1877. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
93 
tion with foreign roae-grower.s ; and generally to adopt any means which may appear ad¬ 
vantageous to Rose interests. The Show for 1877 has been fixed to take place at St. James’ Hall 
on Jnly d, for which tho prize schedule has been issued. Amongst the prizes is a 50-guinea chal¬ 
lenge cup, ^yhich must be won in throe years, tho winners of 1877 and 1878 being alone com¬ 
petent to compete in 1870. Tho joint secretaries are Rev. H. H. Dombrain and Horace K. 
JNIayor; and the annual subscription is lOs. Thoso who desire to support tho Society should 
address the Secretaries of tho National Rose Society, 3 Adelphi Terrace, W.C., where the 
meetings of the Society are held, by permission of the Horticultural Club 
- IKb. Burbidge’s new book, entitled Cultivated Plants^ their Propaga¬ 
tion and Imjorovement, wbicli we mentioned some time since as being in prepara¬ 
tion, proves to be one of the most valuable horticultural publications which has 
for a long time appeared, and one which will be particularly useful to the thoughtful and 
studious younger members of the gardening fraternity. No such judiciou.sly-selected and 
well-assorted information was ready to the hand of their fore-runners—those who are now 
descending the hill of life—and no better evidence is necessary of the progress which horti- 
culturo is making in this country, notwithstanding some sore discouragements, than the 
appearance of this handsome and solid volume of more than 600 pages and nearly 
200 illustrations. Practically, its contents may be said to range under three divi¬ 
sions,—namely, Propagation, as explained in its various phases ; Improvement in 
plants, as illiistrated by the records of progress in the most prominent amongst 
garden genera and species, Avhether useful or ornamental; and Direction, as set forth 
in a detailed propagator’s calendar. In the second division, recording the succes¬ 
sive stages of improvement through which many of our garden plants have passed, 
it is to bo expected that some readers here and there may be able to supply scraps of addition 
and correction, and we are sure the author will join us in expressing a wish that any such 
information should be made public for the benefit of those Avho may follow up tho subject; 
meanAvhile we commend the volume as one well worthy of careful study by every intelligent 
horticulturist, whether amateur or professional. We shall probably hereafter ourselves recur 
to some of tho subjects mentioned, but for tho present conclude in the words of a contem¬ 
porary :—“ The present Avork Avill, avo hope, do much toAvards inducing our raisers of noAV 
plants and florists’ flowers to systematise their experiments, to start Avitha Avell-delined object, 
to pursue it steadily and carefully, and to record every step in the process, every failure, as 
Avoll as CA^ery success, Avith strict accuracy,” as an accession to scientific knoAvledge, and in 
order to lighten the difficulties of those ayIio may after them travel over tho same path. 
- ^HE Committee of the Standish Memorial Fund lias recently issued 
its report, from wbicli we learn that a sum of £61 7s. Gd. was subscribed. This 
sum has sufficed to procure a portrait of the late Mr. Standish, painted by F. 
Havill, Avhich portrait is hung, by permission of the Council, in the meeting-room of tho 
Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington, the OAvnership thereof being invested in 
the Trustees of the Lindley Library ; and to place a stone and curbing over Mr. Standish’s 
grave in Ascot Churchyard, bearing the inscription :—“ This stone is erected by a foAv personal 
friends to the memory of John St.vndish, nurseryman, born ]Ma]cb 25, 18l4, died July 24, 
1875.” IMr. (libbs, by Avhom the monument Avas erected, substituted polished granite for 
stone, at his owji (sxponse, as a mark of personal regard. 
— m. Joseph Waltiikry, a gardener residing near Liege, has discovered 
a simple means of Preventing IIare^< and Pahhits from Gnawing the Baric of Trees, 
which he strongly recommends as being certain and inexpensive. The remedy 
Avas in his own case applied to a row of Apple-trees, Avhich Avore year after year stri])ped of 
their bark, especially during scA’ere Aveather. One day in November, it occui'red to jM. 
^Valth(;ry to dilute some dog’s dung in a pail of Avater, and to apply this to tho bark of the 
trees. This was done tAvice, and Avith full success, for the hares and rabbits did not come 
any more. Pro])H])ly, ho says, the scent of tho excrement of their dangerous enemy kept 
them at a distance, and the seasoning not being to their taste, they Avent elscAvhero in search 
of food. 
- ^HE curious Witch Knots on the Birch —those great masses of twigs 
looking like large bird’s nests fallen in amongst the branches of the birch tree— 
are caused by the attack of a minute four-legged acarus {Phytoptus\ very similiar 
