JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
October  1,  1896, 
332 
no  stalk  or  attachmeat  which  is  evident,  but  rest  or  sit  on  the  stem, 
in  others  they  are  distinctly  stalked,  and  the  inflorescence  is  known 
as  a  raceme  ;  the  Snapdragon  is  an  example.  In  the  capitulnm  or 
'head  the  flowers  are  all  sessile.  When  the  axis  is  shortened  as  in  the 
latter,  and  the  flowers  are  stalked  as  in  the  Cherry,  the  inflorescence  is 
an  umbel,  but  correctly  a  simple  umbel.  The  compound  form  of  umbdl 
is  met  with  in  the  Carrot,  Parsley,  Parsnip,  and  Hemlock. 
In  a  mixed  inflorescence  the  definite  and  indefinite  modes  of  branch¬ 
ing  are  both  seen,  as  for  instance  the  Dead  Nettle.  Then  again  in  the 
capitulnm  or  head  the  arrangement  is  indefinite  ;  bnt  when  the  whole 
of  the  heads  on  a  stem  are  considered  it  will  be  found  that  the  first 
■flower  opens  according  to  the  definite  method,  the  others  opening  around 
or  below  in  snccession. 
Coming  now  to  the  examination  of  an  individual  flower,  we  will  first 
notice  the  bracts.  These  are  appendages  attached  to  the  stem  below  the 
flowers,  or  they  consist  of  the  small  leaves  from  which  the  flower  buds 
spring.  In  a  head  of  flowers,  as  in  the  Marigold  or  Dandelion,  there  is 
quite  a  ring  of  bracts  which  forms  what  is  termed  an  involucre  of  bracts. 
In  the  Hydrangea  and  Bougainvillea  the  most  highly  coloured  parts  are 
bracts,  the  true  flowers  being  comparatively  inconspicuous.  The  flowers 
of  Grasses  and  Sedges  are  enclosed  by  scaly  bracts.  The  white  spathe 
of  an  Arum  Lily  is  an  enlarged  bract,  and  the  coloured  leaf-like  portion 
of  the  stove  Anthurium  is  also  a  spathe. 
The  exterior  or  outside  coat  of  a  flower  is  the  calyx.  In  some  cases 
it  is  large  in  others  small,  and  assumes  many  forms.  It  is  usually 
green,  and  composed  of  separate  parts  termed  sepals.  Frequently  there 
is  no  separation  into  distinct  parts,  in  which  case  the  calyx  is  gamo- 
sepalous,  meaning  the  union  of  the  sepals  of  the  calyx.  If  the  sepals  are 
distinctly  separated  the  calyx  is  polysepalous.  There  are  some  flowers 
which  have  no  calyx,  in  others  it  quickly  falls  away,  when  it  is 
deciduous,  bat  in  many  it  is  persistent.  The  Japanese  Anemme  has 
no  calyx.  It  is  deciduous  in  the  Poppy,  falling  off  as  soon  as  the  flower 
opens.  The  calyx  of  the  Nasturtium  is  coloured  and  prolonged  in<-o  a 
spur.  In  the  Fuchsia  and  Ijarkspur  the  sepals  are  coloured,  and  the 
calyx  of  the  Traveller’s  Joy  (Clematis  vitalba)  is  creamy  white. 
The  next  coat  is  the  corolla,  the  function  of  which  is  to  attract  insects 
to  the  flowers.  Plants  which  have  no  corollas  are  not  visited  by  insects. 
The  separate  parts  of  the  corolla  are  petals.  They  are  in  many  cases 
united  together  and  form  corollas  of  various  shapes  with  descriptive 
names  to  distinguish  them,  but  broadly  they  are  termed  gamopetalous. 
In  the  same  way  if  the  corolla  is  divided  into  distinct  petals  it  is  then 
polypctalous.  Sometimes  the  corolla  appears  to  be  polypetalous  when  it 
is  really  gamopetalous.  The  Stitchwort  is  an  example.  If  the  petals  of 
this  flower  are  pulled  out  very  carefully  it  will  be  seen  that  they  are 
separate  right  down  to  the  base,  then  united.  It  is  frequently  the  case 
that  this  and  similar  flowers  are  described  as  polypetalous.  The  petals 
are  so  deeply  cleft  that  the  observer  is  liable  to  be  misled.  The  inser¬ 
tion  of  the  petals  is  usually  alternate  with  the  sepals  but  arranged 
inside  the  latter.  A  complete  flower  must  have  these  parts,  though  a 
perfect  flower  does  not  necessarily  contain  them,  but  it  must  contain  the 
reproductive  organs,  respectively  termed  the  andrcecium,  which  refers 
to  the  stamens,  and  the  gyncecium  to  the  pistil.  A.  complete  flower  has 
all  the  parts— calyx,  corolla,  andrcecium,  and  gyncecium.  A  complete 
flower  is  also  a  perfect  flower,  but  a  flower  can  be  perfect  yet  not 
complete.  The  calyx  and  corolla  are  often  simply  accessory  parts. 
Some  flowers  contain  only  the  stamens,  others  only  the  andrcecium. 
These  are  dioecious,  or  two-housed,  if  they  grow  on  separate  plants, 
as  in  the  Willow  and  Poplar ;  if  on  the  same  plant,  as  in  Hazel,  Oak, 
Birch  they  are  monoecious.  All  these  are  imperfect  flowers. 
The  andrcecium  consists  of  one  or  more  stamens.  These  contain  at 
the  end  a  little  knot  or  club-like  structures  which  are  called  anthers. 
The  anthers  contain  the  pollen,  a  powder-like  substance  which  is 
distributed  in  various  ways,  and  finds  its  way,  as  it  is  intended  to  do,  to 
the  pistil  of  the  same  or  other  fiowers.  The  hair-like  stem  which  sup¬ 
ports  the  pollen  box  or  anther  is  termed  the  filament.  When  there  are 
a  number  of  filaments  all  united  into  one  bundle,  as  in  the  Mallow,  the 
stamens  are  monadelphous.  The  filaments  of  the  stamens  of  Peas  and 
Beans  are  arranged  in  two  sets,  and  termed  diadelphous.  There  are  ten 
stamens  altogether.  Nine  are  united  into  one  set,  and  one  is  free.  The 
stamens  of  the  Orange  are  arranged  into  more  than  two  bundles,  being 
termed  polydelphous. 
The  gyncecium  or  pistil  consists  of  the  ovary  situated  at  the  base. 
It  is  really  a  hollow  box,  and  contains  the  ovules  which  are  intended  to 
he  fertilised  by  the  pollen.  Above  the  ovary  there  is  a  stalk  usually 
termed  the  style,  and  this  supports  the  stigma,  which  is  invariably 
furnished  with  a  sticky  surface  to  which  the  pollen  grains  adhere. 
When  the  pollen  grains  actually  come  into  contact  with  the  stigma 
pollination  takes  place.  Pollination,  however,  is  not  fertilisation. 
When  the  pollen  grain  germinates  on  the  stigma,  and  grows  down  the 
style  like  a  tube  or  root  descending,  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  ovule. 
Then,  and  then  only,  fertilisation  takes  place. 
The  time  that  elapses  between  pollination  and  fertilisation  is  in  some 
cases  very  long.  For  instance,  in  the  Scotch  Fir  pollination  takes  place 
in  June,  but  fertilisation  not  until  the  following  March.  Of  course  the 
ovaries  cannot  swell  nor  the  ovules  within  until  fertilisation  is  effected. 
Pollen  grains  from  a  neighbouring  flower  grow  much  more  rapidly  and 
have  greater  power  than  those  which  may  adhere  to  the  stigma  from  the 
same  flower  on  which  the  pistil  is  situated.  When  the  seed  is  properly 
fertilised,  it  under  favourable  circumstances  grows  forward  to  per¬ 
fection,  and  though  the  plant  may  die  away  the  seed  is  capable  of 
carrying  on  the  life. 
In  raising  new  varieties  of  plants  or  flowers  it  is  essmtkl  that  the 
stamens  be  cut  out  before  the  flower  opens,  so  that  there  is  no  risk  of 
that  flower  being  self-fertilised.  The  stigma  must  also  be  protected 
from  being  influenced  by  pollen  other  than  that  intended  for  it.  Double 
varieties  of  flowers  are  produced  by  selecting  those  flowers  which,  though 
partially  double  in  character,  yet  contain  a  prominent  gyncecium.  If 
then  pollen  is  obtained  from  a  good  single  flower  and  transferred  to  the 
gyncecium  of  the  partially  double  one,  there  is  a  good  chance  of  securing 
seed  possessing  better  double  characteristics. — E.  D.  S, 
PRUNING8. 
“  POTTiNGi  bulbs”  (page  219).  “  H.  D.”  in  his  well-timed  article 
upon  this  rather  important  work  says,  “  In  potting  bulbs  some  advise 
that  the  pots  be  filled  lightly  with  soil  and  the  bulbs  pressed  into  it. 
This,  I  maintain,  is  decidedly  a  bad  practice.”  I  have  long  thought  so, 
too,  but  lacked  “  H.  D.’s  ”  courage  to  attack  a  system  inculcated  by  past 
masters,  "Squeege  ’em  in,  lad,”  was  my  primary  text  in  bulb  potting 
from  an  old-fashioned  gardener,  one  to  whom  Orabbe’s  lines  would  aptly 
apply,  “  Habit  to  him  was  all  the  test  of  truth ;  it  mnst  be  right,  I’ve 
done  it  from  my  youth.”  So  they  were  well  “  squeeged  in,”  and  finally 
caked  over  with  coal  ashes;  than  which,  I  now  believe  with  “  H,  D.,” 
there  is  nothing  more  inimical  to  their  development ;  nor  is  proof 
wanting  when  we  see  bulbs  so  treated  lifting  themselves  on  their  toes 
out  of  the  soil  to  be  strangled  under  a  volcanic  crust,  which  is  especially 
the  case  with  Tulips, 
Apropos  of  this  subject,  I  should  like  to  push  an  old  pet  into 
prominence  with  those  who  may  not  be  acquainted  with  it — viz.,  Tulipa 
Gesneriana.  Its  merits  are  many,  one  being  that  in  suitable  soils  it  is 
not  only  a  thing  of  beauty,  but,  practically,  a  joy  for  ever,  as  I  have 
known  it  to  thrive  in  the  one  position  for  many  years  unheeded  and 
untouched.  How  glorious  is  a  patch  of  this  grand  old  Tulip  daily 
burning  brighter  at  that  connecting  link  of  time  ’twixt  spring  and 
summer.  Being  one  of  the  cheapest  of  the  cheap  should  commend  it  to 
those  who  plant  en  masse,  to  which,  indeed,  it  is  peculiarly  adapted. 
There  are  two,  if  not  more,  varieties  of  it,  the  especial  favourite  being 
that  with  rich  crimson  petals  and  a  blue-black  cup,  the  other  being 
more  distinctly  red  with  a  jet  black  basal  interior. 
I  note  Mr.  “  W.  R.  Raillem’s”  paragraph  on  ”  The  Classification  of 
Apples  ”  (page  228),  and  few  will  rail  at  his  opinion  that  “  there  ought 
to  be  a  line  drawn  by  a  recognised  authority.”  With  the  Blenheim 
Pippin,  which  he  so  justly  eulogises,  and  a  few  other  varieties,  perhaps 
whose  merits  are  equally  divided  between  the  dessert  table  and  the 
kitchen,  we  want  but  the  statement  stamped  by  authority  that  they 
shall  be  eligible  for  either  class,  to  prevent  any  judicial  decision 
excluding  them  from  either,  as  the  case  may  be.  It  is  a  simple  want, 
and  should  be  easily  satisfied.  If  an  Apple,  or  any  fruit,  is  good  enough 
for  both,  it  must  by  all  the  laws  of  logic  be  good  enough  for  either,  and 
no  matter  what  individuality  sways  the  judicial  eye  or  palate  that  fact 
alone  should  prevent  any  misconception.  Still,  as  the  case  so  clearly 
presented  by  ”  W.  R.  R.”  stands,  they — the  judges — want  the  strong 
arm  of  the  law  to  protect  them  in  their  onerous  duties,  and  one  word 
should  be  sufficient  from  those  who  are  competent  to  give  it.  Give  it 
my  noble  masters,  but  in  the  giving  take  not  the  luscious  Blenheim  from 
dessert  competition.  _ 
Harvest  Festival  Church  Decoration  ”  (page  246)  to  some  gardeners 
— those  who  have  to  plan,  provide,  and  carry  out  this  work  in  its 
entirety — such  hints  as  “  A.  C.  B.”  and  ”  Decorator  ”  give  are  very 
helpful ;  conducive  also  to  fresh  thought  upon  the  subject,  tending  to 
create  that  variety  which  is  charming.  This  work,  which  is  steadily 
increasing,  is,  too,  a  heavy  tax  npon  a  gardener  and  his  resources  ;  and 
when  he  can,  as  at  this  season,  levy  contributions  from  woods  and 
hedgerows,  producing  probably  the  best  effect  with  such  aids  to  the 
object,  beyond  the  labour,  the  tax  is  light.  With  the  festival  of  Easter 
the  strain  is  at  its  highest  tension.  Even  Christmas,  with  its  evergreen 
garnishing,  often  calls  for  some  heavy  tribute  in  the  way  of  exotics  and 
choice  flowers.  One  worthy  gardener  I  served  under  used  to  anticipate 
these  events  with  dread,  and  look  back  with  dismay  upon  the  sacrifice 
of  Palm  and  Tree  Fern  fronds,  which  he  was  called  npon  to  cut  for  the 
purpose.  I  conclude  that  we  cannot  have  too  much  experience  given  of 
these  various  ecclesiastical  decorations  by  those  able  to  give  it.  The 
memory  of  a  country  church  crops  up  where,  at  the  harvest  festival, 
all  the  cottagers  on  the  estate  contributed  some  of  their  garden  produce, 
and  we— gardeners — who  had  to  arrange  this  heterogeneous  collection 
had  no  easy  task  to  please  all  parties.  From  the  porch  to  the  pulpit  it 
was  a  veritable  fruit,  flower,  and  vegetable  show,  and  on  one  occasion 
nearly  included  a  donation  from  old  Betsy  G - ’s  poultry  ;  for  she,  in 
a  spirit  of  thankfulness,  presumably,  at  her  hens  laying  when  her 
neighbour’s  had  ceased,  brought  a  fine  basket  of  eggs  which,  it  was 
decided  could  not  be  accepted.  Was  that  decision,  I  wonder,  right  or 
wrong  1  _ 
Happy  gardeners  1  fifteen  on  wheels  (page  273).  How  they  flew,  or 
rather  rolled,  through  such  famous  places  as  Dropmore,  Frogmore,  and 
The  Dell.  Nicely  written,  yet  withal  meagre  descriptive  notes.  As  an 
itinerant  writer  unable  to  cover  enough  ground  (though  too  much  paper 
perhaps)  for  such  descriptive  notes  as  I  could  wish,  the  question  of  a 
“  bike,”  and  its  facility  for  notetaking  to  an  elderly  scribe,  has  been 
seriously  presented  to  my  mind.  Wheels  (rubber  shod)  should  be  more 
