Domestic Notices : — England. 661 



ever hurt It. It is more prolific of bloom than any other species or variety, 

 and its flowers are also much larger than those of the ^'rbutus f/nedo. 

 The following is the origin of this plant: — 



At Dr. Fothergill's, at Camberweli, was a fine specimen of the J'rbutus 

 AnArachne, and one season it produced ripe berries, which were given to 

 the late Mr. Thoburn, nurseryman at Old Brompton, who was at that time 

 celebrated for his success in raising seedlings. He was fortunate enough to 

 raise about ten plants ; I say fortunate, as 1 do not believe the ^ndrachne 

 ever perfected seeds in this country but in this one instance. Several of the 

 seedlings were sold to the amateurs of plants of that day : but Messrs. 

 Whitley reserved one, the most dissimilar to the parent plant they could 

 select; for though this hybrid has the deciduous bark of the ^ndrachne, yet 

 it partakes more of the habit of ^'rbutus [7nedo ; and the leaves being so 

 much larger, and more deeply serrated, it may be called a Giant Arbutus. 

 After the death of Dr. Fothergill, his plants were disposed- of by public 

 auction, and the contest for the purchase of the ^ndrachne was carried on 

 by two spirited nurserymen of that day, till the biddings amounted to forty 

 pounds, and I think ^tr. D. Grimwood was the fortunate purchaser. — R. 

 W. April 7. 1829. 



Aldrica Northikna. — I have flowered a plant this summer, which I 

 never recollect having seen in flower before, and which is well worth the at- 

 tention of all plant-growers, 1 mean the old Marica Northw7ia. 1 put a plant 

 of it in the hot-house last May, gave it plenty of water, and kept pulling off 

 the suckers as they made their appearance. In August it threw up a strong 

 spike of flowers, ten or twelve of them opening every day, for more than 

 two months. Nothing could be more beautiful. I mean to flower a dozen or 

 more of them every year in future. When in flower, the plants may be put in 

 the green-house, or even out of doors. The plant above mentioned has been 

 out this month past, and even now (November) continues to show a flower 

 or two almost every day, and altogether there have not been less than 

 400 flowers upon it. I make no doubt but this plant has flowered in 

 many places ; but still it is a plant that is generally despised as worthless, 

 and difficult to flower; but the contrary is the case, and any one who 

 will manage it as I have mentioned, I will answer for it, will be highly 

 gratified with the result. I often wonder you have not more communica- 

 tions on the best method of making plants flower, that are difficult to flower, 

 or of cases in which the method of flowering them is not generally known. 

 For instance, how many have been trying to flower the Combretum comosum, 

 and wondering what sort of treatment Mr. Campbell gave his plant, when 

 out comes the secret of fastening a piece of wire round the stem. Many of 

 us country gardeners would be glad of as many hints of the same kind as you 

 can find room for. I am, &c. — Robert Reid. Alontrath Hott.se, near Col- 

 lumpton, Devonshire, Nov. 8. 1828. 



Neiv Plants from the Caraccas. — Mr. Fanning, the proprietor of the 

 Botanic Garden at the Caraccas, has lately arrived in London with the 

 following plants, most of which he considers are new to this country: — 

 The Arbol de Leache, or Milk tree; Brownea grandiflora, grandiceps, and 

 coccinea; Canalindea, Span.; a new Hedychium; Coral, Span.; a new 

 Brexia; Velvet plant; a new Heritiera; Boliverrt montana, gloriosa ; a 

 new splendid Polygonum; Caldditim, new species ; two sorts of Arachacha; 

 with a variety of other plants all new. 



Mr. Fanning returns to the Caraccas in the course of a few weeks, and 

 in the mean time he will be happy to enter into correspondence with such 

 naturalists as may wish to avail themselves of his services. His agent is 

 Mr. Hunneman, Queen .Street, Soho. 



Garden Vases. — Mr. Peake, a manufacturer of draining tiles, conduit 

 pipes, and other articles of this kind, of a very superior description, at 

 Tunstal near Newcastle, Stafl^ordshire, has lately begun to produce cm- 



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