498 Domestic Notices : — England. 



the very bottom of the pot, and so completely covering the whole that 

 scarcely a particle of the foliage remains visible. While the plants are in 

 flower 1 generally place them in the green-house, to protect the blossoms 

 from the rain, &c., in order that they may last the longer. I believe this 

 plant is not unfrequently injured by being placed in the shade ; in which 

 case the shoots are apt to be drawn up and weakened. Few plants require 

 less attention in their cultivation, and certainly none reward us with a more 

 diffuse display of most beautiful blossoms in the spring. I may add, that 

 the soil in which I grow the saxifrage consists of a mixture of garden loam 

 and peat, with a quantity of broken pot, brick, and sandstone interspersed 

 among it. Yours, &c. — W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, March 11. 1831. 



The Night-blooming Cereus (Cereus grandi^orus). — Sir, Mr.Maule, Staple- 

 ton Road Nursery, Bristol, last night gratified the public with the sight of 

 a Cereus grandiflorus, with ten magnificent flowers in full bloom, and beau- 

 tifully arranged for effect. It was one of the most splendid botanic sights 

 ever witnessed here. Mr. Maule is very successful in flowering this species. 

 The plant in question is but of a moderate size, yet this is its second time 

 of flowering this season, and in a few days it will display eight more 

 flowers. — P. Masey, Jun, Bristol, June 8. 1831. 



George the Fourth Polyanthus. — A plant in full bloom has been sent us 

 by our indefatigable and much-valued correspondent Mr. Saul. It is cer- 

 tainly a very perfect florist's flower : and it is worthy of remark, in order 

 to be remembered by gardeners in the country who have to send flowers 

 in pots to their families in town, that the plant was in a large pot ; the pot 

 being firmly fixed to the bottom of a strong box, and the mould kept in the 

 pot by moss tied to it with packthread. — Cond. 



Fine Vines at Great Finborough Hall, Suffolk. — Sir, In a late visit to 

 the gardens of Roger Pettiward, Esq., at the above place, I derived high 

 gi'atification from witnessing the prodigious vigour of the gi-ape vines 

 growing in a small house erected last year. I enquired when they were 

 planted, in what soil, &c.; and from Mr. Nicholls, the intelligent and 

 meritorious gardener there, I ascertained as follows : — Some of the vines 

 were planted in March, 1830, and by the close of the year had made shoots 

 from 20 to 40 ft. long. The remainder were turned out of pots in June, 

 1830, and had, by the close of the year, produced shoots from 10 to 20 ft. 

 long. About two months since, in the present year, the vines of both 

 plantings were taken into the house to be forced ; and in this short interval 

 they have made strong shoots more than 20 ft. long, some of which display 

 an abundant crop of fine bunches. The compost in which these vines 

 grow is formed of one quarter fresh loam with its turf out of a meadow, 

 one quarter common soil of the garden, one quarter spit dung from 

 an old hot-bed, one eighth rotten tan, and one eighth lime rubbishy 

 These soils were all well mixed together ; and, after the common soil 

 of the border had been taken out to the depth of 4 ft., and the bottom 

 well drained in the manner usual for grapes, the border was filled up with 

 this compost. Mr. Nicholls further informed me that Aloysia citriodora 

 has survived in these gardens the severity of last winter; as has also 

 Calampelis scabra, which is now full 10 ft. high, and proportionally strong x 

 no protection was applied to either plant. A standard of Leptospermum 

 pubescens, with very slight shelter, has also survived. I am, Sir, &c. — 

 Henry Turner. Botanic Garden, Bury St. Fdmund's, May 26. 1831. 



British Society of Agriculture. — It is proposed to establish in London a 

 central society for the improvement of the agricidture of the kingdom, and 

 for effecting the following objects : — To provide a suitable building or rooms 

 for the reception of a libraiy, museum, &c. ; to hold weekly meetings at 

 certain seasons of the year ; to procure, from the most eminent scientific 

 men of the day, lectures on the application of the various sciences to 

 agriculture, which might afterwards be printed ; to correspond with foreign 

 societies, and to form a centre of communication for those established in 



