234- Notes on the ChismcJc Garden. 



were yet in flower. Some new varieties have been added to those 

 previously possessed. Pereski« Bleo was looking most luxuriantly, and 

 showing several buds, in a little propagating stove, kept at a high tem- 

 perature, and the atmosphere quite moist. We saw this rosy-blossomed 

 beauty, and the same plant too, blooming here late in the autumn ; so 

 that it is hence proved to be a freely flowering species. Among the 

 importations, in the end of 1831, from North America, as collected 

 there by Mr. Alexander Gordon, we saw blooming Symplocarpus fos'tidus, 

 the Putkos foe'tida that was. This plant, figured from a pitiably weak 

 specimen in the Botanical Magazine^ t. 836., has, by Dr. Hooker, just 

 been again figured in the number for March, t. 3224., for the sake of 

 enriching that valuable work with a perfect figure of so curious a plant. 

 This plant abounds in America, and is there called skunk-weed, from its 

 odoui" resembling that of the skunk weasel ( Fiverra mephitis) ; but what 

 part of the plants effuses this odour seems to be nowhere stated. From 

 Dr. Hooker's remarks it would seem to be the fruit which does, but this 

 is not stated with pointed clearness. Mr. Dennis is quite alive to the 

 effectiveness of manual impregnation in promoting the production of seeds, 

 and one of his men was at this time applying the pollen to the stigmas of 

 a jRhododendron catawbiense that had been at this early period forced 

 into blossom ; the stock of this species in the nurseries is said to be 

 becoming quite limited. This was not an instance of cross-impregnation, 

 or hybridising, a practice which Mr. Dennis has extensively applied, with 

 well-known effect, to pelargoniums j and, more recently, to Cactese ; with 

 what result, in the latter case, has yet to be learned, as very few of his 

 hybridly originated seedlings have yet flowered. — J. D. 



The HorticuUiiral Socieii/'s Garden is, as might be expected after so 

 mild a winter, looking remarkably well. We were particularly gratified 

 by observing great part of the wall destined to the acclimatising of half- 

 hardy trees and shrubs, protected by a temporary coping, composed of 

 wickerwork hurdles covered with drawn wheat-straw mats. The width 

 of this coping is about 4 ft. ; one end of the hurdles is let into the wall 

 under the coping, or is nailed to the top of the wall, and the other rests 

 on a slip of deal, supported by props of young fir trees. The appearance 

 is simple, of a Doric elegance, and it is most delightful to see the thriving 

 state of the trees under it, as well as the plants in the narrow three-feet 

 border. This is obviously a much better mode of protection than close 

 covering with Russian mats ; and, in our opinion, which we have before 

 repeatedly stated in this Magazine, it might be carried to an immense 

 extent. Why not plant out whole acres of Australian trees and shrubs, 

 and protect them during winter in this manner ? There is no occasion 

 for walls : simply raise the hurdles on poles, such as are used by the 

 bricklayers for scaffolding, connected by iron rods, or pieces of narrow 

 quartering. Perhaps, indeed, netting coated with Indian rubber, in 

 Mr. Mallet's manner, might be found sufficient. At all events, we have long 

 been satisfied that there is an immense deal to be done in the way of 

 displaying exotic trees and shrubs in the open air. We do not say that 

 species can be rendered hardier in their nature, though individuals may; 

 but we do say that many plants now kejtt in green-houses, and also 

 some which are kept in stoves, will eventually be found to do much better 

 either in the open ground among other exotics, and protected b}' a tem- 

 porary covering during winter, or planted among hardy deciduous and ever- 

 green trees, so as to be protected by them. The pine plants are looking 

 exceedingly well ; and several reforms, changes, and variations have taken, 

 and are taking, place in the hot-houses and pits. Anew house, wretchedly 

 placed (and we must say, that there never was a garden which, either in its 

 first arrangement, or its subsequent alterations, displayed so little of simpli- 



