1 88 Notes and Gleanings. 



New Currants. — Warner'' s Red Grape I consider the best of all currants for 

 general purposes. The bunches are about six inches long, while the berries are 

 large, of a fine bright red color, and have a pleasant subacid flavor. The fruit 

 hangs a long time on the tree ; it is therefore a good kind for growing on north 

 walls, and in that aspect will keejD fit for use till the end of November. 



The Gloucester Red'xs a fine dark red variety. The berries are large, but the 

 bunch is short ; the fruit is, however, less acid than other red kinds, and more 

 suitable for the table. The habit of the tree is short and stubby, and it requires 

 high cultivation to have it in perfection. 



The Raby Castle is an excellent kind ; this and the Warrior''s Grape are the 

 two best for jelly, and all culinary purposes. The trees are of robust growth, and 

 very prolific, producing large fruit of good quality. Florist and Pomologist. 



Costly Plants. — The Catalogue of "Wilham Bull, New Plant Merchant," 

 Chelsea, England, contains a list of Tree Ferns, varying in price from two 

 guineas to fifty guineas each. The plant offered at the latter price is a Dicksonia 

 antarciica, with stem nine feet three inches in height ; total height thirteen feet 

 eleven inches, spread of head five feet. A double white camellia, nine feet high 

 and eight feet through, described as a magnificent specimen, is offered for fifty 

 guineas. The collection of orchids consists of more than nine hundred species, 

 some of which are priced at seven guineas per plant. The Myrsiphyllum aspar- 

 agoides, known in this country as " Smilax" and " Boston Vine," and cultivated 

 by whole housefuls for decorative purposes, is here priced at half a guinea each. 

 The establishment comprises nearly fifty thousand superficial feet of glass, 

 filled with new and rare plants, and Mr. Bull states that upwards of one thou- 

 sand prizes and awards have been made to him at the principal London flower 

 shows for new and rare plants alone. The first thing in the catalogue is a " List 

 of Patrons," commencing with the Oueen of England, the Emperor of Russia, 

 and other sovereigns, and going down through a long list of noblemen, and hor- 

 ticultural and botanic societies, etc., in Dublin, St. Petersburg, Paris, Zurich, 

 Calcutta, Rangoon, Ceylon, Natal, Java, Australia, and other places. 



Forced Lilies of the Valley are apt to be either all flowers or all foli- 

 age, instead of having proper proportions of both. The deficiency of foliage is 

 due to their having no new roots, and to forcing them in too much heat ; and 

 the deficiency of flowers is due to the bulbs being immature. Floral World. 



The Portrait of Mr. Thomas Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, recently got 

 up by subscription, has been presented to the trustees of the Lindley Library, 

 and will, it is understood, be hung in the council-room of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society. The portrait is a very pleasing one, and it is certainly most fitting that 

 one who has done so much for horticulture should meet with some public recog- 

 nition of his services. Florist and Pomologist. 



