1870. 1 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
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balaaco of £890 18s. 4:1. An admii’able full-length portrait of the late Mr. Voitch has been 
presented by Robert Orawshay, Esq. Adopting the recommendations of the Central Committee, 
the meeting determined that the money in hand should be invested, and the interest devoted 
to Voitch Memorial Prizes. The following gentlemen were named as trustees:—G. F. Wilson, 
Esq., the Treasurer; and Thomas Moore, Esq., the Secretary to the Fund ; Harry J. Veitch, 
Esq., representing Mr. Veitch’s family ; Dr. Hogg, representing Amateur Glardeners; Mr. Z. 
Stevens, representing the Practical Gardeners of England; Mr. W. Thomson, representing 
Scotland; and Dr. D. Mooi*e, representing Ireland. 
- ^HE Idesia 'polygama, a Flacourtiaceous plant, which bears the name 
of Polycarpa Maximowiczii in the French gardens, is described as a noble and 
perfectly hardy deciduous tree, with alternate cordiform serrated shining green 
leaves, with red veins above, and glaucous beneath the blade, 8 in. to 12 in. across, and the 
petioles red, 8 in. to 1 ft. long. The flowers come in long compound racemes, and are succeeded 
by very numerous orange-coloured berries, which are reported to be edible. If perfectly 
hardy, as it is said to be, it must form a magnificent tree, on account of its large size, and the 
breadth of its foliage. 
- Shere is a beautiful black Plum which comes into use after Damsons 
are past, and fully twice their size. This bears the name of Sandall's Plum. It 
forms trees 20 ft. to 40 ft. high, with spreading heads, every twig as thickly set 
with fruit as the berries on a bunch of grapes. It is very hardy, and one of the veiy latest, 
supplying Plums for cooking, &c., when wanted, until November! The fruit is of medium 
size, roundish, of a beautiful jet-black colour, with a thick bloom; flesh reddish, clinging 
slightly to the stone, moderately juicy, with a smack of the Sloe flavour. This little-known 
Plum was raised sixty or seventy years since by the late Mr. Sandall, a market gardener, at 
Fulham. It is said to be a sure bearer, surpassed by Prince of Wales, Victoria, and Mitchel- 
son’s (the last especially); but it is at least eight or nine years before it begins to bear, though 
after that time it is a prodigious cropper about once in three years. Any one having half-a- 
dozen sorts cannot do wrong in gi-owing Sandall’s, but for a small garden, where there is only 
room for one Plum, Mitchelson’s is to be prefei'red. 
- ^HE following mode of laying Tar Pavements., recommended in tlie 
Builder., has been found completely successful:—For Carriage-ways : a layer of 
dry brick rubbish, 8 in. thick, well rammed (if a gravel foundation, this need not 
be used). Kentish ragstone, or the chippings from gi'anite, are the best materials. The stone 
for the lower bed should be broken to pass through a sieve of 3-in. mesh, to be well coated 
with hot Stockholm tar, to be laid 6 in. thick, and well rolled. The next bed is to be broken 
to pass a Ij-in. mesh, to be laid 2^ in. thick, and well rolled. When nearly dry, broken 
i^psum to be scattered over it, and well rolled; this gives a bright look to the pavement. For 
Footways: brick rubbish, 5 in. thick; lower bed, 4 in. thick ; next bed, 2 in. thick ; and 
gypsum as before. This pavement may be seen at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. 
- ^RESERVED Kidney Beans for winter use are not at all to be despised ; 
and if gathered just before frost is apprehended, a great deal of useful food 
may thus be saved. The Beans are sliced as for the table, and then salted and 
pressed into either a small wooden barrel or large stone jar. In every family of any extent 
in Germany large quantities are thus preserved. When they are abundant and cheap, the 
lady of the house buys them wholesale, and invites her lady friends, young and old, to help 
her to slice the beans. Towards evening the young men coming from business join the party, 
resharpen the knives, make themselves generally useful, and after a good deal of flirtation, 
the day terminates with a dance. The work is all done in one afternoon. Directly a lot is 
ready, the cook proceeds to salt as follows:—She puts a thin layer of salt on the bottom of the 
barrel or jar, and upon this a layer of about 5 in. of sliced Kidney Beans; upon this she 
sprinkles salt, presses down the beans as much as she can, then places a fresh layer of beans 
and some more salt; and in this way the ban-el or jar is filled. A heavy weight—say a two- 
stones weight, or I cwt.—may be beneficially placed upon two or three layers of sliced bean.s 
and salt for, say a quarter of an hour, before more beans are packed. In this way, a large 
quantity of beans will go into a comparatively small space, and the tighter the Beans are 
packed the better they will keep. When all the beans have been sliced, and served in this 
