482 [Assembly 



hies that of the rose. The singular structure of the fruit has 

 much occupied the attention of botanists. It consists of an ob- 

 conicol receptacle, which is fleshy, of a dark green color ; in it 

 are enniched from 15 to 30 pistils. Some have compared it to 

 a hand water sprinkler. On the end of the pistils, are formed 

 small, blackish nuts to which the name of beans was given. 

 Theophrastus has left us a most accurate and perfect description 

 of this plant. 



The Eucalyptus Globulus of the Island of Van Diemen. The 

 colonists call this tree Swamp gum, or Blue gum. It is certain 

 that there is but a single species of it. It is of the myrtle family. 

 The stories of travellers about its immense size excited doubts; 

 but at the Crystal Palace we have seen some small segments— one 

 at 184 feet high, is nearly three feet in diameter. Other large 

 trees, such as boab, dragon, chestnut, oak, &,c., are generally of 

 moderate height. The Royal Society of Van Diemen state, that 

 six miles from Hobart Tow'n, there is a Eucalyptus Globulus 

 which measures at the level of the ground thirty feet in diame- 

 ter; at six or seven feet from the ground, twenty eight feet in 

 diameter ; and its whole height is nearly three hundred and 

 forty feet. There are many others in that locality as large, or 

 nearly so. The common heights of them are from 190 feet to 

 nearly 300 feet. The cli ate much resembles that of Ireland 

 and the south of England. 



Mr. Van Wyck said, the proper cultivation of fruit trees in 

 our country, so as to get the finest quality of fruit, is highly 

 important. This applies with peculiar force to the peach tree, 

 one of the most delicate and delicious of our fruits. Forty or 

 fifty years ago there was no difficulty in having the peach tree 

 grow thriftily, live long, and produce fine fruit in abundance. 

 Various causes are assigned why, within the last thirty or forty 

 years, they will not live more than three or four years, or at most 

 more than six or seven. Some think it is owing to their not being 

 properly nursed, or not nursed enough, or planted with sufficient 

 care, and they go to work and manure well, not only with organ- 

 ic, but many special or artificial and mineral manures, and prune, 

 trim, and cut stems, branches, and limbs very liberally. I think 

 with some others who have experimented much more upon the 



