rOllEIGN NOTICES. 



was preserved by a horticultural enthusiast to make a snuffbox, to serve as a memorial of the 

 past, and to recall visions of him 'who first planted the tree.' In the autumn of 1851 we wrote 

 as follows: 'In a somewhat dilapidated corner of Old "Woodstock stands all that remains of the 

 original stump of the Blenheim Orange; it is entirely dead, and rapidly falling to decay, and 

 time will soon claim the hollow rotten remnant.' We are told how the white-haired gardener, 

 Kempstee, first raised from seed this beautiful and justly celebrated apple — that he lived in his 

 little cottage garden, in Old Woodstock, a plain, practical, laboring man. Ivemtster is long 

 gathered to his fiithers, and the favorite tree to which he gave his name is now no more seen ; 

 nothing remains to mark the spot except a young tree immediately derived from the patriarchal 

 trunk itself. Though the parent stem has forever vanished, a numerous and flourishing offspring 

 thrive in the neighboring crofts of Woodstock, Kidlington, and Bladon, and the hamlets and 

 villages of Oxfordshire ; and thence are now generally dispersed throughout the length and 

 breadth of this islanJ, and have reached even to our Australian and American colonies. Some 

 have thought this apple was ' raised ' in Blenheim Park by the Duke of Marlborough's gardener ; 

 but the towers of Blenheim in this case have no claim to our fruit. It was named in honor of 

 one of the Dukes of Marlborough." — Oxford Journal. 



We find from other records that tliis tree was raised, or first brought into notice, in the year 

 IVSI. This would seem but a short period for the duration of life of an Apple tree; but it may 

 not be wholly correct ; or, if it be correct, the tree may have been exposed to injurious or 

 unfavorable influences, and tliereby hastened its decay. Some writers have professed — as Haller 

 has done in Herefordshire — that Apple trees have been ascertained to reach the goodly age of one 

 thousand years; but the late Mr. Knight asserts that the apple in course of years deteriorates, 

 and that its natural age is confined to two hundred years. No kind of fruit can be brought to 

 the same perfection with the same certainty, and with the same small amount of trouble, in this 

 country, as can the apple. 



Witli regard to the introduction of the apple, writers are generally agreed that we are indebted 

 to the efforts of Lord Scudamore, who was English Ambassador at tha Court of France, during 

 the reign of Charles J., about the year 1629 ; and we are informed by Evelyx that about fifty 

 years later, Harris, fruiterer to Hexry VIII., first planted Apple trees about tlie environs of 

 towns and villages in Kent, " to the universal benefit and improvement of the country." At the 

 present moment, no one seems to concern himself about our domestic fruits. The late Mr. 

 Knight has gone, and no one has taken his place. The Horticultural Society cares for none of 

 these things ; and at present no one is listened to, who talks of any thing but Orchids and Gilli- 

 flowers. — London Gardeners^ and Farmers^ Journal. 



Leaves FROM MT Chinese Note Book. — Under this title I propose to send you, from time to 

 time, descriptions of Chinese gardens, plants, and other objects of natural history which I consider 

 of sufficient interest to occupy a place in your columns. As many of your readers have, no 

 doubt, heard of "Howqua's Mixture," I shall begin by attempting to describe Howqua's garden. 



This garden is situated near the well known Fa-tee nurseries, a few miles above the city of 

 Canton, and is a jdace of favorite resort both for Chinese and foreigners Avho reside in the neigh- 

 borhood, or who visit tliis part of the Celestial Empire. Having occasion to be in Canton a tew 

 weeks ago, I determined on paying it a visit in company with Mr. M'Doxald, who is well known in 

 this part of the world as an excellent Chinese scholar, and to whom I am indebted fur some 

 translations of Chinese notices, which appeared very amusing to us at the time, and which, I dare 

 say, will amuse your readers. 



Having reached the door of tlie garden we presented the card with which we were provided, 

 and were immediately admitted. Tlie view from the entrance is rather pleasing, and particularly 

 striking to a stranger who sees it for the fii-st time. Looking "right ahead," as sailors say, there 

 is a long and narrow paved walk lined on each side with plants in pots. This view is broken, ^ 

 and apparently lengtliened by means of an octagon arch which is thrown across, and beyond that ^ 

 a kind of alcove covers the pathway. Running parallel with the walk, and on each side behind 



