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THE GARDENING WORLD. December 12, 1908. 
NOTICES. . 
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Sdifopial. 
Do Tlatvts See? 
Many questions are raised concerning 
the capabilities of plants, and no doubt 
there is something to be said in connec¬ 
tion with all of the questions raised pro¬ 
vided we could see them in their proper 
light. The most recent of these ques¬ 
tions relates to their capability of seeing, 
or the effect that light has upon them. Mr. 
Harold Wager, F.R.S., F.L.S., recently 
gave a lantern demonstration before the 
Linnean Society on “ The Optical Be¬ 
haviour of the Epidermal Cells of 
Leaves.” It has recently been stated 
that the cells on the surface of certain 
leaves at least act in the same way as 
primitive eyes in being capable of per¬ 
ceiving light. 
There can be no doubt that plants are 
acted upon in some way or -other by sun¬ 
light, as one can see by the turning of 
the leaves and other parts of plants in 
windows to the source of light, but this 
has usually been -explained by'another 
process, '‘-’'•ofessor Haberlandt was able 
to obtain «. photograph of a miscroscope, 
the image of which had been focussed at 
the base of one of these cells on the sur¬ 
face of a leaf. Mr. Wager says that 
much ,clearer images can be obtained 
through the surface cells of certain 
plants, including portraits of flowers, 
houses, etc. M-esembryanthemum, Mis¬ 
tletoe leaves and Garrya elliptica, etc., 
have cells on both surfaces of their leaves 
capable of giving these pictures or 
images. It is supposed that the light is 
focussed by these cells in order that the 
chlorophvfl grains may be more , effi¬ 
ciently illuminated. The papillate or 
crystal-like cells of many petals also 
focus the light. We should think the 
clear cells of the Ice-plant tMesembryan- 
themum crystallinum and the New Zea¬ 
land Spinach would give very clear 
images. 
-- 
MR. W. BOTTING HEMSLEY. 
The keeper of the Royal Herbarium 
and Library at Kew, Mr. W. Botting 
Hemsley, is about to retire from his post 
at the end of the present month, having 
attained the limit of age. He entered 
Kew in 1S60 as a young gardener. After 
several examinations he became an as¬ 
sistant in the Flerbarium, gradually 
rising in his position until, on the re- 
Most of the species of Fumitory are 
notable for their finely cut foliage. A 
few of them possess tints of colour, but, 
notwithstanding the beauty of their 
leaves which often resemble a Maiden¬ 
hair Fern, most of the species are grown 
for the sake of their flowers. The accom¬ 
panying illustration shows a plant that 
might very well be grown for the sake of 
its foliage alone, as it is the most distinct 
in the genus as far as we have seen them. 
The plant is quite moderate in size, 
not exceeding 6 in. in height when grown 
under glass, but out of doors is con¬ 
siderably dwarfer than that. The leaves, 
as may be seen from the picture, are 
finely cut, and as grey in reality as they 
appear to be in the picture. They are, 
indeed, covered with a dense felt of grey 
hairs, and that applies also to the flower 
tirement of Mr. John Gilbert Baker, ; 
became keeper of the Herbarium. Dr 
ing his time he has seen the Herbariu 
grow to twice its original size, indicati: 
an immense activity in procuring n( 
plants from all parts of the world. Li 
Mr. Baker, he was an excellent botani 
and will leave behind him many exo 
lent souvenirs. Besides those gentleme 
many of our readers will also rememt 
that the late Mr. George Nicholson c 
much work in the Herbarium, althou 
his ordinary duties were that of Cura' 
of the Gardens. Mr. Hemsley will 
succeeded by Dr. Otto Stapf, as keej 
of the Herbarium. 
stems and the bracts under the flowe 
We have, then, the peculiar combinat. 
of grey foliage and stems contrasting w 
a raceme of clear yellow flowers, and t- 
harmony is very good indeed. The pla 
seems perfectly capable of withstand! 
our winters in the neighbourhood of Lc 
don if planted in a dry situation or e 
vated on a rockery. No doubt t 
woolly foliage is somewhat against it 
our moist winters, and the plant would 
more at home in a really dry climate a: 
soil. It is so pretty, however, that it is m 
worthy of cultivation in pots by those vi 
have a glasshouse suitable for alpi: 
plants as a great amount of enjoyme 
can be obtained from such, while t. : 
house in which they are grown requir 
no heat whatever, and, indeed, the plar 
would do better without any artifici 
heat af all. 
A Grey-Ileaved Fumitory tomentosa 
/-■ - < 
Corydalis tomentosa. 
Maclaren and Sons. 
