Ddmeslic J^^otices. 149 



ers, and the blue is of a beautiful deep shade ; those, on the contrary, 

 planted in the eardens of the city of Funchal itself, retain the pink color, 

 or at niost assume a })ale dirty shade of blue. Must we concliuie that 

 the soil above is much more rich in iron than the soil below, anc" that 

 the latter contains more of vegetable and animal matter? or is it be- 

 cause the air on the heights contains much more oxygen than the at- 

 nios|)here of the city? or do both causes concur simultaneously in pro- 

 ducing this constant effect? Many amateurs have assured me that they 

 have never been able to preserve the natural color of the pink hydran- 

 gea on the mountain. Another remarkable fact is, that the foliage of 

 these blue hydrangeas is astonishinjily vigorous, and of an extremely 

 dark spinach green. The soil in which they grow is never changed; 

 though, in Europe, gardeners and amateurs are of opinion that, to pro- 

 duce hydrangeas of a blue color, they shoidd not have ferrugimius earth 

 many years in succession; but, on the contrary, should be allowed to re- 

 pose in common mould, before exciting them ;igain with ferruginous soil. 

 Is this true or false? or can it be that artificial ferruginous mould can 

 never equal soil naturally ferruginous? This may be piobable from the 

 analogy of artificial mineral waters, which are never etiual to those nat- 

 urally mineral. In short, are there amateurs in England who would 

 wish to import mould from the mountains of Madeira into England for 

 growing blue hyilrangeas? If that is the case, amateurs shouhl address 

 their orders, by letter (post |)ai(l) to me, within three months from this 

 time (October 2, 1837,) so that I might be able to execute their orders 

 before my departure for the Canaries, which will probably take place 

 next spring. — (Dr. Lippoldin Gar d. Mag.) 



Art. III. Domestic Notices. 



Rohan Potato. — We had but just sent our article to press respecting 

 new vegetables, under which we spoke of this potato, when the follow- 

 ing met our eye, in the Yankee Farmer, copied from a French journal. 

 It gives a much more favorable account of it than we gathered from 

 Jiidire Buel's paper, and, if true, gives it a place among the very best 

 kinds of potatoes which have ever been imported into this country. 

 We shall endeavor to make a trial of it ourselves the coining season: — 



" I send you, through my friend, M. Romilly, the potato I jiromised 

 you; and to which my name has been given in this country. The his- 

 tory of the potato is not less sins'ular than the potato itself. The man 

 who obtained it from seed in Holland four years ago, shows it, but will 

 not give it to any person: he has refused it to King William. He has 

 cultivated it in a little walled enclosure; he only wishes to see it in ])€r- 

 fection, and the seed of the following year. He causes them to be ta- 

 ken up in his presence, and keeps them under lock and key. It is at 

 great risk that I have been able to procure two tubers. This exclusive 

 amateur having learnt that I had some cactuses, which he wished much 

 to have, begge<l of me to give him some^ I wished no money, but very 

 much to have some of his wonderful potato. He irave me two of them, 

 and made me give my word of honor, that I would never send any of 

 thenj to Holland, Bolirium, England, Prussia or Germany. Happily 

 he has not thought of Switzerland nor P'rance; for without this omis- 

 sion I could not now have the pleasure of oflering them to you. 



