593 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Domestic Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



The Botanical Collection of the late Comtesse de Vandes, at Bayswater, 

 was sold by auction, August 13. The plants, as might be expected, brought 

 very little, though many of them were large and beautifully grown, and 

 others rare. A fine specimen of Jcacia armata, for which a nurseryman 

 a few years ago offered 15 guineas, was now bought by the same nursery- 

 man for 13 shillings ! Some of the finest hot-house plants averaged less per 

 pot than is obtained for pots of mignonette in Covent Garden Market ; 

 but two magnificent specimens of rare and beautiful epiphytes, Stanhdpea 

 insignis and Cattleya labiata, brought six pounds, about a third of their 

 worth. A grotesque specimen of A'loe plicatilis was bought by an amateur 

 for two guineas. On the whole, the collection being more centrally 

 situated, both for the trade and amateurs, than that at Bury Hill (sold about 

 ,this time last year), brought rather better prices. 



We know of no private collection of hot-house plants that could compete 

 with either of these, now no longer in existence ; nor do we expect soon, 

 if ever, to see their like again. The times are changed, and changing, in 

 all that relates to private wealth and monopoly ; and we must now look to 

 associations for those displays of riches, and even of taste and connoisseur- 

 ship, which have heretofore been confined to individuals. This change will, 

 no doubt, be lamented by some, as indicating a state of degeneracy and decay; 

 but we look upon it in a very different point of view. The greatest happi- 

 ness of the greatest number is our standard for testing all changes ; and, 

 consequently, while we regret the dispersion of this private and secluded 

 collection (so completely secluded, that strangers were seldom permitted to 

 see it) chiefly because it was in our own neighbourhood, we rejoice at the 

 prospect of another botanic garden being formed (that on Primrose Hill), 

 to which all the world may have access. We hope, also, that the unequalled 

 collection of Messrs. Loddiges will be long easily accessible to amateurs. 

 We trust something good is awaiting Mr. Campbell, the skilful and success- 

 ful curator of the late Comtesse's establishment, than whom there is not a 

 more amiable and worthy man, or a better gardener. — Cond. 



Cereus speciosissimus has lately bloomed magnificently at Dropmore. It 

 has frequently had from forty to fifty flowers expanded at one time, and 

 altogether the number of flowers which it has produced in the course of 

 the season exceeded 200. The whole of the grounds at Dropmore have 

 been greatly improved since you and I last saw them together, and the pines 

 and firs are some of them twice the height that they were in 1826. — J. 

 The Inn at Maidenhead, July 16. 1832. 



A neiu Strawberry, which attains a large size, has been raised from seed by 

 Mr. Darke, at Bordesley, near Birmingham. The seed was produced by a 

 flower of Wilmot's Superb, which had been impregnated by the pollen of 

 the Downton. It sends up its scapes very high, and seems very prolific. 

 Some of the fruit was sent us by Mr. Darke, but it did not arrive in such 

 a state as to enable us to judge of its flavour. 



Mr. Hogg's Shoiv of Carnations, at Paddington, has been this year more 

 than usually splendid. Nothing could exceed the beauty of his yellow 

 Vol. VIII. — No. 40. Q Q 



