Biography. — Obituary. 95 



severe frosts. Six leaves give an ounce of dried fibres, which it is calculated 

 will exceed per acre the produce of either flax or hemp. It may be ob- 

 served, however, that the separation of these fibres from the matter of the 

 leaf is not at present understood. Whether the cultivation of this plant 

 is ever likely to beeome an object of importance to Ireland may, we are 

 sorry to say, be almost doubted. At least the experience upon the subject 

 in New South Wales is against it. A company was some years since 

 established in that colony for collecting the plant in New Zealand, and for 

 rearing it at Port Jackson. Both schemes proved unsuccessful; the former 

 from the plant being by no means common enough in New Zealand to pay 

 for the trouble of collecting it : the latter from the long space of time 

 which was required to bring the plants to perfection. Both plans were 

 also impeded by the great difficulty which was experienced in reducing the 

 fibres of the leaves to a marketable state as flax. 



Rearing of Silk Worms. Much interest has been excited by the oper- 

 ations of a joint stock company formed for the truly patriotic purpose of 

 providing employment for the poor of the south of Ireland by the rearing 

 of the silk worm. This interest has been increased by the knowledge that 

 the assistance of his majesty's ministers has been liberally accorded in 

 every way which has appeared likely to prove advantageous to the scheme, 

 and by the strenuous exertions made in its support by the Earl of Kingston 

 and other powerful Irish noblemen. In the spring of 1825 a nursery was 

 established near Cork, upon the estate of the Earl of Kingston, as a cen- 

 tral depot whence mulberry plants might be distributed to all parts of the 

 country, and another for similar purposes in Devonshire ; and we believe, 

 that during the summer which has just passed, all proper means have been 

 taken by Lord Auckland, the most active director of the company, for 

 forwarding its ends. 



We sincerely hope that this plan will proceed, notwithstanding the diffi- 

 culties which may be expected to impede it from the unfavourable nature 

 of our climate. Perhaps we may pursue this matter further in a future 

 number. 



Art. III. Biography. 



Under this head we should be happy to collect some notices respecting 

 the lives of eminent gardeners, or promoters of gardening, long since de- 

 ceased; and where we can, we should also be glad to engrave their por- 

 traits. The following are a few names, respecting which the smallest 

 degree of information would be interesting : Tradescant, Rea, Rose, 

 Cooke, Meager, Read, London, Wise, Lucre, Field, Switzer, Langley, 

 Furber, Gray of Fulham, Rocque, Justice, Hitt, Powell, Weston, and espe- 

 cially Wheatley; all authors of whom very little is known. Any inform- 

 ation would also be very acceptable respecting the following garden artists, 

 or any others whose names do not occur to us : Bridgeman, Robinson, 

 Brown, Havorfield, Eames, White, Ramsey, Meickle, &c. 



Art. IV. Obituary. 



We have to record the death of Mr. William Ross, F. L. S. H. S., a re- 

 spectable nurseryman at Stoke Newington. Mr. Ross's father came to 

 England from the south of Scotland early in the last century ; and after 

 being some years in service as a gentleman's gardener, he commenced cul- 

 tivating vegetables for sale at Stoke Newington, and passed the remainder 

 of his life there. His son, the subject of this memoir, was born and edu- 



