1876.] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
95 
representation, they will prove a welcome addition to the old varieties alba and 
rubra. — Gr. Potts, Jun,, Firle Park Gardens^ Leives. 
GAEDEN GOSSIP. 
E have great pleasure in announcing, and we are sure our readers who 
take interest in Florists’ Jlowers will also be glad to learn, that in addi¬ 
tion to the valuable papers on Carnations and Picotees from the pen of 
E. S. Dodwell, Esq., which are being printed in our present volume, the 
Rev. F. D. Horner, of Kirkby-Malzeard, and S. Barlow, Esq., of Stakehill House. Chadderton, 
liave been good enough to express their willingness to contribute information relating to two 
other favourite florists’ flowers, the Auricula and the Tulip—Mr. Horner especially taking 
the former, and Mr. Barlow the latter, under his supervision. The high position held by 
these gentlemen in relation to the cultivation of these flowers, Avill be an assurance that the 
information emanating from them will be of the highest value and most trustworthy charac¬ 
ter. We think it ought to be also stated that our readers—and not less ourselves—are in¬ 
debted to the kind offices of Mr. Dodwell in bringing about this arrangement, by which we 
trust the Florist and Pomologist may become, as it was in days of yore, the special organ 
of the “ fancy,” and the means not only of extending the interest felt in the cultivation of 
florists’ flowers, but of maintaining the standard of excellence, and of reforming, if need be, 
the canons of taste, or at least of assisting to maintain them in purity and integrity. 
- ^HE result of tbe Tried of Onions at Chiswick last season, so far as sum¬ 
mer growth is concerned, was to establish the claims of the White S}Kmish (grown 
under various names, as Nuneham Park, Banbury Improved, Reading, Nazeby 
JMammoth, Outbush’s A 1, Cantello’s Prize, &c.), to be considered one of the best of the large 
flattened, pale straw-coloured onions, it being not only of good quality and firm in the flesh, 
but a good keeper. The White Globe, an excellent keeping sort and much esteemed, is more 
globular or obovate in shape, as compared with the White Spanish. The Yellow Danvers, 
with firm, solid flesh, is a splendid keeping vaidety, medium-sized, roundish globular, and 
dark straw-coloured. The Brown Globe (James’ Keeping, Magnum Bonum) has the shape 
of White Globe, but a reddish-brown skin, and is also a good keeper ; as is the Brown Spanish 
(known also as Deptford and Strasburg), which has flattened or oblate bulbs. Of the red¬ 
skinned varieties, the best was the Wethersfield Red, an American sort, with large oblate 
bulbs, having a dull red skin, and white, mild, firm flesh, of excellent quality, and a good 
keeping sort. The Queen proved to be a small and very early form of the silver-skinned 
section, growing bulbs almost as quickly as a radish, and apparently the same as the 
Nocera when that was first introduced from Italy. The varieties of the Tripoli types, being 
valueless as spring-sown onions, will be the subject of a separate trial with other autumn- 
sown sorts. 
- JtN reference to tbe Phylloxera or Vine Louse^ tbe Times’ correspondent 
at Paris writes :—“ Tbe Phylloxera Commission bas reported that none of tbe 
specifics submitted to tbem are entitled to tbe prize of 300,000 fr. voted by tbe 
Assembly. They state that, by applying insecticides to the stock and roots between February 
1 and April 1 the Vines may be protected from the disease, and they recommend the forma¬ 
tion of committees in each Department to furnish advice and assistance to the Vine-growers.” 
M. Dumas, in the Annates de Chimie et de Physique, states as the results of his studies, with 
regard to the Phylloxera of the roots—(1) that sulpho-carbonate of potassium is a rapid in¬ 
secticide, the only one which surely destroys the insects at the roots, and also supplies to the 
Vines a strong reconstituent element; (2) that sulpho-carbonate of sodium offers the same 
advantages, used only as insecticide; (3) that sulpho-carbonate of barium, being anhydrous 
and little soluble, may be recommended for its resistance to the action of oxygen and of 
carbonic acid, so that it is a poison less prompt, but more durable in effect; and with 
regard to the winter eggs (4), that the heavy oil of gas-tar, and especially the oil called 
anthraoine, seems to be best for washing the stocks and destroying the eggs ; and (5) that the 
treatment with tar for the stocks and sulpho-carbonates for the roots should be effected in 
February and March. 
- ^ new evergreen is being offered, under tbe name of Othera jctponicci. 
