284 Foreign Notices. Retrospective Criticism. 



outer casement of the boys' sleeping-room, so that the window cannot be 

 opened. In the spring of last year (1836), a fruit-bud of the vine found its way 

 through a chink in the window, not wider than a single straw, and grew well. 

 Although confined to the narrow space between the inner and the outer 

 window, in which not a single ray of the sun penetrated throughout the whole 

 year, the grapes continued to increase in size, and kept pace with those on the 

 same vine in the open air, and ripened when they did, in the month of October. 

 The bunch consisted of about fifty grapes, of a tolerable size, and particularly 

 sweet. As this may be interesting to others, as well as useful as a reference, 

 I wish to make it known to the lovers of gardening generally. {Garten Zeitung, 

 Jan. 28. 1837.) 



Art. II. Foreign Notices. 



GERMANY. 



The Loranihus europcp^tis. — Be so good as to tell M. Ranch that I very 

 much doubt if the plants or seeds of the Loi anthus europse^us, which he wished 

 to procure from me, can ever be transplanted in a garden. The plants could 

 only be sent on an oak tree. My late assistant. Dr. Heyne, a very skilful 

 gardener, tried for several years to make the seeds germinate on the oak, and 

 also tried those that had already germinated on another tree, even all sorts of 

 ways with new seed. He gave the berries to blackbirds and poultr3', and then 

 tried the seed, but in vain. It was the same with every attempt of planting, 

 budding, or grafting. In the meantime, I will send M. Rauch berries and 

 twigs, with which he can try his skill. In the parks of Schcinbrunn and 

 Laxenburg, it grows so plentifully on the oaks, that it has almost destroyed 

 them, and has transplanted itself on the fruit trees in the adjoining orchards. 

 {Extract of a Letter from Baron Jacquin of Vienna to Mr. Bauer of Xew.) 



As the loranthus grows upon fruit trees, like the mistletoe, it may, doubt- 

 less, be propagated in the manner suggested by Mr. Beaton, in p. 206. ; and 

 we would strongly recommend our friend M. Rauch of Vienna to make the 

 attempt ; and, if he succeeds, we would beg of him to send a plant to us, or 

 to the London Horticultural Society. In the meantime, berries and specimens, 

 as promised by Baron Jacquin, will be highly acceptable to M. Francis Rauch, 

 and to ourselves. — Cond. 



Stuttgard, April 21. 1837. — D. C. Kerner is very anxious to dispose of a 

 copy ot the Hortus Sewpervirens, of J. S. De Kerner. It was oi'iginally pub- 

 lished in 71 volumes, each volume containing 12 plates, and 12 leaves of text. 

 The paper is vellum, 2 ft. by li ft. The price of each volume, when published, 

 was 18/.; and a copy of the whole work is now offered for 400/. The plants 

 figured and described are the more rare and magnificent of West Indian species. 

 — W. Hertz. [We should hope that a copy of this work will be purchased by the 

 British Museum, or by some wealthy botanist in this country, as we believe 

 there is not at present a copy of Kerner's work in Great Britain. — Cond.^ 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Andersmi's Mode of protecting Seeds from the Attach of Birds (p. 172.), 

 by suspending a black thread line over the bed 10 in. or 12 in. high (p. 172.). 

 I was induced to try the plan, being much annoyed by sparrows and pied or 

 chaff finches ; and I feel bound to state that I have found it very efficacious, 

 the birds seldom going near the beds when threaded. I noticed a congregation 

 of finches, a few days ago, upon a cherry tree, near to an asparagus bed sown 

 with radish and edged with mustard and cress, but guarded by the threads. 

 One of these dropped down and reconnoitred ; and flew up again, after parading 

 nearly round the bed. Another or two did the same ; and one ventured upon 

 the bed ; but it soon flew away, and the whole followed. I have other seed- 



