260 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST, [NOVEMBKII, 



promising.— ^/«f/«me Cavnlle : large creamy-white ; inner petals faint blush, about midway 

 in shape and colour between Rubens and Alba rosea. 



©owan's Compensating Stjstem of Heating has lately occupied consider- 

 able attention, and tlie trials wliicli have been made at Manchester, and since then 

 at Hatfield where a very large apparatus has been fitted up, have led to a general 



impression in its favour. The "compensation" is found in the lime which is jjroduced, the 

 main feature of the system being the burning of lime in a kiln, over, or at the top of 

 which, is fitted a hot-water boiler, which is heated by the act of burning the lime. According 

 to Mr. Cowan's experience, the lime realises fully the cost of the fuel, or even more, so that 

 the Hot-water Apparatus is literally heated for nothing. Even if the more extended trials 

 of the system do not wholly justify this view of its merits, there seems no doubt it is capable 

 of effecting a considerable saving on our present coal bills, which is a matter of no slight 

 consequence to the future of gardening. We want, indeed, further observation and experi- 

 ence, especially as to how small a scale can be adopted with efficiency and profit; but the 

 whole thing seems both feasible and promising, within certain limits. 



^ Large Vine, grown on the extension principle, is growing in the 



Gardens of the Viceregal Lodge, Dublin, and annually produces a very fine crop 

 of good grapes. This vine occupies entirely a large half -span-roofed house, 70 ft. 

 in length, by about 20 ft. in width, and has this year carried a very heavy ci'op of grapes, as 

 well-coloured and finished as they could possibly bo, the bunches all over the house being 

 very oven in size, and the berries of enormous dimensions — several which were measxirod 

 being 3 in. in circumference. This vine, the Gai-deners' Record tolls us, was planted by Mr. 

 Smith some seventeen years ago, and has never since failed to produce annaally an excellent 

 crop. Advocates of the extension system of Vine-growing have in this instance a good 

 example to appeal to. 



^HE Early Snowball Canlijlower is highl}'- spoken of as an early sort. 



Spring sowings, made at the same time with the Walcheren, came in fourteen 

 days earlier ; while from a sowing made June 26, capital heads of good size, 

 solid, and as white as snow, were cut by the end of September, although the plants had to 

 contend with drought and poor ground. If sown at midsummer, and put out to succeed some 

 early crop, it is asserted that this variety will always yield good heads to cut at Michaelmas. 

 Its quality when oooked is second to none. 



■ ^MONG Melons, Gilbert's Burghley Park Green-fleshed is strongly 



recommended by Mr. J. Smith, of Exton Park, who visited Burghley early in 

 October, and saw dozens of this melon growing in the melon-house. It is a strong 

 grower, a remarkably free setter, the fruit averaging 5 lb. each, of a bright golden-yellow 

 colour, and slighly netted, the skin thin, and the flavour most exquisite. It was exhibited 

 before the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, on June 18, and was awarded 

 the highest honours, viz.. a First-class Certificate. Mr. Gilbert is noted for melon-growing, 

 and any one who has seen the melon-house at Burghley, when full of melons, will not soon 

 forget the sight. 



^HE periodical Lime-ivashing of Fruit Trees is generally considered ser- 

 viceable in keeping down the ravages of insects which find their home in the fissures 

 of the bark, but the whitening of the stems has an unsightly appearance. It has 

 been found, however, by experience, that the same beneficial efifect results from the use of 

 colourless lime-water, and which, when settled and become clear, can be poured off and 

 used repeatedly, without affecting the appearance of the tree. 



^ VEEY useful hint or '^ wrinkle " on Growing Peas was lately thrown 



out in the Gardeners' Chronicle by Mr. Monro : — The early Peas bloom from the 

 ground up to 2^ ft. or 3 ft. ; while the late sorts, Marrows, &c., grow tall, and for 

 about 3 ft. from the ground do not bear a pod. To obviate this loss of space, Mr. Monro, when 

 sowing his late Peas, such as British Queen, &c., sows in the same rows, some of the early 

 sorts that grow about 3 ft. high ; these early sorts come away first, catch hold of the stakes, 



