I; 7, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
375 
he ^ardenin^fybrld. 
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EDITORIAL NOTES. 
I sing Plants from Leaves. 
here are several instances amongst 
ering plants in which young plants are 
luced upon their leaves, even when grow¬ 
er naturally and under normal conditions. 
1 deners also practise propagation of the 
leaves.of several of their plants, such as 
Gloxinias, Streptocarpus, Begonias, and 
Chrysanthemums. Herr Lindemuth, of 
Berlin, lias been making experiments on 
various: other plants which we should not sus¬ 
pect to be capable of producing roots or 
young plants. His experiments have proved, 
however, that although many of the leaves 
form roots and live for longer or shorter 
periods, they are not. capable of producing 
buds on such leaves, or young plants. The 
leaves of a species of Citrus produce roots 
and continue to live for months or even years, 
but finally died after the leaf had reached its 
full capabilities of persistence. Other plants 
were also successfully rooted, including the 
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), the Musk 
(Mimulus moschatus), the Tomato*, and the 
Vine. One peculiarity about the Vine was 
that it rooted readily during the course of 
sixteen* days in August, but failed to* produce 
roots a*t all when propagated in September 
by the leaves. Thirteen specie® refused to 
form roots, these including the Monkshood 
(Acooitum Napellus), the Zonal Pelargonium, 
and the Potato. In another experiment, 
Herr Lindemuth records that he succeeded in 
rooting the leaves of thirty-four additional 
species. Some of these included three species 
that he had previously tried and failed to 
root*. Only five of the species of leaves that 
formed roots also produced a bud, and finally 
young plants. 
-O— 
Confusion in Names. 
According to W. F. Ganong in " The 
Educational Review,’ and in " The American 
Botanist,” there are two* distinct schools in 
America engaged in giving, each according 
to* its* own. views*, the correct names of plants. 
According to the writer, however, these 
schools* are in antagonism, and not. yet likely 
to leave the name® of plants in a, more 
satisfactory condition than they were before. 
The schools in question are those who follow 
the nomenclature of the late Asa* Gray, and 
named the Grayan* School, and the Neo- 
American School, which originated ten years 
ago and lias its headquarters at the New 
York Botanical Garden. The Grayan School 
is the older one and that whose names are 
generally followed in America*. This: school 
accepts the names as they stood a*s far back 
as Linnaeus, provided those names were 
of plants correctly described in. their re¬ 
spective genera. This school is followed 
generally . by the botanists throughout 
Europe, and consequently is the larger one*, 
having the larger number of adherents. It* 
seems that the authorities of the New York 
Botanical Garden have found no one to follow 
them on, this side of the Atlantic*. The: con¬ 
tention of the Neo-Americans is that absolute 
priority should be followed, and that* the 
oldest name is the* correct one. This is a 
very high standard to* set up, and it is im¬ 
possible that they can get uniformity of 
opinion in that* view, for the simple reason 
that there are many name® to* which no* one 
can give the exact date of publication. Some 
of the older botanists neglected the dating 
of their books, even when giving coloured 
illustrations: of plants*. Seme of the plants 
were new, and their name*, of course*, should 
he the oldest, but it is impossible to* tell 
whether the plant was not described by some 
other botanist at an earlier period and under 
a different name. It follows, then,. that* 
there can be no* such thing, as. absolute 
priority, or, in other words, no* one can prove 
which was the oldest name. Notwithstand¬ 
ing these. possibilities of disagreement, the 
Neo-American School lias been striving hard 
for t he past ten* years to "get followers, but* 
hitherto has not been very widely accepted, 
even in their own country. According to t he 
same writer, all the European, botanists, in¬ 
cluding those at Ivew, follow the Grayan 
School. 
-—o*— 
Hypnotism for Plants. 
A certain Colonel Andraede, in giving an 
account of his life in Mexico, tells* some re¬ 
markable stories about* the: effect lie exercised 
upon plants by his will power. This seems 
to be a new form of faith-heialing o*r Christian 
healing applied to* plants instead of human* 
beings*. On this side of the Atlantic some: 
of our con,temporaries have entered into the 
subject at considerable: length. Sonne of our 
American, contemporaries; also give* their 
views upon the subject, and while the lay 
Press there seem to* take the matter in 
earnest, the horticultural Press laugh the 
idea, to scorn. The Colonel is an, ardent 
lover of flowers, and considers also that he 
is possessed o*f strong hypnotic force. It 
therefore, occurred to him to tiy the effect 
of his- will-power upon plants. He selected 
two* flowering plants of the same: species, and 
in equally good health when upon the point 
of bursting into* bloom. Standing near one* 
of them, he commanded it to* develop* 
courage, sturdiness, sweetness, and beauty to* 
the best of its po*wer and to rejoice in its 
health and strength. He did this for several 
days in succession, praising, flattering, coax¬ 
ing, and making love to it. The result of 
this treatment was that it produced finer 
flowers than the same specie® had been, ever 
known, to. do before. The* scent* was* also 
richer and rarer. What is more to* the* point, 
the plant, seemed to recognise its benefactor 
and to lean towards him with confidence 
when he approached. The other plant* he 
treated quite differently by disparaging, 
scolding, and other bad treatment. His: 
mental doings were altogether unkind and 
cruel. In, three days the half-opened blossoms 
withered up and the: plant died away a® if 
of a* broken heart. We wonder how many 
gardeners will adopt the Colonel s plan in¬ 
stead of pruning, pinching, watering, and 
feeding in the usual way. 
