Under the bybloemens are very remarkable: Louis XVI., Ambassadeur d'Hollande, Grand Monarque, Violet 81, Violet St. Antoine, Cerise Incomparable, General Worrenzoff, Hoogerbert, Grotius, Roi de Siam, Incomparable Mere brune, Gouverneur Générale, L'Impératrice de Maroc, Cramoisi No. 16., Reine des Maures, Reine du Monde, Rose camure de Grecque, Cerise belle Forme, Toilette de la Reine, Cerise blanche, Comte de Versanes, Globertine, Queen of England, Ornement du Parc, Rose tendre, Reine des Roses, &c. &c.

Under the bizards are remarkable: Pompe funèbre, Catafalque, Castrum Dolorum, Charbonier, Ne plus ultra, Gloria Mundi, Bruin Casteel, Déesse Flora, Gordianus, la Delphine noir, Grand Maitre, Beauté suprême, Bienfait, Sans Rival, Marmoisie, Charbonnier noir.

In all, the number of square feet planted with bulbs in this establishment is 12,300; and, besides this, one finds here quantities of Amaryllises, Ixias, Antholyzas, Georginas, Auriculas, Primulas, and Pelargoniums.

After glancing at this specification, and considering that there are here still twelve other first rate florists, and as many or more establishments on smaller scales, all of which are exceedingly neat; you may imagine that the small town of Haarlem stands amidst the finest florists' flower-gardens in the world.

With respect to fine Cape and New Holland plants, they are very scarce here, neither do they thrive well. The reasons of this appear to me to be, that the climate is too unfavourable, the soil too wet in winter for exotics, and that too little use is made of the rich turf so common here; but it is also true, that a florist cannot think about botanic plants and his florists' bulbs at the same time, without neglecting one of them,

Although M. van der Hope has a fine and well kept collection of exotics, and seems to be a very great amateur, collecting every year some very scarce plants, with which he endeavours to gain the honorary medal of the exhibitions of Utrecht and Haarlem, he is also, for want of good mould, put to the expense of fetching it in boats from a place thirty miles distant from Haarlem; this is, in my opinion, unnecessary, for I think the turf in the neighbourhood of Haarlem would answer the purpose as well if properly prepared, and it only requires a trial. However, there must be something in this soil which is favourable to hyacinths, and disadvantageous to camellias, ericas, epacrises, and other fine plants; for I was not able, when here last year, to root one cutting of camellia out of fifty, although in Francfort I always counted on rooting nine out of ten.

Fine market-gardens are very common here, as well as large pleasuregrounds, or parks, though the Dutch manner of laying out grounds is very inferior. The whole park is usually planted so thick, that one actually walks in the dark under the trees when the sun shines; and it is only from the mansion that a fine view can be obtained. Stagnant ditches cross each other in all directions; but this taste is too well known, and very justly too little adopted, in other countries, to require further notice.

Horticultural science, about Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and the whole province of Holland, is kept up merely by a few florists in Haarlem, and some botanists in Leyden, and perhaps by a few others; but the love of gardening in private gentlemen has so declined, that the florists could not exist without their trade to foreign countries. It is surprising that as yet none of the numerous cultivators of bulbs has published a work; and even few foreign books on gardening are known among them, because they are of no use for the culture of bulbs.

The botanic garden in Leyden has, as I remember when I was there last year, a good collection of hot-house plants, and others; but it is much inferior to Kew Gardens.

From this I shall depart soon for Hanover, Brunswick, Hamburgh, and Berlin; and hoping that in this last place I shall find a few hours' leisure, I will take the liberty of writing to you again. I am, Sir, &c. Jac. Rinz. Fruit-trees in Churchyards. N. Phillipe Bosquet, who died at Amsterdam on the 8th of January last, bequeathed two thousand florins to the Benevolent Society of the Northern Provinces of the Netherlands, on the condition that "two fruit-trees of full growth shall be planted over his grave, the fruit to be publicly sold by auction every year, in order to prove that the receptacles of the dead may be rendered useful and beneficial to the living.' The directions of the testator, say the papers, have been complied with. (Scotsman, May 20. 1829.)

The most beautiful and picturesque road in Europe, not excepting even the beauties of the Rhine, is the tour from Namur to Liege along the banks of the Meuse. Half-way stands the town of Huy, with its lofty castle and

recently planted vineyards already yielding good wine. This is a singular instance of the establishment of vineyards where no vines were ever before cultivated. (A Spectator in the Netherlands, in the Derbyshire Courier of Nov. 28. 1829.)

POLAND.

A Manufactory of Sugar from Beet-root is in progress on the estate of Guzow, seven German miles from Warsaw, on the road to Posen. The concern will be conducted upon the newest principles. The government have promised to assist it liberally: they wish the manufacture of sugar to become general in the kingdom, and arrangements are made to instruct pupils free of expense in every branch of the business. Besides the above manufactory, there are already several others actually established. A sample of raw sugar has been sent to Warsaw. The estate alluded to is the property of Count Henry Lubienski.-J. L. Warsaw, May 13. 1830.

NORTH AMERICA.

Sweet and sour Apples.— Mr. Bradley mentions an apple which was sweet and boiled soft on one side, and sour and boiled hard on the other (Treatise on Gardening); and the late John Jay of New York notices another sweet on one side and sour on the other. (Comm. Board Agric. vol. i. p. 362.) I can relate a third case of a similar nature. The late Levi Hollingsworth, merchant, who resided for more than sixty years in Philadelphia, and was a man of the highest integrity, informed me, several years since, that when he was a boy, living at Elkton in Maryland, there was a full grown apple-tree, the fruit of which was sweet on one side, and sour on the other: on the same limb there grew apples quite insipid, others sweet, and others sour. He mentioned the fact as of his own knowledge to a club of literary gentlemen, who met at a public-house once a week to discuss useful subjects, in the year 1762, in Philadelphia; but the doctrine of the marriage of plants was not familiar to them, and the fact was doubted. This so mortified him, that he went down to Elkton, in company with the late Mr. Samuel Nicholas, who was a respectable citizen, and brought away several of the apples to the club. Mr. Hollingsworth assured me that the tree had never been grafted.-J. M. Philadelphia, Sept. 7. 1829.

Apples and Pears on the same Tree. — “ Mr. John Gage of Upton Union, a few years ago, grafted a pear upon an apple scion in his garden. When it grew up so as to begin to bear, it bore for two years very excellent pears. The third and fourth years its leaves, which formerly were those of a pear tree, changed, by degrees, to those of an apple tree. The fifth year, and ever since, it has borne excellent apples. This has been related to me by at least fifty of the most respectable men on the spot, who personally knew it to be true." (Job Johnston in Long Island Patriot.) — J. M. Philadelphia, Sept. 7. 1829. Unquestionably an error in the observer; the scion in all probability never united properly, and a shoot from the stock was mistaken for it. - Cond.

Identity of the Peach and the Nectarine. - In the Linnean Correspondence it is stated (preface p. 1.) that a tree bought for a nectarine produced peaches; the next year it bore nectarines and peaches, and for twenty years after. P. Collinson informs Linnæus (p. 7.) that at Lord Wilmington's a tree produced both nectarines and peaches. Sir J. E. Smith, the editor, says, that several instances of this have occurred; and that he was presented with a fruit half nectarine half peach. It grew on a tree which usually bore nectarines and peaches; but in two seasons, at some years' distance from each other, the same tree produced half a dozen of these combined fruits. Collinson mentions (p. 70.) that he saw both fruits on the same tree close to each other; and (p. 75.) that a peach produced a nectarine from a stone, and not a peach, in his own garden. Without knowing

the foregoing facts, Professor Chapman informed me that formerly, in Virginia, peach trees lived a number of years, and that when they were very old, he had often seen them bear nectarines. The fact is well known, he says, to all old natives of Virginia.-J. M. Philadelphia, Sept. 7. 1829.

AUSTRALIA.

The Swan River, or more properly Western Australia, 25th of Jan. 1830. 300,000 acres have been located; and there are in all about 1000 settlers. This is evidently a pasturage country, and will only repay by breeding the finest wool sheep. It has been proved that, at the low price at which grain can be imported from Java, it can never answer to grow that article for exportation except in the interior for home consumption. The soil, both as to quality and the facility of bringing it into cultivation, has been overrated by Mr. Fraser, who, though an indefatigable botanist, does not understand agriculture. To a certain extent, the soil is a good friable loam; but it soon cakes, and cannot be broken up for cultivation except after rain. There is great variety of soil; and clay, marl, sand, and limestone all lying convenient. All the productions of Europe, including to a certain extent those palms and that species of sugar-cane which are cultivated in Spain, it is believed will thrive here. A parochial lending library for the working classes has been established; a literary institution has been commenced, with 45 subscribers, 12 candidates, and annual funds to the amount of 100%; and it is intended to join to this institution a museum, and a bo tanical garden. (Morn. Chron. July 22.)

A Literary and Scientific Society, patron the Lieutenant-Governor, was on the eve of being formed at Hobart Town, in addition to other highly useful and praiseworthy institutions which have been lately established there. (Colonial Times, Jan. 29. 1830.)

Mr. Scott's Garden at Hobart Town. - No resident of Hobart Town, either passing or permanent, should omit visiting Mr. Scott, the industrious and well-informed seedsman of Brisbane Street. In his garden there will be found a most interesting collection of almost all the indigenous plants of our island, and many others of foreign origin. A visit to Mr. Scott will be considered a very useful disposition of a vacant hour. Mr. Scott has now a great collection of Mount Wellington plants, dried and preserved, and has succeeded in collecting a quantity of the bark from the pepper tree; which some of the gentlemen of the faculty so highly approve, that we understand they intend to analyse it, in order to discover its virtue. The pepper shrub of this island grows in a close thicket, to the height of from 6 to 10 ft. when in blossom, in the spring months of November and December. The farina of the flower is so pungent, especially if shaken about by the feet of horses or cattle, that it is necessary to hold a handkerchief to the nose, in order to avoid continually sneezing. It has a pretty appearance with its red bark and dark green leaves. The whole of this country is also interspersed with that magnificent shrub called warrataw, or tulip tree, and its beautiful scarlet flowers. (Colonial Times, Dec. 11. 1829.)

Vegetables and Fruit. - Potatoes 4s. to 6s. per cwt.; cabbages 10d. per doz.; onions 1d. per lb.; shallots Id. per bunch; turnips 2d. do.; carrots 8d. do.; grapes 6d. per lb.; peaches 4s. per basket; nectarines 6s. do.; apples 2s. per doz.; melons 4d. each. The long continuance of dry weather has made forage unusually scarce. Hay is sold at from 9. to 107 per ton. High fruit has also been made to ripen too fast, and great quantities have fallen prematurely from the trees. Peaches and nectarines will hardly ripen at all. (Hobart Town Courier, March 6. 1830.)

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

ENGLAND.

STOCKPORT Floral and Horticultural Society.-A Floral and Horticultural Society has been established at Stockport, and a notice of the circumstance in the Stockport Advertiser is accompanied by the following gratifying observations:-"Of all recreations, the cultivation of fruits and flowers is the one which ought to be the most encouraged. It is most congenial to civilisation, and conduces very materially to health; attaches men to their homes, consequently in many instances prevents a life of dissipation; inclines the mind to serious thought and reflection; and teaches us to look through nature up to nature's God.

"Every rank of people, from the humble cottager with his favourite auriculas and polyanthuses, to the lady of fashion with her more tender exotics, equally enjoys flowers as a gratification, and nothing more conspicuously bespeaks the good taste of the possessor than a well cultivated garden; and it may be generally remarked, that when we see a neat cottage-border well stocked with plants, the inhabitant is respectable and possesses domestic comfort; whilst, on the contrary, a neglected garden but too frequently marks the indolence and bespeaks the unhappy state of the owner. But what must be the satisfaction, as well as essential profit, which the botanist derives from a closer examination of these beauties of nature! They behold them as the wonderful works of the Creator, and are convinced that vegetation could not possibly be a mere matter of chance, but must be effected by the all-creating wisdom of a beneficent Being. The poets are never more fortunate in their illustrations than when they sing the beauties and virtues of these splendid productions; nor does the artist derive less satisfaction in delineating their delicate and lovely forms with the pencil. Indeed, of all luxurious indulgences, that of the cultivation of flowers is the most innocent, and (except our terrestrial angels, ever bright and fair) they are of all embellishments the most beautiful; therefore, we cannot for a moment doubt that the Stockport Fioral and Horticultural Society will meet with such fostering aid, as to place it foremost in the rank of its competitors." (Stockport Advertiser, March 5.)

Medico-Botanical Society. — This Society suddenly claimed the attention of the public; its pretensions were great, its assurance unbounded. It speedily became distinguished, not by its publications or discoveries, but by the number of princes it enrolled in its list. It is needless now to expose the extent of its short-lived quackery; but the evil deeds of that institution will long remain in the impression they have contributed to confirm throughout Europe of the character of our scientific establishments. It would be at once a judicious and a dignified course, if those lovers of science who have been so grievously deceived in this Society were to enrol upon the latest page of its history its highest claim to public approbation, and by signing its dissolution, offer the only atonement in their power to the insulted science of their country. As, with a singular inversion of principle, the Society contrived to render expulsion the highest honour it could confer; so it remains to exemplify, in suicide, the sublimest virtue of which it is capable. (Professor Babbage in the Edinb. Jour. of Science for July, 1830, p.76.) Cottage Gardens. The sensible remarks of R. C. Kirkliston (p. 109.), respecting labourer's cottages, meet with my warmest approbation; they are true and important. I have long noticed that the labourers or mechanics who are attached to their gardens are generally sober and industrious. Every man must have his hobby, and a garden is the best hobby a poor man can have. Thirty years ago, when a Lancashire weaver could live by his honest labour, the neighbourhood of Eccles and Barton, and indeed the entire vicinity of Manchester, were celebrated for neat gardens and clean houses in the occupation of the above class of mechanics. It was, indeed, a