310 Domestic Notices. 



and heath soil, and require free watering when in a grow- 

 ing state. (Pax. Mag. Bot. June.) 



jnp6nic.i Sicbcid Japan Skull-cap. A half-hardy herbaceous plant ; growing six inches 

 high; with blue flowers; appearing in June; a native of Japan ; increased by division of 

 the roots. Pax. Jlag. I!ot. Vol. X. p. ]23. 



"One of those pleasing little plants which grow only- 

 four or five inches high," and hear a profusion of blos- 

 soms throughout the summer. The flowers are produced 

 in rather large spikes, at the ends of all the principal or 

 lateral branches, and are of a handsome blue tint, prettily- 

 spotted with a darker shade in the throat. It has been 

 thus far treated as a frame plant, but we doubt not it will 

 prove hardy, especially in our climate. It is supposed to 

 have been among the plants brought from Japan by Dr. 

 Siebold. Readily increased by cuttings, division of the 

 root or by layers, (Pax. Mag. Bot. July.) 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Domestic Notices. 



State of Horticulture in the Valley of Virginia. — I embrace the oppor- 

 tunity of forwarding to you a few remarks, by Mr. Pope, of Indianapolis, 

 Indiana, who is a member of the newly established Horticultural Society 

 there. From a short acqiiaintance with him, I am glad to find that there 

 is such a growing spirit for Horticulture in the West. The people in the 

 remote parts of the country are beginning to see the utility and pleasure 

 of attending more to Horticultural pursuits. In the Valley of Virginia, 

 wlierc, a few years affo, the great portion of fruit trees were only seed- 

 lings, and most of them of a very inferior description, they are now get- 

 ting many of the choice varieties ; and there are now in the town of Win- 

 chester, and the surrounding country, specimens of grapes, peaches, 

 plums, &c., probably as good as any in the Union. There is also an in- 

 creasing spirit for ornamental gardening, and numbers of our Virginia 

 farmers are having their old established and splendid mansions improved, 

 By having the grounds neatly laid off and planted out with choice orna- 

 mental trees, roses, &c. &c. 



As regards our vegetable productions, they are abundant and generally 

 of good quality ; it is true, that forcing is not carried to such an extent 

 as near the large cities, but most articles are good in their season, and 

 sometimes we have them a little in advance. 



The taste for flowering plants seems to be rapidly increasing, and 

 although from the want of suitable places to grow them in, and perhaps at 

 times from the want of knowledge, we fail in growing plants to the great- 

 est perfection ; yet there appears a determination not to be discouraged, 

 but try again, and I have no doubt in a few years the culture of green- 

 house and hardy flowering plants will be successfully understood, for even 



