1880 .] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
159 
spines : some short in the leaf, with strong spines j 
others longer, with muoh less spine development; 
some with very flat leaves; others concave, with a 
very thick base. Under Agave horrida we get the 
large flat-leaved forms, called A. Regelii; small con¬ 
cave forms, called A. De Smetiana; moderate-sized 
plants, with broad concave foliage, representing A. 
horrida, and some pigmy forms. In four or five 
years, if liberally treated, these gradually change 
their characters, and take the ordinary form of A. 
horrida. In those called A. Roezlii or A. Gilbeyi, 
we get, in the first, a very strong thick-leaved plant, 
about 2% feet through ; and in the second, a very 
sturdy plant, 1 foot through; but the short one has 
grown long, and the large plants (especially some) 
have narrowed and elongated, until the characters of 
the species A. univittata—of which he believes they 
are forms—are seen peeping out. The same thing 
occurs in the Agaves called Kerchovei and Beaucar- 
nei: the foliage lengthens, and the spines grow less 
vigorous, until the old A. heteracantha appears. A 
few years ago, he adds, I thought we were getting a 
quantity of new species of these noble plants, but 
now I look upon such as A. Verschaffeltii, Leopoldii, 
Saundersii, Scolymus, cochleata, &c., as seedling 
forms of A. amoena. The same is true of forms of 
which univittata is the type, as well as of heteracantha. 
The only plants that I look upon as new are A. 
Victorias Reginas, A. Bessereriana, A. utahensis, A. 
Peacockii, and A. Seemanni; A. Parreyi is so much 
like a compact applanata that I suspect it. There 
are some good distinct varieties in each section, but 
with time we shall find that these will grow out on 
flowering, and we shall never see the like again, 
except they be reimported. Peculiar climatic condi¬ 
tions have produced them, but give them the original 
conditions of the parent and we shall get reversion. 
This I have found to be the case with Agaves and 
with Cacti, more than any other set of plants. 
— Ckevening Park tlie Walks and 
Drives are kept clear of weeds by the careful 
distribution of Arsenic, prepared in the fol¬ 
lowing way:—31b. of arsenic is boiled up in 3 
gallons of water, and to this 7 gallons of water are 
added when cold. Thus weakened, the quantity is 
capable of covering a distance of 90 feet. The 
walks average about 9 feet wide, and being of con¬ 
siderable extent, a zinc cistern, made to run on 
three wheels, is used, with a spreader in the back 
part of it—in fact, a miniature watering-cart—for 
the purpose of scattering the liquid. The walks 
receive this dressing annually, the sides being hand- 
watered with watering pots. 
— 5T-he Capital beds of Carrots at Aln¬ 
wick, long, crisp, and tender, recently induced 
a visitor to enquire how the crop was managed, 
since in old garden ground Carrots are so liable to 
the attacks of insects and other pests that their 
cultivation has in many places been abandoned. “ I 
am aware of that,” said Mr. Ingram, and then in 
these few words he revealed the secret of his 
success :—“ Trench in autumn. Trench deep, and 
lay the manure at the bottom of the trench. In 
spring rake down, lay on an inch of wood ashes, and 
dig them lightly in.” 
— SSJriting of Choice Peas, Mr. Gilbert, 
of Burghley, says :—“ I think Criterion still 
among the best; G. F. Wilson is also a grand 
Pea; and Marvel with me this year is indeed a 
marvel—4 ft. high, and literally podded from top to 
bottom. Among new Peas not yet out, John Bull 
stands prominent—4 ft. high ; well-filled pods of a 
delicious flavour are among its chief characteristics, 
Reading Trumpet, which I have grown this season, 
is a white marrow of great excellence. I had almost 
forgotten Stratagem, which is the gem of Messrs. 
Carter’s three. ” 
— JJThe Tvd^ias are valuable decorative 
indoor-plants during the autumn and winter. 
Mr. J. Fraser has the variety named Robert 
le Diable in profuse bloom, presenting a very gay 
appearance. It is of easy cultivation, and sure- 
flowering, so much so that spring-struck cuttings 
when grown quickly may be had in flower during 
late summer and autumn of the same year. The 
flowers are of a rich crimson velvet, densely spotted 
with black, and spring from the axils of the leaves, 
so as to form a dense and most effective pyramid ; 
it is also showy by gaslight, and therefore most 
valuable as a table-plant. After the plants have 
ceased flowering, they should be placed on a shelf in 
the greenhouse, ranging in temperature from 45° 
to 50°, watering them moderately, but never allow¬ 
ing them to become too dry. 
— JTor the autumn flower garden, the Rud- 
beckia Neumanni is, perhaps, scarcely excelled 
by any of our hardy perennials. It is equally 
adapted for planting in lines or in masses, and is a 
fine decorative subject, either in the flower border 
or the flower vase. It grows about 2 ft. high, is of 
erect habit, requires no staking or tying, and has 
large bright golden orange-yellow flowers, with a 
black disc. It has been suggested that a few beds 
of these in some of our London parks during the 
autumn would be a relief to the eye, after the formal 
appearance of the ordinary bedding. 
— £n the opinion of Mr. Harrison Weir, 
the Shanking of Grapes proceeds from a 
fungus, which lights on the stem of the bunch. 
In a note published in the Journal of Horticulture 
he describes this as at first a tiny speck, which 
quickly grows, and when it has surrounded the stem 
cuts off all nutrition from the fruit below, and 
shrivels the stem so that it dies, the upper part re¬ 
maining in full health and vigour, and the fruit 
growing and ripening as before. If it were from 
the roots being defective, as some say, Mr. Weir 
argues that the whole bunch would go, which it does 
not. Stop mildew or fungus in your house, and there 
will be no shanking. This is easily verified by look¬ 
ing out sharply for the first appearance of the spot 
of fungus and watching its progress; the tissues 
above the shanked part will be found healthy and 
sound, which could not be if the damage came from 
the root, nor in that case would the simple plan of 
cutting off the part that has shanked be of any 
avail, which it undoubtedly is. The best remedy 
for shanking, he says, is sulphur on the pipes; but 
it must be dealt with gently. 
— fffR. T. F. Rivers states that the Early 
Louise Peach was one of the first early seed¬ 
lings raised at Sawbridgeworth, and a great 
advance in early maturity was marked by its ad¬ 
vent ; it has not been claimed as a fruit of the first 
water, and it does not rival the Noblesse in flavour; 
but half a peach is better than none, and if in a 
cool orchard-house the season of ripening can be 
extended by a month, then there is something 
gained. He has the Early Louise growing as an 
untrained standard, as a trellis-tree, and as a pot- 
