1872. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
191 
weather sets in, they will make fresh roots, and will not keep so well. As the 
principal cropping for this season is over, towards the end of the month every 
attention should be given to the cleaning of the different crops, and of the garden 
generally, so that everything may have a tidy appearance.—M. Saul, Stourton . 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
G|p HE Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society at the Aston Lower 
Grounds, Birmingham, was a grand success. Probably no finer show 
f of plants and other horticultural matters has been seen since the great 
International Show of 1866. The receipts were over £5,000. There 
was an exhibitors’ dinner, which passed off with a heartiness and unanimity which were most 
gratifying; and the Congress proved to be fairly satisfactory, though too many papers were 
brought forward, not allowing time for discussion. Dr. Denny’s paper on the Influence of 
Parentage in Flowering Plants, Mr. Paul’s on Form in Tree Scenery, and Mr. Westland’s on the 
Future of our Fruit Crops , were particularly interesting. 
- the recent Trial of Heating Apparatus at the Aston Lower Grounds, 
a gold medal was awarded to Messrs. Hartley and Sugden, of the Atlas Works, 
Halifax, for their welded wrought-iron chambered saddle-boiler, with extended 
water-way; and a silver medal to Mr. B. Harlow, of Macclesfield, for the best tubular boiler 
and connections. Mr. Harlow was also awarded a silver medal for his improvement in joining 
hot-water pipes. 
- & noble example of Lilium giganteum is now flowering in the open air 
at Gordon Castle, Morayshire ; it has no less than 17 fully expanded flowers,, 
supported on a stem 11 ft. in height and nearly 9 in. in circumference. Mr. 
Webster states that the flowering of this plant in the open air is now nothing uncommon, and 
the circumstance would not be worth citing were it not for taking into consideration the very 
long period of inclement weather through which it has struggled to grow, and that without 
the aid of any artificial assistance whatever. Its thorough hardiness, he adds, is now well 
proven, since he has strong two-year-old plants growing from seed ripened in the open air. 
- Amongst Bedding Pansies , Messrs. Dickson and Co., of Edinburgh, 
have obtained some crosses from V. cornuta Perfection which prove to be hardy 
and free-bloomers, the habit being free and branching, so that they keep up a 
constant succession of bloom ; they come into flower nearly three weeks earlier than Perfec¬ 
tion itself. The most distinct—and these are handsome flowers—are :— The Tory, White Perfec¬ 
tion, Advancer, and Dickson's King. Snowflake, a seedling from V. stricta cdba, is a much 
dwarfer and more compact grower. Regince is one of the dwarfest white Pansies, and a very 
free bloomer. Scotia is distinct in colour, and a very free grower and bloomer. Eyebright is 
very telling, and makes a most attractive bed. Claret, a reddish-purple, is a seedling from 
New Colour, of better substance and colour, and stands the weather better. Favourite was 
raised from V. amcena magniflca, and is a capital grower, compact and free, showing its 
flowers well. In Memoriam is one of the finest for bedding, as it has size, colour, substance, 
and finish; it is a vigorous and compact grower, and a very free bloomer. 
-have received specimens of a variety of Lamium album from Mr. 
J. Schott Cousens. The leaves are elegantly striped with creamy-white, with 
a blotching of the same colour here and there superadded, and the variegation is, 
we believe, constant, though, of course, variable in different leaves. It was found at Amwell 
Marshes, in Hertfordshire, last year ; and will be quite an acquisition amongst hardy variegated 
perennials. 
- Elsewhere we have given figures and descriptions of several New Peas 
raised by Mr. Laxton. We have also the promise of a new batch from Mr. Standish, 
