1877.] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
no 
that “ florists’ flowers wore hopelessly at a discount in the South;” but I shall not think the 
lefutation perfect and complete until the Caniation and Picotoe-growors of the South, aided 
as they may be, and as I am sure they will l)e, by their brethren in the North, who have cou- 
Nenience foi hastening the bloom, have 2 )rovidod a display of these lovely flowers such as 
+ Ii. p Ombiaiu never before looked upon, and such as shall elicit universal admiration. I 
invoice the aid of my fellow-florists’ in this work, and if we succeed, as I am sure wo shall, I 
shall bo repaid tenfold for the pleasant labour it has entailed upon me.—E. S. Dodwepl. 
- fcE International Potato Exhibition is to be lield at the Royal 
Actualium, 'Westminster, on October 3, 4, and 5 next. The schedule provides 
foi a series of classes ranging from twenty-four to single dishes, and the prizes 
am^nt to about <£130. Copies of the schedule may bo obtained on application to Mr. J. 
McKenzie, 1 and 2 Great Winchester Street Buildings, E.O. 
- ^HE first instalment of Mr. Elwes’ superb Monograph ofLilimm lias 
recently been issued. It is of folio size, and contains eight coloured plates repre¬ 
senting the following species and varieties :— L. philippinense^ Hansoni (avena- 
ceum),po»i;mwfin«, Parhnanni, Wittei, pyrenaicum, testacewn, polyphjllum, and Davidii, i\iQ 
latter a new East Tibetian plant, discovered by the Abbe David. The plates are finely 
executed from Mr. Fitch’s drawings. 
varieties of Tree Pceonies {Posonia Moutan) are very useful for 
conseivatory decoration during the early months of the year. These plants are 
grown and forced with great success at the Pine Apple Nursery, where we saw 
many of them bloorning freely during the past spring. They flower readily in 5 and G-inch 
pots, and their massive blooms of many hues are very telling. The principal point in forcino- 
them is to permit the flower-buds to form in a cool temperature, and not to place them in 
brisk heat until these are fairly prominent. 
- When well-blanched and mixed with celery and endive in the salad- 
bowl, the Dandelion forms an excellent salad, and one which is most wholesome. 
The improved broad-leaved variety, obtained by Madame Vilmorin is, however, 
far better than the old form for this purpose. Seed sown in April will furnish strono- roots 
for the following winter’s forcing, and a dozen roots put in the mushroom-house weekly will 
furnish a good cutting every day. Some persons prefer dandelion to the whitloof or chicory 
although it is equally true some palates object to the bitter flavour of the dandelion. ’ 
C. W. Quin s new book, entitled Garden Receipts (Macmillan) 
is a collection of numerous recipes, for combating the various insects and pests 
that infest our garden crops. The information is arranged alphabetically, and is 
therefore found with facility. There is often a considerable number of remedies quoted and 
thus is justified by the fact that what may be easily applied in one district may be not so 
readily obtained in another. Besides the remedies set forth, there is a very useful c^lossarv 
of materials, and a good index. As a reference-book, it should find a place in every'^garden 
J * 
^ G-. Kustee, writing in the Fields gives the result of some ex¬ 
periments in planting Potato Shoots^ instead of sets, made by the Swiss Govern¬ 
ment lecturer, as follows “ He planted a field with potato shoots, 2 in. to 7 in. 
long, leaving about an inch above-ground, adhering in other respects to the old mode of 
cultivation. Though the season was very late, the operation taking place at the end of May 
ho not only got a fine crop, but by its ripening earlier than if planned by the old method, he 
was able, 1 believe, in July, to put in the same ground a second crop, which came to maturitv 
and produced very fine tubers, which I saw. There is no difficulty in get'tincr a sufficient 
quantity of shoots for largo fields; they .should be taken off at the eye, and not broken nor 
bruised. 1 he potatos from which they are to be taken should be exposed to the air and some 
light; no germs .should be taken oft' previously, second .shoots being useless. They .should be 
planted with a dibber. This plan is said to accelerate gi’owth, to reduce the cost of seed tubers, 
