187:?.] GARDEN GOSSIP. 163 



GARDEN GOSSIP. 



f~) ESPECTING tlie Fruit Crops in Central Yorkshire^ Mr. Saul writes : " It is 

 J3( channing to find that after tlie long run of cold and changeable weather 

 ^:^5^ that we have had, the "fruit crops are, with one or two exceptions, much 

 S^ better than could be expected. With the exception of Plums, the crops 



of other fruits here are satisfactory. Plums, with the exception of Victoria, are in general very 

 light crops ; we had very uufavoiiralile weather at the time (the latter part of April) they 

 were in bloom ; one morning those trees were white with a covering of snow. Apricots are 

 better here than I expected ; there was so little bloom. I did not get the trees protected as 

 usual, but the weather happened to bo favourable while they were in bloom, the early part of 

 April, and most of the blossoms set. I believe the frost of February injured some of the 

 Apricot buds, but the check vegetation then received, has l)een jarobably the means of saving 

 our other fruit crops. Peaches and Nectarines are very abundant. Fifis also are abundant. 

 Pears are a moderate crop. Apples are a good (at least they promise at the present time), 

 but not over-abundant ci-op, as some kinds, Keswick Codlin amongst others, in some places, 

 have not had much bloom ; still I think there will be a good crop. Chen-ies are abundant. 

 Gooseberries and Currants are very aljundant. Raspberries here promise to bo good, but I 

 hear of the frost injuring the canes in some places. Strawberries nve a better crop than they 

 have been the last five years ; Keens' Seedling has borne very indifferently hero these last 

 four or five years, so much so that I reduced my stock of it considerably. I did not think 

 they were running out and becoming barren, but attributed it to the seasons, and in this I 

 believe I was correct, as the whole of the plants are at tlie present time full of promise, and 

 come up to former times ; all the other kinds I grow are equally full of promise, and the 

 crop will be abundant. Nuts will, I believe, be a very light crop. Altogether, I think we 

 may feel very thankful after the trying weather we have had." 



^ HANDSOME Memorial of Sir Joseph Paxton has been erected in the 



grounds of the Crystal Palace, and was unveiled on the occasion of the 19th anni- 

 versary of the opening of the Palace. It consists of a colossal marble bust 8 ft. 



high and 4 ft. G in. at the base, carved in Carrara marble by Mr. W. F. Woodington. The pedestal 

 is 11 ft. square at the base, and 31 ft. high, making the total height 3!) ft. from the ground. 

 The lower part of the pedestal is of Portland stone ; the upper part being in Portland cement, 

 in imitation of red porphyry. In the base it is intended to insert four slabs of Cornish ser- 

 pentine, one containing a diagi-am of the principle on which the building of the Crystal 

 Palace is constructed, and the other the following inscriptions : — " Joseph Paxton, born at 

 Milton-Biyant. Beds, 3rd August, 1803 ; died at Rockhills, Sydenham, 8th June, 1865." 

 " The Crystal Palace was opened by Her Majesty Queen Victoria on June 10th, 1854," And 

 " Si monumentum quseris circumspice." 



A CHARMING new double-flowered Bedding Lobelia, Ijohelia pumila 



grandijlora Jlore-pleno, has recently appeared. The owners, Messrs. Dixon and Co., 

 of Hackney, state that it was a chance seedling which, originated from seed saved 



from the old Lobelia pumila grandiflora. The now kind, although growing no taller than the 

 old one, is more robust, and keeps better through the winter — a point which is greatly in its 

 favour. The flowers also remain in perfection much longer. This double form of Lobelia 

 Erinus is an entire novelty both to florists and botanists, and promises to be an imjiortant 

 acquisition, and very useful as a bedding ijlant. 



^HE name of Adiantum Moorei is proposed by Mr, Baker, for the 



pretty new Adiantum, discovered by ]\Ir, Pearce in Peru, and sent home to Messrs. 

 Veitch, of which an account, with a characteristic woodcut, was given in the 



Florlst and Pomologist, 1872, 278, under the name of A. amabile. In using this name, Mr. 

 Baker points out that the fact must have been overlooked that it had been already used uj) in the 

 genus by Liebmaun for a Mexican plant, which is fully described under that name in Mexicos 

 Bregner, 113, published in the year 1849. 



■ ^MONG Forced Flowers for market purposes may be mentioned the 



Narcissus jJoeticus, of which a quantity is annually forced by Mr, H. Bailey, of 



