1 66 Domestic Notices : — England. 



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branch, of considerable length and great beauty, overhanging a rivulet among 

 other old deciduous trees. It would be endless to name the plants and 

 shrubs which displayed their unusual but interesting beauties during the extra- 

 ordinary season up to January, 1834. At East Cliff, Ramsgate, the superb 

 seat of Moses Montefiore, Esq., the laburnum and lilac were in flower at the 

 end of December, and the pelargoniums blooming freely in the clumps. On 

 my return to the botanic garden which I have established in the Abbey 

 Grounds, Bury St. Edmunds, Eranthis hyemalis and Crocus biflorus were in 

 bloom, with Salvia fiilgens, Hepatica triloba, Cyclamen cdum, Primula 

 veris, and several species of Narcissus. — N. S. Hodson. Abbey Grounds, 

 Bury St. Edmunds, Jan. 1834. 



The Primida vidgaris was in flower here on Nov. 18. 1833; and the Eran- 

 this hyemalis on Dec. 4. 1833. — W. T. Bree. Allesley Bectory, near Coventry. 

 .A friend has remarked to us that the crocuses have this spring flowered less 

 vigorously and less satisfactorily than after winters whose severity and length 

 had given them a considerable period of absolute repose. He instanced 

 several species of plants whose habit is to display their flowers or leaves in 

 early spring as being in the same case. This is likely; as incessant excite- 

 ment must abate energy. Plants in every region, even in tropical ones, ex- 

 perience a season of rest ; and, it is assumed, when they resume their growth, 

 proceed with such an increase of effectiveness, as compensates for the interval 

 of inertness. — J. D. 



Magnolia conspicua. — This charming tree is now magnificently in bloom in 

 Messrs. Chandler's nursery, both in pots under glass and in the open garden. 

 A fine specimen, in a pot, was exhibited at the Horticultural Society's meet- 

 ing, on March 4., when it was stated to us that the number of blooms open 

 at one time in the nursery, the day before, was estimated at 18,000. Why this 

 tree of white tulip-like flowers, now so cheap, should not be more common, 

 wo are utterly at a loss to understand. It will grow even in the smoke of 

 London. — Cond. 



Berberis Aqutfolium Ph., Mahonia Aqidfotium Nutt. — This truly beautiful, 

 and as yet rare, hardy evergreen shrub has been for the last six weeks beau- 

 tifully in flower in the Chiswick Garden. It is a plant worth its weight in 

 gold; and nurserymen ought to endeavour to get hundreds of it from Phil- 

 adelphia. Another beautiful Berberis has lately been introduced by Mr. 

 Knight of the Exotic Nursery. — Id. 



Arboretums, we are happy to find, are gradually rising up in the private 

 grounds of gentlemen in different parts of the country. Near Theobalds, 

 in the grounds of William Harrison, Esq., F.R.S., there is one said to con- 

 tain as complete a collection of the genus Pinus as the pinetum at Drop- 

 more; and at Somerford, near Wolverhampton, in the grounds of Edward 

 Monckton, Esq., there is a collection of thorns said to comprise upwards of 

 seventy species and varieties, besides all the species and varieties of other 

 hardy trees and shrubs which have of late years been purchasable in the 

 nurseries. There is an arboretum forming at Wardour Castle; one at Leigh 

 Park near Havant, the seat of Sir George Staunton ; and several, we are in- 

 formed, in the northern counties of England, of which we should be glad to 

 have accounts. This is a sort of improvement which we like very much to 

 see going on. When we consider the number of trees and shrubs in the tem- 

 perate regions of Asia and South America, independently of North American 

 trees and shrubs, which remain to be introduced into the country, the mind is 

 lost in admiration of what must be the ultimate richness of our woody scenery. 

 On the other hand, it is interesting to contemplate the result of transplanting 

 the trees and shrubs of the temperate regions of Europe into the temperate 

 regions of every other part of the globe. Nature has given to every particular 

 country some peculiar product ; and it is for civilised man to collect, improve, 

 and equalise these products in every country, subject only to certain limitations 

 of climate. In everything which regards civilisation and refinement, the ulti- 

 mate tendency is to equalisation. — Id. 



