222 Calls at the Nurseries. 



the greatest facility at Clapton, yet he could not grow them herein a satis- 

 factory manner till he used rain water. The peat soil used at both places 

 was from the same common ; but the water at Clapton was in part from a 

 well, and in part from collecting cisterns. Weniust therefore suppose that 

 the well water of Clapton is of a quality more suitable to vegetation than 

 the well water where Mr. Knight now resides. 



Mr. Knight has the largest saleable plant of the Magnolia conspicua in 

 the neighbourhood of London. He purchased it two years ago when on a 

 continental tour, and keeps it in a large box in his conservatory. In plant- 

 ing a new pleasure ground, such a tree as this, the Magnolia grandifloras at 

 Malcolm's, the Rhododendrons at Thomson's, and the Arbutuses at New- 

 cross, would effect wonders. 



Last autumn Mr. Knight had planted some hundreds of the acorns of 

 evergreen oaks in small pots, and placed them in a sheltered situation ; the 

 fortnight's severe frost in January, however, killed every one of them 

 before they had begun to germinate. This is what we could hardly have 

 supposed would have taken place ; the acorns in a dry state, buried among 

 decayed leaves under the parent tree, might probably have escaped, while 

 those in earth, and saturated with moisture, suffered. There is a very fine 

 large plant of Chimonanthus fragrans in this nursery, which has been in 

 flower since the beginning of December. 



Kew Gardens, Feb. 27. — The plants in the hot-houses are looking 

 better than they have done at this season for several years past. The 

 young man who showed us through, attributed the circumstance to the air 

 having been kept in a more moist state, by dashing abundance of water on 

 the paths and flues in days of sun-shine. This applies, of course, more par- 

 ticularly to stove plants. There were not many plants in flower ; the prin- 

 cipal were different sorts of aloes in the dry stove, and various species of 

 acacia in the green-houses. The following plants, in bloom, were scattered 

 here and there : — Diosma, several sorts, Epacris pungens and grandi- 

 flora, Sparmannia africana, Templetonia retusa, Poeonia sarcacola, Enkian- 

 thus nova species, various camellias, heaths, &c. 



Not many half hardy plants in the open air have been killed by the late 

 frosts; a plant of Araucaria exceisa, too large to be any longer kept within 

 doors, was in autumn turned out in a corner, and matted over, but has died. 

 Its trunk at the base is at least four inches across. Aurucaria imbricata, 

 protected by its moveable tabernacle on the spot where it has stood nearly 

 ten years, looks as well as usual at this season. The mats on the south side 

 are taken off in the day time, and only put on in the most severe evenings. 

 A thrush has built her nest in the axil of one of the principal branches. 

 Eucalyptus against a south wall is killed, as in die Horticultural Society's 

 garden ; also a species of rhus, and one or two Botany Bay plants ; even 

 some common broad-leaved myrtles are severely injured. Chimonanthus 

 fragrans, and Clematis calycina, had been magnificently covered with flowers, 

 during December and January. A large Magnolia conspicua, hitherto kept 

 in a box, but now planted out, and the full grown tree of Magnolia acu- 

 minata, give abundant promise of flowers. 



In the kitchen-garden at Kew there is nothing worth looking at but the 

 forcing-house. The standard apple trees are covered with canker, crowded 

 with spray like old birch-trees, produce no fruit, and alio wnothing to grow 

 under them. The trees on the walls are better. 



The pine plants are the best we have ever seen at Kew, and on a footing 

 with those at other gardens. One planted in a glass pot to show the progress 

 of the roots, looked yellow. The vines, in different periods of advancement, 

 are ail in a good state. In one house the berries are set. Some cherries, in 

 pots, are also set. We observed an abundance of ants creeping over the 

 blossoms on some chery-trees, and we have little doubt they contributed in 

 a certain extent to fecundation. There were ample crops of ripe strawber- 



