1881. ] 
GARDEN GOSSIP. 
175 
early July is soon enough for sowing coleworts ; but 
it is not. About the middle of May is the proper 
time, and the plants are then ready just when they 
are wanted, and have time to become strong before 
winter. Strong plants may be planted about 15 in. 
npart, and if they have been raised from a true stock 
they will have an attractive appearance in the 
autumn, as all the plants will be of the same height. 
— Hn one of the daily journals we have 
found some comments on the manner in which 
to Cut and Cook Asparagus, and in which 
the waste which occurs iu the handsome bundles of 
large “grass,” about six-sevenths of which is white 
and uneatable, is properly censured. The writer 
observes that the same length might be sold for 
the same price all eatable, and states that the evil 
arises from cutting the asparagus too soon and 
below the surface of the beds. “ I-allow mine to 
grow eight or nine inches above the ground, and 
then cut an inch above the ground, and thus obtain 
seven to eight inches of green tops, the whole of 
which is eatable and of good flavour.” Asparagus 
should be cooked in bundles, upright in the pot, 
with the tops just above the water, to prevent their 
being overdone whilst the stems are being suffi¬ 
ciently cooked. 
— 3In a collection of Dwarf French Beans, 
sliown at Maidstone, were a few new types of 
good promise. The Monster■ Long-pod Negro 
is a very fine selection from this well-known variety, 
with long and handsome pods ; it is a very free 
bearer, and for a general crop, as well as for market 
purposes, appears unrivalled. Bunyard’s Broad Pod 
is a very distinct type, with broad pods, in shape like 
those of the Scarlet Runner, of medium growth and 
very prolific ; this appears to be an excellent variety 
in every respect. Paris Red, a selection from the 
Canadian Wonder, represents a very fine type, having 
long and handsome pods, and very free. It may be 
assumed that the Canadian Wonder originated as a 
selection from the Red Flageolet of the Parisians, 
and so the Bean is being surely improved. 
— Speddock, near Dumfries, there is, 
states the Gardener , a very remarkable specimen 
of the Black Hamburgh Vine, distinguished 
alike for its size, and for its splendid produce. The 
vine at Hampton Court, as well as those at Cumber¬ 
land Lodge and Finchley, are larger, but the produce 
of these is not so fine as that of the Speddock vine. 
This vine is about eighty years old, and fills a vinery 
something over 60 ft. long and 20 ft. wide, with a 
lofty back wall, and consequently a long rafter. The 
vine is planted at the extreme east end of the 
house, so that its growth is entirely to the west. 
Last year it bore 600 lb. of grapes of superb quality, 
both as to size and finish. This year it has fully 
7001b., every bunch from end to end and from top 
to bottom being a model one ; and while some are 
quite 3 lb. weight, they will average at least 2 lb. 
each. They are large in berry, conical in shape, and 
jet black. Mr. Smith, who manages all his vines in 
four vineries with great care and skill, wings all the 
bunches, so that they are remarkably uniform in 
shape. This grand vine is in a most vigorous con¬ 
dition, and if the vinery were extended 60 ft. to the 
east, it would soon fill it all; but the nature of the 
ground prevents extension in that direction. 
- & REMARKABLE Case of SPORTIVENESS IN 
the Tulip occurred during the last blooming 
season in the garden of S. Barlow, Escp, Stake- 
hill House, Castleton, who is one of the enthusiastic 
tulip-growers of Lancashire. The plant was a seed¬ 
ling, of no particular merit as a florists’ flower; it 
hacl broken as a bizarre, that is to say, yellow 
ground, with dark-coloured markings; five of the 
perianth segments were of this bizarre character, 
while the sixth had the colour and markings of a 
bybloemen, that is to say, white ground with dark 
markings. 
— fC'T Chiswick, a Cherry called Noire 
Precoce de Strass, has been found to be one 
of the earliest, having been exhibited in a ripe 
state on June 14th. Though somewhat small, it 
possesses a good and delicate flavour, and is desirable 
as an early fruit. According to M. Leroy, this is 
the same as the Reine Hortense, but that is de¬ 
scribed as a large July fruit. 
— beautiful specimen of Philesia 
buxifolia is growing in the garden of J. D. C. 
Graham, Esq., Dunlop, Ayrshire. This plant is 
three feet through, and as much in height, and has 
been literally covered with its beautiful, deep rose 
flowers. It is growing in a cool house, and is found 
easy to cultivate. 
— ^T the summer shows at South Kensing¬ 
ton and elsewhere, Messrs. Carter made a very 
nice display of Petunias in pots, being part of 
a collection of many thousands which were being 
grown at their nurseries for seed. Some of the 
forms are named as follows :—Cerise Brilliant, 
bright cerise-scarlet; White Pearl, pure white; Blue 
Vein, reticulated ; Stars and Stripes, beautifully 
variegated white purple and crimson ; Maltese Lace, 
delicately fringed; Queen of Roses, rich rose-pink, 
very fine colour; Green-edged Perfection; Japanese, 
prettily serrated; Double Rosette, double ; Purple 
Prince, rich purple crimson; and King Crimson, 
crimson, with white throat. 
— 2Me find the popular name of Sweet 
Betsy, which is new to us, is applied to the 
Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber, by the people 
of the Isle of Thanet and the adjacent parts of the 
county of Kent. The plant is very abundant on 
the chalk cliffs and railway cuttings in that county, 
and is also a very showy and very frequent occu¬ 
pant of cottage gardens, both there and elsewhere. 
— ®iie excellent quality of the Garden 
Pottery manufactured by Mr. J. Matthews, 
of Weston-super-Mare, is well-known to the 
horticultural world; and its reputation has been 
fully sustained by the awards made during the 
present year. Thus, at the Annual Show of the 
Royal Manchester, Liverpool, and North Lanca¬ 
shire Agricultural Society, held recently at Black¬ 
burn, a silver medal—the third gained this year— 
was awarded for the best collection of Mr. Matthews’ 
vases; and at the Manchester International Show 
his exhibits in this class obtained the substantial 
recognition of a gold medal. 
— Amateurs do not generally realise 
the fact that Paper is a Good Protector from 
Frost. The placing of a paper cone, a dozen 
of which can be made out of a Times’ supplement, 
will often be sufficient protection to plants which, 
although indoors, are at the windows, and liable to 
be frost-bitten. The power which paper has of 
