September 4.] 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
351 
apart, and it is also furnished with a spring at one 
side of the centre, under the upper bar, which is held 
down by an eye and pin, when the instrument is placed 
and the line used for planting. When one row is 
finished, the pin which Holds the upper bar is drawn 
out, and the spring instantly throws over the line to the 
same distance from the centre, as before. The instrument 
requires shifting every other line, two lines being done 
at once. 
This instrument will not be of much use as, in plant¬ 
ing, a man usually plants on the right hand-side of the 
line, and, consequently, has to pass along after planting, 
and can shift his line each time. In this he would also 
have to pass along his line each time he finished 
planting. 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
Numerous certificates of merit were given at the 
National Floricultural Society at their last meeting, and 
we saw one of their leading members in a great pet with 
a lot of things not noticed. There were, of Dahlias, 
Nancy, a red and white, and Douglas Jerrolcl, a yellow 
and red, belonging to Mr. Keynes; the latter with 
good long petals, but the former dull in colour. 
These had certificates. Erica Marnoclciana, like Retorta, 
was equally fortunate. Delphinium Hendersonii the 
same. A Hollyhock from Mr. Chater, rosy and a 
tolerable spike; a similar form. And a Fuchsia, 
Nil desperandum, brought up the rear; a red-and- 
purple variety, reflexing prettily, and of pleasing 
habit. Then came certificates of commendation: Holly¬ 
hocks, Magnet and Meteor; three Gladioluses from Mr. 
Wilmore; and a Dahlia, Dr. Frampton. If there be 
any difference between a certificate and a certificate of 
commendation, some of these things ought to have 
changed places. The Duke of Wellington, hollyhock 
was, as an advance in real quality, the best in the room ; 
but there was no notice for that. 
The Society is giving umbrage to many of its sup¬ 
porters It has the best room in London for showing, 
but it would appear that the society show only for 
themselves. Looking at the flowers while the society’s 
report is being read is out of the question; and the 
report once done with, people feel no little annoyance 
at the instant preparations for taking away. Nobody 
who goes to see novelties wants to hear read a long 
list of the things exhibited, old and new, and unless 
they are present by the time this is read, there is no 
chance of a good look at the novelties. 
Everything ought to be on view a good hour, or liour-and-a- 
! half; many go now after the things are half-packed up, or 
gone altogether. The meeting is called at three o’clock; the 
report and the confirmation of the minutes take lialf-an- 
hour; and people who send their things two or three 
hundred miles have no right to be satisfied with this very 
brief display. Rut the rapidity with which things are 
i removed after the award is made, gives every appearance of 
i a disposition to avoid publicity instead of courting it. These 
! meetings ought to give all amateurs an opportunity of in¬ 
specting novelties for themselves, and there is no such 
opportunity offered now. This must be altered, or the 
country members will drop off as fast as they came on. 
The Vauxhall Gardens third and last show came off 
on the 20th August, and proved a complete realisation 
of all we had said of it. Flowers are not attractive at 
Vauxhall. For the greater part of the evening very few 
persons stopped to look at the very fine plants that 
were exhibited; whatever little amusement happened i 
to be going on took all the attention, and the tables were 
as clear of people the whole evening as could be desired. 
The plants were badly arranged for effect, as if nobody 
of the least experience had been near the place. 
Fuchsias were badly shown. The very worst varieties 
badly grown. “ One in the Ring" and “ Elizabeth" were the 
only effective ones among all the groups. Many red seifs, 
or varieties showing no contrast between the sepals and 
corolla, spoiled almost every collection. The Dahlias were 
good for the hot season. Plants excellent; but it is a sad 
prostitution of floriculture to see noble specimens not even 
for a moment arresting the progress of people, who scramble 
with the greatest anxiety by them to run after a fool in the 
circle, or see a fountain on the garden stage. We examined j 
the plants almost alone, from the time the concert began 
until the fire works had gone off; and then, when there was 
nothing but the flowers and plants to take the attention, the 
admirers were confined chiefly to the exhibitors themselves. 
In fact, the whole three shows prove d a total failure to all 
but the pi’ize-hunters who promoted them. E. Y. 
NEW PLANTS. 
THEIR PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES. 
Greenest-leaved Forsythe (Forsytliia viridissima ).— 
Botanical Magazine, t. 4587.— Although little or nothing j 
had been heard of this genus until lately, when Mr. 
Fortune discovered this species of it in China, it had 
been founded, many years ago, by Vahl, a Danish 
botanist and voluminous author, in commemoration of 
