92 
STANDARD SHRUBS. 
5. Black Sicilian Cauliflower. — This, 
received from Messrs. Schertzer, of Haarlem, 
proved to be the Purple Cape Brocoli. 
6. Haricot d'Espagne Hybrids. — This 
is a hybrid variety of scarlet runner, presented 
to the Society by Messrs. Vilmorin, of Paris. 
The blossoms are very beautiful — blight scar- 
let and pure white. The pods did not remain 
quite so long fit for use as those of the old 
scarlet runner. It however deserves cultiva- 
tion. 
7. Shilling's New French Bean. — This 
seems a cross between the French bean and 
scarlet runner. The pods are large, and re- 
main long tender. 
8. Dwarf Crimson-seeded Bean. — Fece 
tres-naine rouge. Presented to the Society 
by Messrs. Vihnorin, of Paris. This proves 
to be a very dwarf prolific variety of broad 
bean. It does not exceed a foot in height. 
The pods ai'e about three inches in length, 
roundish, generally well filled. The seeds are 
crimson, nearly the size of those of the Long- 
pod Bean. It is so very dwarf that it could 
be grown in rows twelve to fil'teen inches 
apart. It might be very conveniently intro- 
duced in systems of intermediate cropping, as 
it would occasion but little shade. Its amount 
of produce, compared with that of taller kinds, 
has not been ascertained ; but this point will 
be determined the fii*st opportunity. 
9. Onions. — On examining the varieties of 
those grown this season, it was ascertained 
that the French Red, and also the Blood-red 
■ Spanish, from Schertzer, of Haarlem, are the 
same as the Oignon Rouge Noir from Vil- 
morin, and are the Blood Onion well saved. 
The Yellow Spanish from Schertzer is the 
same as the Oignon d'Espagne from Vilmorin. 
The French White from Schertzer is of the 
colour of the Silver-skinned ; but it is later, 
and it has the fault of being too thick at the 
neck, 
10. The Large Rouen Leek. — Poireau 
tres-gros de Rouen. Presented by M. Vil- 
morin, of Paris. This was grown alongside 
tiie London Flag and the Netherlands Leek ; 
and under the same circumstances it proved 
larger and of a darker green than either. It 
can therefore be highly recommended for cul- 
tivation. 
11. Barrott's New Crimson Beet. — 
Pi'esented by Mr. G-lendinning. This proves 
to be an excellent variety. It is less apt to 
fork than the Castelnaudary, from whieh it 
has probably been raised. Like those of the 
latter, its leaf-stalks have a yellow tinge. It 
is somewhat larger than the Castelnaudary. 
Flesh very dark crimson. The best variety 
known. 
We may take this opportunity of remarking, 
that such lists as the above from the same 
source, if oftener afforded to us, would be always 
welcome. The sulyect is peculiarly fitted to 
the character and objects of the Society. New 
varieties of fruits and vegetables are so nume- 
rous, that an authoritative description of them 
and estimate of their value is of the highest 
importance to cultivators. The Society has 
formerly published excellent descriptive lists 
both of fruit and vegetables, and these would 
form a proper basis for such additional lists. 
No private individuals can effect such an 
object so well as a public body like the Horti- 
cultural Society. 
STANDARD SHRUBS. 
It is a very common thing for shrubs to 
grow what the nurserymen call " out of 
money," that is to say, grow too large to be 
saleable. In such cases, nine times out of 
ten, they can be converted into standards. 
Selecting the most straight stem, whether it 
grows upright or slanting, cut all the rest 
away quite close to the root or the selected 
stem. The plant must be dug up, and con- 
sidering the quantity of the branches and 
foliage cut away, the root may bear trimming 
a little ; and when replaced in the ground, 
should be planted on one side as compared with 
its former position, or at all events so placed 
that the stem of the standai'd should, be upright. 
The next thing to attend to is the pruning of 
the head, to make it of as good a form as 
possible. Some kinds of shrubs will be the 
better for cutting in, especially the Portugal 
and other laurels, the ribes, lilacs, Chinese 
privet, rhododendron, laurustinus, and other 
free-growing subjects. In pruning, however, 
you have to make allowance for the season's 
growth, and cut so that this may be promoted 
in a right form. If, for instance, a vigorous 
branch pushes out of proportion, this must be 
cut considerably shorter than the other shoots 
of the head ; for if it were merely shortened 
to the head, its new growth would again be 
pushed much further than those left untouched. 
It is a very common thing to form the Portu- 
gal laurel into standards, for the purpose of 
putting in tubs to take in the winter the places 
occupied by oranges in the summer, and they 
look very showy if they are of a handsome 
shape. But almost any shrubs may be grown 
from the first as standards, by planting them 
thick and promoting a tall growth ; the lower 
shoots may be cut off at the end of the grow- 
ing season, but not more than half way up, for 
there should be some branches to promote the 
growth of the stem. At the end of the second 
growing season, the plants will have advanced 
considerably, and any growth that has been 
made up the portion of stem that was first 
