and qfHural Improvement generally, during 1837. 537 



oak ; with the exception of the live oak, which will not attain a 

 timber size in Britain. No American pine or fir, that will attain 

 the size of a forest tree in this country, has wood equalHng that 

 of the Scotch pine, the larch, or the spruce. We might, in like 

 manner, go through all the genera of American trees ; but we 

 have said enough, we trust, to impress the reader with an idea 

 of the importance of cultivating for timber, and on a large scale, 

 the improved varieties of European species. Not that we wish 

 to discourage the planting of ultra-European trees on a large 

 scale also ; because there may be some of these that will prove 

 far more valuable in this country than we have any idea of; and, 

 also, because they add to the variety and beauty of our general 

 scenery, and may, at some future time, give rise to improved 

 kinds by cross-breeding. 



Some valuable remarks on the progress of the beech in ex- 

 posed situations, and on raising the oak in the government 

 plantations, will be found in the present Volume. 



The Arboretum et Friiticetum Britamiicum (we do not refer to 

 our book of that name, but to living collections), in general, 

 receives some little addition every year. Among trees, the most 

 remarkable that has been brought into notice during 1837, 

 is a species of fir from Cephalonia. It was raised from seeds 

 received from the island of that name, by Charles Hoare, Esq., 

 ten or twelve years ago; but no notice seems to have been taken 

 of it by any one, till the recent increasing taste for planting 

 pinetums stimulated the nurserymen to search in every direction 

 for new species of pines and firs. One of the finest shrubs 

 brought forward during the year is Cowanm plicata (see 

 p. 452.), It is evergreen, with the leaves and habit of a 

 shrubby potentilla ; and flowers like those of the rose in form 

 and structure, and of a pink colour. A double-flowered rho- 

 dodendron has been originated in Paris, and the whole stock of 

 plants of it already imported into this country, by Mr. Lavvson 

 of Edinburgh. A few new kinds of trees and shrubs have been 

 raised, during the past summer, in the garden of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, which will form subjects of notice on some future 

 occasion. A valuable article on the propagation of the pine and 

 fir tribe by cuttings, by Mr. Lindsay ; and another by Mr. 

 Frost, on his mode of treating the rarer species in the Drop- 

 more pinetum, well deserve the attention of nurserymen and 

 gardeners who have the care of collections. 



Floriculture. — Dahlias and roses in the open garden, and 

 orchideous plants in the stoves, continue to be the fashionable 

 objects of culture. Some new Californian annuals or perennials, 

 raised from seeds sent home by Douglas, or some other col- 

 lectors, are annually coming into flower, and finding their way 

 into botanical periodicals and catalogues. Some interestino- 

 additions to our knowledge respecting such ornamental flower- 



