108 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [MAT, 



be duly submitted for tlie Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society to 

 test their merits. I have specially selected these : — 



1. Like the Warrington in colour and keeping qualities, but larger, and better 

 flavoured. 



2. Apparently a seedling of the Eed Champagne, but very much larger, and 

 of exoellent flavour. 



3. Like the Whitesmith in colour and size, and of exquisite flavour. 



4. A seedling off the Early Sulphur Yello-w, of the same early habit in ripen- 

 ing, but much larger in size than tlaat old variety. 



5. A rough red, very early in ripening, larger in size than the old Rough 

 Scotch Red, a well-known sort for making jam and other preserves. 



6. A green early variety, better in flavour and larger in size than the old 

 Green Gascoigne. 



Veiy few new varieties of seedling dessert gooseberries have lately been 

 advertised by nurserymen for sale. The principal run has been on raising the 

 larger sorts for prize-taking at the shows. I think, however, that the raising 

 of new dessert varieties should not be neglected, for this delicious and wholesome 

 fruit is a favourite with all classes. — William Tillebt, Welbech 



GESNERA ELONGATA. 



'HIS Gesnera, which, though introduced in 1835, is now seldom met with, 

 is one of our best winter-blooming stove plants, and a beautiful object for 

 cut-flower vases, the blossoms hanging gracefully over the sides in a 

 *^ similar way to those of the Fuchsia. It is of a bright orange-red colour 

 when fully open, but the bud is deeper in colour, and has a velvety appearance. 

 It is a continuous bloomer from the end of October until March, and is, 

 moreover, a plant of easy culture, deserving a place in every collec- 

 tion. It is not tuberoiis-rooted like some of the Gesiieras, but forms a 

 handsome bush-like plant if a little care is given to it. To begin with 

 a young plant : about the end of February it should be cut down, leaving 

 two or three inches of the previous year's wood ; it must be kept rather 

 short of water at the root until growth recommences, though the syringe may be 

 used freely morning and evening. As soon as the young growth is an inch or so 

 long, the plant should have a shift into a pot one size larger than the one it is 

 taken from, using fibry peat with just a dash of pulverised loam and silver- 

 sand, the peat to be broken up rather coarsely, and the whole well mixed. 

 Keep the plant in an ordinary stove temperature, near the glass, in as light a 

 situation as possible, and never use shading, but syringe morning and afternoon. 

 As the young growth requires it, stake and tie out the plant. Let plenty of 

 drainage be used in potting, and water plentifully dui'ing the growing season, as 

 the fine hair-like young roots are soon destroyed if allowed to become too dry, 

 and the growth of the plant is thereby much weakened. By the beginning of 

 October, flower-buds will make their appearance, and the plant will continue to 



