August 26, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
For the prizes offered by Messrs. Ewing & Co., Eaton, Norwich, for 
a collection of shoots or twigs of twenty-four varieties of trees and 
shrubs hardy in British gardens, the degree of hardiness to be taken 
into consideration in awarding the prizes (first prize £2, second £1), 
there were only two competitors. Mr. J. W. Moorman, gardener to 
Miss Christy, Coombe Bank, Kingston-on-Thames, secured the premier 
award with the following collection :—Comptonia asplenifolia, Reti¬ 
nospora obtusa aurea, Abies nigra, Mahonia aquifolia, beautifully 
fruited; Retinospora plumosa aurea, Osmanthus ilicifolius, Thu- 
jopsis borealis, Aucuba japonica, Cedrus atlantica, Picea Nord- 
manniana, Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora, Cercis siliquastrum, 
Sambucus laciniatus, Taxodium distichum, Acer Negundo variegata, 
Cydonia japonica in fruit, Spiraea ariaefolia, Variegated Sycamore, 
Waterer’s Holly, Variegated Snowberry, Golden Yew, Thuja gigantea, 
Japanese Privet, and the Fern-leaved Beech. Mr. Morse, nursery¬ 
man, Epsom, secured the second prize, and exhibited Retinospora 
pisifera, Corylus Avellana purpurea, Ericas vagans and vagans alba, 
Rosa rugosa, Retinospora leptoclada, Ligustrum ovalifolium robus- 
tum, Spiraea Douglassi, Acer colchicum rubrum, Acer Negundo varie¬ 
gata, Catalpa syringsefolia alba, Spiraea Fortunei, Veronica Traversii, 
Hydrangeas paniculata and paniculata grandiflora, Magnolia grandi¬ 
flora, exoniensis, &c. These contributions made a very interesting 
display, and were a rather important feature of the meeting. 
CUCUMIS PROPIIETARUM (grossularioides). 
Though not by any means a novelty, the Gooseberry Gourd is 
seen in few gardens, and is known by lew gardeners except where 
such old and interesting plants are valued. To most botanists 
it is indeed well known, at least by name, for it was one of 
those which Linnaeus described in his terse but graphic style. 
Thus the plant is invested with some historical interest; but in 
addition to that it possesses some beauty, especially when well 
grown and tastefully trained. 
The aptness of the popular name is at once perceived when the 
fruit is examined, for the small oval or globular gourds are studded 
with short spine-like protuberances exactly suggestive of some 
hairy varieties of Gooseberry. In size, too, they are nearly equal, 
and when the fruits are not fully ripe there is a further resemblance 
in the peculiar green tint. The longitudinal and regular streaks 
Fig. 32.—CUCUMIS PROPIIETARUM. 
are, however, a great mark of distinction if there w'ere any danger 
of confusing the two, which is scarcely possible even by the most 
superficial and unbotanical observer. When the fruits are fully 
matured the streaks are alternately dark green and yellow, the 
comparative difference in hue being well indicated in the woodcut, 
the lighter streaks representing the yellow ones. 
Like most of its race this Cucumis requires a stove temperature 
to ensure its success, and being an annual seeds must be sown 
every year, preferably early in the spring, to obtain plants for 
fruiting in the summer. Moderately light and rich soil is needed, 
with abundant supplies of water during growth. One of the most 
effective modes of training is to take a clean stem to the height of 
18 inches or 2 feet, and then train the 6hoots horizontally either 
along a string or so as to cover a flat trellis, from which the fruit 
will hang, and can then be seen to the best advantage. 
HONG KONG. 
( Continued from page 15 7.) 
5 TOn entering the harbour by either the eastern or western of its 
islet-studded approaches the first impressions made upon a new 
arrival are neither so deep nor so favourable as those which succeed 
after a period passed in quiet residence and circumspection. In 
this respect, however, I do not believe that Hong Kong is peculiar. 
The “ globe trotter,” the transitory visitant scouring from place 
to place with a circular ticket, putting his head inside each and 
glancing round, and then posting on to the next stage with his 
head whirling from the jumble of undigested impressions he has 
received, is about the last person whose word should be accepted 
regarding the comparative merits of the spots he has touched at. 
The natural and social features of a place must be knowm, dis¬ 
tinguished, and assorted before an opinion of their value as com¬ 
pared w T ith those of another can be reliably formed. 
The aspect of the surroundings of Hong Kong strikes you at 
first as being a little lowering and sombre on the island side and 
harsh and bare on that of the mainland, where the yellow soil 
of Kowloon peninsula and of the neighbouring foot-hills glares 
obtrusively forth with but a very partial alleviation of verdure. 
This, however, is a defect to which the eye becomes accustomed, 
and from the Hong Kong side is much tempered by the blue sea 
which lies between. Before landing, too, no idea can be formed of 
the true extent of the town, its endless winding roads, its hanging 
gardens, and its labyrinthine Chinese quarters, where 160,000 
Celestials are by dint of British authority kept in a condition of, 
to them, quite unnatural cleanliness. The general aspect is of a 
long frontage of imposing white Italianesque warehouses, running 
for a distance of about two miles along the edge of the water ; 
