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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
April  24,  1902 
scape.  The  yellow  Cinquefoil  (Potentilla  canadensis)  and 
the  wild  Strawberry  (Fragaria  vesca)  are  but  lowly 
herbaceous  plants ;  the  common  Blackberry  (Rubus  villosus) 
and  the  Sweet  Brier  (Rosa  rubiginosa)  are  shrubs  ;  whilst 
the  Apple,  Pear,  Plum,  and  Cherry  are  the  fruit  of  trees ; 
yet  they  are  all  Rosaceous  plants.  Therefore,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  monotonous  sameness  and  cryptogamous 
character  of  the  vegetation  which  covered  these  ancient 
landscapes,  they  were  not  without  their  trees. 
As  the  land  became  more  elevated  and  free  from  water, 
Cycadacese,  or  plants  allied  to  the  Sage  Palm,  coniferous 
trees,  such  as  Pines  and  Ferns,  with  needle-shaped  leaves 
and  rudimentary  inconspicuous  flowers  of  extreme  simplicity 
of  organisation  were  added  to  our  primeval  forests.  Then 
came  trees  with  true  leaves,  such  as  the  Willow  and  Maple, 
and  along  with  them  we  discover  the  first  evidence  of  the 
creation  of  the  more  highly  organised  conspicuous  flowers — 
for  Nature  is  ever  consistent^ — flowers  being,  as  is  now 
universally  admitted,  nothing  but  the  ordinary  leaves  of  the 
stems  brought  together,  in  consequence  of  a  loss  of  vege¬ 
tative  power  in  the  branch  on  which  they  are  borne,  and 
metamorphosed  with  reference  to  the  reproductive  function. 
The  first  bee  was  found  in  the  amber  or  fossil  resin  of  the 
Pines  of  the  eocene  period,  and  portions  of  the  wings  of 
butterflies  and  other  flower-sucking  insects  are  met  with 
enclosed  in  the  same  substance.  Trees  of  a  low  order  of 
organisation,  such  as  the  Birch,  Beech,  Oak,  Poplar, 
Chestnut,  and  Hornbeam,  were  probably  as  abundant  in 
forests  of  those  days  as  they  are  now  in  our  present  woods. 
But  there  is  no  proof  of  the  creation  of  Rosaceous  plants  ; 
these  seem  to  be  coeval  with  the  first  appearance  of  man. 
It  is,  therefore,  evident  that  our  forest  trees  were  not  all 
created  at  the  same  time  ;  but  are  the  product  of  different 
geological  ei'as  ;  and  that  the  plant  covering  with  which  our 
earth’s  surface  is  now  overspread  is  only  a  part  of  perhaps 
many  earlier  plant  creations,  all  of  which  in  turn  have 
assisted  in  preparing  to  fertilise  the  present  one.  There  is 
an  irresistible  mass  of  evidence  to  the  trained  botanist  that 
the  existing  glorious  and  variegated  vegetable  creation  was 
preceded  by  many  others,  is  continuous  with  them,  and  the 
product  of  their  labours. 
Plants  of  a  low  type  of  organisation  are  indubitably  the 
oldest  inhabitants  of  the  globe,  the  more  highly  organised 
ones  being  introduced,  and  following  in  succession,  and  the 
most  highly  developed  (i.e.,  the  existing)  at  a  comparatively 
speaking  modern'  geological  epoch.  Coniferous  trees— those 
with  needle-shaped  leaves— such  as  the  Fir,  Pine,  and  Larch, 
also  Ferns,  Horse-tails,  and  Club  Mosses,  are  amongst  the 
most  ancient  types.  These  have  all  descended  from  the 
earliest  periods.  The  first  flowers  among  herbaceous  plants 
appear  to  have  been  land  and  water  Lilies  and  plants  of  the 
Heath  tribe.  Anrong  trees  bearing  true  leaves  and  con¬ 
spicuous  flowers,  the  lovely  Tulip-tree  (Liriodendron 
tulipifera),  which  abounds  in  North  America,  and  of  which 
there  are  examples  in  this  country,  appears  to  be  one  of  the 
most  ancient  forms  of  trees.  Also  those  belonging  to  the 
order  Leguminoste,  as  the  False  Acacia  and  the  Locust 
tree.  These  trees  all  preceded  Rosaceous  plants  in  the 
plan  of  creation.  Then  those  producing  edible  fruits,  as 
well  as  beautiful  blossoms,  such  as  the  Peach,  Apricot, 
Apple,  t^^ar.  Plum,  and  Cherry,  were  introduced  when  the 
earth  was  ready  for  the  reception  of  man.  As  their  remains 
are  only  found  in  the  geological  formations  now  in  progress 
they  must  be  regarded,  like  him,  as  among  the  most  recent 
creations. 
Thus  the  most  important  fact  taught  us  by  the  fossil  plant 
is  that  the  organic  and  inorganic  creation  very  slowly 
assumed  its  present  appearance,  and  the  evidence  leads  us 
irresistibly  to  the  conclusion  that  great  changes  have  in 
different  ages  taken  place  in  the  organisation  of  plants,  by 
which  their  forms  have  been  gradually  adapted  to  the  ever- 
changing  landscape.  Hence  we  are  led  to  conclude  that  the- 
history  of  the  development  of  plants  is  intimately  connected 
with  the  history  of  those  physical  changes  which  the  earth’s 
surface  has  at  various  periods  undergone.  The  present 
appearance  of  creation  is  the  necessary  result  of  many  ante¬ 
cedent  changes  of  which  the  earth’s  crust  has  preserved  the 
memorial.  The  world,  indeed,  may  be  likened  to  a  great  and 
ancient  theatre,  where  the  scenery  of  life  is  ever  shifting ; 
for  if  there  be  truth  in  Nature,  which  none  can  doubt,  then 
nothing  on  earth  is  permanent,  as  the  memorials  of  the  past 
so  distinctly  teach  us. — Wjm.  Norman  Brown. 
Growing  Water  Lilies  from  Seed. 
The  process  of  growing  Water  Lilies  from  seed  is  not  very 
tedious,  and  may  be  done  as  successfully  in  the  humblest  home- 
as  in  the  finest  conservatory.  I  submit  a  few  notes  (says  the 
undersigned  in  “  American  Gardening  ”)  for  the  benefit  of  those- 
who  desire  to  try  growing  them  from  se®d,  but  who  do  not  have- 
access  to  a  greenhouse. 
HARDY  NYMPH^AS. — An  important  item  in  this  connec¬ 
tion  is  fresh  seed.  The  best  time  to  sow  them  is  in  the  fall,  soon 
after  maturing.  Self-sown  seed  nearly  all  germinate.  When 
this  has  been  omitted  they  can  be  sorni  out  of  doors  in  either 
natural  or  artificial  ponds,  in  March  or  earl-^  April.  Select  a 
sunny,  sheltered  place  where  the  water  is  6in  or  Sin  deep,  with 
good  soil  bottom.  Plant  each  seed  by  pressing  it  into  the  soil 
and  covering  it  iin  deep.  Protect  from  fish  and  water  fowls.  I 
prefer  to  sow  in  boxes  of  soil  sunk  in  the  water.  Then  in  case 
of  a  rise  or  fall  of  the  w'ater  the  boxes  can  be  dragged  in  or  out, 
keeping  the  young  Lilies  at  a  congenial  depth  until  they  become 
strong  enough  to  battle  against  drought  and  flood.  If  one  has 
no  ponds,  seed  may  be  sown  in  tubs  filled  half  full  of  soil  and 
to  the  brim  with  water.  With  the  warm  days  of  spring  and 
early  summer  most  of  the  seed  will  germinate,  and  the  plants  may 
remain  in  the  seed  beds  until  the  following  spring. 
NELUMBIUMS  may  be  planted  im  exactly  the  same  way  as 
hardy  Nymphacas.  The  seed  should'  first  have  a  hole  filed 
through  the  hard  shell  to  allow  the  wader  to  penetrate  to  the 
kernel,  else  they  may  lie  in  tliC'  water  indefinitely  without 
germinating. 
TENDER  NYMPHiEAS. — lit  the  absence  of  a  greenhouse 
probably  the  best  way  to  sow  tiuese  is  in  a  tub  of  water  in  a  bay 
window  or  other  light  window  near  to  a  heater.  With  the 
majority  of  us,  probably  the  kitchen  window  with  a  southern, 
exposure  and  close  to  the  range  is  most  convenient.  The  time 
for  sowing  these  is  now  at  hand,  in  order  to  have  early  bloom. 
Fill  some  5in  pots  with  garden  soil,  sprinkle  the  seeds  on,  press 
down  firmly  and  cover  ^in.  Sand  is  preferred  for  coveriu-  as  it 
holds  the  soil  in  place  and  prevents  the  seeds  from  floating.  Two 
or  three  pots  will  be  sufficient  for  a  packet  of  seed.  Set  the  pots 
in  tub  and  pour  in  water  until  the  pots  are  covered  4in  or  oin. 
Keep  the  water  at  a  temperature  of  70deg — a  little  higher 
in  the  daytime  would  be  better — and  some  of  the  varieties' 
will  be  up  within  two  weeks.  Others  will  linger  for  a  month. 
When  the  fir.st  leaves  b^in  to  float  transplant  them,  giving- 
each  plant  a  2in  pot.  Li  course  of  a  month  they  will  need 
another  shift  and  may  call  for  more  tub  room  befoi*e  removing 
to  the  ponds  out  of  doors  in  June.  Persons  not  having  space 
enough  to  admit  a  tub  can  sow  the  seeds  in  pails,  bowls,  pans  or- 
any  convenient  and  clean  vessel  that  will  hold  water,  preseiwing 
the  same  idea  as  given  above.  Seeds  of  tender  Water  Lilies  may 
also  be  sown  out  of  doors  after  the  manner  recommended  for 
hardy  ones,  except  they  should  not  be  planted  until  danger  of 
frost  is  over  and  the  Avater  becomes  warm.  This  throAAs  the 
blooming  period  so  late  in  the  fall,  hoAveA-er,  it  is  but  litue 
practised,  except  to  groAv  the  tubers  to  keep  over  Avinter  for 
another  season. 
VICTORIA  REGIA  and  Y.  RANDI  reciuire  a  temperature  of 
90deg,  and  an  attempt  to  groAV  them  Avithout  a  greenhouse 
generally  ends  in  failure.  V.  Trickeri  fCruziana]  will  germinate 
under  the  same  conditions  as  the  tender  Nympheeas. 
VARIETIES. — A  avoixI  on  this  might  not  be  out  of  place  just 
here.  All  seed  cannot  be  relied  on  as  producing  absolutely  me 
same  variety  as  its  parent.  All  A-arieties  of  Water  Lilies  do  not 
mature  seed;  some  seeds  are  sIoav  to  germinate.  For  these 
reasons  the  practice  of  reproducing  Water  Lilies  from  seed  i,s  not 
in  general  favour.  A  sufficient  degree  of  success  may  be  gained, 
hoAvever,  to  liberally  reAvard  one’s  efforts.  The  varieties  that  do 
best  from  seed  are; — Tender — Victoria  Regia  and  its  varieties: 
N.  Zanzibarensis  and  its  A'arieties ;  N.  dentata.  N.  O’Marana, 
N.  Lotus,  N.  gracilis,  N.  scutifolia,  N.  ccerulea;  Hardy— N. 
odorata  and  most  of  its  A-arieties;  N.  tuberosa  and  its  A-arieties; 
the  Nelumbiums. — Geo.  B.  Moulder.” 
