1876. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
71 
the taste is like that of Apricots, but often with some trace of astringency. The Kaki 
will be a valuable addition to our dessert-fruits, and since the tree thrives well and ripens 
its fruit in the climate of Paris, it is quite desirable to try what can be done with it in our 
own country, especially as the thinness of its delicate skin renders it difficult to import the 
ripe fruits in a satisfactory condition. Even as an ornamental tree, with its large glossy 
leaves, independent of the fruit, we shall be glad to welcome it amongst us. 
- ®HE Societe Royale de Flore de Bruxelles holds its 100th Exposition 
Internationale des Produits de VHorticulture^ in connection with a Congres de 
Botanique Horticole^ this year. The meeting is to open on April 30. 
- 02^e hear that Messrs. G-. Jackman and Son, of Woking, have made 
arrangements by which they will hold their fine Exhibition of Clematis again 
next spring in the garden of the Eoyal Botanic Society, in the Eegent’s Park. 
The show is to open on the first Wednesday in May, and to be continued for two or three 
weeks, as the effect of the season on the plants may permit. The varieties staged will be 
principally of the spring-flowering patens section, supplemented pretty freely by the early 
summer-flowering group, for the varieties of which latter we are chiefly indebted to the 
persevering hybridising efforts of Mr. Jackman himself. 
- ®HE Royal Botanic Society has fixed its Exhibitions for 1876 for the 
following days:—Spring flowers, March 29, April 26 ; summer shows, May 24, 
June 21 ; evening fete, July 5. 
- Amongst the greater Provincial Horticultural Exhibitions^ those of the 
Royal Calidonian Horticultural Society are to take place on April 5, July 5, and 
September 13. Those of the Manchester Botanical Society are announced for 
April 26 (Auriculas, &c.), June 2 to 9 (Great National Exhibitions), and August 11-12 (Car¬ 
nations and Fruit). The Dundee Horticultural Society are to hold a Grand International Ex¬ 
hibition on September 8-10. Leeds has a Grand Spring Flower Show on March 15-16. The 
Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural Society, in addition to other shows, intend to 
hold one on an extensive scale during the visit of the British Association to that city in the 
eniuing autumn. 
- - ^ NEW edition (the third) of Mr. D. Thomson’s Handy-Booh of the 
Flower-Garden (Blackwood and Sons) has just been issued. Mr. Thomson is so 
well known as a complete master of the art and science of managing a flower- 
garden, and has already had so much experience in imparting to others a share of his own 
profound acquaintance with the subject, that it is quite unnecessary to do more than announce 
the publication of this new edition of one of his most useful works, to set all who are eager 
to excel in this depaidment inquiring what are Mr. Thomson’s opinions and instructions 
thereon. There is this assurance in store for all who resort to the book, that its author 
practises quite as well as he preaches, the flower-garden under his charge being probably the 
most perfect thing of the kind anywhere to be met with. 
- ®HE Horticultural Directory for 1876 (171 Fleet Street) has recently 
been issued, and as usual contains Lists of the London Seedsmen and Florists; the 
Metropolitan Nurserymen, Seedsmen, and Florists; tbe Nurserymen,' Seedsmen, 
and Florists of England and Wales, of Scotland, of Ireland, and of the Channel Isles | a Garden 
and Post-town Directory, a Garden and Railway-station Directory, List of the Gardeners and 
List of Foresters or Woodreeves in Great Britain and Ireland; Botanic Gardens and Public 
Parks, Landscape Gardeners, Horticultural Builders, Engineers, &c.; Botanical, Horticultural, 
and Floral Societies in Great Britain and Ireland ; and the principal Nurserymen, Seedsmen, 
and Florists of the Continent. Such a reference-book must find frequent use in most gardens 
of any importance. 
— Btjebidge’s Domestic Floriculture^ Window Gardening^ and Floral 
Decorations (Blackwood and Sons), of wbicb a second revised and enlarged 
