Hero of the Nile
(S). Fruit greenish-white, large, smooth. Branches spreading. King of Trumps (F). Fruit roundish-oblong, slightly hairy, of good flavour. Branches slender, spreading.
Lady Leicester (S). Fruit large; skin whitish, with green veins, hairy; early. Branches spreading.
Mayor of Oldham (F). Fruit greenish-white, round, smooth, of excellent flavour. Branches spreading.
Princess Royal. Fruit large, obovate, hairy, of good flavour. Branches pendulous. A good bearer.
Queen of Trumps (S). Fruit long, flat-sided, smooth, large, and of excellent flavour. Branches vigorous, spreading.
Royal White. Fruit small, round, slightly hairy. Branches erect. Snowdrop (F). Fruit very large, roundish, of excellent flavour; skin white, with broad green veins, hairy. Branches slender, spreading. One of the best grown.
White Champagne (F). Fruit small, roundish, sweet and rich, hairy. Leaves pubescent above. Branches erect.
White Fig. Fruit small, obovate, smooth; will hang till it shrivels. Branches erect.
White Lion. Fruit large, obovate, slightly hairy, rich flavour. Branches pendulous. Very late variety.
Woodward's Whitesmith (F). Fruit white, downy, large, roundish-oblong, of excellent flavour. Branches erect. Rather early, an abundant bearer, and one of the best in cultivation. SYNS. Hall's Seedling, Lancashire Lass, Sir Sidney Smith, &c.
GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT SAWFLY (Nematus Ribesii). This is a well-known enemy to the gardener, from the damage the larvae do to Gooseberry and Currant bushes, completely stripping them of their leaves. The eggs are laid in spring, on the under side of the newly-expanded leaves, and are hatched in a few days. The caterpillars are of a peculiar bluish-green colour, with black spots on the segments and yellow markings by the head and tail. They have as many as twenty legs. When full grown, they descend into the earth, and either at once assume the chrysalid state, and thence become perfect flies, or else hibernate till the following spring, before making their final changes. The following are a few of the remedies given for the extermination of the pest:
Tobacco Powder. This, dredged over the bushes, at night and early in the morning, will dislodge the worms, and they can be trodden on or picked up by hand and destroyed.
Soot and Lime. Equal parts of dry soot and air-slaked lime, mixed together, and dusted over the foliage whilst in a damp state, and when the caterpillars are small, will help to keep the plants clear. When the leaves are fallen, they should be raked together and removed or burnt. A good dressing of soot and lime must then be applied to the ground, which should not be dry at the time, and the same operation should be repeated in spring. Hellebore. Freshly-ground White Hellebore, dusted over the trees while the foliage is damp, is a certain exterminator of the caterpillars. The following recipe is equally efficacious: Dissolve 1lb. of size in a gallon or two of hot water, and to this add 1lb. of Hellebore powder. When the water becomes nearly cold, mix thoroughly, and add enough cold water to make about sixteen gallons. Apply with a water-pot or syringe. At the end of a week, thoroughly wash off with clean water, as the powder is poisonous.
GOOSEBERRY OR MAGPIE MOTH (Abraxas grossulariata). This common and familiar moth is often mistaken for a butterfly. It usually appears about the middle of summer, and continues until autumn. Its wings have a white background, with numerous patches of black, varying much in size. At the base of the forewings is a yellow patch, and near the middle a band of yellow, between two rows of black spots. The colouring is, however, very variable. In the male, the antennae are very slightly feathered, while in the female they are thread-like. The female deposits her eggs singly on the leaves of Gooseberry or Black Currant bushes, generally towards evening; and the fact that the eggs are so thoroughly distributed by the moth, sufficiently explains, apart from its mere fecundity, how the caterpillars are so difficult to eradicate. The eggs soon hatch, and the larvae feed for from two to three weeks, and then lie secure within the folds of Gooseberry or Currant leaves, and pass a sort of torpid state of existence. When the winter is past, the caterpillar emerges from its temporary lodging, and again sets about the process of eating. The grub, when full grown, is white and orange, with some conspicuous black bands at each joint. The chrysalis is of a black colour, having a few orange rings round the segments of the body. The caterpillars of this pretty moth are exceedingly destructive, and will soon defoliate a very large space, especially if the trees are on walls. Hand-picking is very practicable, the caterpillars being conspicuous. Toads and birds will also take them; but damage will be prevented by seasonable precautions. For remedies, see Gooseberry and Currant Sawfly.
GORDONIA (named in honour of Alexander Gordon, a nurseryman contemporary with Philip Miller). Including Polyspora. ORD. Ternstraemiaceae. A genus comprising ten species of greenhouse or hardy trees, natives of North America, and of tropical and sub-tropical Asia. Flowers often showy; peduncles solitary, one-flowered. Leaves evergreen, entire or crenate. The hardy species are very handsome, and deserve careful culture; they thrive in a moist peat, or leaf mould and sand. The greenhouse species succeed in a similar compost, with ordinary treatment. Propagated by layers, or by imported seeds. G. anomala (anomalous).* fl. cream-coloured, sessile, solitary, usually axillary. November. l. obovate-oblong, serrulated; upper ones entire. h. 3ft. Tropical and sub-tropical Asia, 1816. Greenhouse. (B. M. 4019, under name of Polyspora axillaris.) G. grandis (great). fl. white, large; corymbs few-flowered, terminal. 1880. A very handsome greenhouse species, with leaves somewhat like those of the Cherry Laurel.
G. javanica (Javan). A synonym of Schima Noronhoe.
G. Lasianthus (hairy-flowered).* fl. white, 4in. across, fragrant; pedicels axillary. July and August. l. oblong, smooth, serrated, coriaceous. h. 8ft. to 10ft. (in England). North America, 1739. Hardy. (B. M. 668.) G. pubescens (downy).* fl. white, with yellow filaments, fragrant, almost sessile, 3in. across; petals and sepals rather silky on the outside. August. l. obovate-lanceolate, pubescent beneath, somewhat serrated, membranous. h. 4ft. to 6ft. (in England). North America, 1774. Hardy. GOSSYPIUM (the Latin name used by Pliny). Cotton Plant. ORD. Malvaceae. A small genus (comprising three species) of stove perennial herbs or shrubs. Flowers yellow or purple, usually large and showy; calyx truncate or shortly five-fid. Fruit a three or five-celled capsule, bursting when ripe, and exposing the numerous seeds covered with down. Leaves three to nine-lobed, or rarely entire. Gossypiums thrive in a light rich soil. Propagated by seeds, sown in moist heat, in spring. The seedlings, When large enough to handle, should be planted singly in small pots, and transferred to larger ones as required. This genus is one of the most important of the whole vegetable kingdom, yielding, as it does, the well-known cotton of commerce. G. Bahma(Bahma). This differs from other Cottons in its larger size, and its erect, almost unbranched habit. More cotton, too, is produced by it. Originated in Egypt, several years ago; said to be a hybrid between Egyptian Cotton and Hibiscus esculentus. (G. C. n. s., vii. 561.) G. barbadense (Barbadoes). fl. yellow, with a purple spot at the base of each petal, finally turning reddish, large. September. l., upper ones three-lobed; lower ones five-lobed. Stem smooth. h. 5ft. Barbadoes, 1759. (B. R. i. 84.) G. herbaceum (herbaceous). fl. yellow, with a purple spot on the claw of each petal. July. l. five-lobed; lobes rounded, mucronate. h. 3ft. to 4ft. East Indies, 1594.
GOUANIA (named in honour of Anthony Gouan, 1733-1821, Professor of Botany at Montpelier). SYN. Retinaria. ORD. Rhamneae. A genus containing about thirty species of usually evergreen stove scandent shrubs, of botanical interest only. They are natives of the forests of tropical America, Asia, and Africa. Flowers small, usually produced in clusters along leafless branches, forming slender spikes. Leaves alternate, petiolate, with veins running straight from the midrib to the margin. The species require a compost of peat and loam. Cuttings will root freely if inserted in sand, under a glass, in heat. The most interesting species of the genus is G. domingensis, the Chaw-stick of Jamaica.
GOURDS (Cucurbita). The species and varieties of Gourds are very numerous, and, as they readily cross-hybridise when growing near each other, it is somewhat difficult to keep the sorts distinct without having them isolated. Some have fruits highly coloured and very ornamental, and others produce them of an enormous size. From investigations made by M. Naudin, in France, where Gourds are more largely cultivated than here, the edible varieties have been referred to three species of Cucurbita, namely, C. maxima, C. moschata, and C. Pepo. The first-named includes the varieties with unfurrowed stalks and large broad leaves, such as the Large Yellow and Turk's Cap Gourds. Varieties with slightly-furrowed stalks, much enlarged near the fruit, deeply-lobed leaves, and rough seeds, are referred to the second species. C. Pepo comprises all the varieties with slender, deeply-furrowed stalks and deeply-lobed leaves with rough hairs; these include the Vegetable Marrow, Custard, Crookneck, and Orange Gourds. With the exception of the Vegetable Marrows, Gourds are cultivated in this country more as curiosities than for the value of their fruits for eating. Where the fruits of the very large sorts can be ripened before frost sets in, they may be cut, suspended in a dry, airy place, and kept for several months. The flesh is usually scooped or cut out, after being kept some time, and used in soups and stews, or baked, either alone or with apples, in pies. The fruits may also be cooked as a vegetable when young. All the plants are annuals, and hardy enough to succeed outside, in warm positions, from May until autumn. Many of them are vigorous-growing trailing subjects, that may be utilised--particularly the ornamental ones--for covering bare walls, hedges, unsightly fences, &c. Seeds should be sown in a gentle heat, in April, and the young plants afterwards grown on and hardened before being placed outside, about the end of May. Protection should then be afforded by handlights, until danger of frost is past, and the plants have become established. All the sorts require a rich soil, which should be placed above a large heap of manure; and any quantity of water may be applied to the roots in summer.
Sorts. The following are amongst the best in the sections representing large-fruited kinds and those of an ornamental character. The Apple, Pear, and Lemon Gourds are varieties having fruits more or less resembling those after which they are popularly named. Various ornamental Cucurbitaceae not belonging to the genus Cucurbita, will be found under their proper headings. See also Vegetable Marrow.
Boulogne Grey. Fruit large; rind deep olive-green, towards maturity covered with a fine network of greyish lines; flesh yellow, thick and floury. According to Vilmorin, this was raised only a few years ago, at Boulogne-sur-Seine, but it is now widely grown, and is much esteemed by the market gardeners about Paris.
Chestnut Gourd. Fruit medium or small, depressed; ribs indistinct or altogether absent; rind smooth, deep brick-red; flesh deep yellow, very thick, sugary and floury. An excellent variety, of vigorous habit. SYN. Corfu Gourd. Crown Gourd, or Custard Marrow. Fruit scolloped at the edge, produced close to the stem. Plant compact; does not run on the ground. Egg-shaped. Fruit large, with a hard skin, of a reddish colour. A free-bearing, vigorous, trailing variety.
Embroidered Warted. Fruit small, with yellow flesh; skin beautiful yellow, covered with large excrescences. An exceedingly ornamental variety, but rather tender.
Green-striped Bergen. Fruit dark green and white striped, small. Of compact vigorous habit. Much cultivated in America.