184 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



and the funnel for filling in tan are new features, and the 

 whole system has the great merit of simplicity. 



20. On forcing Asparagus. By Mr. James Dall, Gardener to the 



Earl of Hardvvicke, F.H.S. at Wimpole. 



Hot-beds are formed of leaves instead of dung, and the 

 plants are taken up with balls of earth attached to them ; the 

 rest is routine. 



21. Observations on forcing Garden Rhubarb. By Mr. William 

 Stothard, Under-Gardener in the Experimental Fruit and 

 Kitchen Garden Department of the Garden of the Horticul- 

 tural Society at Chiswick. 



The essence of this paper was given by us at the time it 

 was read. (Gard. Mag., vol. ii. p. 356.) 



22. Account of some remarkable Holly Hedges and Trees in Scot- 



land. By Joseph Sabine, Esq. F.R.S. &c. Secretary. 



In a journey which Mr. Sabine made in Scotland, in the 

 autumn of 1825, so far from finding the country without trees, 

 like Dr. Johnson, he was " much struck with the beauty and 

 size of the holly hedges and trees," especially the following : — 



At Tynningham, East Lothian, are 2952 yards of holly 

 hedge, in different lengths, of different heights of from 10 to 

 25 feet, and of widths from 9 to 13 feet. These hedges, 

 with the exception of one, " are regularly clipped in each 

 year, in April ; the work occupying the time of five labourers 

 about three weeks. The hedges are kept with an even ex- 

 terior, and contracted towards the top. They are carefully 

 protected from the bite of cattle, and especially from sheep, 

 which are very fond of the bark, shoots, and young leaves of 

 the holly. They are planted on raised banks, which in most 

 cases are kept dry by ditches on one or both sides. The soil 

 in which the most vigorous growth is apparent is a deep 

 light loam. The plants do not grow so luxuriantly when it 

 is either sand or clay, and less well when it is moist with a 

 retentive subsoil. The object of the banks and ditches here 

 noticed, was to keep the roots dry and well drained." The 

 largest single holly at Tynningham measures 5 feet 3 inches in 

 circumference, at three feet from the ground ; the stem is clear 

 of branches to 14 feet high, and the total height of the tree 

 is 54 feet. The hedges were for the most part planted in 

 1712. 



At Collinton House, near Edinburgh, are holly hedges 

 which exceed those of Tynningham in size as well as age, 

 though not of such extended length. They are supposed 



