262 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ November, 
Victoria varieties of to-day have even exceeded it in merit. Indeed, some of the 
Victoria Asters are as perfect as well can be in form and substance, quite 
equalling the beautiful symmetry displayed in the German section, and far excel¬ 
ling it in habit. There are also some very beautiful miniature varieties, called 
Pompon or Bouquet Asters, especially Boltze’s varieties. 
Not only are Asters amongst the most popular of half-hardy annuals for out¬ 
door culture, but they are also very beautiful when grown in pots, and most useful 
for all kinds of decorative purposes, as the plant figured illustrates. When grown in 
pots, they may besides be induced to bloom successionally, from the early spring 
to the shorter days and dreary months of winter. All the attention requisite 
under this kind of treatment is abundance of light and air, with a plentiful supply of 
water. The pots should always be plunged up to their rims in damp soil, cinder- 
ashes, or the like, so as to insure uniformity of moisture at the root, which is not 
possible when the pots are fully exposed to atmospheric fluctuations. Beyond 
this, it is unnecessary to occupy time with details of their treatment (which are 
exactly the same as in the case of other half-hardy annuals), except to advise 
always to sow in one position, and to transplant to another, and to use fresh soil 
for the final growing and blooming stage.— William Earley, Valentines. 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
FOWLER, of Castle Kennedy, writing of Mr. W. Thomson’s New 
Grape, Duke of Buccleuch, observes :—Vines of the Duke of Buccleuch, 
growing side by side with the Black Hamburgh, growing in the same 
border, all the conditions the same, are somewhat more robust in habit, 
the foliage "being larger and of greater substance—a sure indication of a good constitution ; 
many of the leaves measured more than 14 in. in diameter. The wood is strong, short-jointed, 
and very hard. The bunches will, under ordinary good management, average from 1^ lb. to 3 lb. 
in weight; the clusters are solid and compact, with fine broad shoulders, and unusually stiff 
foot-stalks ; the berries are roundish oval, of the largest size, very equal, and when well finished 
resemble the finest Muscats in colour. When thoroughly ripened its flavour is equalled by 
few, and second to no Grape I have ever tasted. Its merits as an early forcing Grape have 
yet to be tested. It can only be on very rare occasions that a new Grape is presented of 
sufficient merit to justify its being classed on the same level with Muscat of Alexandria or 
Black Hamburgh, but I believe that when sufficiently known the Duke of Buccleuch will be 
as much grown as either of those popular varieties. 
- ®he leaves of the Bearberry (Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi) are exported 
from Europe to America in large quantities. They have a bitter and astringent 
taste, due to the fact that they contain tannic and gallic acid. In Sweden they are 
used for dyeing an ash-colour, and in that country and in Russia they are employed in tan¬ 
ning leather. A new use has now been found for them. Those who have much to do with 
boilers will be only too well aware that they are subject to incrustation or corrosion to a 
greater or less extent, according to the nature of the water used. A preparation has lately been 
brought into notice, under the title of “ Armitage’s Vegetative,” and which consists simply 
of the powdered leaves of the Bearberry; this on being boiled in the boiler, separates the scale, 
which can then easily be removed. Afterwards, if the “Vegetative” is put into the boiler 
weekly, the “ scale ” will not accumulate. 
- 2fwo remarkably fine specimens of Lapageria rosea have been referred 
to recently by Mr. Fisb. One is the red-flowered L. rosea itself, which covers many 
feet of the back wall and roof of a noble conservatory at Wolverstone Park, the 
