Chips and Slips. 667 



CupREssus Maceocarpa Submerged. — In the autumn of 1875 I planted a 

 Gupressus macrodxrpa on a small eyot in the river Barrow. It was submerged 

 that winter, and stood the ordeal well, appearing none the worse the following 

 year. Last winter, though actually from 2 ft. to 3 ft. deep in water for two 

 months continuously, it has, to this day, a beautiful rich green colour, and is 

 growing fast. This tree seems to flourish well in almost all soils. — J. H. W. 

 Thomas, Belmont, Carloiv. 



The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Unedo) — Both large and sma,ll specimens 

 of this handsome evergreen shrub are very effective at this season ; viewed 

 simply as an evergreen shrub, it is worthy of a place in even the most select 

 collection, but when covered with large clusters of white pendent flowers inter- 

 mixed with handsome strawberry-like fruit, it is especially attractive. It is not 

 planted so largely as it deserves to be, for it will grow almost anywhere, and is 

 especially adapted for seaside planting. Its contour is improved by just a 

 little shortening back of the long shoots in March.— E. H. 



Phellodendron Amueense — a very hardy ornamental tree, flowered last 

 sea'^oc at the Cambridge Botanic Garden. It has been there fifteen years, so 

 it is quite hardy. The plant is dicecious, and a native of Mandschuria. It 

 grows in its native habitat at 50 ft. high, and has a trunk 1 ft. thick, with a 

 corky bark. It is allied to JPtelea and XantJioxj/lon. — Garden. 



New Public Park for Birmingham. — A new public park, extending to 

 about 40 acres, valued at £30,000, has been presented to the city of Bir- 

 mingham by Miss Ryland. It is situated at Small Heath, and is being laid 

 out under the superintendence of Mr. Marnock, of London, the eminent land- 

 scape gardener. 



Erratum. — In reference to a paragraph on ornamental maples which 

 appeared at page 596 of our last issue, Mr. Berry asks us to make the 

 following correction : — " Acer platanoides Lorbergi is a deeply cut leaved 

 variety resembling A.P. dissectum, and not a purple-foliaged tree. A. P. 

 Schwedleeri is the variety with bright reddish purple foliage when newly 

 unfolded in spring, and its leaves are as large as the type, being also a 

 vigorous grower. This maple will, I think, form quite an acquisition amongst 

 pale green and yellow foliaged trees in spring, and exhibit a strikino- 

 contrast. 



Douglas Fir. —The Canadian steamship Newjield is on its way to France 

 having on board two pieces of Douglas fir (Abies Douglasii), for the Paris Ex- 

 hibition. The pieces are a transverse and a longitudinal section, taken from a 

 tree over 400 feet in height and 8 feet diameter, found growing on the slopes 

 in British Columbia. 



Artificial Black Walnut. — The wood, first thoroughly dried and warmed, 

 is coated once or twice with a liquid composed of one part (by weight) of ex- 

 tract of walnut peel, dissolved in six parts of soft water by heating it to boilino-, 

 and stirring. The wood thus treated is, when half dry, brushed with a solution 

 of one part (by weight) of bichromate of potash in five parts of boilitg water, 

 and after drying thoroughly is rubbed and polished. The colour is thus said 

 to be fixed in the wood to a depth of one or two lines, and in the case of red 

 beech or alder, for instance, the walnut appearance is most perfect. — English 

 Mechanic, 



