140 THE FLOEIST AND P0M0L0QI8T. [June, 



GAKDEN GOSSIP. 



I^XHIBITIONS of Rhododendrons are to be numerous tliis year, partly ia 

 consequence, no doubt, of the favourable character of last season for the 

 fonnation of bloom buds. Mr. Anthony Waterer, of Knap Hill, has his usual 

 show of these plants at South Kensington ; and the inexhaustible stores of 

 the Knap Hill Nursery enable him also to make a grand show at Manchester. Messrs. J. 

 "Waterer and Sons, of Bagshot, hold a show at the Alexandra Pai'k, instead of at the Regent's 

 Park Botanic Gardens, where they have exhibited for many years past. At the latter place, 

 the show is to be made by Messrs. Lane and Son, of Berkhampsted ; whilst Messrs. Standish 

 and Co., of Ascot, are furnishing an exhibition of the same character at the Lower Grounds, 

 Aston, Binningham. 



JTrom Studley Eoyal Mr. Clark reports favourably on the Fruit 



Prospects^ in that part of Yorkshire fair crops of all the hardy fruits seeming 



probable. The frosts of February and cold north-east vfinds of March and April 



made sad work with the earlier blooms of Pears on bushes and pyramids, though on later 

 sorts there is a very fair show of bloom, and on the walls Pears look well, and many are 

 already set. Apples promise to give an abundance of bloom ; while Plums and Cherries are 

 very full. Bush fruits are very plentiful, and Strawberries are looking much better the 

 last few weeks. Apricots on the walls are a very fair crop, and so are Peaches, though there 

 have been no covers of any description put over them. The continuance of cold winds has 

 brought a good deal of green-fly on the Peaches and black-fly on the CheiTies, but a few 

 syringings with a wash made of Elder and Walnut leaves will soon put these to rights. " I 

 hope," Mr. Clark continues, " we shall have no such frosts this year as we had on the 19th 

 and 21st of May last year, and which completely destroyed our Apple and Pear crops, and 

 seriously injured the trees also. Altogether I consider our prospects of fruit crops this year 

 are very good. Under glass most kinds of fruit seem to be doing well this year, as we are 

 now getting a fair amount of sunshine. The Manchester Fruit Show would do something to 

 meet the wishes of your correspondent, Mi". Mclndoe (p. 109), if growers fi-om all parts 

 woiild bring samples with them, though I am aware September is somewhat early for Apples- 

 and Pears. It may be hoped that the frost of May 19 has not done serious damage. 



©NE of the finest of all the hardy sweet Violets is that called Lee's 



Victoria Regina, of which leaves and flowers were sent to us in March last. It 

 is a seedling from the Czar crossed with Devoniensis, the leaf being like that of 



the latter variety. The flowers are extremely large, deep violet-pui-ple, with the petals 

 evenly expanded. Mr. Lee mentions that last season he measured some flowers as much as 

 l^-in. in diameter ; this year they were affected by spring fi-osts. This variety is remarkable 

 for its size and unusually perfect form. '"I prize it," writes Mr. Lee, "as being the parent of 

 quite a new race of violets, for out of some thirty seedlings I have not two alike, not oven in 

 leaf ; some are much rounder than others ; several have white centres, so that we may event- 

 ually hope for some with margins like pansies, and of several shades of colour, too." No 

 doubt it is the finest of all the large-flowered single violets which has as yet been obtained. 



2S3^E observed during the past summer at Osmaston Manor ^ in Derby- 

 shire, a pleasing variation of the Bedding System. There were some large raised 

 flower-beds, with architectural edgings, and in planting these, Mr. Harrison had 

 disposed his materials , which consisted both of foliage plants and flowering plants of the usual 

 character, in groups of irregular form and unequal extent, averaging, perhaps, from 2 ft. te 

 3 ft. across, tall plants standing out in relief from amongst dwarfer ones, and bright colours 

 being set off by the contiguity of appropriate foliage. The effect, from a happy balancing of 

 flowers and foliage, was very good indeed, quite distinct either from that of the mixed border 

 or of the bedding system, and yet affording to the eye the relief of variety without patchiness. 

 The only kind of regularity observed consisted in the proper relative adjustment of those 

 groups which were of taller stature, or more pronounced in colour than the rest. The plan is 

 "worthy of being followed up for the sake of the variety it affords. 



Ifi^R. Fish writes that Twin Peaches seem more numerous than usual 



this season, and observes that it would be interesting to learn the probable causes 



