Cuttings

No good can come of association with anything labelled Gwladys or Ysobel or Ethyl or Mabelle or Kathryn. But particularly Gwladys," wrote P G Wodehouse. Pauline and David Hartshorn's Directory of First Name Plants, however, will lead you to names you do want to remember. There are two Tristrams, one an ivy, the other a sempervivum, and two Charleses, one a dianthus, the other a tulip. Flatterers might choose 'Big Charles', which is a fuchsia. The possibilities for coded messages are endless. The directory costs pounds 2 (incl. p&p) and can be ordered direct from D and P Hartshorn, Nonesuch Cottage, Badby, Northants NN11 3AW.

Adopt a vegetable" is the plea from the Henry Doubleday Research Association, which is concerned about the limited number of vegetable varieties now available to gardeners. Since the 1970s EEC regulations have required that all varieties of vegetable be registered. But each registration costs several hundred pounds and seedsmen can only recoup the cost of registration on the best-selling varieties.

Because of increasing pressure on marginal varieties, the HDRA wants to expand its seed library and is asking for sponsors to adopt a vegetable and secure its survival. For pounds 12.50 a year, you could take on the 'Snow White Cherry' tomato or 'Mr Lenthall's' broad bean. For a sponsor form, contact the HDRA at Ryton Organic Gardens, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3LG (01203 303517).

Just opened at the Polish Cultural Institute, 34 Portland Place, London, is an exhibition of photographs of Arkadia, a garden of 30 hectares near Nieborow in Poland. Arkadia was originally laid out between 1778-1821 for the Princess Helena Radziwill. Its features include a lake, the artificial ruins of an aqueduct and a Temple of Diana. An extensive restoration of the garden is now being carried out. The exhibition, which runs until 24 Jan is open Mon- Fri 10-4 (Thursdays 10-8).