68 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOQIST. 
[ March, 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
|T this season it may be useful, writes Mr. Earley, to advise all who desire 
a fine large Dwarf French Bean to procure, where they can insure getting 
it true, the variety known as the Canadian Wonder. They may rely, he 
adds, upon its being not only a very fine long-podded variety, but also 
an abundant bearer, of about medium, or rather more than medium-sized growth. 
- ffi R. W. E. Rendle informs us that he has now adapted his System of 
Glazing to curvilinear roofs; and that the roof of the new winter garden to be 
established at Westminster, is to be constructed in this manner. 
- ffi . Huber, of Nice, offers a new Pelargonium which he calls 
Pelargonium pseudo-zonale , and which he regards as forming a new type in this 
already greatly varied genus. It is of rapid growth, with elongated decumbent 
branches, glabrous leaves, and umbels of lively red flowers. 
- @The Sarrcicenia purpurea has now been growing out-of-doors for some 
years in an artificial bog in the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens. This winter the 
water surrounding it has been completely frozen, and it has since been nearly 
submerged, but still it looks quite frosli and hale and happy. It is evidently one of the 
hardiest of hardy plants. 
- ®he fine old Fuchsia Riccartoni had its origin at Riccarton, the seat of 
Sir Wm. Gibson Craig, Bart., near Edinburgh. Its name has no connection with 
Riccarton, near Kilmarnock, as has been supposed. It was raised from seed of 
globosa by the late Mr. Young, when gardenor at Riccarton, betwixt the years 1830 and 1835. 
It is quite hardy on the east and west coasts of Scotland. 
- ££he Ranunculus Ficaria calthifolius is a very fine early spring¬ 
flowering herbaceous plant, and quite uncommon. It is much stronger-growing 
than our wild species, the common Pile wort, throwing erect large pale green leaves 
without markings, some on stout stems with the flowers, which latter are of proportionate sizo, 
and of a brilliant yellow. Many botanists would consider it worth specific distinction. It is 
a native of the Mediterranean region. 
- 0N the basis of numerous analyses of many varieties of Coal from 
different localities, it is again asserted that Coal Ashes exert a beneficial effect on 
land, not only by their mechanical action on some soils, but also on account of 
their mineral ingredients, a ton of ashes containing about 33 lb. of phosphoric acid, besides 
sulphate of potash and alkali. 
-- ^t Gunnersbury Park, near London, the Hardiness of Lapageria rosea 
alba has been put to a severe test during the present winter, a vigorous shoot 
from a plant growing along the roof of a small span-roofed house having thrust 
itself through an opening in the woodwork. Though on an open north aspect, the shoot 
continues as fresh and healthy as those inside the house. 
- Some time since, writes Mr. Johnson of Belfast, I planted some Birches, 
Betula alba , in the foreground of a garden view, and to each of them I put one 
Jasminum nudiflorum , and one Lonicerci brachypoda ciureo-reticulata. These 
now form a protty foature 10 ft. high, the golden flowers in winter and golden loavos in 
summor having a very pleasing effect. 
- £n the Revue Ilorlicole a method of Budding Gooseberries practised by 
