284 ON THE TAMARISK, 0!t TVMVTUX. 



ncsscd in the spring at Felixstow, in Suffolk, in a wood belonging to 

 the marine residence lately owned by Sir Samuel Fkulyer, and for- 

 merly planned and ornamented by the celebrated General Thicknesse, 

 Governor of Landguard Fort. 



I have a few queries to put respecting several subjects connected 

 with Floriculture, and I shall be obliged by their appearing in the 

 Cabinet. 



I have been growing a bed of Virginian Tobacco, which I am told 

 is the right sort to use for fumigation, but I am quite at a loss how to 

 prepare it for the purpose ; it is now in flower, if any of your readers 

 can give me directions, I shall feel much obliged; also if they can 

 recommend me the best instrument for directing the fumigation to 

 any plant requiring to be freed from insects ; also the most approved 

 syringe for sending water to plants, vines, &c, in a greenhouse, and 

 where the foregoing articles can be obtained. 



I have tried to cultivate Babianas in my greenhouse, but they did 

 not flower, can they be managed successfully by only a greenhouse 

 and hot-bed ? 



I am disappointed in the effect of the new annual Didiscus Cceru- 

 leus, for which I paid one shilling for a packet of seeds — it grew so 

 straggling in a pot in the greenhouse, and out of doors its blue was not 

 brilliant ; could it be grown more compact, it would form a beautiful 

 ornament to a greenhou in summer ; any information on this subject 

 would oblige. 



ARTICLE IX. 



ON THE TAMARISK, OR TAMARIX. 



BY FLORA. 



" On yon rough eraig, 



Where the wild tamarisk whistles to the sea blast." 



II. Davy. 



This beautiful flexible shrub, highly ornamental for the shrubbery, 

 is the Myriad and Tamarix of the Latins. This latter name is 

 supposed to have been derived from the Hebrew Tamaris (abstersio), 

 on account of its abstergent qualities. It was a celebrated medicinal 

 plant with the ancient Arabians, from whom the Latin authors seem 

 to have borrowed their knowledge of the virtues of this plant ; and 



