Domestic Notices : — Ireland. 683 



ticularly Dromana, the seat of Henry Villiers Stuart, Esq. M.P. Ballysag- 

 gart, the seat of Arthur Keily, Esq. ; Glencairn Abbey, the seat of Henry 

 A. Bushe, Esq. ; and Lismore Castle, which, with vast estates in this county, 

 is the property of the Duke of Devonshire. This magnificent castle (now 

 occupied by His Grace's agent) stands on a rock overhanging the beau- 

 tiful river Blackwater; it was some years since greatly improved and 

 repaired by its noble proprietor, and is justly celebrated as one of the 

 greatest ornaments to this part of the kingdom. Kilmanahan Castle, the 

 residence of Colonel Greene, near the borders of the county Tipperarj'-, 

 is well worth mentioning, as are a great many others in different parts of 

 the county ; but, as I believe you only wish to know the principal ones, 

 those I have enumerated may suffice. There is an extensive nursery in 

 Waterford by Fennessv and Son. I am, Sii", yours, &c. — Waterfordiensis. 

 Waterford, Dec. 28. 1830. 



Temperature at Kilkenny. — The winter here has, as usual, been much 

 milder than yours; the lov/est degree of Fahrenheit was, on the 31st of 

 January, 21°. I perceive that on the same day, near London, it was 17°; 

 and on the 3d of February, 10°. The Photinia serrulata and Pittosporum 

 Tobira have been much injured in the tops; while the O^lea excelsa, in the 

 same situation, is not in the smallest degree affected. — J. R. Kilkenny, 

 March, 1831. 



Large Cockscombs. — Sir, In your Magazine (Vol. TV. p. 351.), I find a 

 description of a very fine specimen of the Celosia, grown at E. Everard, 

 Esq.'s, Middleton, Norfolk, by Mr. Howes. Its dimensions appear, in a 

 corrected account of the flower in Vol. V. p. 98., to be as follows : — From 

 the mould to the top of the flower, 19 in. ; length of the crest, 22 in. ; and 

 breadth of the crest, lOi in. The description, I confess, surprised as well 

 as pleased me, as I had about four dozen in progress ; and from the method 

 I had adopted in their cultivation, I flattered myself that some of them 

 might, perhaps, come near the one described. My expectations have been 

 fully realised; and, out of about two dozen, I could scarcely make a selec- 

 tion as to superiority. I however pitched on one, which I presented to a 

 gentleman who devotes much of his time to horticultural pursuits, and 

 whose letter, annexed, acknowledges the receipt thereof. The dimensions 

 of this flower are ; — From the mould to the summit of the crest, 22 in. ; 

 length of the crest of the flower, 23 in. ; and breadth of the crest, 1 1 in. : all 

 the dimensions taken without straining the flower in the least. The convo- 

 lutions of the flower were as compact as any I have seen of a smaller 

 description, and the colour was of the richest deep crimson. From the 

 progressive improvements I have made annually in this species, under a 

 peculiar mode of treatment, I have little doubt that I shall be enabled here- 

 after to communicate further progress ; which, if I succeed, T shall not fail 

 to do, as well as to state my mode of treatment. [We shall be happy to 

 receive these statements,] I am. Sir, yours, &c. — John Haycroft. Done- 

 raile,Aug. 28. 1831. 



The letter alluded to is as follows : — 



" Cork, Aug. 24. 1831. 

 " Sir, — I thank you for the splendid specimen of the Celosia, or cocks- 

 comb, you were so kind as to send me : it far surpasses any thing of the 

 kind I ever saw, not only in size but in the perfection of the flower. I find, 

 on measuring it, that it is very nearly 2 ft. in length, and over 1 1 in. in 

 breadth ; height frpm the earth to the top of the flower, 23 in. 

 " I am. Sir, yours, &c. 



" J. Dillon Crokeb. 

 " To Mr. John Haycroft, Doiieraile." 



