestnut, 
Beech, Alder, Hornbeam, and Oak family. The le-ave-s of some 
of the latter are- particularly handsome. A Willo-w has also- 
been discovered with leaves resembling tho-se of a-Poplar in size-, 
and therefore distinct fro-m anything yet in cultivation. 
The pamphlet is well illustrated with reproductions from 
photo-graphs of these various plants, but, as a matter of course, 
they represent the dried specimens which were collected in 
China, and used by the author to illustrate- his paper. The 
pamphlet, also contains numerous- fine illustrations of Japanese 
plants in the live state-, -and which flowered in the Coombe 
Woc-d Nursery. 
Mr. John Jacobs, the oldest, British resident of Havre, and the 
pioneer of the export fruit trade to England, has just died at the 
age of 94. 
Plants Destroyed by Fire at St. Louis. —On November 7th 
a fire broke out in the boiler roo-m- of the Orchid houses at 
Shaw’s Botanic Gardens. The glass roofs of the hothouses gave 
way under the influence of intense heat, and many rare and 
valuable plants were ruined by falling glass as well as by 
flames. The garden staff started to carry out the finest plants 
from the buildings, and thousands were saved, but others were 
destroyed that may never be replaced. These plants include 
Orchids, Palms, and Persian Cacti. Some of the plants burnt 
were worth 500 and 1,000 dollars each, and the damage to the 
houses alone was 10,000 dollars, as related by “American Gar¬ 
dening.” 
A National Gardeners’ Association. 
Many gardeners’ minds- are just now being exercised with 
respect to proposals made and discussed to form an Association 
o-f Gardeners for the British Isles. We- have, of course-, many 
associations in existence already—indeed, they are found all 
over the kingdom—but, these bodies devote themselves chiefly 
to- mutual improvement only, at least as far as such improve¬ 
ment can-be obtained by re-ading papers-, discussing them, and, 
at time®, presenting small exhibitions of garden products-. But 
the aims of the proposers of the- National Association, are 
wider. They wish greatly to- see the status of the gardener 
elevated; overcrowding of the- profession, creating such a ter¬ 
rible demand for situations, checked; wages, if -possible, in¬ 
creased, examinations instituted for young men, and generally 
to- lift- the- gardener and bis vocation to- a higher plane, such 
as indeed co-mports- with the- gardener’s intelligence and his 
grave- responsibilities. It- is- e-ven, further desired that such 
National Association -should become- a centre to which all local 
societies should be affiliated, and that through such aids there 
should be- wider efforts made to bring gardeners into closer 
touch with the gardening charities'. 
But- it, is evident that, whatsoever may be the aims or desires 
of gardeners in relation to- these- suggestions-, the-re is not, and 
very well ca.n never be-, that complete -homogeneity amongst 
them in relation to any organisation of a national kind, such 
as can, be found in, and amongst trades- generally where workers 
are- in, great number and in- clo-s-e alliance-. Whilst nearly all 
trades, or vocations organise for what, may be termed tradel 
union purposes, or for those of a, benefit, nature, gardeners at 
once disclaim all intention: to- pro-mote any form of trade union, 
but simply need an, organisation, such as shall assist to raise 
them and their vocation into- a higher status than now exists. 
It- is- very widely admitted tha-t far too many young men get 
into bothies, as- whilst these are so many, the numbed of places- 
open to them later 1 as head gardene-rs- are- so few. Generally 
too, as a consequence, young men are- in bothies as journey¬ 
men or foremen: much later in life than was formerly the case, 
or should a, young man. get- into a headship, he do-e-s- so- t-o the 
detriment of his vocation, because he takes lower wages, and 
cannot, possibly possess that- experience and knowledge which 
the gardener of some forty to fifty years- of age has attained. 
It is said that no-w the rush for situations- comes chiefly from 
men of year's: and experience, and it is a, painful fact- that such 
is- the: case. How many score® of good me-n to-day are there 
whose character is of the very best, and whose garden, expe¬ 
riences are- first-class, who are month after month, and indeed 
year after year, kicking their heels anxiously, patiently, yet 
every additional day with greater despair, because of them 
there arei far more than, there- are, situations, to be filled? 
At a, recent meeting of gardeners: convened to discus® tliisj 
subject, of the formation of an association- a fervent wish was 
expressed by one of our greatest- gardeners that much of this 
wasting ability' could be- diverted into commercial directions-, 
especially in enabling these gardeners to become the 1 owners 
or occupiers: of small holdings, of some 10 o-r 12 acres- in 
extent on which glassho-us-es: could be erected for fruit and 
flower production. Fruit and vegetables oo-uld be grown on 
the- bes-t garden lines, and if found in colonies such as is: most 
desirable, then, agencies of a. co-operative nature could he 
formed to collect products, market them, on, the very best 
lines, and thus, whilst creating for these able men a, good 
independent livelihood, would at the same time relieve the 
private- gardener’s vocation- fro-m that severe- pressure the 
which is now so disastrous. The subject is to be further dis¬ 
cussed at a, meeting to be held in February next. A. D. 
Attar of Roses and Trusts. —Small local trusts are being 
formed in Turkey, Bulgaria, and France, with -the object of in¬ 
creasing the price of Attar of Roses and other perfumes. Pure 
Attar of Roses is too powerfully scented to be pleasant, but it 
forms the basis or a component part of many other scents. 
