xs;s. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
63 
up bold trusses of large pips on long and 
strong foot-stalks, which served to show the 
flowers off to advantage. Would not our 
lamented Mr. Hunt have been pleased to have 
seen these novelties ? The worst of the matter 
is that at present I do not possess much stock 
of either of them. Of the red-ground sort, I 
could only manage to get two layers, and very 
few seeds ; of the white-gronnd sort, I got 
three layers, but the few seeds I took from 
it are small and light, so that I am doubtful of 
their vegetating. 
I have got a fair quantity of seeds, taken 
from some of the other choice sorts, and I can 
accommodate any floral friends who may wish 
to have some at a trifling expense ; while, 
should I be spared, I hope to be able to supply 
during the autumn or in the spring of 1879, 
either plants or seeds from the other two 
superb varieties.— John Hepvvorth, Crosland 
d/oor, Huddersfield. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
hF3HE meetings of tiie Royal Horticul- 
yOp/ TUEAL Society during the present year 
G-f-A have fully maintained their interest, 
each having been marked by a display of objects 
of considerable value and beauty. There is no 
questioning the fact that these minor gatherings, 
which happen to meet the requirements of horti¬ 
culturists, do very much to keep alive and to bring 
to a focus the horticultural spirit which is by no 
means lacking amongst the general public; and so 
long as these are well managed, they will always 
afford a nucleus for further development. At the 
January meeting, certificates were awarded to Mr. 
Williams for Denclrobium superbiens, a fine Aus¬ 
tralian plant allied to bigibbum, and for Microlepia 
hirta cristata, described at p. 59. Mr. Bull received 
similar awards for two handsome Zamias, Z. corru- 
gata and Z. lucida. The most interesting novelties 
shown on February 19 were Mr. Williams’ Primula 
sinensis fimbriata coccinea, noted at p. 48 ; Hceman- 
thus rupestris, a fine West African bulb, with purple- 
mottled scapes, and globular heads of pure orange- 
red flowers, shown by Mr. Bull; and three splendid 
Cyclamens, White Beauty, from Mr. James, a pure 
white of fine form; Rosy Morn, pale rose, from Mr. 
H. B. Smith ; and Roseum grandiflorum, one of the 
giant race, with rosy-pink flowers, from Mr. Hayes, 
•—all these receiving certificates. March 5 brought 
forward Azalea William Carmichael, one of a set of 
pretty dwarf-habited hybrids now in the hands of 
Mr. Williams, noted at p. 58; three hardy Prim¬ 
roses, Scott Wilson, Ealing Crimson, and Octoroon. 
The first, from G. F. Wilson, Esq., is of a new colour, 
a bluish-purple; the others, from Mr. R. Dean, are 
crimson and maroon respectively. The most interest¬ 
ing subjects shown on March 19 were Magnolia 
Halleana, a free-flowering species from Japan, with 
double white flowers, with recurving petals, like white 
Water Lilies ; and Hyacinth, King of the Blades, very 
dark, with fine bells and spike. These, with Bollcea 
Patinii, all from Messrs. Veitch and Sons, were cer¬ 
tificated, as were also Mr. Cutbush’s Hyacinth Grand 
Master, with large porcelain-blue bells; Mr. Barr’s 
Narcissus incomparabilis Leedsii, with an orange- 
rimmed cup; and Mr. Mills’ Odontoglossum par- 
dinum. Some beautiful groups were shown on each 
occasion. 
— ®"he Schedule of the National Auricula 
Society (Northern Section) is now issued, and 
sets forth the prizes to be competed for at the 
forthcoming Exhibition, which is to be held in Man¬ 
chester, in connection with the Show of the Botani¬ 
cal Society, in the New Town Hall, on April 30. 
There are sixteen classes, and numerous prizes. The 
Alpine Auriculas are separated into yellow-centred 
and white-centred, which appears to be a very proper 
sub-division. Schedules may be had of the lion, 
secretary, Rev. F. D. Horner, Kirkby Malzeard, 
Ripon, to whom also applications for exhibition- 
labels should be made not later than April 25. 
- ©F New Books, we may mention the 
issue of a third and cheaper edition of Robinson's 
Hardy Flowers (Macmillan). It is a useful book, 
full of information concerning the beautiful hardy 
perennials, which are now receiving a large share of 
popular sympathy.—TFood’s Good Gardening (Lock- 
wood) has reached a second edition, and contains 
much elementary information likely to be useful to 
amateurs.— Hooper’s Gardening Guide is a useful 
epitome of information concerning the best pepular 
flowers and vegetables, with very numerous illus¬ 
trations, and a calendar of garden work adapted to 
meet the wants of amateurs. 
— 221e have been favoured by Mr. A. G. 
More with an opportunity of examining a frond 
of Athyrium Filix-fcemina Frizelli^:, gathered 
recently at Carrabagli Fanet, county Donegal, by 
Mr. H. Chichester Hart, son of the Vice-Provost of 
Trinity College, Dublin. Miss Frizell’s Lady Fern, 
a most interesting deviation from the normal type, 
and one which has not only been perpetuated from 
spores, but has also given birth to other sports, was 
previously only known as having been gathered in a 
wild state in the county Wicklow. 
— ®hat Roses should play a conspicuous 
part at the Marriage of Lord Rosebery is 
appropriate enough, but even a Rothschild 
might have doubted the possibility of obtaining 
3,000 Tea-scented rose-blossoms in March. Never¬ 
theless, says the Gardeners’ Chronicle, the feat was 
accomplished by Mr. Wills, whose energy and re¬ 
sources seem never to fail. The pretty and becoming 
idea of surrounding the bridal presents with a 
setting of Roses, Orchids, Ferns, &c., it; said to have 
originated with the bride herself. 
— ®iie use of Cork Blocks for Orchids 
is condemned by Mr. Anderson, of Meadow 
Bank, on the ground that after a year or two 
the corrugations of the cork sadly interfere with 
the progress of the roots, which are partly strangled 
in their elongation, and in some instances to such a 
degree as to cause complete, or almost complete, 
cessation of growth, while roots that get among the 
potsherds with a clean face continue to grow on 
satisfactorily, keeping up the balance of continuity 
between themselves and the stem and leaves above 
the surface. He adds :—“ The longer my experi¬ 
ence with it extends, the more I see the baneful 
effects of it upon general orchid-culture.” 
