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GAEDEN GOSSIP. 
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food, and it is evident that the Chinese primula has a special fondness for it. Those who 
are accustomed to grow old plants of the Chinese primula are well aware of the extreme 
difficulty experienced in geUing them safely through the winter, on account of their ten¬ 
dency to damp off, and Mr. Gilbert finds.in the free use of charcoal a remedy for this evil. 
- ^ CORRESPONDENT of the Field has recently written on the propriety 
of Growing Ferns in Loam. He states that early in February, he potted about 
three hundred plants, consisting of a general collection of stove ferns, in a com¬ 
post of loam and leaf-mould and a very little peat. The plants are now beginning to grow 
freely, and saving the Gymnogi'amma^ which does not show much difference as yet, all the 
specimens exhibit a marked increase of vigour, particularly the maiden-hairs, which are 
producing fronds freely at least thi*ee times as large as they did in a compost consisting 
principally of peat, and the colour of the foliage is all that could be desired. The plants 
were longer in taking to their shift than usual after being potted, and he began to 
doubt the advantages of loam; but now that the roots have got hold, they are sending their 
fronds up clear of the old foliage with unusual vigour. No liquid manure has been given 
to any of the plants as yet. 
- ®HE Azalea Duke of Edinburgh., raised by Mr. Parsons, of Welwyn, 
has bloomed very finely this season. The flowers are remarkable for their great 
size and their extremely stout texture, the petals being smooth and well formed, 
almost wax-like in their consistency. The colour is a salmony orange, and when seen in a 
cut state, the flowers almost resemble those of dipladenias. 
- ^ NEW European Conifer, to which its discoverer. Dr. Pancic, gives the 
name of Finns Oniorika., has been discovered in the rugged mountain regions of 
south-western Servia. It belongs to the Abies section, and in affinity comes 
nearest to Pirns orientalis. Omorika is the Servian name of the tree, which Dr. Pancic 
describes as being of gigantic stature, equalling, if not exceeding, the loftiest of its European 
congeners. One of the most noteworthy characters pointed out resides in the glaucous 
upper surface of the leaves, but this is at present rather obscure, the position of the respective 
surfaces of the leaves of many species of this section being reversed by a twist of the petiole. 
According to Braun, P. Omorika differs in an essential character—that of having no stomates 
on the under-surface of the leaves—from P. orientalis^ to which it is closely allied, agreeing in 
this respect with some of the species inhabiting Eastern Asia. 
- ®HE award of a First-class Certificate to a Gold-laced Polyanthus is an 
event so novel at South Kensington that it deserves special mention. Mr. Smith’s 
Duke of Welhngton is probably but the beginning of a new break of a favourite 
but too long neglected florists’ flower ; others will probably soon follow in its wake, and the 
comparative regeneration of the gold-laced Polyanthus may thus become a pleasing reality* 
- ®HE Messrs. Backhouse and Son, of York, have sent us specimens of 
the very beautiful Primula spectabilis., a dwarf hardy perennial, of Auricula-like 
habit, found on the Eastern Alps, and belonging to the section of Primroses 
with fleshy leaves. The form of the leaf is elliptico-lanceolate or lanceolate, and the margins 
are cartilaginous and entire. The flowers grow about six or eight in an umbel, and are 
about |-inch across, and of a pure dense pucy purple, very showy. According to the late 
Mr. Wood, it affects mountain gravel. It will be quite an acquisition amongst alpines. 
-— Some of the Dwarf Campanulas., chiefly of the turbinata section, make 
charming pot plants, and if the seed-pods are cut off, will bloom nicely a second 
time. No doubt if grown in a rich moist soil they would flower continuously for 
a long period, but as such spots are rare during a hot summer, there is thus a special fitness 
in growing them in pots. C. turbinata Dicksoni, C. Hendersoni alba, and C. pumila alba, all 
produce pure white flowers of varying size, and none exceeding 6 in. in height; C. turbinata 
Jioribunda and C. turbinata ccerulea give charming mauve tints; and C. turbinata, C. turbinata 
hijbrida, and C. turbinata macrocarpa, are blues of deep tint, and very showy and effective. 
Specially suitable for hanging-baskets and vases are C. Barrellieri and C. fragilis, both pale 
