222 Queries and Answers. 



examination I found the borders completely covered with a heterogeneous mass of vegetables, 

 which, at my suggestion, were immediately cleared away, and the border pointed over. Since 

 then the vine border has been held perfectly sacred, and in 1827 very few of the grapes suffered ; 

 and, from a letter received from my friend a few days ago, I understand that, during the summer 

 and autumn of 1828, the grapes have invariably remained perfectly sound, the last being cut on 

 the 18th ultimo (December) ; and I venture to assert, grapes have a greater tendency to shrivel in 

 such a season as last, owing to the humidity of the atmosphere, than generally occurs in such 

 summers as those of 1825 and 182o. This circumstance corroborates my opinion, that the defect 

 originates from the incapacity of the absorbent orifices of the fibrillae to imbibe the nutritive juices 

 requisite for the well-being of the vegetable dependent on this source for life and vigour. As 

 there is naturally a deficiency in the solar influence during such a humid season, so, consequently, 

 the soil becomes sour and unpalatable to the roots that depend on it for their vivifying aliment. 

 When these natural defects are artificially extended, which is the case from cropping the border 

 with a dense mass of vegetables, a corresponding share of disease may naturally be expected. 

 But, independently of the effect in depriving the border of the influence of the sun's rays, there is 

 another consideration which ought to operate as a serious objection to the cropping system, the 

 injury the border suffers from the impoverishing nature of the crops generally cultivated. Yet, 

 so tenacious are the generality of gardeners of this absurd practice, that for a partial and evanescent 

 benefit they sacrifice the principal object, and thus, con amore for their favourite system, they 

 keep on from year to year ; the results are bad crops, or good crops spoiled. — Alexander Gordon. 

 Apsley Castle, Jan. 16. 1829. _ — „ 



Verbena Melindres Bot. Reg., diamcedrifolia Sweet Sir, Observing in the Gar- 

 dener's Magazine, Vol. V. p. 106., a communication to you from Mr. Perry, gardener at Bignor 

 Park, Sussex, in which he appears to be very anxious to communicate to the public, as exten- 

 sively as possible, by whom the Ferbena Melindres was introduced into this country, and by whom 

 the first plant was raised ; also, as to how it came into my possession, and the subsequent 

 manner in which I took the liberty of disposing of a specimen of it when it bloomed at Pet- 

 worth, and from which circumstance (though unintentional on my part) it was afterwards figured 

 in the Botanical Register; in order to forward Mr. Perry's object, and to correct some errors in 

 his communication, as well as to afford him some degree of satisfaction, by proving to him that I 

 have been more grateful for the favour of having the Terbtna Melindres presented to me, than is 

 imputed to me in his statement sent you, I beg the favour of you, Sir, to allow me the 

 privilege of endeavouring to prove as extensively " as Mr Perry has circulated my want of grati- 

 tude," that 1 have, in the way desired by him, evidenced my sense of regard for his kindness. 

 Early in March 1828, Mr. Perry called at Petworth Gardens, and, whilst I was in the act of ridging 

 out some cucumber and melon plants in frames, he came up to me and very obligingly said he 

 had brought me two cuttings of seedling verbenas, stating that he had raised them from seeds 

 sent by a gentleman from Buenos Ayres, in 1826. It was in this way the Jerbena Melindres came 

 into my possession, and at no other time did I ever receive from Mr. Ferry either a cutting or a 

 plant of it. On my going up to the horticultural fgte in June following, I took a specimen of it 

 in bloom to show to some of my friends, and having the favour granted of exhibiting it to some 

 members of the Council of the Horticultural Society, they very much admired it, and as it was 

 presented to them they had an undoubted right to dispose of it as they pleased, without asking 

 either myself or any other person for leave to do so ; this circumstance led to its introduction into 

 the Botanical Register. Shortly afterwards application was made to my father from the Horticul- 

 tural Society, for information relative to his knowledge of the history of the Terbena, and how it 

 was received into Petworth Gardens : the substance of his reply was, that it came into his pos- 

 session the preceding spring, by a cutting presented by Mr. Perry, gardener to John Hawkins, 

 Esq., Bignor Park, Sussex, and that Mr. Perry had told me he had been successful in raising it 

 from seeds sent from Buenos Ayres in 1826. If Mr. Perry had been as candid as he considers I 

 ought to have been in stating from whom I had the plant, he probably would have taken a much 

 readier method, and one far more to his credit, of obtaining information that I had done so, and 

 he then might have omitted in his communication the assertion, that I (not any other person) had 

 not stated from whom 1 received it. 



During the summer of 1828, Mr. Perry, accompanied by two other gardeners, called at Petworth 

 Gardens, and (it may be as he states) he named his intention of getting it figured ; but if it was 

 mentioned in the course of conversation in going round the gardens I do not recollect it ; but 

 admitting I had heard it so stated, I cannot see any necessity I was under to inform Mr. Perry 

 what I had done with what I had given to others. The cutting was not given to me with any 

 stipulated conditions, but unconditionally ; I therefore considered I was entirely at liberty to avail 

 myself of the privilege Mr. Perry considers I had a right to. If Mr. Perry chooses to dictate about 

 others, I beg to be excepted in future, and thus be saved the trouble of writing to, and presuming 

 upon the kindness of, my friends, as I fear I am now doing in transmitting this to you. I am, 

 Sir, &c. — George Harrison. Petworth Gardens, Feb. 26. 1829. 



Pentstemon glauca and specibsa should be written P. glaiicum and speciosum, 

 as in Lindley's Botanical Register. Graham, I perceive, makes it masculine. — George Penny. 

 Epsom, Feb. 12. 1830. 



Celery. — Celery, Salisbury says, in his Botanist's Companion (vol. ii. p. 102.), 

 *' should be used with great caution, if grown in wet land, as it has been considered poisonous in 

 such cases." Does not this deserve the consideration of those who recommend in its culture an 

 imitation of its native ditches ? — E.H. of Stafford. Dec. 10. 1829. 



Art. IV. Queries and Answers. 



Names of Secretaries of Provincial Horticultural Societies. — Sir, I beg, through 

 the medium of the Gardener's Magazine, to suggest the usefulness of the secretaries of provincial 

 horticultural societies sending their names and addresses for insertion in that publication. My 

 object in throwing out this hint is to facilitate communications with each other. I should 

 have found a great advantage in it at this time, being desirous of ascertaining the mode of ap- 

 pointing and remunerating judges at the various shows of any repute or extent in the kingdom ; 

 but, on referring to the accounts of such shows in the Gardener's Magazine (which our society 



