March 1, 1905 
light, while the white, pink, and light 
shades of color are seen to advantage dur- 
ing the day. Flowers of lilac, rose, and 
magenta look well under artificial light, 
-and either one of these colors by itself, 
with white for a contrast, is effective. -T. 
VEINS IN PLANTS. 
In the study of plant life the veins or 
the channels of supply which permeate the 
-systems of most vegetative structures, are 
of extreme interest. Just as in our own 
bodies. we find them pervaded by blood- 
vessels which carry the nutriment provided 
by the food to all parts, and remove the 
debris of wear and tear, so can, we see if 
we examine a leaf or a section of living 
bark that here, too, are channels built up 
within their substance, and obvioushy for 
‘sunilar ends. There are, however, material 
differences, the main one of which ig that, 
while with us the veins are not. supportive 
parts of our structure, in plants they so far 
serve that purpose, as they are: frequently 
associated with woody secretions, and by 
their tubular formation are stronger than 
the intervening membranes cf simpler cell 
-structure. Thus, if we hold up a leaf to the 
light we shall see a beautiful netavork 
starting from the main stalk and branch- 
ing out into slenderer and slenderer rami- 
fications and twigs, as it were, until near 
the edges they fade away into invisibility ; 
and in and among this reticulation of veins, 
large and small, we shall see translucent 
lines between the cells which carry the net- 
work a step farther. Every leaf, even in 
the same tree, will vary in detail, though 
adhering to a similar general plan, and 
every species has its own specific character 
oi venation, just as it has of leafage, flower, 
and habits of growth. In mono-cotyledon- 
-ous plants, however, the vein system ix not 
a netted one, but one of long parallel lines, 
as we may see by examining any of the 
tribe from the grasses to the lilies, or the 
palms; in one and all, if we tear a leaf 
lengthwise we shall find it tear into strips, 
while in the dicotyledons, owing to the net- 
work arrangement, the tear will be ragged, 
and in no definite direction. Jn ferns, 
which constitute a third branch of the vege- 
tative kingdom, since as cryptogams they 
bear no cotyledons proper at all, a great 
number are net veined, and in maniy cases 
su beautifully that the venation is dis- 
tinctly ornamental. In some cases, 
however, the venation is simply dichio- 
tomous, or forked one or more times, 
the primary veins starting from the mid- 
rib and forking again and again until they 
reach the edges. Undoubtedly many of the 
variegated forms, crested and plumose, are 
due to this forking being carried abnor- 
mally far; each limb carrying nutriment 
and building up foliar structure beyond 
the normal lines, so that tassels and extra 
feathery fronds result therefrom on plans 
which vary with the mode of fureation. As 
in ferns iti is one of the primary functions 
of the veins to form to sporangia or spore 
heaps. which naturally absorb and concen- 
trate within themselves a large amount of 
nutrition, we can easily see how hairen- 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. , 
ness, absolute or comparative, must almost 
of necessity result when the veins extend 
themselves abnormally and build up exten- 
sive foliar structures outside the normal 
plan. Usually the frond growth is com- 
pleted before the spores have assumed de- 
Anite shape, the vein’s work on the frond 
cdge is done, its terminal is sealed, as it 
were, and all the subsequent nutriment 
goes to the fashioning of the reproductive 
spores. In some of the varieties, however, 
this terminal sealing seems to be beyond 
the plant’s powers; the channel remains 
open, and terminal growth continues inde- 
finitely into fringes, tassels, or pinnular ex- 
tens.ons, such growth continuing even a 
second season should the fronds not be 
deciduous, or, as in the case of Athyrium 
filix-feemina uncoglemeratum, even if they 
he, the vitality in the terminal cells per- 
sisting aposporously, despite the death of 
the rest of the frond. In the lower orders 
of vegetation—the fungi, algae, clihens, &e. 
there are no veins; they are non-vas- 
cular, as it is called. In these all the func- 
tions are fulfilled and needs supplied by 
transfer from cell to cell of the nutriment 
provided by the mycelium or surrounding 
elements. It is the evolution of the vascu- 
lar system which has ennobled the vege- 
table kingdom, and given us all the prizes, 
save those of the fungologist, bacteriologist, 
and cther logists of its more or less hidden 
domains. 
MICHAELMAS DAISIES. 
Some few plants in our gardens have 
special claims upon us. and we give them 
attention on the approach of their bloom- 
iitg seasons. We may mention in this con- 
nection Roses, Carnations, Chrysanthe- 
mums, then why not specialise a little more 
the Michaelmas Daisy? Who thinks of 
feeding it with liquid manure, or disbud- 
ding it, or even tying it up properly? Few, 
{ fear. We somehow think that any scant 
treatment will do for this hardy autumn 
flower. I suggest to those who have not 
tried the plan to notice the difference in 
plants that are manured, buds thinned, and 
staked properly, as against neglected roots. 
»—LEAHURST. 
were sreoe 
A BRAMBLE BANK. 
The coldest and most exposed of banks 
can be beautifully adorned by varieties of 
Bramble. The double white-flowered 
Rubus fruticosus gives clusters of snowy 
Rose-like blossom from the end of June to 
late autumn. Tt will thrive anywhere so 
long as its roots have a sufficient depth of 
aoil, and may be propagated by cuttings 
or suckers. As it flowers on the growth of 
the previous year, the old wood should be 
cut out each autumn, just: as the Raspberry 
canes are treated. There is a very pretty 
double pink variety, that was originally 
found in some French wood. Rubus odora- 
tus has pink blossom late in the year, and 
fine foliage, and a white variety is also ob- 
tainable. R. phenicolasius is the handsome 
and useful Wineberry; R. lacinatus, the 
Parsley-leaved Bramble, is exceedingly or- 
namental; R. Wilson Junior is one of the 
take from the 
1g 
earliest fruiting Blackberries, rivalled only 
in this respect, I believe, by Lawton.—- 
M.H. 
TO PRESERVE CUT FLOWERS. 
Use rain water, clear and fresh, not the 
stagnant, muddy stuff one often sees im 
tubs outside dwelling-houses. To this = 
small lump of charcoal should be added i¥ 
the receptacle will not betray its presence: 
in an undesirable manner: where this is 
the case, methylated spirit may be usedi 
instead. This is highly important witle ar- 
rangements which have called for so mueciz 
skill in constructing that their disemboda 
ment is not a thing to be lightly nadews 
taken for the renewal of the water. 
The Oxchard. 
—_o— 
INOOULATING THE SOIL. 
THE WORK OF NITROGEN-FIXING BACIEHTE. 
Lhe following very interesting article on 
“Soil Inoculation,” written by G &. 
Grosvenor, in the * Century Magazine,” wa 
“Queenland Agriculturad 
Journal.” 
Most people in this State have heard ef 
the attempts to enrich the suil by means of 
nitrogen, but few know the reason for its 
failure, and fewer still of the brilliant suc- 
cess achieved in this direction by Dr. George 
T. Moore, who is in charge of the Labora- 
tory of Plant Physiology of the Departmen: 
of Agriculture of the United States of 
America. We give the full text of Mr 
Grosvenor’s account of this wonderful dis- 
covery, which is now attracting the atten- 
tion of the whole c vilised world. The mar- 
vellous cheapness of the fortiliser, Costing: 
the department only 2d per packet for three. 
packets sufficient to fertilise from } to 2 
acres, is only equalled by its compactness 
and portability. The packages, containing 
sufficient of the fertiliser for an area of 6 ex 
7 acres, may be carried in the waistcoat 
pocket. j 
“‘ Did you vaccinate your land this year 2” 
was the startling question I heard ane 
farmer ask another the other day. “ Well: 
I guess,” he replied. ‘ You remember thax 
corner field which I gave up as hopeless 
last year? Woll, when I heard about the 
yeast cakes the Government was giving free. 
with the promise that they’d make clover er 
alfalfa grow where we farmers couldr't raise 
anything but weeds, and thin weeds at that 
1 thoaght 1’d send for several of the cakes. 
When the cakes came I vaccinated the field 
according to instructions, planting it im 
alfalfa. I tell you I’ve had three whopping 
crops, and I’ve got off that formerly worth— 
less field five times more than I’ve been 
getting off my best land, and I've got some 
pretty good land, tao.” - 
We have grown accustomed to the idea 
of being vaccinated. Some of our mest 
dread diseases have been vanquished or 
checked by inoculation—smallpox, diph- 
theriea, rabies, and, we hope, the plague— 
but to cure sterile ground and make it bring 
forth fruit in abundance by inoculation 16 
sumething 80 strange and revolutionary ths. 
