84 J^otcs made during a Visit to 



seed. He has raised many hybrids between the Michigan 

 rose and the Herbemot's musk cluster and others, which are 

 remarkably strong growers and free bloomers, producing im- 

 mense clusters of blossoms. A great many of the new French 

 tea and China roses have also been added to the collection, 

 now comprising many fine kinds. The seedling azaleas com- 

 prise some very interesting new varieties. The last season, 

 Mr. Feast has raised a great many plants from South Amer- 

 ican seeds, among which we noticed the Araucaria excelsa, 

 and imbricata ; we also saw some young seedlings of a 

 Poinsettm, raised from Poinsettia pulcherrima and Euphorbia 

 splendens. A great many seedling pfeonies have also been 

 raised the last year, and, among the number, Mr. Feast antici- 

 pates some new kinds. 



Some experiments upon the growth of plants in charcoal 

 have been made here. Mr. Feast had quite a collection of 

 Orchidacese, and as they had not thriven any too well, it oc- 

 curred to him that he might make use of the charcoal with 

 good effect. The whole of the plants were consequently 

 repotted in a mixture of peat and charcoal: this was done in 

 June or July, and when we saw them in August, many of the 

 plants were throwing out new roots with much vigor. The 

 charcoal seems to act as a conductor and retainer of heat, and, 

 by keeping the soil light and open, facilitates the rooting of 

 the plants. Mr Feast has also tried charcoal in rooting plants 

 from cuttings, and has succeeded in growing in ihis way Her- 

 bemot's musk cluster rose, which he has been unable to mul- 

 tiply by cuttings, in the ordinary way. Combretum purpu- 

 reum, a plant not easily increased, was speedily rooted in 

 charcoal. We would recommend further experiments to be 

 made, as we are convinced the system is attended with excel- 

 lent results. 



In the open garden, we noticed the Rose acacia (Robin?a 

 viscosa,) grafted as a standard, eight feet high, and forming a 

 fine object when in bloom. The only objection to this mode 

 of cultivating the acacia is its liability, from the brittle charac- 

 ter of its stems, to be destroyed by the wind: if, however, 

 the plants are placed in a situation not exposed to high winds, 

 there would not be much danger. The common locust is a 

 good stock, and those who have an abundance of them we 

 would advise to try the experiment. Magnolia conspicua, a 

 large plant of which we saw here in 1839, about ten feet 



