jects, as do Messrs. Cottam and Hallen; and very handsome designs, with very low prices affixed, are to be had of Messrs. Young of Edinburgh. A correspondent in Scotland, on whom we can rely, says of Messrs. Young: They are young men who have carried into their business the scientific knowledge of the age, acquired at our cheap and greatly improved educational institutions. They are intelligent, tasteful, enthusiastic, and of a good address, and they are being very extensively employed. Sunk fences are now seldom made in Scotland, though I see you occasionally recommend them in England. A wire fence 3 ft. 6 in. high is sufficient for cattle and sheep. It consists of six horizontal wires passed through, or fastened on, wooden posts, and is put up for 9d. per yard; and with an additional wire, to render the fence 4 ft. 6 in. high, for 10d. per yard; the posts being supplied and fixed in the ground by the proprietor. These posts, if tarred and charred, are found to last 20 years. The wires are generally painted with gas tar. Instead of running the wires through the wooden posts, it is found an improvement to attach them by iron staples; which admits of renewing a post when it decays, without disturbing any of the others. Very strong deer fences Messrs. Young erect at from 28. to 3s. 6d. per yard, according to the height; the proprietor providing stones for the straining pillars, and stone or wood blocks for the intermediate uprights, &c. Curved wire fences [which are so beautifully put up by Mr. Porter, with under-ground stays, and no prop or brace of any kind shown above ground] are also put up by Messrs. Young."-W. D. S. Sept. 28. 1842.

Gregson's Green-Flesh Melon is a small fruit, seldom weighing more than three pounds, but it is decidedly the best-flavoured Cantaloup melon that I have ever tasted. The person from whom I had the fruit has grown it for many years, and never had any other variety that gave so much satisfaction. He does not know its origin.-J. B. [We have a few seeds of this melon at the service of any one who chooses to ask for them, enclosing a postage stamp.]

ART. II. Foreign Notices.

ITALY.

U'LMUS fúlva.—I was much surprised to read (Vol. for 1840, p. 231.) of the medical properties of the Ulmus fúlva, owing to the great quantity of mucilage with which its cellular tissue abounds; and as the mucilage is very nutritious, and as the leaves and bark of the common elm fatten cattle in a short time, on account of the portion of mucilage which they also contain, we may hence conclude that cattle would fatten much more quickly if fed with the leaves of the Ulmus fúlva. In the Maison Rustique du XIX Siècle it is said that the leaves of the Pópulus canadénsis in a green state are equivalent to the same weight of the best hay: what is meant is, that a certain weight of these leaves in a dry state nourish or fatten equal to twice (due) the weight of the best hay. A comparison of the nutritive properties of the leaves of the Canadian poplar, the common elm, and the Ulmus fúlva, is well deserving of a trial. Giuseppe Manetti. Monza, Nov. 1. 1842.

-

Nelumbium tibetianum. — At the house of my friend George Compton, Esq., to whom Lombardy is indebted for many fine and rare plants, and who lives in the neighbourhood of Como, I saw Nelumbium tibetianum in full flower in August last year (when it flowered for the first time), as well as in the same month of the present year, and which I do not think has been as yet described. He grows it in a pot 2 ft. in diameter, and 1 ft. high, filled with mould to the height of 1 ft., in which the nelumbium is planted, and from this point to the top it is kept filled with water. The flowers are rather smaller, more round (see the two figures sent), and of a darker colour than those of the Nelumbium speciòsum. There is no difference in the leaves and smell of the flowers from the other species; therefore I consider it a variety. In the

summer he keeps it exposed to the sun in the open air, and in winter he protects it in a greenhouse. — Idem.

[We have sent the figures of the two nelumbiums to Sir William J. Hooker, who sometimes publishes in the Botanical Magazine specimens of interesting plants, though they may not have been introduced.]

NORTH AMERICA.

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society held their fourteenth exhibition on the 13th instant, and it will close this evening. It is more tasteful than any previous one, while the usual proportion of plants and fruits is maintained. I send you two newspapers containing accounts of particulars. There are upwards of 300 varieties of the genus Cactus; of rare plants there are Urània speciosa from R. S. Field, Esq. of New Jersey; palms of several kinds from Mr. J. B. Smith; the pitcher plant, and the butterfly plant, from Mr. R. Buist; Pandanus utilis and two species of Zàmia from G. Pepper, Esq. V. P. of the Society; Aristolochia sipho from General R. Patterson; mango trees, croton, calabash tree, coffee tree, and indigo tree, from Mr. Peter Mackenzie. The fruits were superb. Apples and peaches of great size, and beautiful; seckle pears in great perfection; large blue and yellow plums. The grapes also, foreign and domestic, were very large. I refer to the printed list.-J. M. Philadelphia, Sept. 23. 1842.

Doryánthes excélsa. -The majestic Doryánthes excélsa has been exhibited in Philadelphia for the last twelve days, by Mr. Sherwood, florist. The stem began to shoot in December last, and is now (June 18. 1842) about 12 ft. high. Eleven flowers have blown, and eighteen more are to come out. It is at present in the beautiful greenhouse of Mr. Pepper, to which it was removed after the exhibition of it ceased. I have not been able to see Mr. Sherwood to know the history of this specimen of the plant.-J. M. Philadelphia, June 18. 1842.

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

ENGLAND.

WORMLEYBURY, in Hertfordshire, formerly the seat of the late Sir Abraham Hume, Bart, and now in possession of Cust, Esq., has been till lately in a state of deplorable neglect; but it is now being thoroughly renovated under the care of Mr. J. Harden, an intelligent and enthusiastic gardener. The noble plant of Magnolia conspícua, of which an account was given by Sir Abraham in the first Volume of the Gardener's Magazine, is now upwards of 20 ft. high, and covered with blossom-buds. The wall trees had run quite wild, the plums and cherries having spurs a foot long; but all is now being brought into order.-D. B. Jan. 19. 1843.

A Metropolitan Model Institution for improving the Dwellings of the industrious Classes is now being formed. A main object of this institution will be to erect a building combining a number of habitations for workmen, having every requisite accommodation for health and comfort; and to show that such buildings, when let at a reasonable rent, will afford an adequate return for the money expended. Such a combination as we have shown in the Encyclopædia of Cottage Architecture, § 493., and in the Supplement to Cottage Architecture, p. 1149., under the head of " A College for single working Men," will probably be attempted, and we have no doubt success will be fully attained. We have been trying to get such a college erected ever since 1819.- Cond. Araucaria Cunninghami is here 10 ft. high and 8 ft. wide, with three solitary cones on the points of three of the lateral shoots of the two uppermost tiers of branches. The cones are ovate, sessile, 1 inch in width, and half an

inch in length; they consist of narrow, slender, bristly, somewhat recurved brownish scales, densely imbricated. G. Lawrence. Hendon Vicarage,

Of this fine tree we have two specimens, each bearing

Pinus Sabiniana has one cone.- Idem.

An Oak (Quercus pedunculàta) in the park of Hazel Grove, Castle Cary, Somersetshire, [of which a lithograph has been sent us,] is 82 ft. high, 30 ft. in circumference at 31 ft. from the ground, and it contains 863 cubic feet of timber, though it has lost many of its largest limbs. It is in full vigour and bears every year abundance of small acorns in pairs at the end of long stalks. Near this tree are several other oaks of great height, and from 18 in. to 23 ft. in circumference. An elm in the same park, blown down some time since, measured 39 ft. in circumference; and an ash 21 ft. — P.J. M.

The Mistletoe on the Oak may be seen at Penporthlenny, in the parish of Goître, Monmouthshire; and also on a tree near Usk. It may be interesting to some to have these habitats added to those already given in your Arboretum Britannicum. - Jane Williams. Glastonbury, Oct. 22. 1842.

Verbena Melindres and V.Tweedieàna have stood out here the last winter with no other protection than their own uncut branches. They died back to the collar of the roots, but broke well again in spring, more especially V. Melindres, and they grew much more vigorously during summer than plants raised from cuttings in spring. Our flower-garden is a level spot on the south side of a steep hill overhanging Swansea. The soil is a strong loam, from 9 to 18 inches deep, on stratified rock dipping to the north. It becomes rapidly dry and hard after rain. - P. Walker, Gardener to R. Grenfell, Esq. Maesteg, near Swansea, Oct. 22. 1842.

Melons grown in Leaves. At Taplow Lodge, Bucks, melons have been for many years past grown in leaves raked up the preceding autumn. The plants are raised in loam in the usual manner, and a crop of early potatoes having been first grown on the leaves, the melons are turned out of the pots to succeed them. They bear abundantly, and the fruit is of excellent flavour. —J.B. Uxbridge, Dec. 10. 1842.

Mushrooms this year (1842) have been most unusually abundant in August and September, and very great quantities have been gathered fine and large; some measuring 30 in. round. Many of the agricultural labourers' families have made a guinea a week during these months, by gathering them in the fields and selling them in the neighbourhood.— M. Saul. Garstang, Lancashire, Oct. 10. 1842.

Cucumbers this year (1842) have been very abundant in the cottager's gardens here. They are attended with very little trouble or expense, and are of great benefit to the cottager and the labouring man in hot weather, being found of great advantage in removing thirst, with the addition of a little vinegar, when taking their meals, far more so than either milk or beer. The cottagers' mode of growing is, in the first place, to obtain a few plants from their neighbours who have them in the open ground, and plant them in the spot where they have taken up their early potatoes in July, without adding any manure. I have seen some so planted this season produce cucumbers weighing from 2 to 3 lb. each, without any protection, but merely growing in the beds the early potatoes had been removed from. To keep the fruit clean when growing, they put what is here called a turf or peat under them, such as they use for fuel; they use no coal for fuel here. I have no doubt you would have been much pleased if you had had an opportunity of seeing those cucumbers growing in the cottage gardens, and might have said much in their praise. There is at this time growing up to a saw-pit side in the wood yard of Henry Masden, at Cobus, near Garstang, a cucumber which weighs 52 oz. The roots are merely growing in a few road droppings from the horses, gathered from the road side. The plants have produced abundance of fruit, without the least protection, in September. Idem.

SCOTLAND.

Bust of Dr. Neill.-In consequence of a resolution passed at the General Meeting of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, of 1st December last, to place in their New Hall a marble bust of their excellent secretary, Dr. Neill, for his long and valuable gratuitous services rendered to the Society since its commencement in 1809, now a period of thirty-three years, it was suggested, by several practical gardeners, that the exertions of that gentleman having been eminently instrumental in promoting and sustaining the high character of Scottish gardeners, and the science of horticulture in all its branches, they should come forward as a body and subscribe for a testimonial to be presented to him in their name; and in order to ascertain what might be the general feeling in this respect, a number of the most influential gardeners have been written to; all of whom [as is proved by extracts from their letters] are most anxious that it should be carried into execution; and, in order to do this the more effectually, the following individuals have agreed to act as a committee, viz., Mr. Edward Sang, sen., Kirkaldy; Mr. W. M‘Nab, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh; Mr. S. Murray, Royal Botanic Garden, Glasgow; Mr. C. M'Intosh, Dalkeith Park; Mr. J. Smith, Hopetoun House; Mr. J. Dodds, Scone Palace; Mr. John Young, Archerfield; and Mr. R. Watson, Moredun; Mr. W. M'Nab, convener; Mr. J. M‘Nab,

treasurer.

Archibald Gorrie, Annat Cottage.
John Westwood, Academy Gardens,
Dollar.

To this paper are appended letters approving of the resolution from the following gardeners and nurserymen :Nicol Cathie, Airthrey Castle. James Dodds, Scone Palace. William Sharp, Pitfour. Edward Sang, Kirkaldy. James Smith, Hopetoun House. John Robertson, Kinfauns Castle. John Gow, Tullyallan Gardens. Robert Arthur, Edinburgh. Stewart Murray, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasgow.

Thomas Bishop, Methven Castle.
William Lawson, Greenock.
John Addison, Gosford.

John Davidson, Culzean Castle.
John Young, Archerfield.
Alexander Smith, Callander House.
Robert Watson, Moredun Gardens.
Charles Lawson, Edinburgh.
Andrew Turnbull, Bothwell Castle.
James M'Intosh, Drumlanrig Castle.

Joseph Bain, Beaufort Castle.
James Mathison, Melville House.
John Petrie, Cullen House.

D. Montgomery, Buchanan House.
William M'Nab, Royal Botanic Gar-
den, Edinburgh.

William Barron, Elvaston Castle.
William Pearson, Cally House.

Peter Crocket, Raith Gardens.
Charles M'Intosh, Dalkeith Park.
James Sinclair, Castle Toward.

Daniel Ferguson, Royal Botanic Gar-
den, Belfast.

George Shiells, Erskine House.
George Saunders, Gordon Castle.
James Smith, Monkwood Grove.

It is highly gratifying to us to see so many highly respectable men and excellent gardeners bearing testimony to the great services rendered by Dr. Neill to the horticulture of Scotland, and to his urbanity and kindness to gardeners. For our own part, we can only heartily join in the expression of Mr. M'Nab of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, that we "have had the honour of Dr. Neill's acquaintance for upwards of thirty years, and can say with perfect sincerity, that we do not believe there is another individual now in existence who is more entitled to their gratitude. His whole life has been devoted to usefulness in almost every department of science, but more especially to that of gardening, and the advancement of gardeners." Perhaps there is no Scotch gardener more obliged to Dr. Neill than we are, since it was from his article HORTICULTURE in the Encyclopædia Britannica that we took the idea of the arrangement of the Encyclopædia of Gardening. The subscriptions are limited to sums from 2s. 6d. to 10s. 6d., and the thirtyeight gardeners whose names are given above have subscribed from 5s. to

10s. each. Subscriptions are received by Mr. James M'Nab of the Experimental Garden.- Cond.

Foreign Trees which thrive in Shetland.— At a meeting of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, on November 10. 1842, Mr. Edmonston, jun., mentioned in our Volume for 1840, p. 102., gave an account of the botany of Shetland. The whole is extremely interesting; but, as it will be published in the Transactions of the Botanical Society, we shall confine ourselves to an extract relating to arboriculture in that island. A number of experiments have been carried on by my father for five or six years, in order, if possible, to ascertain what foreign trees will endure this climate. He obtained from Messrs. Lawson of Edinburgh all the more generally cultivated trees and shrubs, North British, North American, and North Asiatic, and the result has been as follows. Among the indigenous trees of Scotland, the ash appears to stand as well as any other, as it puts forth its leaves late and loses them early. Of the scarcely indigenous, or naturalised species, the sycamore appears to be the hardiest; while the birch and Scotch pine will scarcely live a year. Again, Pinus montàna and E'sculus Hippocastanum, comparatively tender plants, appear to thrive well; and Pyrus aucupària, which is indigenous with us, thrives tolerably in cultivation. Almost all the willows do

well; Salix Russelliana, frágilis, cinèrea, viminàlis, and vitellìna, among the best. The alder is rather too early in putting forth its leaves; but some poplars appear to do well, especially the white, black Italian, and Lombardy; and Populus nigra is indigenous. Oak and beech will not thrive at all. Generally speaking, evergreens, both trees and shrubs, appear not to suit. Pinus Cembra, the black, white, and Norway spruce have all been repeatedly tried, but seldom languished a year. Even the hardy shrubby evergreens, which are met with indigenous or in every shrubbery on the mainland, such as Ilex Aquifolium, Rhododendron pónticum and flàvum, Vibúrnum Tìnus, &c., die almost immediately. Among the best-thriving evergreen shrubs may be mentioned, Arbutus mucronata, Cotoneaster U`va-úrsi, Hédera Hèlix, &c. The latter, indeed, is native, and in some situations thrives remarkably well, as it also does in Orkney."- Cond.

A good Tablet for the Indication of the Name of a Street, or a Guide-Post to a Cross Road. It should be, 1st, readily discoverable and distinguishable; 2d, easily legible at moderate distances, and by oblique as well as by direct vision, in diffused light, or in sunshine; 3d, of such material as to be lasting and easily kept in a serviceable state.

No tablet which I have met with fulfils these conditions so entirely as that which was widely diffused in Paris during the administration of M. Chabrol de Volvic. The material is volcanic stone in thin slabs; these slabs are covered by hard blue enamel, and the inscription is in white enamel burnt in. They are immediately distinguishable from all other inscriptions or signs, are very legible in all states of the weather, and appear to be unaltered after several years' exposure.

It unluckily happens that the cost of these tablets is such as to make them unattainable generally.

The next best model, in point of distinctness, is that which has long been in general use in the town of Birmingham, viz. cast-iron plates, with the inscription in slightly relieved letters. This model, which, if judiciously executed, is but little inferior to M. Chabrol's in distinctness, has a manifest advantage over it in cheapness and in strength. Some tablets on this plan were, several years ago, introduced in Edinburgh, and have answered well as far as they went; but, subsequently, changes have been introduced which have notably impaired their efficiency; the original proportion of the letters

* A specimen of poplar which we received from Mr. Edmonston, sen., some years ago, appeared to us to be P. balsamífera; at all events we are quite certain it was not the P. nigra of English Botany; but we have written to Mr. Edmonston for a plant.-Cond.