years. Deering, in his History of Nottingham, published in 1750, says, that "there were very few gardeners, and those but indifferently skilled in their art, till after the arrival of Marshal Count Tallard, and the rest of the French prisoners of war (who were persons of rank), in Nottingham, when encouragement was given to men of industry to render themselves useful, by raising all kinds of garden stuff, in which now they were come to a competent perfection, and notwithstanding they are increased to above four times the number they were formerly, yet can they all get their bread; and in summer peas and beans would be hardly sold at a reasonable rate, were it not that the Newark gardeners think it worth their while to come to this market twelve long computed miles.

"Our bakers have likewise reaped the advantage of making French rolls as well as they are made in London."

It is supposed that the cultivation of celery was introduced by M. Tallard, who found it wild in the neighbourhood of Nottingham.

The house in which Count Tallard resided is still standing at the top of the Castle Gate, Nottingham, in good preservation, and is now the residence of Mr. S. Hollins. Part of the garden has been built upon, the remainder is converted into a modern grass plot and flower-garden, but several large trees are standing adjoining the street, which may have been planted by Marshal Tallard. I am, Sir, &c.-J. P. Nottingham, June 7. 1828.

Laying out a classical Residence.-Sir, I have purchased twenty acres of land on the coast, not a great way from Sittingbourne in Kent, and being a great admirer of Grecian

architecture, I intend building a house on it in that style, and if possible laying out the grounds in a manner which might be considered by my friends as classical. I am no classical scholar my. self, and therefore do not know much of what has been done in this way either by the ancients or moderns; but I venture to ask you for such information as you can conveniently give, and for a reference to the best books on the subject. Trusting that my queries are fairly within the limits of that part of your work set apart for this purpose, I remain, Sir, &c. Romanus. Dec. 3. 1829.

Our correspondent may consult Castell's Villas of the Ancients, Pliny's Letters, and above all G. Laing Meason's Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy. From the first named work we give the plan (fig. 43.) of Pliny's Laurentine Villa, the situation of which was analogous to that in contemplation by Romanus.

a, Atrium, or court of honour.

b, Hortus, or pleasure-garden.

e, Gestatio, or place of equestrian exercise, d, Vinea, or vine garden.

e, Xystus, or terrace.

Hortus pinguis rusticus, or kitchen-garden

and orchard.

Mare, the sea.

Littus, the shore.

k, Sylvæ et montes, woods and hills in the dis

tance.

1, Villa vicina, adjoining villa.
m, Equilia, stables.

n, Tecta vehiculis, carriage-house.
o, Lignarium, place for wood.
P, Fenile, place for hay.

Piscinæ duæ, two fish-ponds.

r, Cellæ cervorum, place for deer.

Gymnasium, or place of exercise. Scotch Pine. Sir, Having examined several curious notices in your Gardener's Magazine, upon the very important question of whether the Scotch Fir [Pine], at present so universally planted, is of the best sort of that kind, such as grows in Norway and the aboriginal forests of Scotland, or whether it is an inferior sort more recently imported from Canada, I take the liberty of sending you an extract from a very valuable and curious book printed in Edinburgh, 4to, in 1778, and written by William Boutcher, nurseryman at Comely Garden, Edinburgh, called a "Treatise on Forest Trees, with plain directions for removing the most valuable kinds to the height of thirty feet and upwards with certain success." (The latter part of the title called my attention to it as it lay on a bookstall, and I strongly recommend it to every forest planter who can lay hold of it.) The passage (p. 137.) is as follows:-"It has been an old dispute which still subsists, whether there are more sorts than one of the Scots pine or fir; and it is commonly asserted that the difference we find in the wood when cut down and polished, is owing only to the age of the tree or the quality of the soil where it grew. But this assertion, I believe, is not just, and proceeds from want of proper observation, as I have seen many fir trees cut down of equal age in the same spot, where some were white and spongy others red and hard, from which to me it appears evident that there are two distinct species of them, and indeed the difference of colour may easily be discovered by any one who walks through a newly pruned plantation even of young trees." I consider this passage as very curious, and well worthy the attention of the Highland Society. Perhaps you might be able to obtain some refutation or confirmation of these facts and opinions from some of the agents of great forest-owners in Scotland. If it should turn out to be true, perhaps some nurseryman in the neighbourhood of the forests might undertake to collect the seed from the red variety, and send the plants down to us in the south. I am quite sure that no planter would hesitate to give a large additional price for his trees, if it were made known through your Magazine where he might apply for them with certainty of having them true. I should think, too, that a large quantity of the cones might be easily disposed of in London: for my part, I should readily take a good many. I observe that the Highland Society has offered a premium for raising seedlings of the Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) from seeds imported from Norway, or from the natural-grown pine in the Highland districts of Aberdeen, Moray, and Inverness; and a similar premium was offered some time since by the Society of Arts, for trees raised from seed imported from Christiana. I should think that it might be worth the while of some merchant connected with Norway to import a few at all events, if it were not much of a mercantile speculation in extent, I will undertake to say that it would pay its own expenses, and be of essential benefit to the country in respect to one of its most important and universal improvements; it being, in fact, the question, whether a really good and valuable timber shall be planted all over the land instead of a very bad or useless sort. W. N. July 1. 1829.

cones,

Pinaster (Pinus Pináster). — Being on these subjects, I would beg to ask any of your correspondents if they are acquainted with the nature and qualities of the timber of the Pinaster. During a recent ride to Weyhill, I saw several very fine trees which had been cut at Oatlands, lying by the river side, affording capital opportunity for observation and experiment on its strength and value.-Id.

The Deciduous Cypress and Cork Tree. —I observed near Esher, in the front of a new stone building by Mr. Malcolm, a few very fine plants which had originally stood in a nursery ground, among the rest a fine deciduous cypress, say 40 feet high, and a very fine cork tree. Do either of these trees ripen their seeds in this country? Would not the cork tree thrive in the West Indies? and how could a quantity of its acorns be procured and safely sent out?Id.

The Antarctic Beech [Eucalyptus sp. ?] — Capt. Forster, who sailed in His Majesty's ship Chanticleer on a scientific voyage to the south, tells us that Station Island, on the east coast of 'Terra del Fuego, is covered with woods to the very summit of the hills; and that the principal tree is the Antarctic Beech, an evergreen, clothing the country with perpetual verdure. What an acquisition would this evergreen be to us! Try to introduce it.-Z. December, 1829. Would the Water Lily of the Ganges, with a blue flower, succeed if planted in the hot water at Bath? I think it would, and would be worth trying; perhaps in time we might naturalise [acclimatise] it in those springs of cold water which never freeze. I should like also to try gold fish in the hot water, they are said to breed prodigiously in it. - Id. A correspondent having enquired

The Culture of the Bamboo in England.

in Vol. IV. p. 535., whether it may not be practicable to introduce the culture of the bamboo into this country, I think it will not be an unwelcome thing to you and your readers, if I point out what appears to me to be a reasonable probability of introducing with success at least one species of this most valuable and useful vegetable. Since the genus, as well as all the species, is little

known in this country, some of your readers may be gratified by a translation of the generic as well as specific characters, from the description given by Humboldt in his rare and expensive work, Plantes Equinoctiales, which can be accessible only to very few of your readers. Pl. Equinoct., No. 20. p. 68.

Bambusa, Bamboo. Hexánd. Monog. Linn.; Nat. Ord. Gramineæ, Juss. Reformed generic character. The common husk of two to five valves, many-flowered; the valvules distinct, and successively increasing in size; the spikelets or small shoots (locusta), sometimes somewhat flattened, two-ranked, few-flowered, sometimes cylindrical, pointed, manyflowered. The partial husk two-valved; the outer valvule lanceolate, concave, embracing the inner valvule, which has its margins folded together, is three-sided, and is placed round the pistil and stamina. Two innermost little scales are placed in contact with the ovary. Stamina: filaments six, external (exserta), of the fineness of a hair; anthers incumbent. Pistil: ovary sometimes furnished with a short partial flower-stalk; style, single, short; stigmata, two or more, feathery. Seed-vessel, a single seed covered with the interior valvule of the partial calyx. -Habit. Plants perennial, lofty, of the habit of the reed; the younger branches curved backwards; pungent; leaves jointed, deciduous.

Species.

arundinacea, reed-like; De Retz. obs. 5. p. 24. Linn. sp. pl. 120. Nástus, Juss. Gen. Pl. p. 34. agrestis, wild; Rumph. Amb. 1. 6. cap. 6. tab. 3.

mitis, reclaimed; Rumph. Amb. 1. 6. cap. 6. tab. 3.

múltiplex, manifold; Rumph. Amb. 1. 6. cap. 1. tab. 1. verticillata, or whorled, according Willdenow.

máxima, largest ; Rumph. 1. 6. p. 12.

fax, torch; Rumph. Amb. 1. 6. cap. 2.

tabacaria, tobacco? Rumph. Amb. 1. 6. cap. 3.

Qu. whether this be not a variety of B. verticillata or whorled.

To these Humboldt has added two species, natives of South America, which he has figured under the names of latifolia, broad-leaved, Guádua, Guadua; Humboldt. Pl. Equinoct. No. 20. p. 68. which he thus describes: -" Panicle loose, with few spikelets, of one or two inches in length, somewhat rowed. Leaves narrow, lanceolate. Stalk, tree-like, straight, of six fathoms long and more, knotty, polished, branching from the bottom to the top; the branches closer at the summit, the space between the knots of the length of a foot, and of six inches in diameter, pipy, surrounded with sheaths which are close set without with stiff hairs, smooth within, and at length fall off. Branches cylindrical, heaped together, the younger ones before they are unfolded piercing at the point, and curved backwards; but after they are unfolded, upright. Leaves alternate, flat, jointed at the point of the sheath, deciduous. Sheaths long-continuing, hairy at the neck. Flowers, loosely disposed in subdivided panicles (subpaniculati). The common husk two-valved, many-flowered, the florets disposed on a cylindrical rowed spikelet of one or two inches in length. The partial husk two-valved. Pistil hairy. Ovary placed on a short partial flower stalk. Stigmata, three, violet-coloured. Two small scales, oval, fringed (fimbriatociliatæ). Seed oblong.

"This species inhabits the warm regions of America, where it is called Guadua by the natives, whence its specific name.

"The bamboos of America offer the same advantages as in India. The Guadua bamboo is solely employed for the construction of entire houses. The oldest and largest stalks serve to form the walls; with the smaller ones the inhabitants form the main roof. The upper covering is composed of the young branches of the plant, furnished with leaves as they are, and of which they put many layers one over the other. The doors, the tables, even the beds, are made of bamboos. The advantages which the inhabitants of America find, in making use of this plant, rather than of the very lofty and very hard timber which surrounds them, are, 1. the facility with which they cut them, and transport them to very great distances; 2. the small degree of labour which is required, since the inhabitants employ the plants entire, or only split lengthways into two parts; 3. in its durability, which may be compared to that of the best timber; 4. and lastly, in the circumstance that their houses, all open to the air, and protected from the heat of the rays of the sun by a wide and thick roof, preserve within doors a cool and agreeable temperature in the midst of the strongest heat of the day.

"It is particularly in the mountain of Quindiu, that the Guadua bamboo grows; it forms forests of many leagues in extent, and appears to delight in elevated situations, which offer it a mild temperature. It descends also into the very hot valleys, but is never seen on the high mountains. We have cut a great number of bamboos, and in all of them we have found clear water of an agreeable taste."

From other parts of Humboldt's works it appears that this plant has taken its name from the little town of Guadua, around which it flourishes in great abundance, and which is not very distant from Santa Fe de Bogota, the capital of New Granada, or Colombia; that it grows principally in the mountain bogs, in the like elevation as many of the beautiful species of oak which enrich the forests of that country, and at which elevation snow occasionally falls, though far below the regions of perpetual snow; it is in the terra templada, as it is called, or temperate region. It therefore appears by no means impossible, and even very probable, that this bamboo, which seems to flourish in a lower temperature than any other known bamboo, may succeed in the temperate climates of Guernsey, Jersey, Cornwall, Devonshire, and the back of the Isle of Wight; and that its culture may possibly be gradually extended to more inland and colder situations. It would at all events add a new and interesting inmate to our green-houses; I should delight to see it aspiring above Mr. Loddiges' palms, by the side of the Ceróxylon andicola, which, I am sure, he will soon obtain. But I by no means despair of seeing the bogs and marshes of our southern counties rendered productive of these gigantic reeds, furnishing to the fenmen longer and lighter stilts and leaping poles; more magnificent cover for wild fowl; better poles for punts and barges, and all inland navigation; better spars for vessels; lighter, stiffer, and more portable materials for bridges, rafts, hurdles, fences of every description, for supporting stack cloths; shafts for wheel-carriages, for scaffolding poles, rafters, principals, and side timbers of roofs, flooring joists, beams; and for every other purpose wherein a light, elastic, stiff, straight, and

R. Sweet, in his Hortus Britannicus, enumerates only two species as known in our hot-houses Bambusa arundinacea and B. verticillata.

durable material is required; turning such lands to infinitely better account than can be obtained from any reed bed, willow bed, fishery, decoy, heronry, or other present application of the like lands.

I therefore sincerely hope that among your readers will be found some who have connections with some of the numerous Englishmen, who, for military, commercial, or scientific purposes, have emigrated to Peru and New Grenada, and that they may succeed in obtaining either roots, or seeds, or plants of this valuable vegetable from the country and climate of the potato, the El Achiro, and the Arracacha, which may be a gift to Britain, little less beneficial than the former of these, descending from the Andes, and diffused from Van Dieman's land to Siberia, has already proved, and the other two may prove. It is to be expected that either the ripened seeds or the ligneous fleshy root of the Guadua bamboo, with its strong-pointed buds, protected as they must be by their hard flinty case, may, when embedded either in powdered charcoal, or even in earth, or at all events in the powdered chloride of lime, be conveyed from Colombia or New Granada to this country, without losing their vegetative power; and I sincerely hope that some patriotic cultivator will make the experiment.

It was said about twenty years since, that the Earl of Moira had introduced some species of bamboo into Ireland with success from Hindostan ; can any of your readers give me information upon this subject? I am, Sir, &c. - Causidicus. January 11. 1829.

The Lilac Tree is said, in Phillips's Sylva Florifera (vol. ii. p. 49.), to be met with in full perfection in Paris in the months of August and September, a season in which I have not even seen them in flower in this country. Have we not the same means of retarding their flowering as the French, for which some latent cause must be assigned, or is it a different variety from any of the sorts we cultivate? Perhaps yourself, during some of your Continental tours, might have seen it; if not, some intelligent correspondent will give some further particulars, for which I should feel obliged; and remain, Sir, &c.-J. H. Linden Hill, near Maidenhead, Jan. 18, 1830. Stretlitzia reginæ. - In answer to G. G. (Vol. V. p. 239.), I beg to say I flower this plant very freely under the following treatment:-At the time I place my green-house plants in the open air, I bring plants of Strelitzia from the stove, and place them in the green-house. September the plants are removed to their winter quarters, the Strelitzia are taken to a cool part of the stove. I like them to be under-potted; the mould used is sandy loam and peat; rich mould I think improper, it makes them produce too many leaves, which some persons cut off to the great injury of the plants. With respect to water, I use it sparingly until they show flower, which is generally about January or February, I then give it more freely.-W. Boyce. Kingscote Gardens, April, 1829,

In

Strelitzia reginæ. — Sir, In answer to the query of G.G. (Vol. V. p. 239.), with respect to flowering the Strelitzia reginæ, I wish to inform him that we flower it in the winter months here, both in pots and also planted out with stove and green-house plants, in made soil in a large house for various kinds of plants, where the temperature in the winter months, with fire heat, is about 550. The soil is a light red sandy loam. The plant, from its fleshy or soft roots, requires but little water to keep it in a healthy or growing state; but when coming into flower it may be watered more freely, when it will blow fine for several weeks. The low temperature of the metal-roofed hot-houses in the winter here, and the sudden transition to heat as soon as advantage can be taken of the sun's rays in spring, form, no doubt, one cause of many of our old inhabitants of the stove flowering more frequently than they did formerly in wooden houses. I am, Sir, &c.- George Fulton. Northwick Park, Jan. 30. 1830.

Preserving Florists' Flowers. Sir, Every botanist who has endeavoured to dry plants, must regret the rumpled state of the flowers, owing to the thickness of the stems and leaves preventing the pressure reaching the thin and delicate flowers. To remedy, in some measure, this failure, I would propose cutting off the flowers, slightly pressing them till flat, and gumming them on while fresh. Specimens of flowers thus treated are herewith sent. If done by a person of more ingenuity than the writer, would they not be useful to the florist to preserve prize flowers; and likewise to the nurseryman to show in winter what flowers his plants will produce?- W. 1. May, 1827.

The flowers in the book sent, it is stated, were collected in the spring of 1819: they are gummed on, but not varnished in any way, and certainly retain their colours remarkably well. They are chiefly polyanthuses and auriculas; but there are also stocks, wallflowers, daisies, narcissuses, and several other genera.- Cond. July 9. 1827.

Rose Tree. I have a small tender-twigged rose bush, which bears very delicate flowers, having the exact smell of vanilla. As I have never seen such a rose as my own, nor found such a one described in any horticultural work, I should be glad to be informed, by any gentleman possessing the kind, how it is propagated, every means I have tried having proved abortive.Ovras. Yorkshire, lat. 54°, Oct. 31. 1829.

List of acclimated Exotics. Sir, Permit me, through the medium of your Magazine, to solicit from some one or more of your numerous correspondents, a list or lists of such exotics indigenous to warmer climates than our own, as upon trial have been found to endure our most severe winters without protection. If amateurs, as well as those in the profession of horticulture, would favour you with the names of plants of the above description that have come under their notice, a valuable list might soon be formed for the use of such as may wish to have an enlarged collection of exotics growing in their pleasure-gardens and shrubberies. I am, Sir, &c.-T. R. Clowance, Cornwall, Jan. 26. 1830.

Earlier bearing of Fruit Trees now than formerly. - Sir, Can you in any way account for apple and pear trees coming much sooner into bearing in the present day than formerly? It has struck me, but I cannot say it from experience, that it may arise from grafting on apple and pear stocks, raised from the pips of cultivated sorts, and not on stocks raised from pips of the crab and wild pear.-H. Gray's Inn, Nov. 12. 1829.

Fruit Trees on Wired Walls.· Sir, Although it is a very long time since I last addressed you on the subject of your Magazine, yet I have not been altogether inattentive to its object; for I have relinquished the larger undertaking of a farm for the more pleasing occupation of a garden. In this new profession (if I may use the expression) I have met with the greatest assistance from your Encyclopædias and Magazines; for I extract from them all, and in return shall endeavour to furnish you with something now and then from my pen, when the fit comes on. Among the various new improvements in training fruit trees on walls, I think the wiring the walls seems to promise considerable facilities, especially when plastered or stuccoed. I recollect the late

Mr. Carr of St. Ann's, near Leeds, recommending strongly the use of eyed cast-iron nails, which were not drawn from the wall, but when it was wanted to remove a branch, the strings or willows were untied, and drawn from the nail. Now the wiring the wall would be attended with similar advantages, although I suspect at greater expense. I would submit for your consideration, whether softened copper wire might not be used safely for tying up the branches to the eyed nails; if so, the disfiguring party-coloured shreds of cloth would be avoided, and thus the nests or lurking holes of insects be done away with. In order to prevent the smallness of wire from injuring the bark of trees, it might be passed two or three times evenly round and through the eye each time, and then, with one or two twists, made fast in front. Dark-coloured walls are by some strongly applauded for training fruit trees, from the greater power of radiating heat, and thus forcing, as it were, earlier to maturity the trees trained on them. The danger and disadvantages seem to be, that they are apt to force into blossom at too early a season in spring, rendering them liable to be injured by frost; and in summer the trees are liable to be overheated or scorched. I look on the first of these objections as the most weighty, as the latter can be removed by leaving a closer foliage, or by a partial or temporary screen during the brightest and hottest hours, or perhaps by partial waterings by means of an engine. I think the forcing at too early a season might be in some measure avoided by a coat of whitewash in March or April, which would most likely be all washed off before the summer was far advanced, but not before the spring frosts were most dangerous; or the trees might be loosed from the walls, as practised successfully at St. Ann's. — W. M. Argyleshire, Nov. 6. 1828.

Apples for a small Orchard. —Sir, Observing in your Magazine for February (p. 111.) a query from J. S L, wishing to know the best varieties of apples for a small orchard, I beg leave to offer a few observations. Your correspondent wishes them to be founded on experience, to which, by the by, I do not claim any great pretensions, though I have been amongst fruit and orchards sore small part of my life, which is not very far advanced. My employer, Mr. J. Pearson, of Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, who is, I believe, one of the greatest fruit-growers in this part of the country, if not in England (except cider-growers), is particularly careful in selecting fruits that keep well, and likewise those that succeed each other in their regular stages of keeping; thereby, from the beginning of the season, always having an abundant supply of marketable fruit. If J. S. L. were to have one apple tree of a sort, it would, to plant two acres, require far above the number of real good sorts planted in this part of the kingdom. I shall endeavour to give a short list of those considered here the best for keeping and bearing, as well as for the table and kitchen; and as, in the course of a few years, when the trees get into full bearing, your correspondent would find, to keep the different sorts separate, it would require much more trouble and room than a small well selected variety would; an orchard of that description would not suit a person who made supplying the country with fruit part of his business, and would not yield so much profit, which is a very great point, and which we all aim at, more or less. I shall only mention sorts that I have actually seen bear as standard orchard trees in this county.

TABLE APPLES.

The Burgin Apple. A conical yellowish fruit, middle-sized, fine flavour, middling bearer. Lord Lennox. A fine scarlet new variety, rather flat, with very superior flavour, a strong upright grower, well adapted for situations where the trees are not required to spread much. Clifton (Nottinghamshire) Nonesuch. A very handsome apple, good flavour.

Keddlestone Pippin. A Derbyshire apple, originated (I believe) at the village from which it derives its name; a great bearer, middle size, and very superior flavour.

Wollaton Pippin. A very handsome flat apple, supposed to be of French origin; one of the best keeping table apples we have, good flavour, very juicy,

Blenheim Orange, or Woodstock Pearmain. A very large handsome apple, fine flavour, but considered rather an idle bearer.

Pike's Pearmain. A beautiful fruit, great bearer, and very good flavour; well adapted for

market.

Waterloo Pippin. A middle-sized early scarlet fruit, good.

Garret's New Golden Pippin. A great bearer and fine flavour.

Hertfort's Russet. A great bearer, middle size, and keeps remarkably well.

Egglestone Summering. A handsome early fruit, good bearer.

Bess Poole. One of the best apples we have for baking, table, size, and colour; a very great bearer after the trees get a certain age, and keeps very well. If I recollect right, some years ago you called at the time we were getting the crop, you may, perhaps, be able to speak to the fineness and beauty of the fruit.

KITCHEN APPLES.

Maltster Apple. A very fine large fruit, comes in just before the late keeping sorts; good bearer, and free grower.

Mank's Codlin. A great bearer and bushy grower, suitable for growing in small gardens, and from the very scarlet appearance of the outside of the petals, and free blooming, would make a very handsome feature in a shrubbery, with the single almond, and other early-flowering shrubs. Keswick Codlin, or Westmoreland Pippin. Early and a great bearer, rather getting out of favour in consequence of not keeping well, and sinking a great deal when baked.

Hawthornden, or White, Apple. A fine handsome early fruit, good bearer.

Northern Greening. A rather conical greenish apple, great bearer, good keeper, and capital for baking; much cultivated.

Normanton Wonder. A very superior apple, free growing, very large and yellow, and one of the best keeping sorts; a variety much planted.

Greenup's Pippin. A handsome large apple, with rather a long stalk, which makes it unfit for exposed situations; good bearer.

Beautiful Stripe. A Lancashire apple, a very great bearer; and from the fine colour of the fruit, and being a compact grower, the trees present a complete surface of scarlet when in full bearing.

The Hunthouse. A middle-sized apple, great bearer and long keeper; sometimes used for the

table.

Woodborough Pippin. A large handsome apple, and an immense bearer, very good for baking, but when used in its raw state has an unpleasant bitterish taste; keeps very long.

The Caldwell, or Padley's Pippin, is a sort much grown here, and is an excellent apple for profit, it bears abundantly, good size and colour, bakes and keeps well.

Barton Free-bearer, as its name intimates, produces abundantly, good size.

Wareham's Russct. A very fine fruit, keeps well, and excellent for kitchen use.