1878.] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
Ill 
golden-striped Grass, from Mr. H. Cannell; and to 
Rhododendron The Tocsin, from Mr. C. Noble, Bag- 
shot, a rosy-purple variety, with large trusses. 
G. F. Wilson, Esq., had a fine plant of the charming 
Lilium Hansoni. Mr. Cripps, Tunbridge Wells, 
had Clematis Earl of Beaconsjield, of the Viticella 
type, with very deep pucy-purple flowers, for which 
a Certificate was granted; and another, called Lady 
Blanche Conyngham, a double white lanuginosa, 
which was not so distinguished. 
— ®he other Metropolitan Exhibitions 
have been of full average merit, the best being 
that held on May 22, by the Royal Botanic 
Society, which was exceedingly bright and effective. 
That held on June 12 was supplemented by Mr. A. 
Waterer’s grand Rhododendron Show, which was 
open during the month of June, and was of more 
than usual interest; and by Messrs. Carter and 
Co.’s display of annuals in pots, which is not yet 
over, and which proved to be remarkably varied 
and attractive, affording a good opportunity for 
showing off the improved varieties which have been 
raised from some of the older annual flowers. 
— &MONG the great Provincial Horticul¬ 
tural Exhibitions of the past month may be 
specially noted those of Manchester and York. 
The Manchester show was opened on Juno 7, and 
was as usual remarkable for its grand display of 
Orchids, and included, among several competing 
plants, a specimen of Anguloa Clowesii, from Mr. 
Hubberstey, gardener to O. O. Wrigley, Esq., to 
which the Veitch Memorial Prize and Medal was 
awarded, and which had about 50 of its golden 
goblet-like flowers displayed beneath a noble 
crown of plaited foliage. Here a new permanent 
iron structure has been erected on the site of the 
wooden-framed tent. The general effect of the 
structure is excellent; the wood uprights or sup¬ 
ports have been entirely removed, and the new 
trussed principals, 12 ft. apart, extend in one span 
of 60 ft. across the space occupied. The length is 
324 ft., the width 60 ft., and the extreme height to 
crown of roof nearly 40 ft. The area of the ground 
covered is about 2,200 superficial yards, which is 
laid out suitable for exhibition purposes. Along the 
apex of the main principal a wrought-iron framing 
is fixed, so constructed as to harmonise in form with 
the curve of the principals, and to give support 
and inclination to the canvas. The framework of 
the roof is supported on fifty-five light orna¬ 
mental cast-iron columns, placed about 12 ft. apart, 
which are strutted and tied together with orna¬ 
mental cast-iron spandril girders and wrought-iron 
diagonal tie-rods with ornamental cover-plates at the 
intersections. The York Show, which was held on 
June 19-21, was remarkable for its display of Fruit 
—one of the best of the present season. The Yeitch 
Memorial Prize and Medal offered here for 3 bunches 
of Black Hamburgh Grapes, was w'on by Mr. A. 
Ferguson, gardener to B. Shaw, Esq., Cowick Hall, 
Selby, with a nicely finished sample of moderate- 
sized bunches. There were seven competitors. 
— ®he New York Tribune points out that 
Lantanas and Verbenas belong to the same 
family and come from the same regions, both 
chiefly from Brazil, and recommends that those who 
are tired of attempting to keep plants of Verbenas in 
satisfactory health through winter, should make 
trial of the Lantanas. They are not attacked by the 
insects or mildew that assail their cousins, and they 
endure the heat and dryness of a sitting-room better, 
or will keep well in a cellar that does not cool below 
40 degrees. The flowers are as bright and as varied ; 
fine shades of yellow and orange making up well for 
lack of blue or purple. They are always neat. The 
natural habit of growth is ascending and straggling, 
but they can be kept in any desired form by timely 
occasional pinching. They like full sun and rich 
soil. Cuttings are easily rooted in August or Sep¬ 
tember, and they will begin to flower early in spring. 
— PfR. Levesley, of Islewortb, grows a 
fine strain of compact Cinerarias, which he calls 
the Dwaef Covent Garden Cineraria. In 
this strain dwarfness and compactness is combined 
with quality of a very high order. A model market 
Cineraria should be nine inches in height from the 
pot; the head of flower as many or more in dia¬ 
meter; the lowermost leaves should feather the 
pot, and the flower-heads should be bright-coloured, 
whether seifs, or parti-coloured, with a dark disc to 
give effect to the blooms. Mr. Levesley’s strain 
contains some novel shades of colour, as silvery- 
lilac, pinkish-lilac, and lilac-mauve, generally well- 
defined in the hue; some of the blue seifs are par¬ 
ticularly rich, the crimsons singularly bright, and 
the magentas very telling. The character they 
possess of displaying the head of bloom well to the 
eye is one of great value. The seed is sown 
about the first w T eek in June. At the time of potting 
into the blooming pots only hard loam is used, the 
plants being potted firmly, and plain soft water 
only given to them, no stimulants being used. 
— SI successful importation of Agave 
Victoria: Regina: has been effected through 
the agency of Mr. L. Ivienast, formerly Swiss 
Consul-General in Mexico. Out of 120 plants 
58 arrived in capital condition. This species, 
according to Mr. Considerant, the original importer, 
inhabits the neighbourhood of Monterey, Nuevo 
Leon, North-Eastern Mexico, -whither a party of 
Indians was sent by Mr. Kienast’s friends. After 
some weeks’ fruitless search, they returned empty- 
handed. However, a second party was sent with 
instructions to penetrate inland beyond Monterey, 
and explore every hill-side and plateau until the 
plant was discovered. About eighty miles beyond 
Monterey the Indians found the plant, and brought 
away between six of them 120 specimens, as many 
as they could carry. De Smet, of Ghent, has pur¬ 
chased the stock. 
— 21 new English edition of Baltet’s Art 
of Grafting and Budding has been published 
by Macmillan and Co. The high character of 
the book is now well established, and those who 
have either grafting or budding to perform cannot 
do better than study it and follow its advice so far 
as it suits each particular case. It is well printed, 
and issued in a neat and handy form. 
— ®iie Hon. and Rev. J. T. Boscawen has 
added £5 to Mr. W. Robinson’s first year’s 
Prizes for Asparagus. The firs? competition 
will be held for these prizes at the Bath and West 
of England Society’s Show in 1881. Prizes will be 
offered for market-garden-grown Asparagus, as 
distinct from that grown in private gardens. 
— Bn old but efficient Snail and Slug 
Guard may be formed out of sheets of per¬ 
forated zinc, cut to a size sufficient to surround 
