Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 343 



in the preceding year ; but an extra-prize was awarded for a number of very 

 fine hyacinths, grown in a novel manner, by Dr. Adolphus Ross, in his 

 drawing-room. A quantity of moss, consisting of the most common kinds 

 of i/ypnum, was placed in a water-tight box, about 8 or 9 in. deep, into 

 which the bulbs were placed in the end of September, without mould, and 

 duly watered. The result of this experiment was highly favourable ; and 

 Sir Henry Jardine, in moving that an extra-medal be awarded for this 

 novelty, complimented Dr. Ross on its success, for which the doctor, who 

 was present, returned his acknowledgments. — Another extra-prize was 

 awarded to Mr. John Mathison, gardener to the Lord Register of Scotland 

 at Arniston House, for a fine specimen of rampions (Campanula i?apuncu- 

 lus), used as a salad, and also as a second-course vegetable. — A very beau- 

 tiful specimen of an uncommon variety of the Seville orange, which grows 

 to a large size, was sent from the garden of Mr. Buchanan of Drumpellier, 

 grown by Mr. Thomas Carsewell, his gardener. This variety is said to be 

 very prolific. The fruit was attached to a small bough ; and close by the 

 fruit was a flower, which added to the interest of the specimen. 



Besides the competition flowers, a great many very fine hyacinths were 

 exhibited from Drum garden. A number of early tulips and hyacinths were 

 sent from the experimental garden, as also a very beautiful plant of Azalea 

 &difolia, or white Chinese azalea ; which is one of the handsomest of the 

 tribe, the petals being larger than those of the more common kinds, and of 

 a pure paper-white. An excellent specimen of the Phcenocoma prolifera 

 also graced the table of the hall ; which, both in point of beauty and fra- 

 grance, was, considering the early period of the year, as well decorated as 

 We ever recollect to have seen it. (Edinburgh Advertiser.) 



Edinburgh Botanic Garden, December 10. — The following new or rare 

 plants have lately flowered here : — Begdm'a diversifolia, Gompholobium 

 polyinorphum var. luteum, Sphacele Lindleyi, LobehVz mollis, Lobelia rugu- 

 losa. (Professor Graham in Jamiesorfs Journal, December, 1829.) 



Neiv or Rare Plants which have lately flowered in the Neighbourhood of 

 Edinburgh, March 10. 1830. — Cestrum bracteatum; Conostylis aculeata; 

 Elephantopus Martii, the seeds received from Rio Janeiro ; Lobeh'a 

 Kraussii, from Dominica. — iVepenthes distillatoria, fcem. This plant is 

 16 J ft. high. It has ripened seeds, from which several young plants have 

 been raised. " It appears that the pitcher is an appendage to the middle 

 rib of the leaf, the leaf originally consisting of the ciliated wings of the pit- 

 cher only, but is subsequently elongated downwards, and at last the mem- 

 branous expansion along the pitcher degenerates into two prominent nerves, 

 and for a considerable way along the middle rib is entirely removed, 

 leaving this to act as a long simple cirrhus," (Jameson's Jour., April, 1830, 

 p. 380.) 



Ripe Grapes were cut in the garden of Culzean Castle, Ayrshire, on 

 March 8. (Ayr Advertiser, March 25. 1830.) 



. Lord Dv.nmore's Seedling Pears are the finest productions of Scotland, 

 and equal to the best of those raised by M. van Mons. — P. N. Edinburgh, 

 January 6. 1830, 



Miniature Orchard. — I have been so much pleased with the plan of a 

 miniature orchard that I have, prepared a quarter of ground for a trial, 

 although I don't meant to plant the trees so close, and will introduce a 

 gooseberry bush between each tree. — W. M. Argyleshire, Nov. 6. 1828. 

 . Orchards. — In your Encyclopaedia of Gardening, article Orchards, you 

 are quite correct as to the Clydesdale and Carse of Gowrie orchards ; but 

 you say there are a few smaller ones along the base of the Ochill Hills. I 

 have sought for the Ochill Hill orchards but cannot find them, and I there- 

 fore think you have been misinformed. The Ochill Hills form the southern 

 boundary of Strathearn, and there is a range of lower hills, which run along 

 the north side of that strath, and on their south slope are the old orchards 



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