/ 
1874.] GARDEN GOSSIP. 231 
the seeds are eaten by poultry,—and now we may light the fire with the rind, 
and it is, perhaps, the sweetest fuel we could find.—A. Forsyth. 
GAEDEN GOSSIP. 
® HE Horticultural Exhhition at Dundee^ the busy capital of the jute trade, 
which opened on September 3, proved a first-class show, extending over 
three days, and being attended by 17,000 visitors. It was opened by the 
Earl of Strathmore, Lord-Lieutenant of the county, and was attended by 
a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the elite of the town and surrounding districts. 
The encampment, pitched in the high-school grounds in the centre of the town, consisted 
of three immense marquees, supplied by Fusey, of Hull. The chief one, devoted to 
flowers, was 230 ft. in length by 47 ft. wide; the one occupied with fruit was 100 ft. in length 
by 47 ft. wide; while that set apart for vegetables was of equal dimensions. The leading 
feature was the magnificent collection of stove and green-house plants; while plants for table 
decoration were unexampled for number and beauty. Fruits were rich and abundant, the » 
merchant princes excelling in grapes and pine-apples; while Mr. James Ferguson, a working¬ 
man, noted for beating professionals in the rearing of the Lilium auratum, was again first in 
his class. Alpines—never absent from Dundee shows—were there in profusion, rare, compact, 
and healthy, the best coming from E. Moir, Esq., a noted amateur in ferns. The general 
public paid £300 at the gates. The Society contemplates holding an International Exhibition 
in 1870. 
- ®HE most remarkable feature at the Belfast International Exhibition 
was the bunch of Black Hamhurgli Grapes shown by Mr. Hunter, gardener to the 
Earl of Durham, at Lambton Castle. This monster bunch weighed 21 lb. 12 oz. 
Wo believe nothing approaching this has been exhibited, or as far as we know, produced, in 
the case of a black Grape, although in the case of white Grapes, Syrian or White Nice have 
been shown of the respective weights of 171b., 181b., 19 lb. 5 oz., and 19^ lb. In reference to 
this matter the Gardeners' Chronicle gives the following details relating to black Grapes. 
There ai’o several instances of 5 lb. bunches of Black Hamburgh Grapes recorded. In 1858 it is 
recorded that Mr. Davis, gardener at Oakhill, East Barnet, exhibited the finest bunch of Black 
Hamburgh that had up to that time over been produced in the coirntry; this bunch weighed 
8|-lb., and was a symmetrical, well-shaped bunch, with the individual berries measuring 4|-in. 
round. In 1800 Mr. Payne, gardener to J. B. Bedell, Esq., of Chelmsford, showed a bunch of 
the same variety weighing 8 lb. 14 oz., but this was a conglomerate of four bunches all from 
one eye. In 1805 Mr. Meredith showed a bunch of Black Hamburgh weighing 9^ lb., and in 
1873 Mr. Hunter showed at Manchester one bunch of Black Hamburgh weighing dk lb., and 
another weighing 13 lb. 2 oz.—a weight now thoroughly eclipsed by the specimen shown at 
Belfast. The Manchester show in September of last year was, it may be remembered, specially 
remarkable for the exhibits of Grapes, the weights being in many cases quite extraordinary. 
- ®HEEE lias recently been established in London, a Pelargonium Society^ 
the object of which is, in the first instance, to encourage the cultivation and 
improve the quality of what is known as the Zonal Pelargonium, including under 
this general term the varieties which have resulted from the inter-breeding of P. zonale and 
P. inquinans; and for this object funds are being collected, with a view to offer prizes at one 
of the exhibitions of the Royal Horticultural Society, to bo held in July, 1875. Dr. Denny is 
Hon. Treasurer, and Mr. T. Moore Hon. Secretary of this now Society. 
-iWit. CuLVERWELL I’ccommends that the beautiful Tropccolinn speciosunh 
a plant which is rather fastidious as to position, but which grows well on the walls 
of cottages in Scotland, should be planted amongst rough clumps of Ehododendrons 
or other plants growing in a peaty soil. The effect of a scarlet topping on the dull green 
foliage during the autumn seasons would bo very beautiful, and once planted in the Rhodo¬ 
dendron soil, they will make a homo of their own in the same way as the common Convolvulus 
does whore it gets a hold. Ho has some plants at Thorpe Perrow growing in the Rhododen¬ 
drons and in the Holly, which are very effective. 
V 
