46 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February, 
empty beds should be dug over and the soil thrown up rough, till the time for 
planting comes round.—D. 
GAKDEN GOSSIP. 
proposal to hold a Southern Show of the National Auricula Society 
which we briefly alluded on a former occasion, is being freely responded to, 
f and upwards of £60 has been promised towards the necessary prizes and 
expenses. A slight further augmentation of this amount is needed to permit 
of the work being efficiently done, and it is to be hoped that some admii’ers of the Auricula who 
have not yet subscribed may be induced to do so by the prospect of an attractive show. The 
sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. 0. Turner, J. Douglas, and E. S. Dodwell, appointed to 
draft a schedule of prizes, has completed its work, and the prize list was to be submitted on 
the 31st ult. to the general committee for approval. The prizes will, we believe, amount to 
not less than sixty guineas, and will include classes for collections of fifties, twelves, sixes, 
fours, and pairs, with a long list for single specimens in classes, and in addition, prizes for 
Polyanthuses. The show will be held at the Crystal Palace on April 24, and as the northern 
show of the society is to be held at Manchester on the 27th of the same month, there is 
every reason to expect a display of these flowers such as old florists even have rarely, if ever, 
known. As we have already stated, the honorary secretary is Mr. E. S. Dodwell, 11 Chatham 
Terrace, Larkhall Rise, Clapham, S.W., who will be glad to hear at an early date from 
intending exhibitors or subscribers. 
- ^HE year 1876 was not very prolific in new kinds of vegetables, the 
principal additions being among Peas and Potatos. It is as well always to order 
a few of the new kinds for trial, especially of Potatos, and then one can judge 
for oneself which kinds are best adapted for the particular locality. Mr. Powell recom¬ 
mends the following as a few good old things, that should not be overlooked when the seed- 
list is made up;—Of Early Potatos, Lee's Improved Ashleaf and Myatfs Ashleaf, which can 
bo depended on. Sangster's No. 1 and Early Empei'or are among the best early white Peas, 
with Little Gem as an early marrow. Dr. Maclean^ Advancer, and Champion of England will 
always keep their place for the main crops. In Cauliflowers, Lenormand's, Erfurt, Walcheren, 
and Veitch’s Autumn are all good kinds. Among Celery, Incomparable Dwarf White and 
Manchester lied are among the best. The Goutte Lettuce is a nice little hardy variety, of 
good flavour, and suitable for either winter or summer use ; and the old Brown and White 
Cos should not be forgotten. 
- ®HE summer shade afforded by Street Avenues is most grateful, and 
the aspect of thoroughfares thus furnished most picturesque. Wherever prac¬ 
ticable they should be introduced, and no planting season should be passed 
without some progress being made in this respect. They should everywhere be encouraged, 
but it should always be under careful supervision, so that proper trees may be selected, and 
proper means taken to ensure their success. The trees found most suitable for London are 
the Plane, the Lombardy Poplar, the new Canadian Poplar, the Sycamore, &c., the Plane 
(^Platanus acerifolia') being by far the best, though it is less suitable in the north. In some 
towns the Siberian Elm does well; in Birmingham the new fast-growing form of Canadian 
Poplar, Populus canadensis nova, is found to do well—all which shows that observation and 
forethought are required before making a choice. In all cases a mixture of trees should be 
avoided. In America, where street planting is almost universal, and where every person is 
free to follow his own inclinations, this liberty, it appears, is sometimes asserted in the selec¬ 
tion and planting of the wayside trees, and while one person plants one kind, his neighbour 
will plant another, till the whole becomes a heterogeneous assemblage of trees, instead of a 
stately avenue. The rule of uniformity as to the kind of tree planted, should be enforced, at 
least so far as any one street, or of corresponding lines of trees are concerned. 
- ^HE^beautiful Maple called in gardens Acer colchicum nihimm, has been 
determined to be identical with the A. Icetum of Meyer, from the Caucasus, and 
the A. pictmn of Thunberg, from Japan, which latter name takes precedence.. 
Professor Karl Koch adopts this view, which is confirmed by Mr. Hiern in Dr. Hooker’s Flora 
