4 
THE FLORAL MAG.LZINE. 
]\Ir. B. AVilliaras’ is a copious and well arranged Cata- 
logue, comprising also many novelties for the vegetable 
and flower-garden. 
^Messrs. Carter and Co.^s Vade Mocum is very full of 
information, giving a valuable calendar of operations 
and other matters of interest. There is a vast number 
of novelties of really valuable character. The amateur 
may here learn what to get, and then how to grow it. 
It is largely illustrated with coloured plates and wood- 
cuts. 
j\Iessrs. Barr and Sugden^s “ Descriptive Spring Ca- 
talogue of Choice Seeds for Flower and Kitchen Garden’'’ 
is as complete as usual. From it we extract the follow- 
ing remarks on Beet, which, though not within our 
special province, cannot fail to be useful, interested as we 
all are or ought to be in this wholesome and agreeable 
root : — 
“ In the process of cooking. Beet is frequently made hard and un- 
edible, and the seedsman or gardener made to bear the consequences 
of the cook’s shortcomings. Following up our experimental trials, 
we have looked into the cook’s department, and oiler to our readers 
the following conclusions : — 
“ 1. In preparing Beet for cooking, the greatest care must be taken 
not to bruise the skin, or in any ■way wound the root ; and if by 
accident any injury has been done to the root, bake and uot boil. 
“ 2. If a deep crimson hue is the colour prefei’red in the Beet, 
or a firm flesh, this is best attained by baking the roots. 
“ 3. If a light, clear bright colour is desired, or a soft, juicy flesh, 
then boiling will secure this. 
“4. If a rich, agreeable flavour is sought for, then select the Beet 
which, before cooking, has the most purple in it, and the flavour may 
be discovered by masticating a small portion of the uncooked root. 
If up to the mark it will leave a rich agreeable flavour on the palate 
without any sensation of astringency in the throat. 
“ 5. Crimson-fleshed Beets are all very rich is flavour ; but when 
masticated uncooked, an astringency will be discovered as above 
described ; this class of Beets, however, has its advantages, inas- 
much as it can be sown earlier. 
“ 6. Scarlet-fleshed Beets possess least of the saccharine flavour.” 
FORTHCOMING HORTICULTURAL 
EXHIBITIONS. 
!Many are announced in various parts of the kingdom, 
and there is much of promise in connexion with those 
about the metropolis, althougli we think some serious 
mistakes are made. One of the prominent features of 
the Royal Horticultural Society’s Shows is that of the 
special prizes offered by either nurserymen or amateurs. 
Foremost amongst these we must notice that jMessrs. J. 
Veitch and Sons offer prizes of lOOL for the finest fruit 
grown by the gardeners of Great Britain — viz., 25/., 
15/., and 10/., as first, second, and third prizes for the 
best collections ; 10/. for the best collection of black 
grapes, 10/. for the best collection of white grapes, 10/. 
lor the best three ])ine apple.s, 51. for the best dish 
of peaches, 5/. for the best dish of nectarines. ]\Ir. 
Bull, of Chelsea, offers 300/. in silver cups for new 
plants, for the next three years, 100/. in each j’ear, on 
the following conditions : — The value of 50/. at the prin- 
cipal Show to be held at Kensington in June, and the 
value of 50/. at the Society’s Provincial Show, which 
takes place this year at Bath, on June 24th to 28th, the 
50/. to be divided thus : — For private growers, first 
prize, 12/.; second, 8/.; and third, 5/.; and to nursery- 
men the same; the competition to take place with twelve 
plants of Mr. Bull’s introduction, and sent out since the 
commencement of 1870, this date being altered in sub- 
sequent years to 1871 and 1872 respectively, as an- 
nounced in his annual catalogues. Besides this, Messrs. 
Carter and Co. offer their Challenge Cup and the same 
number of prizes for vegetables as last season. Mr. Pear- 
son, of Chilwell, offers 5/. for twelve Zonal Pelargoniums 
sent out by him, and Dr. Denny the same. In fact, 
there is no saying whereunto this will grow : it affords 
great encouragement to growers, and at the same time 
gives facilities for comparing the value of the produc- 
tions of different caterers for the public taste. 
REVIEW. 
Journal of the Hoyal Horticultural Society of London. 
Vol. III. Parts 11 and 12. 
The fitful manner in which this journal comes out 
detracts somewhat from its value ; the present part 
contains some very interesting scientific papers, and also 
some reports on some flowers and vegetables grown at 
Chiswick ; that on the Pelargoniums is especially 
valuable. The report on Peas contains what we cannot 
but consider some serious mistakes, especially in refe- 
rence to Sutton’s First-of-All, or Emerald Gem, which is 
said there to be the same as Danecroft’ s Rival, w'hereas, 
according to Messrs. Sutton, it is ten days earlier, has 
larger pods, and a better constitution. Amongst the 
most valuable papers is one by Dr. Masters, on the 
influence of various manures on different species of 
plants; it is a continuation of a report made in 1870, 
and enters most minutely into the subject, with that 
patient attention to all scientific minutise wdiich 
characterizes everything which that accomplished bo- 
tanist undertakes. 
GARDEN ECONOMICS. 
MEED ERADICATOR. 
This simple but most effective instrument, of which a 
drawing is here given, has been forwarded to us by 
Messrs. Dick Radclyffe and Co., of Holborn. 
Having unfortunately a lawn in which plantain is ram- 
pant we immediately set to work with it, and can testify 
to its efficacy. The leverage is so good that it lifts the 
plants completely out, without disturbing the roots of the 
grass. To a lady who works in her own garden it will 
be inestimable, as the weeding can be done without the 
necessity of stooping. 
