462 General Notices. 



it should also combine its faults, that I should regret as much as any one. 

 There were certainly no cracked berries in the bunches which came under 

 my notice from Mr. Josling ; and they had much longer, and also stronger 

 shoulders than the Chasselas Musqne usually has, or even than I had ob- 

 served it to possess under Mr. Wilmot's superior cultivation. The leaves 

 sent for description appeared to me different from those of the Chasselas 

 Musque. Aware that different modes of cultivation and other circum- 

 stances have so great an effect in altering the appearance of varieties, that 

 even those acquainted with them will sometimes be deceived, I thought it 

 advisable to obtain, for the satisfaction of the public, the most direct proof of 

 the origin of the grape in question that I possibly could ; and I accordingly 

 addressed to Mr. Josling a series of questions, distinctly numbered, to 

 which I requested the favor of a reply. The time when the variety was 

 raised, and its parentage, were made prominent questions. To all inquiries 

 as satisfactory answers were returned as could possibly be expected ; they 

 may be seen by referring to the notice of the grape in the " Journal of the 

 Horticultural Society," vol. i., p. 296. I need only add, that I feel obliged 

 to " Vitis," and other correspondents, for endeavoring to clear up the 

 matter ; and we must recollect that great similarity is no decided proof of 

 identity.— ( Gar^/. Chron., 1849, p. 485.) 



The Chrysanthcmitm in China. — The Chrysanthemum is the Chinese 

 gardener's favorite flower. There is no other with which he takes so 

 much pains, or which he cultivates so well. His camellias, azaleas, and 

 roses, are well grown and well bloomed, but with all these we beat him in 

 England ; in the cultivation of the Chrysanthemum, however, he stands 

 unrivalled. The plants themselves seem, as it were, to meet him half 

 way and grow just as he pleases ; sometimes I met with them trained in 

 the form of animals, such as horses and deer, and at other times they were 

 made to resemble the pagodas, so common in the country. Whether they 

 were trained into these fanciful forms, or merely grown as simjjle bushes, 

 they were always in high health, full of fresh green leavesj and never 

 failed to bloom most profusely in the autumn and winter. 



The method of cultivating the Chrysanthemum in China is as follows; — 

 Cuttings are struck every year from the young shoots, in the same manner 

 as we do in England. When they are rooted they are potted off at once 

 into the pots in which they are to grow and bloom ; that is, they are grown 

 upon what would be called by our gardeners " the one shift system." 



The soil used in potting is of a very rich description. About Canton it 

 is generally obtained, in the first instance, from the bottom of lakes or 

 ponds, where the Nelumbium or Water Lily grows. It is then laid up to 

 dry and pulverise for some months, when it is mixed with old night-soil 

 taken from the manure tanks found in every garden. A heap of this kind, 

 after being laid up for some time and frequently turned over, is in a fit state 

 for potting the Chrysanthemum. Manure water, taken also from the tanks 

 already noticed, is liberally supplied during the growing season, and its 

 effects are visible in the luxuriant dark green leaves which cover the plants. 



In forming the plants into nice compact bushes, which, (with due defer- 



