1875. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
119 
structure over their business premises in King Street, Covent Garden. In this 
way every householder at least might cultivate his own flowers or fruits, for Vines might be 
readily grown in such structures, if properly provided with the usual and necessary 
appliances of heat, moisture, and food. No doubt this is the best position that could be found for 
a greenhouse in the midst of a smoky town, as it would get all the light possible under such 
circumstances, and much more than it would in most cases obtain if erected on the ground-level. 
-iiftR. Ladd’s Grove of Gardenias , under glass, at Bexley Heath, is a 
sight worth seeing. The house is about 140 ft. long by 25 ft. wide, and wholly 
occupied by Gardenias, healthy, glossy bushes dotted over everywhere with their 
large and handsome green and white buds. The bushes are planted out, each on a mound of 
peaty soil, which rests on the hard floor of the house. Each plant stands on a hillock, and 
thus water may be abundantly used without injury. They do not root into the floor, but 
each bush finds its nutriment in the barrowful of soil or so in which it is planted. With 
plenty of heat and moisture, and frequent syringings, the plants grow apace, and there is no 
mealy-bug—their usual attendant and enemy—to be seen. On the floor and around the 
mounds the water lies in pools, as it might in a bog. The effect afforded by the bushes is 
like that of a healthy coffee plantation, though by-and-by, when the w T hite waxy blossoms 
are opening freely, it will be very different. This and other plantations made by Mr. Ladd 
seem to point to the probability that much improvement may be effected by planting out 
subjects usually grown in pots. 
- $ftR. Meredith’s Vineyard at Garston lias been sold by the instructions 
of the mortgagees, the trustees under Mrs. Meredith’s marriage settlement, and 
the trustee in liquidation. It realised £10,000, the purchaser being Mr. John 
Cowan, of the Cowan Patents Company (Limited), London. The price realised is for the 
concern as it stands, and does not include goodwill; and though inadequately representing 
the skill and labour and money expended on the business, is considered a fair value for an 
establishment so peculiarly situated. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Meredith in the circum¬ 
stances that have led to a change of proprietary, and it is hoped that the new owners will con¬ 
tinue the Vineyards in their present flourishing state, and maintain in its integi'ity an 
establishment that has brought so much repute to English Grape-growers. 
- £n reference to Foliage for “ button-holes ” of Rose-buds , the variety to 
be procured at all seasons of the year is very limited. The usual leaf or two of 
the Fairy Rose and spray of Maidenhair Fern, though supported by fine wires, 
rarely survive exposure in a hot room for more than six hours without flagging, even if kept 
in a tube of water; while the Rose-bud, if so treated, will look well for a couple of days. A 
correspondent of the Gardeners' Chronicle remarks that these in winter are so costly that they 
are worth saving as long as they will last; and he recommends the leaves of starved plants 
of the sweet-scented Balm of Gilead, Dracocephafum canariense, a small branch of which, that 
he had used, looking still fresh after five days. 
- £The frequent use of Apples , either before or after meals, has a most 
healthful effect upon digestion. It is said to be better to eat less meat, and 
more fruit. An eminent French physician thinks that the decrease of dyspepsia 
and bilious affections in Paris is owing to the increased consumption of Apples, which fruit, 
he maintains, is admirably prophylactic and tonic, as well as a very nourishing and easily- 
digested article of food. The Parisians are said to devour one hundred millions of Apples 
every winter—that is, they did before the war. Whether this estimate is true or not, never¬ 
theless the French are extravagantly fond of AppleB and other fruit. 
- ®he old Clematis montana is found to be a most useful decorative 
spring plant, when grown in small pots, flowering freely about April. Both this 
and C. indivisa lobata bloom in dense clusters, and though the blossoms are 
much smaller than those of the C. patens type, they are produced in even larger numbers, 
which is an important compensatory quality. They may be grown either trained into a small 
cone by means of a few stakes tied together at the top, or like little loose-headed standards 
by tying them to a centre stick, and allowing a portion of the top to spread loosely. 
