grafting, only one wound is seen, well closed, and, from its proximity to the ground, in all probability when it is transplanted it will have the advantage of being put a little below it, so that the graft itself may put out roots, as have already observed in several of them. I have seen a paper by M. Poiteau, in his Revue Horticulturale, on this method of grafting; also, perhaps, in the Annales de la Société Hort. de Paris; but the putting it in practice in summer is new, and that is the time when plants are in their full vigour.— Giuseppe Manetti.

[The foregoing communication was unfortunately mislaid after the essence of it had been used in the Arboretum Britannicum. On this account we entreat our correspondent and our readers to pardon the seeming neglect. We have now, we believe, inserted all the communications which we have ever received from Signore Manetti, and we hope he will be encouraged to continue them; for we are certain that all those of our readers whose taste rises higher than mere culture, who have, in fact, elegant minds, will read them with pleasure as well as with instruction.—Cond.]

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

ENGLAND.

THE Horticultural Fête at Chiswick, May 16.-It has never been our lot to see so many beautiful and rare plants collected in one place, as were yesterday in the Horticultural Society's Garden. The orchidaceous plants were in fine order, and were generally admired. Among the more remarkable were, Phalaenopsis amábilis Blume, with its large white moth-like blossoms; the plant we were told had been in flower for nearly eighteen months; Coryánthes macrántha Hook., having a lurid crimson flower unlike any thing else in nature, the labellum or lip being folded round almost like a sack; Myánthus cérnuus Lindl., a fine plant with two long drooping spikes of dull green flowers, spotted with purple; Cattleya Móssic Hook., two very beautiful varieties with deep lilac petals, and a crimson labellum edged with white; Acanthophippium bicolor Lindl., a very large plant producing yellow blossoms edged with red, close to the soil of the pot, in such masses as completely to hide it; Aérides odoràtum Lam., a most elegant plant with two drooping spikes, closely crowded with delicate white flowers, exhaling a most delicious scent; Vánda Roxbúrghi R. Br.; the rare and richly-coloured Oncidium divaricàtum B. R., and many others, too numerous to mention here, were in native beauty and vigour. These plants were principally supplied from the rich collections of Messrs. Rawlinson and Mr. Rucker. A very large quantity of heaths, all in fine flower, including nearly all the rarer kinds; one of the most remarkable specimens was a large plant of Erica élegans Andr., from the Exeter Nursery, so completely covered with bright pink flowers as entirely to hide the foliage. A very numerous collection, including E. Hartnélli Ro. C., E. vestìta Thun., and several varieties; E. Thunbergia W., E. mirábilis Lod., and many others, occupied nearly the whole of one side of the central tent. The cacti from Mr. Harris, of which there were between 300 and 400 specimens, chiefly from Mexico, of all shapes and sizes. Mr. Cock's geraniums, and the innumerable variety of calceolarias, attracted universal attention. To describe the number and extraordinary varieties of Calceolaria is impossible; suffice to say, that some were "rich in streaming gold," others of a deep velvet purple, others white, with a purple stain in the centre curiously marked with white; others again, having a white ground with a pink spot in the centre, very regularly marked with lines of deep crimson, &c., &c. The Azalea índica and its varieties, particularly A. i. variegata and A.i. laterítia, were deserving of notice; these, with the Rhododendron arboreum and its varieties, added not a little to the splendour of the show, by their large white, purple, pink, or red flowers. Cèreus speciosíssimus, and Epiphyllum Ackermánni major, produced a gorgeous

effect, mixed with the white azaleas, from the large size of their blossoms, and their number. This group, from its brilliant masses of colour, quite defied the painter's art to depict, and ours to describe.

Of Tropa olum tricolòrum there were many fine specimens in full flower, trained over wire frames, of all fantastic shapes. At a distance, the flowers looked like a number of little scarlet bells, or a green robe exquisitely embroidered with scarlet. The ixoras, with large orange scarlet heads of blossom, were among the most showy plants exhibited, and their flowers were well set off by the deep glossy foliage from which they rose. Perhaps the most remarkable plant of the whole was a seedling Rhododendron from Mr. Smith of Norbiton Nursery, with large yellow flowers, said to have been raised between Azalea sinensis and Rhododendron máximum. We cannot close without noticing that one entire tent was occupied by a collection of fine plants from Mr. Harris, including the cacti above mentioned. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather of the morning, there was a tolerable attendance, and the general opinion seemed to be, that it was the best May show that had ever been seen in the gardens. -W. A. M. May 16. 1840.

Mr. Knight's Catalogue of Coniferæ, just printed, contains: Abies 4 species and varieties; Araucaria 4 species; Cállitris 1 species; Cèdrus 2 species; Cunninghamia 1 species; Cupressus 8 species and varieties; Dacrýdium 2 species; Juniperus 17 species and varieties; Làrix 3 species and varieties ; Picea 15 species and varieties; Pinus 55 species and varieties; Podocarpus 4 species; Taxòdium 4 species; Taxus 7 species and varieties; and Thùja 6 species and varieties. In all 140 species and varieties.

Works on the Cacti are said to be in preparation by Zuccarini at Munich, and Dr. Lhotsky in London; and the late Duke of Bedford had 80 species figured at Woburn, with a view to a splendid publication on this tribe of plants. This work, we understand, is suspended for the present; but we have no doubt the present duke will resume it in due time.

Bedgebury Park, Kent, is at present the scene of very extensive improvements, under the direction of the very intelligent young gardener, James Finlay, formerly assistant to Mr. Wood at Deepdene. A new kitchen-garden has been formed, and also a new flower-garden, with an extensive range of hot-houses, pits, sheds, &c. Many miles of road have been laid out through the woods and farm lands, under draining extensively executed; planting, and also thinning, existing plantations, carried on in various directions; cows imported from Holland, Jersey, and Ireland, to prove which are the best milkers; Colonel Le Couteur and M. Vilmorin's improved varieties of wheat have been tried, besides many other improvements connected with agriculture, gardening, and planting; but being now on my commercial journey, I have not time to go into farther details.-T. B. Tunbridge Wells, May 8. 1840.

Wistaria sinensis, at Lavender Hill Nursery, is now (May 5.) well worth your inspection, for two or three things: 1st, The plant occupies a part of three sides of the house, and consequently gives three successive sheets of flowers on the three aspects. 2dly, The flowers are quite as numerous, and, perhaps, more beautiful, certainly of a deeper tint, and they last much longer, upon the east and north sides, than on the south side; and, 3dly, there cannot possibly be found a more cutting or cold and exposed situation than that corner of the house which faces the north and the north-east, and yet the plant grows, flourishes, and blossoms most profusely, flowering also during the summer and nearly into the autumn again. The plant is this year very regularly covered with flowers, and the number of bunches is very great. W. Pamplin, jun. 9. Queen Street, Soho Square, May 5.

The Vine at Valentines, once so celebrated, is now declining in health, and bears very sparingly. The branches, which used to fill a house 72 ft. long, are now not longer than 20 ft. The thickest part of the stem is 2 ft. in circumference. A fine myrtle in the green-house here 15 ft. high, with a trunk as many inches in diameter, and a magnificent conical head, was last autumn cut down to the ground, but is springing up again with vigour.-J. J. Valentines, May 12. 1840.

A Fine-Fruit Company has been projected by some gentlemen at Burton upon Trent. Coals and glass are very cheap there, and an experienced gardener in the neighbourhood says he can produce forced grapes at the rate of 3d. per lb., which may be sent to London by the railroad in quantities, not less than 50 lb., at a halfpenny per lb. We have often thought that something of this kind attempted in the neighbourhood of Lisbon, and to include the finer culinary vegetables, and winter flowers, as well as fruits, might succeed. -Cond.

Artificial Flowers and whole Plants have been very successfully made of feathers by Mrs. Randolph, 2. Bridge Street, Westminster, who has produced roses, carnations, camellias, chrysanthemums, and many others, almost equal to nature, and not only single flowers, but whole plants with leaves, buds, and flowers in all stages. The fairer part of creation, no doubt, will properly appreciate this elegant invention of Mrs. Randolph's, more especially if it were possible to infuse a little odour peculiar to the different species into the flowers. The prince of poets says that "woman unadorned is adorned the most," yet I cannot help thinking, however, that flowers are nature's own ornaments, and therefore will tend to heighten effect by their judicious use. By this invention ladies may be supplied with a summer bouquet for a ball at Christmas, which even an experienced eye would fail at a little distance to detect. At a meeting of the Horticultural Society on May 5., Mrs. Randolph exhibited some very beautiful specimens of her invention; among them I noticed whole plants of roses, particularly the sanguine China rose, chrysanthemums, camellias, and myrtles, in all of which she had been eminently successful. The carnations, the pinks, the wallflowers, and many other cut flowers were very beautifully executed, and with remarkable truth, both in form and colour. I have seen many beautiful imitations of flowers in wax and other substances, but they all have a certain stiffness which at once destroys the simplicity of nature, and shows you, too evidently, that they are mere imitations, but in Mrs. Randolph's feather flowers no such disagreeable effect is produced.-W. A. M. May, 1840.

A new Hedge-Pruner. In these days of new inventions, I would beg to put in my claim for a new hedge-pruner, which I have, after three years' trial, found to make a very heavy process an uncommonly light one. I can with the greatest ease prune one side of hawthorn hedge 180 yards long and 6 ft. high, in the short space of forty minutes; and the cost of the whole apparatus will not exceed half the price of a pair of good scissors. If any of your numerous and intelligent readers or correspondents express a wish to have one, I shall send you every information respecting it, without any "consideration" whatever.—James Wright. Watfield, March 28. 1840.

A new Variety of Peach has been raised from a kernel of the Catharine, impregnated by the violette hâtive, by John Friend, Esq., of Birchington, in the Isle of Thanet. A paper on this valuable new variety, by Alderman Masters of Canterbury, was read at the meeting of the Horticultural Society, November 5. 1839, by which it appears to be a clingstone, with pale-coloured flesh, "very juicy, perfectly melting, and of a delicious flavour. It ripens somewhat irregularly during October, and has even remained good till November; thus lengthening the period during which fruit of the finest quality may be produced upon the open wall." It is Mr. Masters's intention to propagate this variety extensively, so that we trust it will soon become general in fruit gardens. (See Proceedings of the Hort. Soc. of London, vol. i. p. 114.)

Naked Barley, or Barley-Wheat; Hordeum distichum Metzger, Europæische Cerealien, p. 49. t. 11.; Hordeum nùdum Thaer; Orge à deux ranges nu, French; nackte Gerste, German; is strongly recommended by a retired medical gentleman farming his own estate near Newbury, Berkshire, as returning a greater profit than the variety of barley in general cultivation; and as it appears to us an excellent barley for cottage gardens, we insert what are stated to be its advantages. These are,

1. It contains more flour than any other grain, rice excepted. 2. It weighs more than 60 lb. per bushel. 3. The flour is whiter and sweeter than common barley flour. 4. The flour absorbs more water than other flour, consequently produces more weight of bread. 5. Bread made from any barley flour is better made into thick cakes; and if from a 4th to an 8th of an ounce of carbonate of soda be dissolved in the yeast, it improves all bread, and takes the bitter away. 6. By plain boiling is good food for children. 7. The malt made from it increases more than from common barley. 8. The malt will make in seven days less than common barley. 9. It can be made one month earlier and one month later than from common barley. 10. It weighs considerably more than the malt from common barley. 11. The beer made from this malt is superior. 12. Three bushels will seed the land as well as four of other barley. 13. Should be sown in March or April. 14. It ripens in 80 or 90 days. 15. If sown without grass, can be harvested in two or three days. 16. If sown early will be harvested in time for a good crop of turnips. 17. It requires the same cultivation as other barley. 18. The straw is superior for fodder. 19. Seldom lodges, and not subject to disease. 20. Each acre of this barley produces about one third more food for human beings or animals. Seeds may be had of Messrs. Gibbs, Charlwood, and other seedsmen. Charles Aldermann Kenbury. Newbury.

The

The Rot in Sheep. — Hydrocótyle vulgàris, Drosera rotundifolia, and Pinguícula vulgàris have been charged with giving the rot to sheep, and probably other plants. The following idea is perhaps new, but will it not explain some cases of rot which could hardly be attributed to a wet situation, such as where sheep have been upon rotting ground only a very short time? eggs of the Fasciola are very minute and innumerable, and may easily be carried with the bile into the intestines, and thence voided with the dung. In wet fields they would be spread about and kept moist, which probably would preserve life, but in dry situations they would soon be killed, or if not killed, they would not be scattered upon the grass to be taken up by the sheep, as they might be in wet places. If they once enter the mouth, they would have no great difficulty in finding their way to the proper spot for their full developement. The Planària, often said to be picked up by sheep and to be the Fasciola or fluke before it inhabits sheep, is a water animal of quite a different character. J. D. C. Sowerby. Pratt Street, Camden Town, Jan. 18. 1840.

ART. IV. The West London Gardeners' Association for mutual

Instruction.

"On

MONDAY Evening, March 16. — Mr. Caie brought forward his paper the Cultivation of Erica." He began as follows: "It may, with some truth, be asked, what can have induced me to write on the growth of Erìca, a subject which has been treated so fully by men truly eminent for their practical knowledge. But what more immediately concerns me is the fact of the cultivation of the Erica being any thing but well understood at the present time. It is because I am quite sure that no plant merits a greater share of the gardener's care, and, also, because we know of few plants which evince less of it, that I have been induced to bring the subject before this meeting.

"It must be quite obvious to every gardener that the seed of a plant would remain inert until it rotted and perished, but for the influence of heat and of moisture; but what distinguishes a practical gardener is the application of these elements in unison with the state of the seeds, as well as their natural localities. The Erica is principally found at the Cape of Good Hope, which is in latitude 34° 29" south, and its elevation at the Table Mountain above the sea is 3582 ft., which renders it an airy situation. In sowing the seeds of Erica, the sizes of the pots or pans should be regulated according to the greater or less quantity of seed to be sown. When so arranged, get a portion 1840. JUNE.

of peat earth chopped up; put a crocksherd in the bottom of the pot, then fill it with the turfy peat earth to within 1 in. of the rim of the pot; after which rub some of the peat earth very fine, and fill up the remaining part of the pot with it, then press it evenly down, so much so as to admit of sowing the seed as well as covering it, which should be done with a fine sieve, and just sufficient to cover the seed, when a very fine rose watering-pot should be used in damping and settling the earth, previously to the pots being arranged in a cold frame; where they should be plunged in cold ashes at 2 ft. from the glass, and the lights to be kept on until they vegetate. If sown very early in the spring many of them may be potted off the following autumn into small 60-sized pots, to the number of five plants in each pot; then placed in a cold close frame for a week, when they may be gradually hardened; such of them as will not admit of potting must be placed in an airy situation in the greenhouse or heathery, not more than 2 ft. from the glass; and such a place is equally well adapted for those that have been potted off.

"To increase the Erica from cuttings requires more care on the part of the gardener; but, when a knowledge of the natural habits of the plant is attained, his success will be almost as sure as raising them from seed; in fact, in numerous instances, more so. I have been in the habit of putting cuttings in every month of the year; but, for my general stock, I prefer February, March, April, and May. In preparing for this, it is necessary to get a quantity of white sand, or sand similar to it in purity, though of a different colour; but, previously to using, it ought to be thoroughly washed, so that the water, when poured off, should have a clear appearance. The pots for receiving the cuttings must be well cleaned, and 3 in. of drainage put in, on which put turfy peat earth to within 2 in. of the rim of the pot; then fill up the pot with the sand, water and press it firmly down; then take the bell-glass, and mark out the space allotted for the cuttings. Having the pot clean, the sand pure, and a very sharp knife, select the shoots that are of such a texture as, in crosscutting (that is, at a right angle with the cutting) close under a tier of leaves, will not be bruised, which I consider a good criterion to judge of the fitness of the cutting. The cutting should be held in the left hand, between the forefinger and thumb; then part the leaves, and cut them on the thumb nail; two tiers of them will be sufficient to be cut off, as I have often found, with a sharp knife, that cuttings would send out roots at the tier next the surface. Then with a small dibble insert the cuttings in the sand, in rows, and place on the outside of the bell-glass a tally, with the name of the Erica it precedes, as well as the day of the month when put in. If more than one species is put into a pot, their time of rooting should be as similar as possible, or much trouble will be occasioned. I do not excite the cuttings as soon as the pots are stocked, I rather prefer a colder temperature for them at this time; as, when they are accelerated, there is less danger of their damping off; because, by so treating them, a greater firmness has been obtained, and, consequently, they are more likely to resist any unnatural forcing that may be applied, or any inattention they may have experienced during their course of propagation. After such treatment as I have recommended, they may be put into a hot-bed where the heat has quite subsided, with the bell-glass over them during the day, and shaded in sunny weather; but, under such an exclusion of light, I never fail, when the nights permit, to take off, not only the bell-glasses, but also the lights, as, by so doing, I adhere to the principle of maintaining the hardness in the cutting, by which we facilitate its rooting; if this is not strictly carried out, we merely elongate the cutting to the injury of its rooting. As the great proportion of the cuttings will be rooting during the summer, I never fail in potting them off as they are rooted. For this purpose some peat earth should be kept in store previously to using, it should be well rubbed through the hands, and any very rough pieces taken out; but by no means cleaned of that vegetable substance which it possesses, when not taken at too great a distance from the surface; then add one part of sand to two of it. The same-sized pots which were used for the seedlings will do for cuttings, and the same number of