1873.] GARDEN GOSSIP, 21 



Tho Royal Botanic Societt/ will hold Spring Exhibitions on March 26 and April 23 ; Summer 

 Exhibitions on May 1-4-15. and June 11-12 ; and a special exhibition (day and evening fete) 

 on July 9. Tho Crystal Palace Companij announces Flower Shows on May 17 and June 28, 

 the latter for Roses. 



@F the Golden Chwnpion Grape, respecting tlie merits of wliicli there 



has been so much controversy, Mr. Johnston, of Glamis Castle, refen-ing to some 

 fine examples he had still hanging on November 19, though they had been ripe 

 early in July, states, as his experience, that this Grape will not succeed, that is, be free from 

 the spotting which so often condemns it, if grown in a close, moist atmosphere. It must have 

 free ventilation dui'ing tho stoning period, and this process must be earned out slowly 

 rather than hurriedly, on account of tho enormously thick footstalk, which is apt to supply 

 the berries with sap faster than they can dispose of it. At the same time, the temperature 

 should be moderately warm and constant. When jjerfect, it is a noble grape. 



fJtESSES. Lane and Son cultivate, under the name of Ilex Aquifolium 



hastata, a distinct and neat-growing form of Holly, which does not appear to be 

 very common. It is one of the small-leaved forms, of a dark green colour — in this 



respect, and also in the bluntish outline and paucity of spines, resembling that called scurtica, 

 or scotica, but differing in the pretty constant presence of a pair of basal ear-like lobes, 

 standing at right angles, and which, no doubt, have suggested the name of " hastata." The 

 young wood is dark-coloured, and the leaves slightly twisted. It merits attention as a well- 

 marked and neat-habited variety. 



3tN a paper on Gathering the Cones of Resinous trees, printed in Gard. 



Citron.^ 1872, 1557, Mr. Ellison maintains by illustrative examples that the 

 premature gathering of the seed tends to weakness in the plants. Foreign seed, 

 he remai-ks, from the native forests, is invaluable when imported in fresh-gathered cones, 

 secured from the trees at the conclusion of the aljiino winter ; but is not worth having if 

 they have been gathered prematurely. 



• ;^R. Laston's Double Dwarf Pelargoniums comprise some highly 



promising varieties. Jewel would almost pass for a Liliputian Rose. E. J. Lowe, 

 from the white exterior of the petals, has a striking effect in the truss, though 

 it does not open well. Aurora is a very free-blooming, semi-double, bright scarlet variety of 

 the Tom Thumb race, to which all the varieties belong, having none of the blood of the old 

 coarse-growing Inquinans, or Gloire de Nancy type in them. Of these varieties we think 

 Jewel is much the best, being rich and clear in colour, and remarkably full and well formed. 



Et is stated that a new Tea Rose, called Perle de Lyon, has been 



raised in France. This novelty is said to be much in the way of Marechal Niel, 

 only more beautiful, if that be possible, and that it may perhaps supplant both 

 the Marechal, and the well-known favourite, Madame Falcot. 



^NDER the name of Juniperus excelsa stricta, the Messrs. Eollisson, of 



Tooting, grow an evergreen shrub which may be recommended for planting on 

 terraces and in similar situations ; its form is pyramidal and elegant, and the 

 colour of its leaves silvery ; the young plants are very striking. 



S^iiE Tilia alba pendula, which we noted last autumn in the Knap Hill 



Nurser}^ may be strongly recommended as an ornamental tree. It is of vigorous 

 growth, and has the good quality of holding its foliage till a late period. 



■ 2^E have recently, observes Mr. Rivers, in the 10th edition of his 



"Rose Amateurs' Guide," lately published, had many methods of Propagating 

 Roses by Cuttings given by our gardening periodicals, the greater portion of 

 them oft-told tales, but still interesting, and often useful to the tyro. We have had a " Roso 

 secret " here for many years, and I am not aware that it has ever made its apj^earance in 



