94 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ JUNE, 
to importations—the Cape, for instance, where it 
is known that the pest exists in certain vineyards, 
and where it is even stated that it is indigenous. In 
the case of the countries affected, the question is, no 
doubt, a serious one ; but this does not justify the 
infliction of a second injury, powerless for good, 
but yet of a nature to subvert an important branch 
of trade. 
— ©he popular Golden Feather Pyre- 
thrum, a dwarf golden-leaved variety of 
Pyrethrum PartJieniurn , the common Feverfew, 
and which was brought into notice, in 1867, by 
Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Son, originated as 
an accidental seedling- in the cottage garden of Mr. 
E. Seward, of Godmanchester, from whom Messrs. 
Henderson obtained it. It was not much 
valued at first, as it was feared it might revert to 
the ordinary green form; but when a first-class 
certificate was awarded to it by the Boyal Horti¬ 
cultural Society in August, 1867, it received more 
attention, though even then few thought it would 
come true from seeds, and prove one of the most 
useful bedding plants in cultivation. 
— ( j& writer in the Country Gentleman — 
“ H. G. 0.,” of Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.— 
speaks highly of the following New American 
Strawberries. He says “ The most promising- 
new variety that I have seen in fruit is President 
Lincoln, originated in 1875, by Mr. Smith, of Hew 
York. The plant is a strong, vigorous grower, 
hardy, and I think will prove very productive in 
heavy soil. The fruit is handsome, bright crimson, 
with a glossy surface, large to very large, the first- 
few berries irregular in form and cockscomb¬ 
shaped, those produced later uniformly obtuse-coni¬ 
cal ; flesh very firm, solid, sweet, of a delicious rich 
flavour, with a slight musky .aroma. Sharpless’ 
Seedling [see p. 70] is the most vigorous and 
robust grower I have seen. It has immense dark- 
green leaves, and a heavy strong fruit-stalk, mode¬ 
rately productive, as I saw it. The fruit is irregular 
in shape, flattened and cockscombed, large to very 
large (such irregular-shaped, large berries should 
be weighed, in order to gain a correct idea of their 
size) ; colour, glossy bright-red, flesh firm, and of 
excellent flavour. Sesfeons medium to late. The 
Pioneer is a fine early variety, the best early berry 
for the home garden, and a good bearer. The plant 
is a luxuriant and rapid grower, with light-green, 
tall and strong foliage. The fruit is large, conical, 
with neck, sometimes cockscomb-shaped, light 
scarlet, ripening very evenly; flesh solid, mode¬ 
rately firm, and of a very fine, delicate flavour— 
certainly the best of Mr. Durand’s seedlings yet 
sent out.” 
— mm- Chantrier freres, nurserymen, of 
Mortefontaine, exhibited Croton Bergmanni 
and C. Carrierii, two fine new varieties, at a 
recent meeting of the Central Horticultural Society 
of France, and received an award equivalent to our 
First-class Certificate. Croton Bergmanni is the re¬ 
sult of a cross between C. maxima and C. Veitchii, 
and gives promise of proving a valuable decorative 
plant; it much resembles the variety Baronne 
James de Rothschild, raised by the same firm, but 
the colour is pure ivory-white and green, instead of 
the red and green of the last-named plant. The 
leaves are very large and round at the tips, and the 
plant is a free grower. Croton Carrierii comes from 
a cross between C. Hookeri and C. Veitchii, and has 
long green leaves, with middle and side lines of 
yellow. 
— Amongst Apples for Market Cultiva¬ 
tion, there are three varieties in particular that 
are strongly recommended by experienced 
growers. They are,—1. Stirling Castle, a valuable 
early variety for culinary purposes, coming into use 
by the beginning of August, and bearing- immense 
crops of fruit. 2. Ecklinvillo Seedling, an Irish 
Apple, raised more than half a century ago, near 
Belfast; an excellent culinary apple, bearing large 
and handsome fruit, and a free and reliable bearer, 
in use during the last three months of the year. 
3. Warner’s King, a very favourite culinary apple, of 
the finest quality, bearing large and weighty fruit, in 
use from November till March. Stirling Castle is a 
variety well adapted for culture in the bush form, 
and therefore suited for small gardens. In a villa 
garden, where there is but limited space, and a 
good and useful selection is necessary, the three 
foregoing varieties would suffice to keep up a supply, 
the value of which for market purposes consists in 
this, that the trees bear in a young state, that they 
crop heavily in all favourable seasons, and that 
the fruit is of fine quality. 
— ©he annexed figure represents the Luton 
Syringe, for which the advantage is 
claimed that it has no loose parts, 
thus avoiding the loss of roses, and also 
the inconvenience of changing them. 
The peculiarity of this syringe is that it 
is fitted with a revolving head composed 
of different roses and jets, either of which 
can be used by simply turning the one 
required opposite to the word “ on,” which 
is stamped upon the tube. This improve¬ 
ment in the indispensable syringe obvi¬ 
ates the leakage which frequently occurs 
in the ordinary instruments, and gives a 
completeness and convenience to the in¬ 
strument to which it has not hitherto 
attained. The manufacturers are Messrs. 
Brown and Green, of Luton. The revolv¬ 
ing head is also made to be fitted to hose¬ 
pipes. 
— 2$$e note that the Gardener 
strongly recommends tlie Norwegian 
Currant, as a splendid red currant. It 
has been exhibited at the Falkirk, Polmont, 
and other local shows; and having been 
introduced from Norway by Mr. Salveson, 
of Polmont House, is locally named the 
“Norwegian” Currant. The writer de¬ 
scribes it as far superior to any other red 
currant with which he is acquainted, 
being a free grower, producing splendid bunches, 
with extra large berries, while the bush is an 
enormous bearer. 
— &s a white-flowered, spring-blooming 
plant, the pretty Primula villosa var. nivea 
(often erroneously called P. nivalis ), cultivated 
in pots, is very useful, as if strong and well estab¬ 
lished, it will furnish a large supply of flowers in a 
cold frame or greenhouse, and may be cultivated by 
those who have no convenience for forcing into bloom 
other plants which supply white flowers at that season 
of the year. Indeed, in a free soil and a somewhat 
dry position, it will live through an ordinary winter 
