84- Foreign Notices. 



the importance of the subject; observing that the result of their efforts had 

 notwithstanding the severity of the climate, exceeded their hopes. 



DENMARK. 



Horticulture in Denmark seems to be as much in repute as in most other 

 countries of the continent; the Crown Prince is a fellow of the Horticul- 

 tural Society of London ; and one of the royal gardeners, Mr. Peter 

 Lindegaard has contributed several papers to the Horticultural Society's 

 Transactions. Some of Sir John Sinclair's writings have been translated. 



RUSSIA AND POLAND. 



Caterpillars on Cabbages. In Lithuania these are said to be destroyed by 

 distributing the leaves of a species of Kalmia which grows wild there (pro- 

 bably Ledum palustre), the odour of which is said to occasion the death of 

 the caterpillars. 



Botanic Garden at St. Petersburgh. The celebrated botanic garden of 

 Prince Razumoffsky, at Moscow, which was under the direction of Dr. 

 Fischer, at the death of that nobleman, excited no interest in the mind of 

 his son ; and Dr. Fischer then used his utmost exertion to have a botanic 

 garden worthy of the Russian empire established at its capital, St. Peters- 

 burgh. This happily, through the intervention and influence of the 

 Emperor's mother, a great lover of botany, and who herself possesses a 

 very fine collection of plants, was accomplished. 



Upon one of the small islands formed by the branches of the Neva, to 

 the north of the town, and named Aptekerski StrofF (Apothecaries' Island), 

 was founded by Peter the Great, a small garden for the cultivation prin- 

 cipally of such plants as were useful in medicine, and was given to the 

 company of apothecaries. Here Peter built, with his own royal hands, a 

 hut, which still exists, and planted several trees, especially of poplar and 

 lime, which have attained a considerable size, and are preserved with a 

 sacred care. This spot, consisting of good soil, and watered upon one 

 side by a branch of the Neva, was fixed on as the scite of the present 

 garden. Other ground, however, was added to it in 1823, so that it in- 

 cludes an area of 60 English acres, in part surrounded by a wooden fence, 

 and partly by a hedge, which occupies about 200 yards next the river. 



In 1824, a series of operations were commenced and carried into exe- 

 cution; such as, perhaps, have scarcely any parallel in the annals of 

 botanical institutions. Orders were given for ranges of green-houses, con- 

 servatories, and stoves, the cost of which was estimated at a million of 

 roubles (about 40,000/. sterling), and the whole to be completed before the 

 present winter. 



There are three principal houses, facing the south, each 700 feet in 

 length, and 20 to 50 feet from back to front, placed in parallel lines, but 

 at such a distance from each other that by two other houses of the same 

 length, running from north to south, and placed at the ends of these, the 

 whole forms a parallelogram, measuring 700 feet each way, intersected by 

 a central house of the same length. The middle building is most lofty, 

 being 40 feet high in the central part. The three that face the south have 

 a sloping light in front reaching from the top to the ground. Those which 

 run north and south have a double roof, are comparatively low, and have 

 the path in the centre. All are heated by means of common flues, and 

 with wood, principally birch. Water is raised by engines from the river, 

 and cisterns filled in various parts of the houses, and in the most con- 

 venient situations. The large spaces of ground or areas between the build- 

 ings, are filled with shrubs and flower beds; only behind the most southern 

 one is a splendid suite of apartments for the Royal Family. These have 

 windows, opening from above into the house below, so that the plants may 

 be seen to great advantage. 



