JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January e, issi. 
. . . - - -- ■ -: 
8 
fairly good under the same treatment. Season, seed, or situation 
may have something to do with it, and I shall be glad to have 
some seed that can be relied on to produce really solid produce. 
Parsley is also an important winter crop. Like Carrots I have 
found it partial to some soils. Many a promising row has died quite 
away with us before it was half grown. Remembering this I 
sowed seed more plentifully during the past summer as margins 
to walks and near the bases of walls, and there are no blanks 
anywhere. Probably the soot and lime added to the soil at 
digging may account for this. 
Parsnips became a little rusty two months ago, but apart from 
this they made good growth and keep well. Turnips are growing, 
and sweet little roots are obtainable. The Lettuce and Endive 
were covered with frames and lights early in November, and have 
not kept so well as those left fully exposed. Radishes have kept 
up a supply. China Rose is the best winter variety. 
Although early Potatoes were badly diseased, late varieties are 
keeping exceptionally well ; no disease or decay of any kind is 
visible amongst them. Seakale, Rhubarb, and Asparagus roots 
are forcing freely, which leads me to suppose that they must be 
much better matured than they were during the previous two 
seasons, and it also makes me hope that this productive ma¬ 
turity will not be confined to vegetable roots alone, but will extend 
to all fruit trees and vegetation generally in 1881.—J. Muib, 
Mar gain. 
AVERAGES OF RAINFALL AT RANGEMORE 
GARDENS, BURTON-ON-TRENT. 
Totals for 
each 
14 months 
for 
14 years. 
Averages 
for each 
14 months 
for 
14 years. 
Monthly 
Rainfall 
for 1880. 
Totals of each 
year's 
Rainfall for 
14 years. 
January . 
34-23 
2-44 
0-35 
1866—38-30 
February . 
27-86 
2-00 
1-78 
1867—32-24 
March . 
24-94 
1-78 
0-64 
1868—31-70 
April . 
28-31 
202 
0-89 
1869—31-78 
May . 
29-95 
2*14 
1-80 
1870—24-25 
June . 
39-97 
2-85 
2-87 
1871—31-79 
July. 
38-47 
2-75 
6-67 
1872—48-72 
August . 
52-66 
3-76 
1-51 
1873—27-74 
September . 
47-60 
3-40 
3-68 
1874—22-45 
October. 
46-30 
3-31 
4-19 
1875—31-32 
November . 
32-88 
2-35 
1-65 
1876 -29 91 
December. 
37-46 
2-67 
3-47 
1877— 31-70 
1878— 29-54 
1879— 27-38 
Average of first six months rainfall for fourteen years, 13 24 
inches ; second six months, 18‘24 inches ; average of yearly totals 
for fourteen years, 31-47 inches. Total rainfall for first six 
months of 1880, 8 - 33 inches ; second six months, 2P17 inches. 
Yearly total, 29-50 inches. Total rainfall in fourteen years, 
440-73 inches. 
VICK'S CRITERION TOMATO. 
During a recent visit to Norris Green I was much interested 
with a specimen of Vick’s Criterion Tomato growing amongst 
other varieties in one of the houses there, and it is evident that 
whatever may be written or said about the true variety, it is never¬ 
theless a fact that fruits can be gathered from the same plant 
and exhibited as distinct varieties without much fear of disquali¬ 
fication. The plant in question was bearing ripe fruits, those on 
the lower part of the stem being smooth as an egg, while those on 
the upper portion were distinctly corrugated and might easily be 
taken for another variety. Mr. Bardney thinks it probable that 
by cuttings the true characteristics of the variety may be main¬ 
tained. The variations and peculiarities in the formation of 
Tomatoes, however, are not confined to Criterion ; Trophy and 
Stamfordian, for example, are both subject to the same eccen¬ 
tricities, and convey the idea that it would be difficult for judges 
to disqualify a dish of Tomatoes because they are not the true 
variety. 
I was more than repaid for my walk of five miles to visit 
these gardens by the many excellent examples of cultivation I 
saw there. Richardias were very numerous and in the finest 
possible condition. Calanthes tastefully arranged with Cypri- 
pediums and other choice plants had a very pleasing effect in the 
house devoted to them. Eucbarises are well grown, one bulb 
in a 5-inch pot, and are remarkable for their health and vigour ; 
a succession of these plants is maintained, and they are found 
valuable for room decoration. Tea Roses are very numerous and 
in good condition, and Poinsettia pulcherrima is well represented 
by dwarf sturdy examples. The same may be said of Euphorbia 
jacquinireflora. In the conservatory, amongst many plants that 
are bright and beautiful, Luculia gratissima reigns supreme. It 
is planted-out in a border and permitted to grow freely ; it is 
flowering at every point, and its fragrance and immense trusses 
commend it to all who have the convenience for planting it out. 
Every branch of gardening undertaken at Norris Green appears 
to be thoroughly carried out, and it is evident that Mr. Bardney 
is a sound believer in the proverb “ Practise what you preach.”— 
A. R. Cox, Elm Hall, Wacertree. 
The inventor of the celebrated Gishurst compound has devised 
another substance that is likely to be of benefit to gardeners and 
others who are engaged on land and in woods. The substance in 
question is named Gishubstine, and is manufactured by Price’s 
Patent Candle Company. It is an application for strong boots, 
and an excellent one. We have found that it softens hard leather 
and renders it impervious to water, while it is quite devoid of any 
unpleasant smell that renders so many kinds of “ dubbings ” 
disagreeable. We have also the following testimony from a 
gardener to whom we supplied a portion of the new substance :— 
“ I have given the ‘ Gishurstine ’ a fair trial and can confidently 
recommend it. It was applied at intervals of a few days to a 
heavy pair of boots ; the result being the very thick tops are 
gradually softening and becoming impervious to water. Well 
rubbed in before the fire, the dubbing is absorbed by the leather, 
and does not in the least interfere with the usual polishing. I 
should think the Gishurstine will prove a boon to gardeners, 
especially to those who are constantly using water.” It will be 
equally valuable to sportsmen, farmers, and game-keepers. 
- Mr. Andrew Campbell of Ashford Gardens, writing to 
us on the deficiency of Holly berries in Ireland, observes :— 
“ I have never seen the Holly so devoid of berries as it is this 
winter, and I learn from other parts of the country that none was 
left to brighten the Christmas decorations. Here there were 
numbers of berries in October, but at the end of the first week in 
November there was none to be seen. I think the sudden disap¬ 
pearance of the berries may be accounted for by the unusual 
number of blackbirds I see here this winter.” 
-The same correspondent describes the Tea Rose Madame 
Lambard as one of the best for constant blooming out of doors. 
A plant growing trained to an east wall commenced blooming last 
May and continues to this date, the blooms being of remarkably 
fine quality. The best blooms were cut December 16th and 21st. 
Those were all that could be desired in size, form, and colour, and 
he considers this Rose worthy of extensive cultivation on account 
of its superior late-blooming qualities. 
-Many of our readers will regret to learn that the well- 
known floriculturist, Mr. Anthony Parsons, died on Christmas 
day at the age of seventy years. His skill as a horticulturist and 
the many new varieties of florists’ flowers he has succeeded in 
raising have rendered his name well known in the gardening 
world. At the time of his death he was gardener to Captain 
Blake, Danesbury, Welwyn, Herts, where he had creditably ful¬ 
filled his duties in that position for nearly thirty years. It will 
be remembered that he was also member of the Floral Committee 
of the Royal Horticultural Society for several years, and fre¬ 
quently judged at the most important exhibitions held near the 
metropolis. 
