1879.] NOTICES OF BOOKS. 95 



far as our present knowledge goes, remarkably few in number, the great 

 majority having been proved to be very poisonous ; and while no absolute rule 

 could be laid down for distinguishing them, he had found that the dangerous 

 ones when tasted caused a burning sensation to the tongue ; and in urging 

 upon gardeners the importance of giving attention to the subject, counselled 

 them to exercise great caution, as fungoid poison was both insidious and fatal. 

 The lecture, which was listened to with the greatest attention, was illustrated 

 by a number of specimens, a series of beautifully executed diagrams, and a few 

 wax models. 



A communication was read from Mr Hugh Dickson of the Belmont Nur- 

 series, Belfast, stating that specimens of Dracsena indivisa and Araucaria 

 excelsa, 10 feet and 8 feet in height respectively, in the open air, had been 

 killed by the frost, while a plant of Chamaarops excelsa, so far as could be 

 seen, was uninjured, though the thermometer had been down to zero. 



Mr Alex. Macmillan, The Gardens, Broadmeadows, Berwick, sent for 

 exhibition cut blooms of 39 distinct varieties of Chrysanthemums, and 26 

 trusses of Zonale Geraniums : they were all in fine condition, and admirable 

 examples of good cultivation. Of these the finest were — 



Chrysanthemums. — Boadicea, rose and cream, incurved petals ; Rival Little 

 Harry, golden amber ; Hereward, purple, back of petals silvery ; the Globe, 

 blush, incurved ; Bed Dragon, chestnut Bed, tipped with yellow ; Mount 

 Etna, white, rose tipped; Undine, cream, tipped with lilac; Chang, orange 

 red, back of petals yellow ; Alma, rosy purple, incurved ; Meteor, orange 

 yellow ; Fingal, rose violet ; Frincess of Wales, pearl white, tinted rose ; 

 Countess of Granville, pure white; Duke of Edinburgh, rose lilac, light centre, 

 incurved ; General Bainbridge, dark amber, gold centre ; Guernsey Nugget, 

 pale yellow ; George Peabody, pearl white, back of petals lilac, incurved ; 

 Emblem, rosy purple, incurved. 



Geraniums. — Pirate, dark scarlet ; Henry Jacoby, very dark crimson j Lady 

 Byron, rosy pink, white eye; John Gibbons, orange scarlet; Mr Gladstone, 

 scarlet, shaded with purple ; Mrs Vickers, salmon, white eye ; Walter Scott, 

 bright crimson; Captain Holden, bright crimson; Little Carr, crimson 

 scarlet ; the Shah, scarlet, dark venation; Lizzie Brooks, salmon scarlet, white 

 centre ; Mrs Pearson, cerise scarlet, salmon eye. 



Mr L. Dow sent a specimen of Swedish Turnip with blanched leaves, 

 treated in a similar way to Sea Kale, which was said to be an excellent 

 substitute for that vegetable. 



It was intimated that papers would be read from Mr John Caie, The 

 Gardens, Inverary Castle, on "The Arrangement of Trees, Shrubs, and 

 Climbers in Pleasure Grounds," and from Mr Burns, Thingwall Hall, Birken- 

 head, on "Acclimatising Plants." 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



The Gardeners' Year-Book and Almanack for 1879. By Dr Robeit 

 Hogg, LL.D., 171 Fleet Street, London. 



This welcome little annual is, as usual, replete with useful information. 

 In addition to a very excellent practical calendar of garden operations for 

 every month, it contains many excellent garden receipts, and particularly for 



