Floriculttiral and Botanical Notices. 453 



Patagonia, according to Mr. Lobb; Dombey reports it to 

 grow in the interior of the provinces of Southern Chili, at an 

 elevation of 1000 — 5000 feet. Capt. King is said to have 

 found it at Port Famine. It is one of the Robles of the Chile- 

 nos, and of value for its heavy wood. It occupies, however, 

 according to Dr. Joseph Hooker, only the lower elevations of 

 the monntains, and will hardly bear the open climate, except 

 in the southwest of England and Ireland. 



Libocedrus tetragona (also called Thuja tetragona) is des- 

 cribed by Mr. Lobb, as a tree of 50 to 80 feet in height, 

 growing as high as the snow line on the Andes of Patagonia. 

 It is a Coniferous plant, v/ith four-cornered branches, which 

 must be extremely handsome. Another species of Liboce- 

 drus, of greater stature, (80 to 100 feet, according to Mr. 

 Lobb,) has also been raised. These two are said to consti- 

 tute the famous Alerse of Chili, celebrated for its gigantic 

 size, and the excellence of its timber. Specimens of Alerse 

 are spoken of, 24 and 22 feet round, at 5 feet from the 

 ground; others are said to exist " from 30 to 40 feet round, 

 and from SO to 90 feet in height to the first branches: above 

 which the heads of these giants are said to rise some 40 or 

 50 feet more." No doubt they are among the finest Conifers 

 in the world. Since they inhabit the same country as the 

 Chilian Araucaria, and advance to the southward even as 

 far as Port Famine, it is not improbable that they may be as 

 hardy as that tree, and if so, they will be of very great value. 

 Possibly one of these may be the genuine Alerse, and the 

 other the Cypress of Chili, if, indeed, those trees are as dis- 

 tinct as is supposed by some writers. 



Of Myrtle-like plants several have been obtained, espe- 

 cially a very pretty species called Myrtus stipularis. These 

 will be about as hardy as the common myrtle. 



A Berberry of unrivalled beauty, evergreen, with deep 

 green foliage, and rich orange-yellow flowers, is Berbeins 

 Darwinii. It will, probably, be hardy. 



Three Escallonias are raised, of which the EscaUonia ma- 

 cranlha has become known as the finest of the genus, in con- 

 sequence of its having been exhibited at one of the meetings 

 in the Garden of the Horticultural Society. Two others are 

 something like E. rubra, and will, possibly, have the same 

 constitution. 



