238 
March  17,  1898. 
journal  of  horticulture  and  cottage  gardener. 
-  Hardy  Peeks. — ]\Ioist  and  shady  borders,  where  flowering 
plants  do  not  succeed  satisfactorily,  may  be  attractively  furnished  with  a 
few  vigorous  hardy  British  Ferns.  Tall  Ferns  suitable  are  Lastrea  Filix- 
mas  (Male  Fern),  L.  dilatata  (Broad  Buckler  Fern),  L.  montana 
(Mountain  Buckler  Fern),  Athyrium  Filix-foemina  (Lady  Fern),  Scolo- 
pendrium  vulgare  (Harfs-tongue),  and  Polystichnm  aculeatum  ;  while 
towards  the  front  the  dwarfer  growers,  including  Polypodium  phegopteris 
(Beech  Fern),  P.  dryopteris  (Oak  Fern),  and  Blechnum  spicant  (Hard 
Fern)  can  be  planted. — S> 
-  Beckekham  Horticultueal  Society. — At  the  last  meeting 
of  this  Society  a  very  interesting  lecture  on  “Orchids”  was  delivered  in 
the  Public  Hall  by  Mr.  H.  Burberry,  whose  paper  treated  chiefly  the 
method  of  cultivation.  Afterwards  an  interesting  discussion  took  place, 
and  the  questions  put  were  all  readily  answered  by  the  essayist.  There 
were  some  fine  specimens  of  Orchids  shown  by  IVIr,  Potter's  gardener 
and  Mr,  H.  O.  Crowther’s  gardener,  which  were  greatly  admired.  At 
the  close  a  vote  of  thanks  accorded  to  the  lecturer  was  carried  unani¬ 
mously,  and  on  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Murrells  thanks  were  passed  to 
those  members  who  so  kindly  brought  plants. 
-  The  Hessle  Gaedekers’  Society.  —  A  meeting  of  the 
members  of  the  above  Society  was  held  on  Tuesday,  March  8th,  when 
IMr.  J.  T.  Barker,  Orchid  -grower  to  W.  P.  Birkenshaw,  Esip,  West 
Hill,  Hessle,  gave  a  very  interesting  essay  on  “ Oypripediums  and  their 
Culture.’  He  described  the  first  variety  introduced  into  this  country 
and  the  time  of  its  introduction,  also  the  habitats  of  the  various  species 
which  soon  followed.  He  gave  the  most  suitable  temperatures  for  the 
different  varieties,  also  the  comjiosts,  and  mentioned  one  or  two  varieties 
which  required  special  treatment.  Mr.  J.  P.  Leadbetter,  when  pro¬ 
posing  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  essayist,  spoke  of  the  admirable  manner 
in  which  ]\Ir.  Barker  had  worked  for  the  Society,  and  it  was  undoubtedly 
owing  to  his  diligence  and  perseverance  that  it  stood  in  so 
firm  a  position.  Mr.  Blakey  showed  plants  in  flower  of  Cattleya 
Trians,  C.  delicata,  and  C.  Mossim  umbrosa,  Mr,  J.  P.  Leadbetter, 
Tranby  Croft  Gardens,  had  some  well-fiowercd  plants  of  Lachenalia 
Nelsoni,  Deudrobium  Wardianum,  Cinerarias,  and  Hippeastrums.  The 
essayist  showed  some  splendidly  flowered  plants  of  Dendrobium  nobile 
nobilius,  and  Mr.  Biley  some  very  good  Cinerarias. — G,  W.  G. 
-  Devon  and  Exetee  Gardeners’  Association. — At  the 
last  meeting  of  this  Society  a  paper  on  “Variety  in  the  Flower  Garden,” 
by  Mr.  J.  W.  Moorman,  Superintendent  of  Victoria  Park,  was  read.  The 
essayist,  who  is  a  Devonshire,  man,  and  was  at  one  time  in  the  gardens  at 
Poltimore  Park,  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  main  charm  in  successful 
flower  gardening  was  to  secure  as  great  a  variety  and  succession  of  plants 
as  was  practicable.  It  should  not  be,  as  was  too  often  the  case,  a  mere 
flash  of  summer  beauty,  but  a  succession  ol  beauties  extending,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  season  of  bloom  over  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  as  far  as 
our  fickle  and  changeable  climate  would  permit.  It  had  been  a  too 
frequent  custom  to  dig  over  roughly  the  flower  beds  after  the  summer 
occupants  had  become  disfigured  by  frost.  A  remedj^  for  this  could  only 
be  accomplished  by  the  introduction  of  plants  of  a  hardier  nature,  and 
whose  natural  propensities  for  blooming  coincided  with  the  ranges  of  the 
different  seasons.  Thus,  at  least,  two  distinct  and  opposite  styles  of 
flowering  and  foliage  were  necessary— one  embraced  a  large  variety  of 
hardy  but  charmingly  effective  early  blooming  plants,  generally  known 
as  spring  bedding,  the  other  as  summer  bedding.  Fashion  governed  in 
the  flower  garden  nearly  as  much  as  in  dress,  and  during  the  years  from 
about  1870  to  1885  carpet  bedding  was  in  the  zenith  of  its  glory,  and 
though  it  did  not  suit  all  tastes,  it  found  many  admirers.  He  therefore 
held  to  the  opinion  that  a  few  beds  might  be  planted  in  any  garden 
without  incurring  much  adverse  criticism  if  the  work  was  done  neatly 
and  the  plants  chosen  for  their  decided  colouring  and  lasting  propensities. 
More  pot  plants  were  now  used  than  formerly,  and  where  such  could 
be  judiciously  blended  it  made  a  wonderful  relief,  as  well  as  added  to  the 
variety  of  the  whole.  After  detailing  many  flowers  giving  pleasing 
effects,  which  were  at  the  command  of  the  gardener  at  the  various  seasons 
of  the  year,  and  to  the  manner  in  which  they  should  be  arranged,  Mr. 
Moorman  pointed  out  that  moderation  and  simplicity  were  the  essential 
principle^  that  should  be  applied  to  the  arrangement.  Overcrowding 
must  be  avoided,  and  so  must  the  opposite  extreme.  The  main  aim  and 
object  in  variety  was  to  connect  seasons,  so  that  while  some  flowers  had 
done  their  duty  and  passed  their  best,  others  were  only  in  the  zenith  of 
their  beauty,  and  were  affording  warmth,  light,  and  brightness,  while  the 
more  precocious  kinds  were  removed  from  the  beds  in  order  that  they 
could  be  refilled  for  summer.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the 
writer  of  the  paper,  and  to  Mr.  W,  Andrews  for  reading  it. 
-  Frdnus  CERASIFERA. — In  several  places  about  the  gardens  at 
Kew  large  trees  of  this  are  making  a  fine  show,  every  twig  being 
wreathed  with  pure  white  blossoms.  In  one  particular  it  appears  to  have 
an  advantage  over  many  other  early  flowering  trees,  as  frosty  nights 
affect  it  but  slightly,  if  at  all.  For  grouping  in  parks  or  planting  at  the 
back  of  a  shrubbery  as  a  protection  for  choicer  plants  it  is  very  useful, 
while  for  an  isolated  specimen  in  a  prominent  position  on  the  lawn  or 
elsewhere  its  free-flowering  qualities  make  it  welcoie.  In  some  seasons 
good  crops  of  fruit  are  produced,  the  fruit  when  ripe  being  about  1  inch 
in  diameter,  bright  red,  and  sweet.  The  variety  “  atro-purpurea,”  better 
known  as  P.  Pissardi,  is  a  highly  valued  plant,  its  worth  lying  in  the 
combination  of  its  free  flowering  and  ornamental  foliage  qualities. — W.  D. 
-  The  Busy  Botanist. — The  receipt  of  a  copious  w’ork  on  the 
“Flora  of  Berkshire,”  from  the  Clarendon  Press  of  Oxford,  sets  in 
motion  a  current  of  reflections,  prominent  upon  which  are  some  flotsam- 
and-jetsam-like  particles  of  abashed  self-respect  in  presence  of  the 
tremendous  application  represented  by  nearly  800  closely  printed  pages 
of  botanical  details,  every  quire  of  which  might  easily  represent  a  month’s 
wanderings,  another  month’s  verifying,  and  a  third  month’s  preparation 
for  press.  Busy  men  of  the  world  lose  themselves  in  an  awed  admiration 
for  the  monuments  of  solitary  industry  which  books  like  this  represent,  and 
will  place  it  on  their  shelves  with  a  double  object — to  dip  into  it  in  the 
moments  of  leisure  which  every  such  harrassed  being  hopes  for  when 
wealth  has  lost  its  charm  and  politics  have  worn  themselves  to  shreds, 
and  to  find  in  the  sight  of  it  a  bracing  tonic  for  work  when  the  demon  of 
idleness  asserts  itself.  The  chances  of  success  for  the  work  are  not 
lessened  by  the  fact  that  it  has  missed  the  .lubilee  year,  and  are  sensibly 
increased  by  the  good  fortune  of  a  permit  for  a  dedication  to  her  Majesty 
the  Queen.  The  price  is  16s.  net,  and  the  diligent  author  is  Mr.  G.  C- 
Druce,  M.A. 
-  WONDERINGS. — A  Northern  gardener  sends  a  note  for  the 
W.P.B.,  but  as  the  writer  seems  rather  a  “pawky  chiel”  his  little  effusion 
was  first  handed  to  the’printers.  The  result  is  as  follows: — “"We  are 
wondering  where  the  ‘Missus’  is.  We  like  her  very  much,  and  think 
about  her  ‘crowning  mercies’  every  time  it  rains  after  a  spell  of  dry 
weather.  We  always  thought  the  estimable  lady  hailed  from  the  South* 
but  think  it  was  in  her  last  article  she  let  on  that  she  is  in  the  North. 
We  wonder  how  far  north? — not  so  far  as  M.  Andr^e,  we  hope!  We 
were  glad  to  see  from  ‘  Traveller’s  ’  last  article  that  he  is  now  clothed 
and  in  his  right  mind.  We  fancied  he  was  clean  gone.  We  would  like 
another  ‘  Resting  Tour.’  When  in  Edinburgh  for  a  few  days  last 
October,  in  passing  the  North  British  Hotel  one  drizzly  morning,  we 
‘  couldna’  help  speerin’  to  see  if  Mrs.  Scribe  was  flattening  her  nose 
against  the  window  in  a  brave  attempt  to  see  Auld  Reekie.”  [Our 
imaginative  correspondent  was  doomed  to  “speer”  in  vain.  He  will  be 
glad  to  hear  that  the  “  Missus  ”  is  well,  and  not  so  very  far  from  Ins 
north,  but  if  she  should  call  to  see  the  gardens  she  might  perhaps  not 
“let  on”  again.  A  “ Traveller,  ’  too,  would  almost  feel  constrained  ta 
make  a  quiet  call  if  he  knew  the  address,  but  he  knows  now,  if  he  did  not 
before,  that  editors  are  selfish  mortals  over  addresses.  They  get  all  they 
can,  but  part  with  none  in  response  to  applications.  The  “  touring  ” 
season  is  not  yet,  and  “  pawky  chiel’’  must  wait.] 
-  The  Beginnings  of  Plants. — In  one  of  his  recent  lectures, 
Professor  Ray  Lankester  showed  that  the  primal  difference  between 
plants  and  animals  was  based  upon  what  each  was  able  to  eat.  The 
organisms  which  can  only  eat  substances  of  no  lower  chemical  elaborate¬ 
ness  than  starches,  sugars,  and  albumens  are  said  to  be  holozoic  ;  and  all 
animals  belong  to  this  class.  Those  which  can  eat  oxygen  and  carbon 
and  nitrogen,  and  have  the  power  (with  the  help  of  chlorophyll  and  sun- 
li.ht)  of  separating  oxygen,  are  called  holophytic.  But  between  these 
two  comes  the  anomalous  class — the  organisms  which  have  a  mouth  and 
eat  animal’s  food,  and  yet  have  chlorophyll  corpuscles  to  enable  them  to 
get  sustenance  as  the  plants  get  it.  These,  we  say,  are  saprophytic,  and 
it  is  among  such  organisms  that  we  have  to  search  for  the  point  where  the 
animal  world  and  the  vegetable  kingdom  start.  There  is  green  plant 
called  the  Englena  which  has  a  mouth,  and  yet  has  the  chlorophyll 
corpuscles  which  would  class  it  as  a  plant ;  and  there  are  among  the  tiny 
organisms  of  the  “  flagellata,”  or  whip  swimmers,  several  we  should  class  as 
animals,  and  yet  which  have  the  green  corpuscles  in  their  minute  structures. 
This  is,  therefore,  one  reason  for  believing  that  it  was  among  the  “  flagel¬ 
lata  ”  that  the  vegetable  kingdom  first  found  its  origin.  Broadly 
speaking,  said  the  professor,  one  might  say  that  if  in  the  beginning  a 
group  of  “flagellata”  joined  themselves  end  to  end  so  as  to  form  a  thread, 
they  turned  into  a  plant ;  whereas  if  they  followed  more  complex  courses 
and  joined  together  in  more  elaborate  structures  and  households,  they 
became  animals. 
