1871.] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
239 
and those with crimson instead of purplish spots, are plentiful amongst them, and some are 
most intensely and superbly spotted. 
- Anglo-American Lawn-Mower, when submitted to trial at Chiswick, 
was highly approved for its easy working by many of the practical persons 
present. The revolving cutter consists of six knives, placed diagonally, as usual. 
There are two driving-wheels, and a collecting-box in front of the knives, which may be 
removed at pleasure, in which case the grass is scattered. Behind the knives is a small 
wooden roller. The handle is in a direct line with the axles of the driving-wheels, a circum¬ 
stance which adds greatly to the easy working of the machine. It is of the same class as the 
Archimedean, and seems to be superior to it. 
- SSJe have received blooms of some beautiful Bedding Violas from Messrs. 
Dickson and Co., of Edinburgh. They are described as being dense and branch¬ 
ing in habit, hardy in constitution, and invaluable as continuous bloomers from 
spring till autumn. Dickson’s Golden Gem, a deep golden yellow, is one of the finest; and those 
oalled Ivtea pallida, lutea Grievei, the Primrose, and sitaveolens major are extremely showy, and of 
different shades of pale sulphur-yellow ; coriacea, creamy white, with violet eye, looks like a 
useful bedding Pansy ; while stricta alba, smaller-flowered, but pure white, with a small 
orange spot at the eye, must be quite a gem for bedding. Strongly contrasting with these are 
amoena magnifica, a rich mulberry colour, with the lower petals pucy-violet, the eye yellow ; 
and Vanguard, like a small self-coloured mulberry Pansy—both charming flowers. 
- 0ne of the handsomest and most symmetrical plants of Thujopsis 
dolobrata we have fallen in with, is growing in the pleasure-grounds at Ashridge 
Park. The plant is in vigorous health, about 5 ft. 6 in. high, and fully as much 
through at the base, and forms a dense cone of perfect symmetry, very different from the 
abrupt and unfinished appearance so often presented by the leader and uppermost branches of 
this really handsome and hardy Conifer. 
- fUrt. Chapman’s registered Multum in Parvo Plant and Flower Pro¬ 
tector , consists of a wooden box made in two parts, provided with a glass top, 
and held together by clips. When used to protect flowers, such as Dahlias, at a 
distance from the ground, it is supported by a notched stick, while an indiarubber valve pre¬ 
vents the ingress of insects. For such purposes it would appear to be efficient. It is also 
intended to be used for ground plants instead of hand-glasses. 
-- this season, when the question of heating small conservatories 
becomes an urgent one for amateurs, attention may be invited to Shrewsbury s 
Nonpareil Gas Boiler , which is not only simple, but efficient and economical. 
According to Dr. Letheby’s experiments, one of these boilers, containing six quarts of water, 
was heated from 72° to 192° F., that is, 118°, by the combustion of 4 ft. of gas. In all cases 
when apparatus of this character are used inside the house, it is of the utmost importance 
that the products of combustion should be carried off by the escape-pipe, which, if it cannot 
be carried at once to a chimney in daily use, i.e., a warm flue, must be taken directly up 
through the roof without any bend or elbow, and be provided with a patent cap to prevent a 
down-draught. If the down-draught cannot be prevented, the boiler should never be placed 
inside the conservatory. The boilers are of three sizes, and capable of heating from 20 ft. to- 
150 ft. of 2-in. hot-water pipe. 
- noble Vine at SilwoodPark, near Ascot, occupies a bouse 129 ft. in 
length, 12 ft. in width, 12 ft. in height at the back, and 6 ft. in the front. The 
vine is about G5 years old, and is planted nearly in the middle of the house, and 
very near to the front wall. The main stem is nearly 3 ft. in circumference near the base, and 
from its straightness presents a striking contrast to the gnarled stems of the Vines at Hamp¬ 
ton Court and Cumberland Lodge. Nine or ten side branches are trained horizontally through 
the house, and from these the bearing-rods proceed. The average number of bunches pro¬ 
duced annually is 1,800, the bunches being of fair size with large berries black as sloes. 
