Hints for Improvements* 81 



Nerine crispa (as it is here called, although it is probably N. humilis of 

 Curtis's Bot. Mag.) and N. undulata live and flower at the foot of an old 

 wall here, with no protection but the wall : both are very elegant. — Henry 

 Turner. Botanic Garden, Bury St. Edmunds, October 11. 1831. 



Produce of a Cucumber Plant near Rochdale. — Sir, The seed of Bloor's 

 white spine, of last year's growth, was sown on the 30th of May, in a 

 frame already at work, heated by steam passing through stones ; and the 

 young plant growing very strong, those cucumber plants already in the 

 frame were cut out, as it required room; the old mould unavoidably 

 remaining unchanged. Not being an experienced grower, I think some of 

 them are large, considering this disadvantage. No. 9., in particular, was 

 superior to any thing known to be grown in this neighbourhood. 



No 





Inches. 





Inches. 





lbs. oz. 







. 1. 



Length 21 



Girth 



8* 



Weight 3 <6 



Cut 



, Aug. 18 



2. 



22| 



- 



10| 



- 



5 6 



- 



Sept. 24 



3. 



24 



- 



9* 



- 



4 8 







4. 



19 



- 



8| 



- 



2 14 



- 



Oct. 4 



5. 



21| 



- 



8 i 



. 



3 9 





8 



6. 



m 



- 



H 



. 



2 8 





16 



7. 



18§ 



- 



7| 



- 



2 5 





20 



8. 



19* 



- 



7i 



S 



- 



2 8 





27 



9. 



28* 



- 



10* 



. 



6 9 





29 



10. 



18| 





9" 



Total 



3 I 





Nov. 12 





36 10 





This plant was under the care of Mr. James Lee, at Harehill Mill, near 

 Rochdale, who is no gardener ; and this is his first attempt. The girth is 

 the average taken at about 2\ in. from each end, and the middle. No. 9. 

 varied less than half an inch at any intermediate place, and several of the 

 others are equally well proportioned. I remain, yours, &c. — J. S. Near 

 Rochdale, November 14. 1831. 



IRELAND. 



Armagh Palace Gardens. — The chrysanthemums have been finer this 

 season than I ever remember ; some flowers measured 5 in. in diameter in 

 the green-house ; and even now, though so near Christmas, they are beau- 

 tifully in flower in the open borders. Carnations and picotees are at this 

 moment also in flower ; not a straggling plant here and there, but by hun- 

 dreds. Indeed, such has been the mildness of the season, that queen 

 stocks, Giliffl capitata, Jnagallis grandiflora, and Medicago arborea, are like- 

 wise finely in flower; the last in perfect beauty. I am, Sir, yours, &c, — 

 J. Elles. December 23. 1831. 



The hanging Gardens of Limerick are a great curiosity. An acre of 

 ground is covered with arches of various heights ; the highest 40 and the 

 lowest 25 ft. Over these arches is placed a layer of earth, of 5 ft. thick, 

 and planted with choice fruit trees and flowers. The arches are employed 

 as cellars for spirituous liquors, and will hold nearly 2000 hogsheads. The 

 work was commenced in 1808, and was completed in about five or six 

 years. The expense of the whole undertaking was nearly 15,000/. — John 

 Ryan. Newry, September, 1830. 



Art. V. Hints for Improvements- 



PRIZES to young Gardeners by Horticultural Societies. — Sir, In your 

 Volume V. p. 713., you have given some hints to Provincial Horticul- 

 Vol. VIII. — No. 36. g 



