MAY. 157 



GOSSIP. 



The extreme dryness of the present spring, after a winter of unusual 

 severity, has occasioned vegetables to be scarce in most parts of the 

 country. Broccolies were more or less injured by frost or snow, which 

 broke down their leaves; while autumn-sown vegetables, as Spinach, 

 Lettuces, Cabbages, &c., are backward, from the dryness of the weather 

 and cold nights. The land, however, has been worked under the most 

 favourable conditions we ever remember ; and we venture to assert that 

 a larger quantity of garden seeds has been committed to the ground 

 than in any former year. Not only have the country seedsmen had 

 their stocks reduced to the lowest ebb, but we think the drain has 

 extended to the great London houses, which, in many instances that 

 have come under our notice, have been scarcely able to keep pace with 

 country orders. This speaks well for the general prosperity of the 

 country, and shows how much the comforts and uses of garden vegetables 

 are being diffused through the great mass of the people ; and we gladly 

 hail this important fact as showing the increasing prosperity of the middle 

 and lower classes. 



One thing in respect to the hardiness of vegetables we wish to draw 

 attention to. There are but few of our readers who may not have 

 observed in their locality some particular kind of vegetable more capable 

 of resisting frost than others, and we should be extremely obhged by 

 their sending us notes of anything which may have come under their 

 observation, which shall be duly recorded. It is only by evidence of 

 this kind, collected from various and widely- spread sources, that any- 

 thing like a correct opinion of the hardiness or otherwise of particular 

 kinds of vegetables can be ascertained. 



We find that people are everywhere complaining that seeds are bad 

 this year. It is not, however, the seeds which are at fault, but 

 the season, which has been unfavourable for their germination, and 

 where judicious care has not been bestowed, doubtless many will 

 never vegetate. Even, too, when up, the winds are very trying to them. 

 We learn that Kestell's garden labels, fully described by us, page 

 102, 1852, are to be used in naming the plants, both under glass, 

 and in the grounds at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham. These labels 

 are both elegant and durable. A manufactory for producing them 

 is about to be established, which will much lessen their cost. We 

 expect to see them in general use in naming coniferous and other 

 hardy ornamental plants and trees, for which they are especially 

 adapted. 



The National Tulip Exhibition is to be held in London this 

 spring, in connection with the Royal Botanic Society's exhibition at 

 the Regent's Park, on the 24th May. We have seen a list of the 

 prizes, which we consider are very liberal in amount, as well as 

 numerous, and have no doubt they will be well contested. Tulips, 

 generally, are looking well this spring. There are in our opinion 

 considerable improvements on former schedules. We quite approve 

 of the regulation that the unsuccessful stands should not be broken 



