1880 . ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
79 
(1), That on the day of the Crystal Palace Exhibi¬ 
tion, July 3rd, a dejeuner should take place at 1 o’clock, 
open to any members of the Society who might 
wish to join, and that certain members of foreign 
Rose societies would be invited as guests ; (2), that 
silver-gilt and silver medals of the Society should 
be presented to the Society of Rosarians at Ant¬ 
werp, and to the Society of Brie-Comte-Robert, to 
be allocated according to the wishes of their re¬ 
spective committees. Some errors which have 
crept into the schedule were corrected; thus 
Class 21 should read—“8 distinct,” instead of 6; 
and Class 22, “ 24 distinct,” instead of 8. Members 
of the Society are reminded that, by the arrange¬ 
ments made with the Crystal Palace Company, they 
will have the privilege of admission to the exhibition 
for half-an-hour before the general public. 
— ®he Globe Lawn Mower of Messrs. 
Bansomes and Co., noticed at p. (53, is repre¬ 
sented by the annexed figure. They are in¬ 
troduced, we are told, to meet the demand for 
machines specially adapted for cutting long grass ; 
and, whilst similar to the lawn-mowers imported 
from America, have the special advantages of the 
the sand-hills close by the sea-water, so that all the 
salt would be washed from the sand before it is used ; 
it is very fine, and must be used freely; it is good 
for gardens where the soil is stiff ancl bad to work, 
and seeds germinate freely in it.” 
- #X. Decaisne, in the last number of the 
Flore des Serves , has established the genus 
Galtonia in honour of Mr. Francis Galton, 
author of The Narrative of an Explorer in South 
Africa, for the two noble plants known generally as 
Hyacinthus candicans and H. princeps, now Galtonia 
candicans and G. princeps. The species of Galtonia 
differ from those of Hyacinthus in habit, in the form 
of the flower, and of the ovary, and in the seeds, the 
cylindrical embryo occupying the whole length of 
the perisperm. 
— £1 correspondent of the Gardeners’ 
Chronicle states that Spent Hops are rich in 
fertilizing qualities, and most valuable for apply¬ 
ing to light lands, where, stirred in beneath the 
surface, they assist greatly in keeping it moist aud 
bringing about a healthy root-action. Soaked with 
more accurate fitting and general durability of 
English manufacture, and perfect adjustment. The 
frames are strongly braced together by the ledger 
block being bolted to the sides of the machine, and 
they have a cutting barrel which is large and open, 
is simply adjusted by top and bottom screws,’ and 
has three knives made of rolled steel and iron. 
— $Xr. Cannell has recently called atten¬ 
tion to the value of Sea-Sand for striking 
cuttings, illustrating his remarks by cuttings 
of Coleus which had been struck in this material. 
The sand had been in no way prepared prior to 
using. Mr. W. B. Miller, of Ramsgate, commenting 
on this, observes that for many years he has used 
sea-sand largely, and thoroughly recommends it not 
only for striking cuttings, but, mixed freely with 
soil, for almost all kinds of plants; also as a dress¬ 
ing over the flower-beds and borders after they have 
been dug up in the autumn, as it causes the earth to 
work easily in the spring, and has a good effect in 
giving vigour to seeds sown or plants put out, and 
further, keeps the ground moist in dry weather. “ I 
have often wondered,” he adds, “ that farmers and 
horticulturists do not use it more than they do.” 
Mr. H. Little, of Rusland Hall, also states that he 
has found that all soft-wooded plants strike freely 
in sea-sand, and when mixed with soil for potting, 
the plants do well in it. “We used to get it from 
liquid manure, or mixed with soot by turning them 
over, no better dressing need be desired ; and any 
one, therefore, living near a brewery, where they 
can be obtained for the carting away, should not 
lose an opportunity of securing as many as he may 
want or have use for. The thing is to let them rot 
by undergoing very gentle fermentation, during 
which their decomposition may be much hastened 
by frequently stirring them over, and bringing the 
outside, each time the process is carried on, into the 
middle, where the chemical action soon breaks up 
the fibre by causing decay of the parts. 
- m . Bennett, of Stapleford, has sent us 
fresh blooms of his new Bose Her Majesty, 
one of the “pedigree” flowers which have made 
such a sensation amongst rosarians. It is a most 
beautiful novelty, perfectly double, of full size, and 
of a soft clear pink colour, the plant being, more¬ 
over, as we learn, of a vigorous habit of growth. It 
will undoubtedly take a place in the first rank 
amongst light-coloured Roses. We hope shortly to 
publish a figure of it from the pencil of Mr. Fitch. 
— ®he Double Cinerarias are not of such 
modern origin as some have supposed, for as 
far back as 1851 Mr. Miller, of Mayfield, Perth, 
sent to one of the meetings of the National Flori- 
