1879. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
47 
— <9[s an Addition to the Auricula 
Prizes to be given at tlie ensuing show of the 
National Auricula Society, at South Kensing¬ 
ton, Mr. W. J. Barns, of Bristol, offers to thg winners 
of the first prizes in certain classes tlio articles naniocl 
below:— 
Class. Value. 
I.—A 20in. patent square hand-glass... 12/6 
A.—An 18 in. 
ditto 
ditto 
... 10/6 
B.—A 
16 in. 
ditto 
ditto 
... 0/0 
C.—A 
14 in. 
ditto 
ditto 
... 7/0 
D.—A 
12 in. 
ditto 
ditto 
... 6/6 
K.—A 
21 in. 
cap 
. . 
... 4/0 
L.—A 
21 in. 
ditto 
. . ... 
... 3/0 
N.—A 
20 in. 
ditto 
.. 
... 2/6 
— a 
NEW 
Easrberry-Trainer 
has been 
brought out by Mr. T. Wilkinson, of Newton- 
le-Willo\vs, whose pea-trainer we noticed in a 
former volume. It consists of double iron standards, 
a foot apart, on which two wires are strained near 
the ground, and two at the top. The fruiting-canes 
are tied to these wires—on either side, thus giving 
double training-room. The young shoots grow up 
straight between the two, raid do not shade or inter¬ 
fere with the fruit. At pruning-time, the old frnit- 
ing-canes are cut out, and the young ones tied in as 
before. The double-standards are usually made 
12 in. apart, but can be made to any width required. 
Two standards, one for each end, is sufficient for a 
row of Raspberries 30 ft. long, and with one inter¬ 
mediate standard, for a row of 50 ft. Those, as well 
as the pea-trainers, are useful where ordinary stakes 
and pea-sticks are not easily obtained, and for 
amateurs’ gardens they are much neater. 
— 0^HE Mount Atlas Nut {Corylus 
algeriensis\ writes Mr. T. F. Eivers, in the 
Garden, was imported some twenty years ago 
from a Continental nursery by my father. Its 
native country is the slopes of Mount Atlas, a 
district particularly rich as regards fine nuts. The 
tree is vigorous and hardy when mature, but I have 
noticed that the young layers are liable to be slightly 
injured by frost. It is singularly fertile, and the 
fruit is borne in large clusters, covered by a hairy, 
spreading, and handsome husk longer than the nirt, 
and furnishing a very ornamental design for the 
electrotype makers of baskets and epergnes. The 
nut itself is large, full, and well-flavoured. 
— ^IccORDiNG to Le Cidiicateur, if a little 
Chloride of Lime be spread on the soil, 
rats and mice and insects will at once desert 
it. Plants may easily be protected by it from in¬ 
sect plagues, by simply brushing over their stems 
with a solution of it. It has often been noticed 
that a patch of land which has been treated in this 
way remains religiously respected by grub.s, while 
the unprotected beds round about are literally 
devastated. Fruit-trees may be guarded from the 
attacks of grubs by attaching to their trunks pieces 
of tow, smeared with a mixture of chloride of lime 
and hog’s lard, and ants and grubs already in 
possession will rapidly vacate their position. 
— ®HE following kinds of Lime Trees are 
said to be good for town planting, for which it is 
known the common kind is unsuitable, owing to 
its early defoliation. The sorts recommended are Tilia 
alba, T. macropliyUa, and T. (lasystyla, which retain 
their fine, bold leaves until most other deciduous 
trees are bare of foliage. Tilia edba is an old and 
well-known tree, but it is not so often seen or planted 
as its merits demand; its leaves are larger than 
those of the common kind, and beautifully white on 
the under surface. The other two are remarkable 
for their large, handsome foliage, fully double the 
size of that of the common lime ; they are some¬ 
what alike when seen at a little distance, but when 
closely examined they are sufficiently distinct to be 
kept separate. T. dasystyla is not well known, nor 
perhaps plentiful, but it has two good qualities be¬ 
longing to it—its leaves are large and fine, and they 
hang on the tree till late in the season. 
— JWr. Buist, of Pbiladelphia, writing to 
the Gardeners' Chronicle, attests the value 
as an Insecticide of a mixture consisting of 
two tablespoonfuls of refined coal-oil, in four gallons 
of weak soapsuds. The liquid is to be used with a 
syringe, and will kill mealy bug and all insects 
known to plant-growers. Ho has used it for the past 
two years. 
— 2(mongst variegated shrubs with decidu¬ 
ous leaves, Cornus Mas aurea elegantissima 
may be regarded as a gem of the first water, 
its rich and varied tints being hardly inferior to 
those of some of the best variegated Crotons. It is 
a new plant, and as yet rather expensive, but being 
really good, it will be sure to give both pleasure and 
satisfaction. 
— ®he difficulty sometimes experienced in 
Transplanting Evergreen Oaks is met by Dr. 
Hemphill, of Clonmel—so says the Garden — 
by cutting in the trees to nearly bare poles, remov¬ 
ing all the side branches to about 6 in. in length, 
leaving no loaves, and also root-pruning, if need be. 
In this way, evergreen oaks of large size may be 
safely transplanted. This plan was pursued by Mr. 
Bain, of the College Botanic Garden, Dublin, many 
years ago, with surprising success; the trees broke 
out in healthy buds all over the main steins, and 
became in a few years beautiful, symmetrical speci¬ 
mens. The same plan has been tried with cork 
trees, and with perfect success, transplanting them 
in spring. 
— ^ FINE plant of the superb Fijian Fern 
Todea Wilkesiana, introduced a few r^ears 
ago by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, is now growing 
in the fernery at Daveham Bank, Malvern, Links, 
the seat of J. D. Perrin, Esq. It is over 3 ft. in 
diameter, and is planted in the rockwork, where it 
stands on a very prominent point, its beautiful 
fronds forming a graceful plume-like head, which is 
very attractive. The plant is undoubtedly one of 
the finest of the species, and well worthy attention. 
— JfoR Orange-tree cultivation, good, 
sound, fibry loam is necessary, and should form 
the chief bulk of the soil, especially in the case 
of large old plants, that in the nature of things 
cannot often be retubbed or potted. A few crushed 
bones mixed with it will be found to suit them, as 
the young rootlets cling closely to them. If the 
loam is heavy, a little old manure or leaf-mould 
with sand, should bo added to lighten it, and finely 
pulverised marl may be advantageously added to 
that which is light and sandy. The pots should be 
well drained, as stagnant water about the roots is 
destruction to them, and the soil should be rammed 
