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the flower-beds, designed, laid out, and planted by the boys in a reformatory near Droitwich. Mr. Udale, a highly competent judge, tells us that he has visited these gardens at intervals during the last four or five years, and has been impressed with their design and the excellence of their upkeep. The soil is ordinary gravel and the gardens occupy one end of the play-ground. The designs are worked out with pebbles.

The gardens are destroyed each winter and the boys draw new designs, which are again laid out each spring and planted on the approach of summer.

The whole of the work is done by the boys without any assistance in drawing or anything else, and without any supervision.

The farm consists of about 70 acres, with workshops. Many are taught gardening, the senior boys taking the responsibility (under their foreman) for certain crops of fruit and vegetables, and each senior boy has a squad

S. T. Wilsoniana. Be this as it may, the plant is an interesting one from the peculiarity of the colouring of its flowers, which may be described as pale-buff flushed with rose. Mr. WORTHINGTON SMITH'S drawing was taken from a plant exhibited by Major HOLFORD at the Horticultural Society on July 17 last.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.-The next meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society will take place on Tuesday, August 28. A lecture on "Meteorology in its Relation to Horticulture," illustrated by lantern slides, will be given by Mr. R. H. CURTIS, F.R.M.S., at 3 o'clock.

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S SCHOOL-TEACHERS' EXAMINATION IN COTTAGE GARDENING.-This annual examination of teachers in elementary schools in practical gardening knowledge took place at various centres on April 11 last. The results, as furnished by the reports of the examiners, Messrs. J. HUDSON and A. DEAN, show 156 passes in the three classes of excellence. In the first class

FIG. 60.--A SCHOOL GARDEN NEAR DROITWICH.

of juniors under his control. Some of the boys are taught tailoring, others boot-making. Judging from the photographs sent us by Mr. Udale, the plots are creditable to all concerned, although they show that imitation is freely practised and that a greater degree of originality should be encouraged. Several photographs were sent us; the one we reproduce is a good typical representation, not the best in our judgment, but the one most suitable for reproduction in our pages.

OUR SUPPLEMENTARY ILLUSTRATION (SOBRALIA AMESIAE X).-There seems to be some diversity of practice in writing the name of this plant, for whilst some write it Amesiae, as if the lady had in some way taken part in the production or introduction of the plant, others give it the complimentary name Amesiana, which leaves us in doubt whether the compliment was intended for the gentleman or for the lady! In SANDERS' Orchid Hybrids, p. 115, S. Amesiae x is stated to be the product from S. xantholeuca crossed by

are ranked 46 candidates, in the second class 58, and in the third class 52. Nothing is said as to sex or numbers of marks awarded to each candidate. The lists, arranged in order of merit, show the positions of the respective candidates. As usual, certain schools of gardening figure in the list, Swanley College having four students, all well up in the first class. Then come the County Technical School, Stafford, and the Essex and Middlesex Schools of Horticulture. These four various schools or colleges piace nine candidates in the first class out of 46, 15 in the second class out of 58, and in the third class 17 out of 52, thus securing 41 passes out of 156. It is interesting to note, therefore, how many hometrained candidates have passed.

WINTER FLOWERING CARNATION SOCIETY.A Committee inecting of this newly formed society will be held on Tuesday, August 28, at the Hotel Windsor, when the schedules and prize list of the first show will be considered. The committee appeal for help to enable them to offer suitable monetary prizes, and invite suggestions from persons not attending the meeting. The time and

the place for holding the first annual exhibition is not definitely fixed, but it is suggested that the show shall be held early in December. The Hon. Sec. is Mr. HAYWARD MATHIAS, Roedown House, Medstead, Herts.

CO-OPERATIVE FLOWER SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.- The Co-operative Flower Show at the Crystal Palace to be held this day promises to be most successful. Upwards of 2,000 exhibits will be sent in by nearly 250 exhibitors. Many of these exhibits will be from working men.

SALE OF IMPERIAL ORCHIDS.-It is announced in the Evening Standard that on or about October 1 a sale will be held in Vienna of a large surplus of very fine and rare Orchids from the imperial conservatories of Schönbrunn. Amongst them are some unique crosses and hybrids which will be likely to arouse keen competition.

DR. WILHELM SEELIG, for many years vicepresident of the German Pomological Society, died at Kiel on July 30 in his 86th year. The deceased was a native of Cassel and studied jurisprudence in Heidelberg, Berlin and Marburg, In 1871 he was elected to the Reichstag, and in 1873 as a member of the Prussian House of Parliament. He greatly interested himself in fruit culture, and was appointed deputy, president of the above-named society, an office that he filled for many years; in 1899 he was made honorary president. He was founder of the SchleswigHolstein Central Society for Horticulture and Fruit Culture.

A NEW NATURAL ORDER.-The discovery of a new or heretofore unrecognised natural order is an event nowadays. It has fallen to the lot of Mr. W. B. HEMSLEY to differentiate such a group under the name of Julianacea, which consists of two genera and five species. Juliania is a Mexican genus of resiniferous trees with pinnate leaves and dioecious flowers. The other genus, Orthopterygium, is Peruvian. There are resemblances to the Anacardiacea, and to the Cupuliferæ, but Mr. HEMSLEY, in a communication to the Royal Society, places the group between the Juglandacea and the Cupuliferæ.

PLANT PROTECTION FROM INSECTS AND FUNGI IN SAXONY.-In connection with the head office for plant-protection in the Kingdom of Saxony, an enquiry office has been established at Dresden, to which the owners of gardens, and especially nurserymen and florists, may apply for information, and from which replies to enquiries will be made, free of charge, concerning fungi and insects injurious to plants. Gardeners are invited to send plants infested with insects or vegetable parasites, by sample post-packets, post paid, together with particulars in reference to the methods of cultivation, extension of the malady, and cause of the same, to Dr. ARNO NAUMANN, the assistant in the experimental station for vegetable physiology, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dresden.

RETARDING LIIES OF THE VALLEY.-An English correspondent of the Weekly Florist's Review writes that the mistakes and consequent heavy losses in reference to the right and wrong way of retarding Lily of the Valley were very forcibly demonstrated to him lately. A batch of a million was ruined through being improperly retarded in one of the public cold stores. They had been kept at a regular 28° during the whole time, but the atmosphere was simply dry, cold air. What this plant requires is 4° to 6° of wet frost, with an atmosphere that is continually more or less making ice. It should never be forgotten that there is a difference of fully 5° in the effect of wet and dry frost on both vegetable and animal life, and one of the greatest items toward success in retarding Lilies is to put them in an atmosphere heavily laden with moisture. Lilium longiflorum and other Japan Lilies will not successfully retard in a moisture-laden atmosphere.

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Attempted Poisoning IN BRITISH GUIANA.A Reuter message from Georgetown, British Guiana, dated July 28, states that the colony has been deeply stirred by an attempt to poison Professor J. B. HARRISON, Director of Science and Agriculture and Government analyst, and with him the whole of the laboratory staff. In June Professor HARRISON was incapacitated by a mysterious illness, which recurred in spite of skilled treatment. About the same time the laboratory was more than once entered by some unknown person at night. Some samples were stolen and others tampered with.

The burglars were appar

ently possessed of duplicate keys. On July 5 Professor HARRISON, after drinking several glasses of iced-water from the can in his private office, was seized with headache, giddiness, and nausea. He was compelled to leave work and go home, where he was confined to bed. Meanwhile the assistants at the laboratory and the messenger developed similar alarming symptoms after drinking iced-water from the reservoir. On the Monday it occurred to Mr. GARRAWAY that their illness might be due to poison, and an inspection of the water receptacles showed that enough "Rough on Rats" had been placed therein to poison hundreds of people. Fortunately all the victims have nearly recovered by now, but Professor HARRISON has been so ill that he has been ordered a complete change, and will probably leave the colony shortly for a prolonged holiday. So far no clue to the perpetrator of the outrage has been found.

A NEW DISEASE ON NEW ZEALAND VERONICAS.-We learn from a communication in the Oesterreichische Garten Zeitung for August that a species of fungus has been observed on Veronica speciosa and its varieties which works great havoc with the plants in the horticultural school at It is Septoria exotica. Eisgrub, in Moravia.

During the summer the fungus is to be met with only occasionally, but it develops rapidly in autumn and winter when the plants are under glass. The fungus appears as small grey spots, 1-2 mm. in diameter, and specially visible on the under side of the leaves, where their presence is distinguishable from the surrounding tissues by a raised, thick line. The patches grow constantly lighter in tint, till in the course of 2 to 4 weeks they become quite white, and the leaves crippled. On these white patches there appear black spore cases, in which a great number of spores are developed. The crippling of the leaves is followed by their fall, even when the infection is merely slight, and the previously bushy plant assumes a naked appearance with but few leaves remaining. The fungus has been observed in Argentina, Italy, and Berlin.. The application of the ammoniacal copper-soda mixture is recommended as a remedy.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRAFT ON THE ROOTING OF THE PEAR.-The question of the influence of the grafted ennobled variety on the wilding or other kind of stock has not of late years been so much discussed by cultivators or pomologists as it deserves to be, more particularly for standard trees. There are certain varieties of Pears which, under the most diverse conditions of soil and climate, exert a great influence on the root system in the direction of increasing considerably the number of the roots. As is well known, the Pear trees which make weak top growth and spare foliage are mostly deficient in roots, but this unsatisfactory state of things can be entirely averted and altered for the better by the employment of a freer-growing variety as first graft or bud, upon which any desired variety may be worked the following year, a practice commonly followed in fruit nurseries with certain varieties of Pears that are worked on the Quince stock. Perhaps some of the readers of this note will kindly communicate facts touching on this interesting subject, not exclusively confining them to the Pear.

OF

THREATENED DESTRUCTION BOSTALL WOODS.-Mr. A. D. Webster writes:-"This beautiful Pine woodland, near Plumstead, has been sadly damaged of late years by the ravages of the Pine beetle (Hylurgus piniperda). Fully five years ago I pointed out in the Timber Trades Journal the then threatened destruction, and suggested means of coping with the evil, but nothing was done. Since then many fine trees have been killed out and others are in imminent danger of succumbing to the attacks of this dreaded pest of our woodlands. Not only should the dead and dying trees be at once cut down, but all woodland débris, including fallen branches and the roots of trees which have been left in the ground, must be destroyed. The life history of the insect teaches us much regarding the best methods of destruction or, at least, of keeping it in bounds.''

WHITE ANTS BEATEN AT LAST.-It is announced that the great scourge known as white ants or termites, which destroy so ruthlessly all descriptions of woodwork, from railway sleepers to household furniture, in tropical and subtropical lands, can now be effectually dealt with, as, by a newly discovered process, any wood can readily be rendered impervious to their attacks. Attempts have been made hitherto to combat these pests by various means, but until now either the means have proved unsuccessful or the odour of the preservative used has been so pungent as to preclude its employment for constructional timbers or for furniture. It has been claimed that some woods, such as Indian Teak, Australian Cypress, Pine, and Turpentine Wood, in their natural state are more or less immune from attack, but the evidence in favour of their total immunity is often so contradictory that the conclusion can only be drawn that much depends on the ground in which the trees are grown, and the species of termite to whose voracity the wood is afterwards exposed. Mr. SAVILLE KENT points out in his very able chapter on Australian Termitidae that Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) grown on the Ironstone ranges is practically proof, while that grown elsewhere is by no means so. Again, some species of white ants display a decided preference for certain woods; for instance, the Calotermes domesticus of the Malay Peninsula, while rarely touching woods of a piney or resinous nature, readily attack other timbers, especially those grown locally. An illustration before us represents two pieces of ordinary yellow deal, a most toothsome morsel to nearly every variety of white ants. These pieces were bolted together, and placed by Mr. H. N. RIDLEY, Director of the Government Botanical Gardens, Singapore, some months ago in a position where termites abounded. The untouched piece had been treated in London by the POWELL wood-process with a termite-resisting solution, which is absolutely odourless and innocuous except to insects, while the other was left in its natural condition. The latter has been almost entirely consumed, while the former remains intact. The specimens were removed before the natural piece had been entirely consumed, as had been the case in other places. This discovery is naturally of great importance to dwellers in the tropics, and especially to timber merchants, furniture manufacturers, &c., who trade with tropical countries, for merchants will now be able to guarantee all prepared wood against destruction by termites. Curiously enough, the process, which only occupies a few hours, actually improves the appearance of the wood, which at the same time is effectually seasoned and rendered proof against dry rot and similar fungoid growths. The cost, too, is said to be low. Particulars can be had free from the Secretary, POWELL Wood-Process Syndicate, 28, Fleet Street, E.C.

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INFLUENCE OF THE STOCK UPON THE SCION. -Continuing their investigations upon the results produced by grafting in various ways, MM, G. RIVIERE and G. BAILHACHE contribute a further paper on the subject to the Comptes Rendus for April 2. Their past researches bore special reference to fruit trees, and were chiefly directed to the different effects upon the Pears Triomphe de Jodoigne and Doyenné d'hiver, produced by grafting them upon the free-stock and upon the Quince. The more recent experiments were made. with Apples, to see if, with these, as with the Pears, the exterior characteristics as well as the chemical composition were modified according to the stock upon which they were grafted. In 1905 the investigators made an analysis of ripe Apples of the variety Calville Blanc gathered from trees grafted, some upon the Paradise stock, others upon the Doucin. All these trees were of the same age (14 years), and growing under identical conditions. They were planted side by side in the same plot and trained in the same form; further, the wall against which they were growing faced the east. Neither the composition of the soil, the aspect, nor the age of the trees by which the size and quality of the fruits are generally influenced could affect them in the new experiments. The stock could be considered, under these circumstances, as the sole factor capable of exercising any influence on the graft, and above all, on its developments. The results obtained are summarised thus: 1. The average weight of Apples gathered from Calville Blanc, grafted upon the Paradise stock, exceeded that of fruit of the same variety grafted upon the Doucin. 2. The proportion of free acid (represented as sulphuric acid) was greater in the juice of Apples grafted upon the Paradise than in that of these fruits on a plant grafted on the Doucin. 3. The proportion of

ash is higher in the juice of fruit from trees grafted on the Doucin than in that of fruit gathered from trees grown on the Paradise. 4. The proportions. of glucose and reduction-sugar, and of saccharose. are notably greater in fruits of Calville Blanc grafted on Paradise than in those of the same variety from trees grafted on the Doucin. Therefore, these experiments plainly confirm those published in 1897, and seem, further, to demonstrate that not only do the dessert Apples contain more sugar in each litre of juice than do the Pears, but also that they contain more saccharose and more free acid.

FRUIT CULTURE IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE.The annual report of the Lecturer on Horticulture to the Gloucestershire County Council (Mr. G. H. HOLLINGWORTH, F.R.H.S.) states that the applications for lectures last winter were so numerous that a large number had to be placed on the reserve list. There is, he says, no lack of evidence to prove that Gloucestershire is naturally adapted for fruit culture, and the many old orchards in the county indicate that the possibilities in this direction were fully realised by a generation of growers in the past. Some ground has doubtless been lost, but the outlook is hopeful, and agricul turists are becoming alive to the fact that if the orchard is to be made profitable it must have the same care as is bestowed on any other department on the farm. Every year, thanks to the instruction given by the County Council, growers realise more and more the necessity of planting good trees of recognised varieties, keeping them clean, and attending to the important items of pruning, protecting, and manuring. Hundreds of trees have been planted during the past winter, and hundreds of others, planted previously, are coming into a state of bearing. In due course the result of this wakening up must be seen, and he hopes Gloucestershire will uphold its time-honoured reputation as one of the leading fruit-growing counties in the West of England.

WILLOWS.-The difficulty of determining the species and varieties of Willows is well-known to all who have made the attempt. The labour will be much facilitated by a publication of which we find mention in the Bulletin of the Botanical Society of France (1906), p. 412. It appears that Mdlle. A. CAMUS and M. G. CAMUS have just published a list of all the European species and varieties, with analytical tables and illustrations. Anatomical characters are made use of for purposes of discrimination such as the presence or absence of stomates on the upper surface of the leaves, the form of the midrib as seen in section, the presence or absence of wax in the rind of the branches, the structure of the vascular bundles, and of the pith and other points serviceable in the laboratory, but not adapted for use in the field. Very numerous hybrids and some of complex origin are described.

"THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I."-By BARBARA, Author of The Garden of a Commuter's Wife,' &c.

"'one

(New York: The MACMILLAN Company. London: MACMILLAN & Co., Ltd.). We can recommend this book to all who like to read about other people and their gardening experiences, **BARBARA'' writes pleasantly of her American home and her plantations, and her remarks may prove useful, though we agree with her that must live the outdoor life of her own locality to get the best results in a garden." The title of the book is awkward, and it takes some time to understand that "You" is a female friend of the author, introduced to serve as a convenient correspondent, sending and receiving long and rather wordy letters about gardens and miscellaneous matters also. The private affairs of the characters have no horticultural interest, but readers for this class of book appear to be insatiable, so should appreciate the present volume and admire the illustrations.

There is no doubt as to " BARBARA'S' fondness for gardening, and she tries to be of practical use, and has drawn up a list of hardy seeds and worthy annuals.

EXPERIMENTS WITH CALCIUM CYANIMIDE. In the July number of the Journal of the Board of Agriculture Mr. A. D. HALL details the results of experiments with calcium cyanimide used in 1905 at the Rothamsted Experimental Station for Barley and Mangels. The new manure is obtained by effective combination of calcium carbide with the nitrogen of the atmo sphere. As regards Mangels, the seed was Yellow Globe, sowing taking place on May 10. The seed grew well from the start, and there was an even plant with no misses. The crop was lifted on October 20th. "Taking the results together and also considering those obtained in 1904, it is clear that the nitrogen in calcium cyanimide is practically of the same value as that in sulphate of ammonia. There is a slight balance of evidence in favour of the sulphate of ammonia, which is chiefly manifested in the early stages of the growth of the crop, probably because the cyanimide is a little slower in coming into action, but the differences in the results are small and within the range of errors of experiment. Again, the Rothamsted soil is fairly well supplied with carbonate of lime, hence the sulphate of ammonia can exert its proper action, while no benefit is derived from the carbonate of lime which is produced in the soil from the cyani. mide. The cost of production of cyanimide can nly be settled when it has been put on the market on a commercial scale; it may, however, be taken as certain that if the manure can be sold on a parity with, or a little cheaper than, sulphate of ammonia, it may be employed by farmers on a large scale with every confidence of a good result." This is the more important as it tends to relieve the cultivator of the risk of exhausting the supply of available nitrogen. If it can be obtained from the atmosphere, there need be no fear of the supply running short.

INSECT PESTS OF THE FARM AND GARDEN,

by F. MARTIN DUNCAN (SWAN, SONNENSCHEIN AND Co). An excellent little handbook to the knowledge of insects so far as they concern the cultivator. The introductory chapter is devoted to the details of insect structure and classification, which are lucidly explained. The following chapter is devoted to remedial measures such as spraying, and then the author proceeds to details concerning the various orders of insects, the mites, beetles, flies, aphides, bugs, scale insects, bees, saw-flies, wasps, butterflies and moths, and lastly thrips. As the book only contains 143 pages it is evident that the author has had to make a selection from among the insect pests, and has by no means included all that might have been enumerated. The book, therefore, may be looked upon as an introductory treatise illustrated by prominent examples rather than as a text-book. The descriptions are so clearly written and the illustrations so useful that we can but commend the book to the notice of students and lecturers.

REVOLUTION IN GREENHOUSE BUILDING.We take the following extract from a Guernsey paper:-"Something unique for Guernsey in the way of greenhouses may be seen at the Ramée Vineries, La Ramée, This is one of BODEGOM'S patent cement (reinforced concrete) structures. The cement house has, it is alleged, every advantage and no disadvantage as compared to the usual structure of wood. It helps to keep the plants free from disease, because there is an absence of crevices in which plant pests can escape from the fumigant, the only wood used being in the door and the lights. The framework of the house is more rigid, though slighter in construction, than one of wood, and this admits of a greater proportionate area of glass and gives a better lighted house, the difference in this respect between the cement house and the ordinary greenhouse being most marked. The building, consisting of iron wire covered with cement, is claimed to be practically everlasting, and its upkeep is trifling, whitewash alone being used to freshen its appearance. Finally, on the score of expense, the cement house can be built more cheaply than one of wood."

COLONIAL NOTE.

CAPE ALOES.

THE Aloes are nearly over in the locality of Algoa Bay, but they have afforded a glorious sight. Those who have seen a wide expanse of the bush covered with Aloes in full bloom will readily acknowledge that it is a sight never to be forgotten. How picturesquely they stand above the surrounding herbage, according to species, with the various other plants at that time flowering!

Here, near a dwelling, some admirer has dropped a few seeds. One sees a species of Ipomoea, or, as it is more frequently called, Morning Glory, intertwined amongst other floral beauties; perhaps some of the golden Senecios, which are so abundant and in great variety, all mingling and flowering together about the tall Aloe pluridens, which is the principal species in the spot where my thoughts have now wandered. This Aloe may here be seen in many thousands. Sometimes one sees a form with yellow flowers, instead of the dull red usual to the species, which greatly adds to the colour effect of the

scene.

Mr. Chabaud, to whom the property belongs, is ever willing to take any lover of the native flora to see the glorious sight during the Capc winter. A visitor would spend here a pleasant half-an-hour, for the Cape flora has no champion more enthusiastic and one who takes more

special interest in this beautiful and interesting genus of the natural order Liliaceæ.

It is a pity they are not more appreciated in England. With what gratification do the visitors from the Aloe's home look over the genus in the succulent house at Kew, and how pleased they are to relate, when looking through their own collection, that this species is growing at Kew, and so forth! What a pity Cape Colony cannot have a botanical, a real botanical, garden of its own, so that all the species of the genus might be found in one place, and that open to the public. Harry Rabjohn, August 3, 1906.

THE IMPERIAL BIOLOGICAL INSTITUTION FOR AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY AT DAHLEM, GERMANY.

THE origin of this State-supported institute was due in the first place to the needs of agriculture, and has attained an increasing significance for horticulture. The establishment of the institution was due to the initiative of Dr. Schulz-Lupitz, a well-known agriculturist and member of the Reichstag, who brought in the following motion on March 24, 1897:-"The Reichstag shall determine to request the united Governments to establish an agricultural technical institute for bacteriology and phytopathology, and afford the requisite means from the public purse for the carrying on of the work." The fact that agriculture, forestry, and horticulture suffered heavy losses from plantdiseases, and that means and methods were needed in order to prevent and avoid them; the importance which certain bacteria have for cultivated plants, especially for the Leguminosa, and in effecting changes in the nature of manures and soils afforded the chief reasons for Dr. Schulz-Lupitz's proposal. In February, the following year, the Reichsgesundheit Office insti tuted a commission, consisting of men eminent in science and practical work, to discuss the ground lines for the organisation and scope of the project; and in the same year the money grant was sanctioned, and with but little delay the institution was established, not, however, as an independent authority, but as the biologi. al department of the Reichsgesundheit Office (Office of Health). This department dealt with matters which would fall within the purview of the newly-created body-for example, the protection of the Grape vine against the Reblaus (phylloxera), which had engaged its attention for many years, and for this reason the union of the new with the older body seemed to be desirable. In April, 1905, the separation of the biological section from the older office was effected, and the scope of the work was thereupon greatly enlarged, so as to include the study of the injurious insects, and of the epidemics among plants brought about by migratory insects, the depredations caused by mice, crows, marmots, etc., phanerogamic parasites, fungi, and other micro-organisms injurious to plant life; further, animal and vegetable or ganisms which are of use in the growth of plants and those which are destructive of those orsganism. It is in this field of research that scientific work is so useful to the cultivator. The action of nitrates in the soil, and of destructive bacteria, and the bacteriology of manures; in particular, that of stable manure is still only partially understood, and needs further elucidation.

Researches are being carried out regarding injury caused by smoke, and the gaseous products emitted by smelting works. Bee and fish culture will be investigated, and on such mat. ters science will be found capable of affording considerable assistance to practical men. The new institution will further take an interest in the provincial institutes by making foreign

and home literature easily accessible, and eventually by acting as an organ of reference in regard to the various subjects engaging its attention.

It is intended that there should be annual conferences, to which the principals of the pro vincial institutes, members of scientific socie ties, horticulturists, and agriculturists will be invited, and who will afford the required connection of scientific activity and practical affairs. The director of the institute is Dr. Kudolf Aderhold, formerly president of the botanical department of the research station of the Royal Pomological Institute at Proskau, in Silesia. Gartenwelt.

looking leaves. It is planted in the American garden in heavy soil, to which have been added equal parts of peat and cow-manure. The plant is about 8 feet high.

BIGNONIA GRANDIFLORA.

THIS handsome climber is now flowering on a south wall of the mansion at Leonardslee. Some of the larger bunches have as many as from 40 to 50 flower buds, some of which are already expanded. The plant is exceedingly ornamental and beautiful, especially when the flowers are seen in such profusion.

ARALIA MANCHURICA. THIS Manchurian plant is always attractive

the Holland House Show, July 10, 1906. It is one of the largest, if not the largest, hybrid Odontoglossum; yet named. Being a secondary cross (crispum x crispo-Harryanum), it seemed likely that its size would have been reduced, but the reverse is the case. The plant had four fine pseudo-bulbs and 13 blooms; there was no disbudding needed to produce a large flower, The accompanying reproduction (fig. 61) is an exact life-size picture. I measured and recorded another of the blooms, but owing to the heat during the two days of the show and to the fact of the blooms having been cut several days before being photographed, it had lost some of its form, and had shrivelled somewhat as silk

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PLANT NOTES.

ROSE ETOILE DE FRANCE.

THIS beautiful variety forms an excellent autumn flowering Rose, though it is not so robust as one could desire. The colour seen in its petals should ensure it a place wherever Roses are grown. H.-P. Roses are badly mildewed this autumn in spite of so-called destroyers having being freely used. I am of opinion that preventatives are better than cures, and if the plants are freely Sned with water and are given liberal syringings in hot weather; they will act as a preventative against fungus.

EUGENIA APICULATA.

THIS is now in bloom in a sheltered border and is very effective and pretty. The white flowers are well set off by the pretty dark green, myrtle

either planted in the American garden or in the shrubbery, its palm-like foliage rendering it a very conspicuous object. The flowers are a creamy white, and they are borne in large umbellate racemes, which generally face the sunny side, owing to the weight of the truss. When in flower the foliage often turns a beautiful red tint, forming an additional attraction. It will succeed in almost any soil, though the better the soil the more robust and beautiful will it grow. The ground should be trenched and some cow-manure and leaf-soil added. When the plant is well established its tropical appearance is the more pronounced. IV. C. Cook.

ODONTOGLOSSUM AMABILE

"ROYAL SOVEREIGN." THIS extraordinarily large variety of Odontoglossum was shown by Messrs. Sander & Sons, at

Photo by J. Grégory.

having its edges rubbed. The flower is very thick in substance: the ground colour is creamy white, all its markings being violet brown. The influence of O. crispum upon the hybrid is remarkably strong in that the heavy markings have been reduced to spots, except in the sepals, and even then the usual three bar blotches and marginal markings are much suppressed. The shape of the lip has even been broken down from the oblong form of O. Harryanum to the lanceolate shape of that of O. crispum Reversion has been at work in this case as is clear from a glance.

This plant failed to get even an Award of Merit. This shows that at certain times the higher standard needed for the Odontoglossums of the future will have to be almost beyond present expectations if such things are passed by. Perhaps this may be the "ordinary size" of the future creations. d: B. Crawshay.

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