108 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [May, 



gigantic grass some 4 or 5 feet liigh, with fine broad leaves. It is a sub-tropical 

 plant of the easiest culture, and if kept clear of frost, it has little else to fear in 

 ordinary seasons. It requires no prop, like Peas, to support its stem, and will 

 yield abundantly, being a sure cropper. If cottagers throughout the country had 

 at this season a few seeds supplied to them, it would enable them in the course 

 of the summer to compete with one another as to who should grow the best 

 dish of green corn. And when our middle-class families once know the delicacy 

 of this vegetable, it will, I am confident, often be found occupying its place as 

 one of the comer dishes at the festive board. 



Salford. Ales. Forsyth. 



BEDDING TROP^EOLUMS. 



GgpHE past summer, so dry and parching, and consequently, so hostile to the 

 ^&) efficiency of so many bedding plants, has, notwithstanding, had its uses, 

 v~Ky one being that it has taught the value of some of the forms of Bedding 

 i£P Tropseolums for the decoration of the flower garden, especially that of those 

 trailing varieties that soon cover a bed, and, so to speak, spread over it a garment 

 of green foliage, which keeps the soil beneath cool and moist. I was interested 

 in noting during the past summer some of the kinds used for bedding, and 

 which appeared to be particularly adapted for that purpose. 



Of the trailing kinds, I select but two, and these quite distinct in character, 

 save in the colour of the flowers, in which respect they much resemble each 

 other. These are Crystal Palace Perfection (Carter & Co.), a kind that, to my 

 thinking, entirely supersedes anything that has gone before it, and which cannot 

 be too highly recommended. It represents the pure Lobbianum type, and was 

 raised on the Crystal Palace grounds ; it makes rapid growth, sending out a 

 profusion of long shoots, that hug the ground, so that pegging (except in a 

 very exposed situation) is not required. It really does. — that which some Bedding 

 Tropseolums are said to do, but do not, — throw its flowers clear of the foliage, 

 and the numbers of brilliant orange-scarlet flowers, borne on long stiff flower-stalks, 

 give to a bed a very animated appearance. It is also a durable bedder, both foliage 

 and flowers are so erect and rigid that a heavy rain scarcely dims its lustre ; or if 

 it does, so freely does it flower, that the gay raiment of colour is speedily 

 restored. I cordially commend this fine kind, and as a proof of its value it may 

 be stated that it received a first-class certificate from the judges at one of the 

 great shows of the Royal Botanic Society, a year or two ago. Of much more 

 vigorous growth (though none the better in consequence) is Scarlet Gem, also a 

 most useful Bedding Tropaeolum. It is a variety that suits the northern and 

 midland districts well, and about some of the big towns of the West Riding 

 of Yorkshire glorious beds of it can be seen during the summer. The foli- 

 age and flowers are larger than in the case of the foregoing, the flowers 

 have a deeper hue, and though not so well thrown above the foliage, are not 



