152 Curtis^ s Botanical 'Magazine, 



" The arbutus is a shrub peculiarly elegant and eligible, from perennial 

 decoration, rapid growth, and superior beauty in shape and tint of leaf, from 

 dehcate blossom, and glowing berry. If suffered to remain unpruned, by 

 gaining height, it becomes hollow and leafless beneath, retaining, like other 

 evergreens, only two years' shoots [leaves], except about midsummer, when 

 the third year's are annexed, some weeks previously to [the] decay of the 

 first. If not surrounded by evergreens more stunted in growth, for conceal- 

 ment of its lower leafless branches, it should biennially be deprived of a few 

 long shoots, by application of the pruning-knife, the shears being calculated to 

 render a shrub hideously cabbage-poled [?]. Any shrub judiciously pruned will 

 retain resemblance of its natural form. Artificial treatment should be stu- 

 diously disguised, and interposition of control be invariably concealed. 



The phylirea [phillyrea] presents striking contrast to the gay or gaudy dis- 

 play of flowering shrubs, being characterised by singular chasteness and 

 unobtrusive simplicity. It is of intermediate tint, diminutive leaf, and 

 moderate growth ; consequently is precisely adapted to an advanced position. 

 It will there present [a] striking contrast to the imposing glare of variegated 

 shrubs, whether holly, aucuba, or others of similar class. Here, too, that 

 lowly, yet cheering, harbinger of spring, the meserium [? mezereon], should rank, 

 interspersed with contemporaneous masses of hepatica, snowdrop, crocus, red 

 daisy, and other vernal flowers, protected by [a] wicker fence. The cypress is 

 adapted, by [its] taper form and elevation to relieve a structure. The pyra- 

 canthus [pyracantha], pomegranate, trumpet-pomegranate, white jessamine, 

 but, paramount to all, the elegant tamarisk, supply ornamental covering to a 

 wall. In a sheltered nook, even this [these] may be surpassed by the beau- 

 tiful single-blossomed myrtle. From mildness of climate, it abounds in Devon- 

 shire, perhaps in no instance so luxuriantly as in a garden of Mr. Neck's, 

 [?] curate of King's Kerswell, where it acquires considerable size detached 

 from a wall, as well as height when attached. The front of a house at 

 Bishop's-Teington has long been covered to the top by myrtles of forty years' 

 growth, protected from the easterly wind by a wing, and from the westerly by 

 an equal defence, with the advantage of a southern aspect. Inspection of 

 these flourishing shrubs, of such delicate character, attracts frequent visitors 

 from the adjacent watering-place, Teignmouth. The broad-leafed species, 

 when annually deprived of its lateral shoots, has been found to acquire asto- 

 nishing size and strength of stalk, and, on recovery of lower leaves, has 

 eventually become a bold shrub, contributing handsome decoration to the 

 interior of a drawingroom." 



This last sentence we do not pretend to understand. 



As an appendix to the work, a map of the gardens at Buck- 

 ingham Palace is given, accompanied by two views, which are 

 very neatly executed and coloured. There is also a map of St. 

 James's Park, with the piece of water as altered; an island 

 concealing the boundary at one end, and a peninsula at the 

 other. 



Art. III. .Curtis s Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Dis- 

 played; a New Edition, imth amended Characters of the Species; 

 the whole arranged according to the Natural Orders. By W. J. 

 Hooker, LL.D. F.R.A. and L.S., &c. &c. &c., and Regius Professor 

 of Botany in the University of Glasgow. To ivhich is added, the 

 most approved Method of Culture. By Samuel Curtis, F.L.S., of' 



