June  8,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
467 
margins  or  cut  edges,  and  as  the  ovules  or  3'oung  seeds  are  regarded  as 
buds  forming  on  the  margins  of  carpellary  leaves  variously  infolded  in 
the  different  systems  of  placentation  (arrangement  of  the  seeds  in  the 
ovary). 
_3,  What  Helps,  what  Hinders  its  Production  ? — The  most  obvious 
-assistance  to  blossom  bud  formation  is  derived  from  a  check  to  luxuriant 
growth,  which  is  chiefly  effected  by  decreasing  root  vigour.  No 
practice,  according  to  my  observation,  has  greater  tendency  to  promote 
the  formation  of  blossom  buds  than  caretul  lifting  or  judicious  root- 
pruning;  but  this  is  induenced  by  so  many  conditions,  the  time  when 
the  operation  is  performed,  the  age  and  state  of  the  tree,  and  subsequent 
•weather,  that  only  a  general  statement  can  be  made,  and  perplexing  or 
apparently  contradictory  cases  occasionally  arise.  There  is  another 
condition  opposed  to  the  formation  of  healthy  or  perfect  blossom  bud®, 
and  that  is  the  extreme  of  weakness  due  to  some  deficiency  in  the  soil, 
in  such  cases  I  have  known  heavy  dressings  of  natural  manures,  or 
phosphates  and  potash  produce  a  marvellous  increase  in  the  number 
and  vigour  of  blossom  buds,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  trees 
had  already  received  a  great  chock.  The  many  hindrances  to  blossom 
bud  formation  are  vigorous  gmwth,  severe  branch-pruning,  deep 
cooting,  and  the  use  of  stimulating  manures  in  naturally  fertile  soils. 
4,  If  and  in  what  w'ly  a  Blossom  Dud  can  he  changed  into  a 
■Growth  Bud  ? — To  this  should  have  been  added.  Can  a  growth  bud  be 
converted  into  a  blossom  bud  ?  *■'  Here  observers  and  experimenters 
have  an  ample  field  for  investigation, and  they  may  expect  to  be  “still 
learning”  for  a  long  wme  to  come.  It  is  my  opinion  that  in  i;8 
^earliest  state  a  bud  is  in  an  undetermined  condition,  and  its  develop¬ 
ment  as  a  blossom  or  growth  bud  may  be  influenced  by  causes 
'that  operate  respectively  in  checking  or  stimulating  the  vigour  of  the 
tree.  As  this  stage  occurs  very  early  in  many  trees,  usually  long 
before  the  leaf  falls,  varying  in  different  kinds  and  even  in  different 
individuals,  and  is  influenced  by  the  season,  it  becomes  exceedingly 
■difficult  to  guage  results.  We  cannot  measure  or  determine  the  causes 
accurately,  hence  the  effects  are  imperfectly  understood.  Very  early 
.autumn  planting  is  more  frequently  followed  by  free  flowering  the 
lo'IoMung  season  than  is  winter  planting,  and  in  the  same  way  young 
4reea  that  have  not  been  removed  for  several  yea’-s  in  nurseries,  more 
commonly  flower  abundantly  or  undulv  the  first  season  than  those 
■that  have  had  an  annual  preparation.  These  ideas  I  have  verified  in 
.1  general  way,  but  more  comparative  experience  is  required. — 
Pi.  Lewis  Cas'il'!:. 
[ '"  A  natural  question,  the  omission  of  -which  was  not  accidental. 
We  observe  our  correspondent  is  too  cautious  to  answer  his  own 
question,  but  sits  on  the  fence  in  a  mood  of  contemplation. 
IVlr.  Abbey  seems  to  be  resting  too,  and  Mr.  Picker  silently' 
<3V  itching.] 
LONICERA  HILDEBRANDI. 
A  PLA'NT  of  this  rpmarkable  giant  Honeysuckle  is  now  in  flower  in 
the  Mexican  house  at  Kew,  where  it  attracts  a  great  amount  of  attention. 
Apart  from  its  being  the  first  time  that  flowers  have  been  produced  at 
Kew,  it  is  interesting  from  the  fact  that  flowers  of  this  species  have  only 
been  known  to  have  been  produced  once  before  in  Europe,  that  event 
occurring  last  summer  in  the  Glasnevin  Botanical  Garden.  The  species 
has  been  in  cultivation  at  Kew  for  a  number  of  years,  large  plants  being 
Tound  in  several  of  the  houses.  These  were  raised  from  seeds  which 
were  obtair  ed  for  Kew  by  its  discoverer,  General  Sir  Henry  Collett, 
from  Mr.  Hildebrand  in  Burma.  It  is  stated  to  be  cultivated  in  Burma 
as  a  garden  plant,  and  is  found  growing  wild  in  the  Shan  States,  but  is 
not  very  common.  In  habit  it  is  a  very  strong  growing  climber,  making 
shoots  in  abundance,  often  a  dozen  feet  or  more  in  length,  in  a  single 
■season.  The  leaves  are  pale  green,  ovate,  acuminate,  with  a  membraneous 
margin,  and  glabrous.  They  vary  greatly  in  size,  some  being  7  inches 
long  by  5  inches  wide,  others  only  half  that  size. 
The  flowers  are  produced  in  pairs  from  the  axil  of  each  leaf  on  the 
■current  year’s  growth.  The  largest  of  them  are  7  inches  long,  the  tube 
being  about  two-thirds  of  that.  They  are  “  chameleon-like ’’  in  colour, 
changing  very  rapidly.  When  they  first  open  they  are  almost  white, 
pink  tinges  being  noticeable  here  and  there.  When  about  twelve  hours 
old  the  colour  begins  to  change,  until  at  a  day  old  they  are  pale  yellow, 
the  colour  continuing  to  deepen,  until  at  two  days  they  are  rich  chrome 
yellow  ;  about  the  third  day’  the  outside  of  the  petals  turn  a  reddish 
brown. 
Altogether  the  plant  is  of  great  interest  to  both  the  gardener  and 
botanist.  From  an  horticultural  point  of  view  the  plant,  up  to  the  present, 
has  had  one  bad  point,  its  shyness  of  flowering.  Otherwise  it  is  a  hand¬ 
some  and  free-growing  climber  which  is  little  troubled  by  insect  pests. 
As  far  as  growth  is  coucerned  a  wide  range  of  temperature  appears  to 
suit  it,  growing  equally  well  in  a  cool  greenhouse  and  stove. 
The  example  in  the  Mexican  house  at  Kew  is  growing  in  fairly  heavy 
loam,  and  the  house  has  a  minimum  temperature  of  50°.  The  species  is 
eaid  to  flower  with  great  freedom  in  Burma,  and  if  it  could  be  induced 
to  do  likewise  here,  its  fragrance  and  beauty  would  insure  it  a  foremost 
place  among  indoor  climbers.  A  figure  of  it  is  in  course  of  preparation 
for  the  “Botanical  Magazine.” — W.  D 
Recext  Weather  in  Londox. — The  heat  in  London  since  our 
last  issue  went  to  press  has  been  intense  for  the  time  of  the  year.  On 
each  day  the  sun  has  been  very  brilliant,  and  the  nights  close  and  stuflfy’. 
There  were  a  few  clouds  on  Sunday  and  Monday,  but  they’  scon  pastel 
away’.  On  Tuesday  it  was  duller,  but  continued  very  warm,  and  the  same 
conditions  prevailed  on  Wednesday. 
-  Royal  Horticultural  Society. — The  next  Fruit  and 
Floral  meeting  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  Society  will  be  held  on 
Tuesday,  June  13th,  in  the  Drill  Hall,  James  Street,  Westminster, 
1  to  5  P.M.  A  lecture  on  “  Rock  Gardens,  Ponds,  and  Rivulets  in 
Gardens,”  will  be  given  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Meyer  at  3  o’clock. 
-  Presextatiox  to  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horxer,  V.M.H. — We 
learn  that  on  Saturday’,  May  27th,  the  members  of  the  Bradford  Paxton 
Society  paid  a  visit  to  the  Tulip  garden  of  the  Rev.  F.  D.  Horner,  Greta 
House,  Burton-in-Lonsdale.  The  kindness  with  which  they  alway’s  have 
been  received,  and  the  respect  which  is  entertained  for  Mr.  Horner,  led  the 
members  to  ask  his  acceptance  of  a  Smoker’s  Cabinet.  On  arrival,  the 
party  were  welcomed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horner,  the  presentation  being 
made  by  Mr.  A.  E.  B^nney,  the *P resident.  An  inspection  of  the  garden 
was  made,  Mr.  Horner  explaining  the  evolutions  of  the  florist  Tulip. 
-  Death  of  Mr.  J.  Cragg. — It  is  with  regret  that  I  have  to 
record  the  death,  at  the  age  of  forty  six,  of  Mr.  John  Cragg,  late  head 
gardener  at  Birchfield,  Rusholme,  Manchester,  after  an  illness  of  ten 
days.  Those  who  attended  the  Manchester  Shows  a  few  years  ago  will 
remember  the  splendid  Orchids  he  used  to  exhibit,  and  he  was  also  one  of 
the  first  to  show  an  artistic  group  of  Orchids  at  the  above  shows.  As  a 
Chrysanthemum  grower  and  judge  his  skill  was  high.  The  deceased 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  regard  of  his  employers,  and  his  genial 
presence  will  be  greatly  missed  by  all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  associating 
with  him.  He  leaves  a  widow,  four  sons,  and  two  daughters  to  mourn 
his  loss. — G.  W. 
-  Rhododexdrox  Suxdays. — Last  and  next  Sunday  are  known 
in  Kent  as  “Rhododendron  Sundays,”  when,  according  to  custom,  the 
Earl  of  Darnley  throws  open  his  beautiful  park  near  Cobham,  the  undu¬ 
lating  walks  of  which  are  flanked  by  high  banks  of  those  splendid  flowers. 
Family  parties  from  all  this  part  of  Kent  make  the  visit  to  Cobham  Park 
an  annual  event,  and  as  it  is  only’  some  five  miles  dis:ant  from  Rochester, 
or  from  Gravesend,  it  is  easily  accessible  for  Londoners.  Those  who 
journey  on  foot  from  Rochester,  says  Lloyd’s  News,  will  be  interested  in 
knowing  that  the  lanes  they  traverse  are  those  along  which  ^Ir.  Pickwick 
and  his  friends  set  off  to  drive  and  ride  to  Dingley  Dell  on  a  certain 
celebrated  occasion,  while  the  “Leather  Bottle”  at  Cobham  is  the  house 
in  which  the  broken-hearted  Tupman  meditated  suicide  over  a  cold  roast 
round  of  beef  and  a  tankard  of  the  best  ale.  Who  can  ever  forget, 
either,  that  it  was  in  the  street  of  the  village  of  Cobham  that  Mr.  Pick¬ 
wick  made  his  w  onderful  antiquarian  discovery  ? 
-  Gardexers’  Royal  Bexevolext  Institutiox. — Mr.  G.  J. 
Ingram,  the  energetic  Secretary  of  this  Institution,  has  forwarded  to  us 
a  copy  of  the  rules  and  report  of  the  Committee  for  1898,  and  it  is  a 
book  that  is  well  worthy  the  perusal  of  every  gardener  and  person 
interested  in  horticulture.  Within  its  pages  will  be  found  a  list  of 
subscribers,  and  lengthy  though  this  is,  it  might  well  be  extended 
considering  the  splendid  work  that  the  Institution  has  done  in  the  past, 
and  in  anticipation  of  what  will  be  done  in  the  future.  It  was  for 
gardeners  that  the  fund  was  commenced,  and  it  is  gardeners  who  should 
rally  round  it  now.  It  is  very  easy  to  glean  from  the  list  that  gardeners 
as  a  body  are  not  properly  doing  their  duty — we  would  not  for  one 
moment  depreciate  the  splendid  service  that  has  been  done  by  some — 
and  they  should  awake  to  the  knowledge  of  the  benefits  that  are  derivable 
from  the  resources  of  the  Institution,  and  subscribe  little  or  much  accord¬ 
ing  as  their  circumstances  will  allow.  Let  them  remember  that  it  is  not 
the  one  who  gives  the  greatest  amount  who  necessarily  derives  the 
greatest  benefit.  We  cannot  of  course  recapitulate  all  the  advantages  of 
the  Institution,  and  would  recommend  those  interested,  and  who  may  not 
yet  be  subscribers,  to  write  to  Mr.  Ingram  at  175,  Victoria  Street, 
Westminster,  and  we  think  from  the  information  that  will  come  to  them 
they  will  see  and  appreciate  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution, 
nnd  become  yearly  subscribers  at  once. 
