July  8,  18y?. 
jOXJRNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  OO'NTAQE  GARDENEIL 
19 
I  was  reminded  that  I  had  never  mentioned  it  in  the  Journal 
by  the  arrival  of  a  cut  bloom  from  a  plant  received  under  this 
name  by  a  good  friend  of  mine,  who  has  a  Urge  collection  of 
hardy  flowers.  It  proved  to  be  the  form  of  I.  Douglasiana  known 
ai  the  “  Sinta  Cruz  variety,”  which  has  whitish  falls,  a  yellow 
keel,  and  claret  purple  veins. 
I  have  had  for  some  time  in  my  garden  a  plant  as  Iris 
Douglasiana,  without  having  much  opportunity  of  verifying  the 
name  from  living  specimens,  but  it  seems  correctly  named,  and  is, 
as  I  write,  in  full  bloom.  Mr.  J.  G.  Baker  gives  the  type  as  having 
the  falls  “pale  lilac,  with  darksr  lilac  veins.”  This  is  exactly  the 
colour  of  my  specimen,  but  I  learn  from  another  source  that  in 
California  the  species  varies  in  colouring,  and  that  purple,  lilac, 
pink,  rose,  and  yellow  forma  are  to  be  found.  It  belongs  to  the 
Apogon  or  beardless  section,  and  has  linear  leaves  from  1  to  2  feet 
long,  with  the  flowers  produced  on  stems  from  6  to  12  inches  long. 
It  grows  here  in  a  dryish  border  of  sandy  soil,  and  has  been  quite 
hardy  for  several  years. 
Lest  it  should  be  forgotten  later  in  the  season  one  would  like 
to  say  something  about  a  dwarf-habited  Poppy  which,  through  the 
kindness  of  one  of  our  most  learned  growers  of  hardy  flowers,  was 
sent  me  last  year.  This  is  “  Mr.  J.  Carrington  Lsy’s  Hybrid 
Poppy.”  It  is  an  acquisition,  but  I  have  puzzled  myself  over  its 
parentage.  It  is  like  a  dwarf  small-flowered  Papaver  bracteatum, 
perhaps  the  richest  coloured  of  the  great  perennial  Poppies,  but  is 
without  the  leafy  bract  at  the  base  of  that  variety  of  P.  orientale. 
It  may  be  a  cross  between  P.  bracteatum  and  tbe  ordinary 
P.  orientale,  I  observe  in  the  Kew  “  Hand  List  of  Herbaceous 
Plants  ”  that  there  is  grown  there  a  hybrid  of  P.  rupifragum  and 
P.  orientale,  but  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  its  appearance.  From 
Rev.  C.  Wolley  Dod  I  have  hybrids  of  P.  rupifragum  closely 
resembling  that  species. 
It  may  arise  from  my  own  slowness  of  observation,  but  it  seems 
to  me  that  neither  of  these  “  hybrid  ”  Poppies  presents  conclusive 
evidence  of  hybrid  origin,  further  than  that  Mr.  Carrington  Ley’s 
one  may  have  come  fr'^m  P.  orientale  and  P.  o.  bracteatum,  which 
is  only  considered  at  Kew  a  variety  of  the  former.  However  this 
may  be,  Mr.  Carrington  Ley’s  Poppy  is  a  valuable  little  plant.  It 
is  of  dwarf  habit  and  neat  in  its  way,  growing  only  about  a  foot 
and  a  half  high  in  the  light  soil  of  this  garden.  Bat  I  have  said 
enough  on  such  a  question,  and  let  me  close  with  a  look  at  the 
flowers  in  bloom  as  I  write. 
There  are,  besides  those  spoken  of.  Mulleins,  Potentillas,  Geums, 
Pyrethrumo,  majestic  Delphiniums,  tall  and  dwarf  Campanulas, 
Lupines,  Sea  Hollies  with  spiny  flowers  ;  Foxgloves,  into  which  the 
humble  bee  loves  to  enter  ;  Snapdragons,  Irises  in  many  kinds  and 
colours.  Rock  and  Sun  Roses,  annual  and  perennial  Poppies  in  great 
profusion,  and  a  host  of  others.  Untold  wealth  of  beauty  indeed, 
tempting  us  to  sit  in  the  Rose-covered  summer  house  and  dream 
the  day  away,  salljing  forth  now  and  then  to  wander  among  the 
flowers.  Unprofitable  in  some  ways  it  might  be,  but  in  others  not 
in  vain.— S.  Arnott. 
LIGHT  AND  ITS  INFLUENCES. 
We  are  mostly  aware  how  indispensable  are  air,  heat,  and 
moisture  to  the  development  of  plant  life,  but  how  intimately  the 
agency  of  light  is  connected  with  that  operation  is  not  matter  of 
such  common  knowledge. 
By  light  we  mean  the  diffusion  of  solar  rays,  which  are  always 
in  a  greater  or  lesser  degree  illumining  the  earth.  This  emanation 
by  means  of  rays  is  attended  by  two,  results — viz.,  heat  and  light, 
which  further  effect  a  great  chemical  change.  Whether  these 
three  be  different  manifestations  of  one  grand  principle  or  three 
distinct  ones,  science  has  hardly  yet  satisfactorily  determined. 
Thus  it  is  possible,  for  instance,  to  receive  heat  and  throw  back 
light,  or  admit  the  light  and  obstruct  the  heat,  and  it  is  also 
possible  to  produce  chemical  effects  which  neither  heat  nor 
light  combined  or  singly  can  produce.  The  chemical  influence  of 
sunbesma,  which  we  call  actinism,  may  act  on  substinces  unaffected 
by  heat  or  light.  Assuming,  then,  that  solar  radiation  comprises 
three  different  sets  of  rays,  let  us  point  out  some  of  the  most 
obvious  effects  of  light  and  actinism  on  plant  life. 
Tbe  germination  of  seed  is  the  change  of  the  inert  embryo  into 
a  living  plant,  effected  j  jintly  by  heat,  light,  and  moisture.  Light 
is  destructive  to  this  process,  for  it  is  only  in  darkness  that  vigorous 
germination  is  induced.  But  while  the  sun’s  rays  retard  the 
vivificstion  of  the  embryo,  the  actinic  rays  forward  it.  Southern 
aspects  are  always  clothed  with  more  elaborate  and  developed 
plants  than  northern  sites,  and  this  results  from  the  greater  light 
the  former  enjoy.  The  north  may  be  as  verdant,  but  it  will  never 
be  so  flowery  as  the  south  exposure. 
It  would  appear,  therefore,  that  actinism  is  a  more  subtle  force 
than  air,  heat,  light,  or  electricity  in  the  development  of  vital 
energy.  When  a  sunbeam  falls  on  a  leaf  it  induces  a  change  of 
colour.  The  green  hue  so  prevalent  iu  healthy  vegetation  depends 
entirely  upon  light.  Grow  a  Potato  in  a  dark  cellar,  and  observe 
how  any  feeble  ray  of  light  which  enters  attracts  it.  It  may 
have  grown  for  months  to  the  extent  of  some  feet,  and  yet 
no  trace  of  green  is  visible  until  it  has  come  within  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  sflar  light,  which  in  even  a  few  hours  will  give  it  its 
natural  hue. 
In  America  the  operation  of  light  in  colouring  leaves  is  seen  in 
a  grand  and  striking  manner.  Over  the  vast  forests  clouds  oftsn 
spread  for  days,  interrupting  the  rays  of  the  sun.  It  was  noted  on 
one  occasion  when  the  sun  had  not  shone  for  three  weeks,  the 
leaves  of  trees  had  reached  their  full  size,  but  were  pale.  One 
morning  the  sun  broke  through  tbe  clouds,  and  as  a  result  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day  the  whole  forest  exhibited  its  natural 
summer  dress.  It  is  not  to  be  inferred,  however,  that  continual 
solar  light  is  a  normal  condition.  On  the  contrary,  plants 
require  a  period  of  repose  from  that  activity  which  actinism  ever 
excites. 
Our  home  vegetation  springs,  grows,  and  ripens  slowly  under 
alternate  conditions,  requiring  several  months  for  its  proper 
development  ;  but  in  Arctic  regions,  under  continual  light,  plants 
start  suddenly  into  existence,  and  go  through  their  life  in  a  few 
weeks.  Dr.  Lindley  truly  says  that  diurnal  changes  of  light  and 
darkness  are  necessary  for  the  well-being  of  plants,  for  if  they 
were  always  kept  in  light  they  would  be  ever  decomposing  a  great 
constituent  —  carbonic  acid  —  and  would  consequently  become 
stunted,  and  chere  would  be  no  trees,  as  is  actually  the  case  in  the 
Polar  regions. 
Grown  in  darkness  their  tissues  become  lengthy  and  weak  ;  no 
carbonic  acid  decomposes,  no  parts  acquire  solidarity  and  vigour, 
and  they  soon  die.  Bat  under  natural  circumstances  plants  which 
in  the  day  become  exhausted  by  the  decomposition  of  their 
carbonic  gas  repair  their  strength  at  night  by  inhaling  oxygen 
copiously,  so  forming  a  new  supply,  and  absorb  moisture  from 
earth  and  air  without  losing  any  portion  of  it.  It  will  be  seen, 
therefore,  how  important  is  actinic  light  by  its  effects  on  inanimate 
objects  as  well  as  animate  ones.  Organic  life  is  thrown  into  motion 
by  its  influence,  vitality  is  revivified  in  seeds,  and  even  inert 
matter  changes  its  colours  and  properties. — Wm.  Norman  Brown. 
HORTICULTURAL  HISTORY  NOTES. 
The  Apothecaries’  Garden,  Chelsea. 
Those  speculators  who  are  constantly  on  the  look-out  for 
eligible  building  sites  about  the  London  suburbs,  have  often  cast 
longing  eyes  on  the  old  “  Physic  Garden  ”  at  Chelsea,  and  have, 
indeed,  made  various  efforts  to  get  this  ground  converted  to  o  her 
uses,  which  would  involve  tbe  destruction  or  removal  of  most  of 
the  plants  now  growing  there.  It  seems  a  pity  that  this  small 
space  cannot  be  kept  intact  and  maintained  as  long  as  possible  in 
its  present  condition.  I  would  hardly  advocate  its  being  thrown 
open  to  everybody,  which  might  not  be  advisable.  A  small  charge 
could  be  made  to  visitors.  Really  there  are  strong  reasons  for  its 
preservation  ;  this  garden  should  be  of  great  interest  to  members 
of  the  medical  profession,  to  botanists,  and  all  lovers  of  those 
fragments  of  a  bygone  London  which  yet  remain.  We  may  say, 
besides,  that  the  place  may  be  considered  to  have  for  several  reasons 
special  associations  with  our  Royal  Family.  Certainly  it  has  been 
an  important  means  of  advancing  British  horticulture  during  the 
Georgian  era,  if  not  since.  Therefore  the  Diamond  Jubilee  of 
Qaeen  Victoria  suggests  itself  as  a  very  suitable  time  to  secure 
this  historic  space  against  future  attacks.  About  1875  the  now 
defunct  Metropolitan  Board  of  Works  endeavoured  to  acquire  the 
garden,  intending  to  dedicate  it  to  the  people  of  London,  but 
the  scheme  failed.  1 5  may  be  possible  for  the  London  County 
Council,  aided  by  some  of  the  wealthy  residents  in  Chelsea  and 
neighbourhood,  to  accomplish  what  was  then  left  undone  before 
it  is  too  late. 
The  early  experiments  of  the  Apothecaries’  Company  in  the 
direction  of  horticulture  seem  to  have  been  made  somewhere  about 
Westminster,  but  the  exact  locality  of  their  first  garden  is  unknown  ; 
probably  it  was  somewhere  near  Millbaok,  for  in  tbe  Stuart  days 
there  were  many  gardens  along  the  Thames  between  Westminster 
and  Chelsea.  Part,  indeed,  of  the  old  “Pest  House”  fields,  now 
absorbed  into  South  Belgravia,  was  open  ground  till  after  her 
Majesty’s  accession,  supplying  vegetables  and  fruit  to  the  adjacent 
suburbs.  Mention  is  made  by  Evelyn  of  a  medical  garden  existing 
here  during  the  Protectorate  ;  this  may  have  been  the  tame  plot 
which  the  Society  of  Apothecaries,  in  1676,  were  holding  of 
