March 26,1904. THE GARDENING WORLD . 
Bertolonia hirsuta marmorata. 
Few fine foliage stove plants are reckoned more choice oi 
interesting than the species and varieties of Bertolonia. The 
plants belong to the order Melastomaceae, but are not repre¬ 
sented by any member of the family in this country. One of 
the most commonly grown, members of the family is Tibouehina 
semidecandra, better known as Lasiandra, macrantha. That, 
however, is a shrub which reaches a height of 8 ft. or 10 ft. 
when planted out, but the plant under notice seldom exceeds a 
few inches, forming neat little tufts with beautiful leaves. 
AVhen propagated and confined to a single stem the leaves 
attain the largest size of which they are capable. 
They should be potted in peat, leaf-mould, and sand. In 
some houses it is impossible to grow them perfectly without 
having a special case for them or placing a bellglass over each 
plant. Some cultivators, however, 
succeed in growing them to perfection 
in the atmosphere of a stove or pit 
without any protection than the rnois 1 - 
ture prevalent there. Under- such 
conditions the foliage acquires a firm¬ 
ness and durability which cannot be 
attained in a case; while, if exposed to 
the atmosphere of a * dry house the 
foliage would soon get spoiled and un¬ 
sightly. A little shade would also pre¬ 
vent the leaves from getting damaged 
by the sun. 
The; leaves of this particular variety 
are ovate, five-nerved, rather downy, 
and more or less marbled with white 
or grey along the course of the veins, 
as may be seem by reference to our 
illustration, which was photographed 
in the nursery of Mr. John Bussell, 
Richmond, Surrey. This was done 
just as the plant was coming into 
bloom. Tire flowers, however, are 
moderate in, size and of a pale rosy-pink 
colour, so that cultivators who desire 
to grow the leaves to perfection can 
remove the flowers as soon as they 
make their appearance. On the con¬ 
trary, they do no particular harm to 
the plant and may he left if the cul- 
vator so desires. 
with a good charge and at arm’s length pulled the trigger. Off 
she went with a terrible bang, and off went the chimney-pot;, 
s mttering down on the roof and into the yard outside in a 
dozen pieces; three or four bricks came blundering down out 
oi the chimney breast inside. These landed upon the table, 
sending the crockeryware in all directions 1 . We were pretty¬ 
looking objects; we could scarcely be seen for soiqt, and the 
place was all disorder, the kettle in one place, teapot in another, 
■soot and ashes all over the place. The report of the pistol and 
the; falling of the chimney-pot brought all the residents of the 
estate to the bothy entrance to learn the reason. 
W eH, 1 remember facing the master of the house and the 
head gardener. Your humble servant was shaking from head 
to foot. Of course, we had to rake up some story, which was 
that we cleared the soot with a little gunpowder. The pieces 
The Bothy Chimney. 
Having read “ Japonica’s ” article 
upon the bothy with some interest, it 
recalled to memory a little incident which occurred in the first 
bothy that I as a young fellow entered. It is some years ago 
. now, p u p the many little games that we chaps had together 
(for it is my experience the young men do not always want to; 
be studying work) still stick vividly to my memory, especially 
the one I am about to relate. It was at breakfast-time, eight 
a.m., one brisk frosty morning in February, about the year 
1883. We were seated-at breakfast, each setting about our 
rashers with energy, having our appetites sharpened by the 
early morning’s work. Our bothy was not an ideal one, but 
when chaps enter the gardening profession, with a preference 
for bothy life, they have generally to put up with what is pro¬ 
vided. Well, this particular one was anything 1 but the best of 
them. Tb my knowledge the chimney had not been swept for 
■three years, except by burning, and on this particular morning 
the smoke was something vile. 
“ Fire your blooming popgun off up the chimney,” re¬ 
marked the foreman (this popgun, by the way, was an old flint 
and steel horse pistol, sucli as was used in the British Army 
m the reign of George III.), and not needing much persuading, 
especially from the foreman, I did no more hut load 'the weapon 
Bertolonia hirsuta marmorata. 
of broken chimney-pot. were picked up- before the gentleman 
arrived, and lie never knew that part of the business. He 
was very cross, and remarked on leaving: “ I suppose your 
mother blew her copper up 1 like that.” I had a. severe jacket¬ 
ing afterwards from the head gardener, and very nearly had 
the “sack” over the job. The head gardener is still in the 
same place. I sometimes pay him a visit, and we never part 
without reference to the event. I have still the old flint and 
steel pistol in my possession, hanging over my mantelpiece, 
and when I look at it I am reminded of how I cured a smoky 
chimney, and of one; of the manv little experiences of bothy 
life. . H. W. C. 
Tree Planting on the Albert Embankment.— The London 
County Council have just completed the planting of the Albert 
Embankment on the west side with Plane-tree saplings of 
vigorous growth, obtained from Wandsworth. At present they 
are 10 ft. high, and are placed at distances of 36 ft., and there 
are in all fifty. When the trees are in foliage in the late spring 
or early summer the attractive fringe of green should be a great 
relief to the dull buildings on the Embankment, 
