1871. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
47 
by Mr. Marshall, and was at once adopted by the Council. The general features of the pro¬ 
posal are these:—Competitors to pay an entrance fee of £5. A fixed number and selection of plants 
being agreed upon, the subscribers to obtain young plants of these in G-in. pots, to cultivate them 
for two or three years, and then to exhibit on one or more occasions a determinate number of 
them in competition, collection against collection. The plants to be marked at the outset, for sub¬ 
sequent identification. The Society to give as prizes a challenge cup, value £50, which is to 
be retained after being three times won by the same exhibitor, and other prizes, to be supple¬ 
mented by the entrance fees. A fresh subscription list to be opened each year, so as to keep up 
the series of competitions. All the competitors will here start on equal terms. 
- ££he foundation of a Tweed-side Vineyard , by Mr. W. Thomson of 
Dalkeith, is an event of sufficient horticultural importance to claim a place 
amongst these monthly notes. A large plot of ground has been secured near 
Galashiels in Selkirkshire, and there Mr. Thomson has commenced operations by erecting 
three extensive vineries, each 200 ft. long, 24 ft. wide, and 27 ft. high, with spaces of 24 ft. 
between, connected by a corridor 125 ft. long and 25 ft. wide, heated by a liberal supply of 
4-in. hot-water pipes, and ventilated according to Beard’s patent. The whole of the Tweed 
vinery establishment (including, besides the above, three Pineries already built, one 200 ft. long 
and 5 ft. wide, one 145 ft. long and 13 ft. wide, one 121 ft. long and 13 ft. wide, a Pine pit in 
course of construction 200 ft. long, and large Cucumber and Plant houses), is heated by a huge 
steam-engine-like boiler 20 ft. long, invented by Mr. Thomson, and constructed of boiler-plates of 
wrought iron. The necessity for personal supervision will, it is said, lead to Mr. Thomson’s 
vacating his present position at Dalkeith. May every success attend him in his new field 
of enterprise ! 
- @£he Metropolitan Floral Society proposes, in conjunction with the shows 
of the Boyal Horticultural Society, to offer prizes for Auriculas on April 19, and 
for Carnations and Picotees on July 19, the competition for the prizes to be con¬ 
fined to members of the Metropolitan Floral Society. The prizes announced are:—April 19 : 
6 Auriculas (amateurs), £2, £l, 10s.; 1 green edge do. (open), 7s. 6d., 5s., 2s. 6d.; 1 grey do. 
(open), 7s. 6d., 5s., 2s. Gd.; 1 white do. (open), 7s. 6d., 5s., 2s. Gd.; 1 self do. (open), 7s. 6d., 
5s., 2s. Gd.—July 19 : 12 Carnations (amateurs), £l 10s., £l, 10s.; 12 Picotees (amateurs), 
£l 10s., £1, 10s. At the Crystal Palace shows in June and May, prizes will be offered for 
Pansies, Tulips, Pinks, and Ranunculuses. 
- £n his valuable Fruit Catalogue, recently issued, Mr. Bivers notes a 
curious fact relative to the Change of quality in some Pears newly raised from 
seed. Many are found to improve with age, some to deteriorate. This was noted 
by the early raisers of seedling Pears in Belgium in the last century. A recent instance in 
this country is that of the Prince Albert, which was at first so promising, but now, after a lapse 
of ten or twelve years, seldom or never ripens its fruit. Such is the case also with others, as 
Bezi Mai, Bevrre Bretonneau, and Prince Camille tie Rohan, which it was hoped would prove 
valuable late pears, but which can only be considered as baking varieties. It is not our cooler 
climate alone that has brought on these changes ; it is the nature of the varieties. Winter 
Nelis, he remarks, has seldom or never varied, neither has Beurre tVAremberg. 
- Specimens of Lemons imported from Sicily, and attacked by a coccus 
on tlie rind, and simultaneously by a fungus at the roots, were exhibited recently 
at South Kensington, by Mr. Alfred Smee. The rind of the lemon where affected by 
the scale remained green, and did not ripen, and it was found in consequence that its character 
was so far altered that it would neither absorb the solution of salt, or of sugar, in which the 
lemons are immersed for purposes of preservation. On this account, and from their unsightly 
appearance, the fruit were rendered almost valueless for commercial purposes, though the 
qualities of the juice and pulp had not suffered material injury. The coccus producing this, 
mischief was supposed to belong to an undescribed species, quite different from that attacking 
the Orange, and more nearly resembling that which affects the Oleander. The disease had 
not been observed to attain serious proportions until this year. 
- &s a means of preventing the inconveniences arising from Frozen-up 
Water-pipes, a writer in the Field strongly recommends that the pipes, which are 
