72 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ Maiich, 
able early out-of-doors potato. He adds:—“ I do not keep any very early round potatos, but 
these are early and good, and the only two round kinds that I keep,—Gryfro Castle Seedling, and 
Napoleon, alias Early Emperor. The former is the best and nuttiest of the class Regents, and 
the last has no equal for shape (true Pebble), and is mild and good.” 
-She best method of growing the Gladiolus for general decorative purposes 
is to plant the corms amongst American plants, and to leave them in the ground 
year after year, until they become patches producing scores of spikes of bloom. 
This saves an infinite amount of trouble, and insures a fine show of bloom. The Japan Lilies — 
speciosum, auratum, giganteum, &c.,—should be treated in the same way. Left in the ground 
year after year, the plants throw up with immense vigour. One of the greatest mistakes in the 
management of these splendid plants is that of annual potting. 
- ^he Scarlet and Zonal race of Pelargoniums are, as Dr. Denny remarks, 
much in want of a distinctive name. In the face of the objections to the use of 
the name “ Scarlet” for flowers of all hues, to “ Zonal” for many which have no 
zones, and to “ Geranium,” which would bo robbing the true Geraniums of their good name, it 
has been suggested that Sweet’s name of Ciconium should be taken up for them. It was ap¬ 
plied by him to this very group, which he describes as “ a natural section which will most 
likely be hereafter divided from Pelargonium into a distinct genus,” and is also used as a 
sectional name for the same group by modern botanists. No doubt it is the best distinctive 
term yet suggested, and the only difficulty lies in getting any unfamiliar name generally adopted. 
- ®he Portrait of Mr. Thomas Rivers , of Sawbridgeworth, recently got 
up by subscription, has been presented to the trustees of the Lindley Library, 
and will, it is understood, be hung in the council-room of the Eoyal Horticultural 
Society. The portrait is a very pleasing one ; and it is certainly most fitting that one who 
has done so much for horticulture should meet with some public recognition of his services. 
- It has been recommended, with the view of distributing the Pollen of 
Aucubas so as to obtain berries plentifully on large out-door bushes, that sprigs 
of the male should be grafted in various places over the female bush. This 
practice ensures the distribution of the pollen in a manner which can hardly be expected from 
planting out dwarf plants of the male kind. 
--Home beautiful Rose-tinted Honey has been sent by Messrs. Fortnum 
and Mason to the Kensington Museum. This novel production was the result of 
the following experiment, made by Mrs. Gilbert, The Priory, Bodmin, Cornwall. 
On May 25, 1870, a strong swarm of bees was secured in one of Neighbour’s hives. On July 
19, they began to work in a glass super which had been placed in the hive. On August 12, 
finding that the bees had only made two small pieces of comb, and had ceased to work, Mrs. 
Gilbert began to feed them at the top of the super with loaf sugar, 21b. to a pint of water, 
highly coloured with cochineal, and scented with rose-water, the bees in this way consuming 
701b. of sugar. On September 25, Mrs. Gilbert took the super, which contained 331b. of honey, 
and which was forwarded to Messrs. Fortnum and Mason. 
aintuarg* 
- I3r. Miquel, Professor of Botany in the University of Utrecht, a 
gentleman who has occupied high rank amongst systematic botanists for many 
years, died a few weeks since. His numerous publications are mainly devoted to 
the elucidation of the plants of the Dutch possessions in the Indian Archipelago, as well as of 
the flora of Japan, &c., and we are indebted to him for special monographs on tho Figs, 
Peppers, Cycads, &c. 
— m- John Mann, of Kensington, died on February 4. He had for 
many years worthily filled the office of Superintendent of Hyde Park, but for 
some time past had been in a failing state of health. 
