Calls at Gardens and J^urseries. 105 



top-dressed with manure, and the whole occasionally treated with it in 

 a liquid state. Cultivated in this manner, we have always thought that 

 grapes in pots might be made to produce an excellent crop, especially 

 in stoves and green-houses; and thus supersede the necessity of having 

 vines ])lanted in the border to run up and overshadow, by the density 

 of their foliage, the whole of the plants: when vines are grown in these 

 places, either they or the plants must suffer. Some strawberries were 

 nearly ripe; they were the Keen's seedling, and though they had not 

 set remarkably well, some of the individual fruits were very large. 



In the forcing ground a new range of pits has been I)uilt during the 

 past autumn. It is upwards of ninety feet in length, is built low, 

 and is heated by brick flues. It answers every purpose of early forcing, 

 and is just what is needed in our severe climate, where, in the months 

 of December and January, dung beds, or, indeed, any kind of pits which 

 are warmed by the application of dung alone, either in chambers 

 or by linings, cannot be managed without great attention and care. We 

 have been convinced of this by what experience we have had in forcing. 

 We had not time to examine the construction of this range, but if it con- 

 tinues to work with the same facility that it has so far, w'e shall en- 

 deavor, w^ith the consent of the liberal proprietor, to present our readers 

 with a plan of the same. 



In the pit some fine cauliflowers had just been cut; the plants were 

 growing vigorously, and were showing an al)undance of large heads. 

 Spinach, lettuces, &c. have been produced all the winter. The cucumbers 

 were showing an abundance of young fruit, and a few had already at- 

 tained to nearly the size for cutting. Hundreds of pots of strawberries 

 were arranged on a shelf on the back wall, near the glass, which were 

 just commencing to throw up their flower buds. The lateness of the 

 day prevented our noticing a great many of the plants in this depart- 

 ment. 



Oakley Place, Wm. Pratt, Esq. — We here found the collection of 

 plants nearly the same as on our previous visits. The camellias were 

 nearly past blooming for the season, only here and there a flower being 

 expanded. The white azaleas, of which there are here two fine large 

 plants, were completely covered with blossoms; and the whiteness of the 

 corols formed a pleasing contrast with the foliage of the other plants 

 around them. A. phoenicea was also very splendid with an immense 

 number of flowers. But what pleased us was a plant of the Cyclamen 

 persicum, with over two hundred flowers upon it, and was indeed a 

 charming sight; we have seen large roots, but this was much stronger 

 than any that we recollect of our ever having observed: it shows to 

 what perfection it may be grown by projjcr management. £rica bac- 

 cans was elegant with its numerous blossoms. There was a fine dis- 

 play of stocks just beginning to flower; they were grown exceedingly 

 strong, and were beginning to open their flower-buds in abundance, 

 Vetheil^^« viridifldra was handsome, w^ith its spikes of blossoms. We 

 did not notice any thing particularly new or choice. The grape vines 

 on the rafters were just ])eginning to swell their buds. 



In the forcing ground the cucumbers were in flower, and preparations 

 were making for building new beds, for a succession of fruit, for rad- 

 ishes, &c. Mr. McLennan presei-ves the utmost order and neatness ia 

 every department. 



Mr. Towne, Snowhill-street, Boston. — This choice collection affords 

 to the amateur a great deal of gratification. The heaths are growing 

 vigorously, and a few of them are now in bloom — antong others, the 

 E. riibida and pubescens minor; the former is a most lovely species, 

 noticed by us before (vol. i. ]). 204,) erroneously under the name of 

 rubella, as flowering in Mr. BuLst's collection at Philadelphia; it should 

 VOL. III. NO. III. 14 



