time, through its being showery, and the rain washing it down to the roots, the bushes are so astonishingly improved that no one could suppose them the same naked starved trees. I have been perfectly convinced now, in many instances, that if either soot or wood ashes get any way damp, part of their properties or virtues is lost; for instance, if smelled to when fresh, the mixture will make the nose twinge, which it will not do after being kept in a damp place, although to all appearance it is not damp.

It is a curious fact that in the course of years I should not have given it a more serious consideration, and discovered the cause before the lapse of a quarter of a century. No doubt but many things get lost sight of, particularly different manures, through their not happening to be properly applied. Now I have discovered the cause, I can judge quite as easily by the feel of soot and ashes, as I could by the smell. Soot alone will destroy the caterpillars; but, by mixing wood ashes with it, the mixture does not fly about so much and get wasted, and it adheres much better to the trees. Wood ashes, when of their full strength, and used in damp weather, when they can adhere to the tree, will kill and clean any kind of moss or of lichen, and is the only article I ever use now for that purpose.

Bicton Gardens, June 1. 1843.

ART. IX. List of Species and Varieties of Rhododendron cultivated at Dysart House, with Remarks on their Management. By JoHN BLAIR, Gardener there.

As suggested by you, I now forward you a list of the different varieties of rhododendrons grown here, with their times of flowering; and, in order to make the list as useful as possible, I beg leave to make a few observations explanatory of the climate, locality, and soil, in which these varieties are

grown.

The flower-garden here, the property of the Earl of Rosslyn, is situated close by the sea, standing_about 53 ft. above its ordinary level, and sloping towards the south-east. From its proximity to the sea, the frost is not so severe as it would be further inland; the thermometer being seldom or never below 10° in the most severe winters (1837-8), from its southerly exposure, and ranging from 80° in the shade to 120° (in 1842) out of it. However, the south-east winds need to be guarded against, not only from the intensity of their cold, but also from their violence.

Portugal laurels on the exposed side, and common hurdles interwoven with spruce fir branches on the other sides, form an excellent protection. The finest of these varieties grow about 212 ft. from high-water mark; while some of the more common kinds grow within 12 ft., and not 3 ft. above its level, with little or no shelter. The soil used in the garden is a mixture of peat earth and sand, not broken very small; the depth varying from 2 ft. to 4 ft., according to the size of the plant. However, I have been in the custom of planting them, after they have grown to a considerable size, in the woods, where they thrive uncommonly well. They form an excellent underwood, more particularly the R. catawbiénse var., which is very hardy, and is more able to stand the drip of trees than the other varieties. The natural soil in

these woods is a black light loam; but, in some places, the rhododendrons are planted in strong soil, where they also do well.

They all require to be well watered, more particularly when in flower, which continues their bloom much longer, and causes them to push out strong healthy shoots.

The best way of propagating them is from seed, which being sown in a gently heated frame, the plants soon make their appearance, and, if properly attended to, will flower in four or five years.

I have remarked, also, that the warmer the season is, the better they blossom the following one; the flower buds being more numerous, and brought to a greater degree of maturity.

List of the Rhododendrons in the Collection at Dysart House.

And about fifty others, hybrids, without names.

In all, 109 species, varieties,

and hybrids; 28 of which are not named, and 81 named.

Diary, showing the Time when those Rhododendrons which flowered at Dysart in 1842 were in their greatest Perfection.

I may observe, in conclusion, that the time of flowering varies much according to the season.

Dysart House, near Kirkaldy, May, 1843.

[The above communication Mr. Blair kindly promised to prepare for us when we paid a visit to Dysart House in September, 1841: it was read at a meeting of the Caledonian Horticultural Society in June, 1843, and forwarded to us afterwards by the Secretary.]

ART. X. Notice of a Collection of Spiræas, North American Oaks, Abiétine, and Cupréssina, made in the Spring of 1843. By the CONDUCTOR.

BEING desirous of having immediately under our eye as many species and varieties as we could get of the genera mentioned in the following list, and in particular of the North American oaks, the Abiétinæ, and the Cupréssinæ, in order to study these tribes in a young state, we procured from the Horticultural Society's Garden, from Messrs. Loddiges, and from some other nurserymen, plants of the kinds enumerated below. We have given the names which we received with the plants, and those of the parties from whom we received them, for the benefit of other collectors, as well as to show what a very considerable number, of Cupréssinæ for example, may be obtained in British nurseries. We have not included in the list the higher-priced species of pines and firs, because plants of these we did not think it right to request from parties possessing them, except in the case of the Horticultural Society. As the nomenclature of spiræas is in a state of some confusion, we are very anxious to increase our list of that most beautiful genus, and shall feel particularly obliged to any person who will send us plants which appear from their names to be of different kinds from those we have got. There are also some of the low-priced Abiétine which we do not yet possess, and which we should be glad to receive from those who can spare them. For the plants already in our possession, we beg to return our best thanks to the Horticultural Society, to Messrs. Loddiges, to Mr. Knight, Messrs. Lee, Messrs, Whitley and Osborn, Messrs. P. Lawson and Son, Mr. May, Mr. Charlwood, Mr. Rivers, Mr. Low, Messrs. R. Donald and Son, and Messrs. C. Sclater and Son.

S. chamædrifòlia L. (Lodd.)

SPIREAS.

S. infléxa H. S. G. (Lodd.)
S. argentea Lodd. Coll. (Lodd.)
S. nana Lodd. Coll. (Lodd.)

S. c. subracemòsa Ser. (W. and O.) S. h. thalictröìdes Pall. (Lodd.)

S. c. ulmifòlia Scop. (Lodd.)

S. c. flexuòsa Fis. (Lodd.)
S. c. sibírica Hort. (Lodd.)
S. c. däùrica Hort. (Lodd.)
S. c. betulæfòlia Lodd. (Lodd.)
S. trilobàta L. (Lodd.)
S. alpina L. (Lodd.)
S. hypericiòlia Dec. (Lodd.)

S. nutans Royle. (Lodd.)
S. corymbosa Rafin. (Lodd.)
S. vacciniifolia D. Don. (Lodd.)

S. laxiflora Lindl. (H. S.)
S. bélla Sims. (W. and O.)
S. salicifòlia L. (Lodd.)

S. s. cárnea Ait. (W. and O.)
S. s. paniculata Willd. (W. & O.)

Quércus álba L. (May of Leeming Q. microcarpa Lodd. (Lodd.)

The species and varieties which we have collected are as follows, to which we should be glad of such additions as can be got:

PINES.

I. Leaves 2 in a sheath.