MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 45 



base of each shoot which contributes to its growth. If the leading shoot should 

 shew flower it must also be pinched off. When the plants have grown ten or 

 twelve inches high they may be removed to a warm part of a greenhouse. 

 Water must be given when the plants are dry. As the season advances the 

 plants must be placed in more airy situations, which will gradually harden 

 them. When the plants have reached a desirable height, from half a yard to 

 two feet is very desirable ; pinch out the leads. This will induce a number of 

 lateral shoots to push and form a bushy head. Plants thus treated will bloom 

 early the following spring; after they have shewed flowers, the plants, if 

 vigorous, may be removed, with balls entire, into pots a size larger, they will 

 then bloom all the season. T. T. B. 



Chelsea, Jan. l'2th, 1837. 



On blooming Hyacinths in glasses. — The bulb should be allowed to 

 touch the water, then be placed in a dark room or cellar for two or three weeks. 

 The water will by that time become offensive and require to be replaced. With 

 the fresh water given add a small portion of salt, about the size of a hazle nut. 

 The water must be changed, and salt added twice a week in future. When the 

 glasses are brought out of the dark room or cellar into a sitting-room, the plants 

 push more rapidly and flower sooner by being kept in the darkest part of the 

 room, and if in a high situation, as a shelf or chimney-piece, all the better. 

 When the flower stem has pushed several inches high, the glasses may be placed 

 near the window to give colour to the petals ; without which the darker the 

 situation the lighter coloured the flowers. In order to have the fine stems of 

 flowers erect, I have had a wire frame made which fastens round the glass near 

 its bottom, again nearer to its widened part at the top, the wire is then bent to 

 the middle of the opening and then earned upright to the height desired, to this 

 the flower stem is secured, it prevents the flowers from overwhelming the glass 

 as well as keeping the stem neat. John Charles. 



Monmouth, Jan. V2th 1837. 



Jones's Sulphlrla Elegans Dahlia. — We have been informed that an 

 old and very inferior flower called Sulphurea Elegans, has been sent out last 

 season as a substitute for the former splendid sort. The old sort is not worth 

 growing in any collection, whilst the latter deserves to be grown in every one. 

 The flower is of a very large size, of an unique handsome colour, a very perfect 

 shape, and far superior to any other of the yellows I saw at the exhibitions in 

 the metropolis, or the country during the last season. Persons who order this 

 kind during the present year, should obtain the warrantry of the correctness of 

 the kind from the person offering for sale. W. C. 



Wallinaford, December \Gth, 1836. 



TO OBTAIN FLOWERS FROM BULBOUS ROOTS IN THREE WEEKS. Put 



quick lime into a flower-pot till it is rather more than half full ; fill up with 

 good earth; plant the bulbs in the usual manner; keep the earth slightly 

 damp. The heat given out by the lime will rise through the earth, which wil 

 temper its fierceness : in this manner flowers may be obtained in three weeks. — 

 Magazine of Domestic Economy. 



Heating by means of hot water. — I have recently seen an experiment 

 tried in using glass pipes instead of iron, and which answered most completely, 

 giving out heat much quicker, affording a greater degree of heat, and retaining 

 it longer. 



On Drying Plants. — I observe that the weights I use in drying plants 

 have been misprinted in the December number. They should be, one weight of 

 SOlbs, andtwo of lOlbs, each. Primula Scotica. 



On the Age of Trees. — Adamson and De Candolle have ascertained and 

 published accounts of the probable longevity of numerous celebrated trees. 

 Bome of the Cedars of Mount Lebanon, measured in J660, by Maundrell, and 

 Pocock, were found to have been nearly KOO years old. The Oak of Welbcck 

 Lane, described by Evelyn, must have been I 100. The Olive trees in the gar- 

 den of Jerusalem certainly existed at the time of the Turkish conquest of that 

 eity. The English Yew trees of Fountain^ Abbey, Yorkshire, have survived 



