2 1 Foreign Notices : — South America. 



Mexico, by Mr. Poinsette. It went under the name of E. heterophylla for a 

 few years, until its true character became more conspicuous. It was then 

 named Poinsettw, in honour of Mr. Poinsette, by Mr. Robert Buist, nursery- 

 man and florist, Philadelphia. Last winter it was surprisingly grand with me 

 in the stove. Thebracteae were 18in., and on some plants 20in.,in diameter, and 

 of the most brilliant scarlet, remaining in the greatest perfection from the first 

 of December to the latter end of March, and forming, during the solitary 

 months of winter, a most magnificent ornament to our collections. It is easy 

 of cultivation, and certain of flowering regularly, if kept in the warmest situa- 

 tion of the house. I treat it in every respect the same as a geranium, except 

 keeping it in the hot-house during winter. About the middle of May, I cut 

 down the last year's wood, which is commonly from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in length, 

 leaving one or two eyes according to the strength of the plant. The wood 

 that is cut off will be found to make the finest plants from cuttings, making the 

 cuttings three or four days previous to their being planted, so as to dry the 

 milky substance that comes from them. After the plants are struck, they 

 ought to be put out of the pots into the open ground, and taken up, with the 

 greatest of care, with large balls of earth. You have no idea what a fine 

 addition this is to the stove. Every collection about London, or in Europe, 

 should procure a plant of it, if it is not with you already. I never saw this 

 plant either in Scotland or England, and can with confidence say it is the finest 

 thing I have ever seen : some call it the Dutchman's parasol. You seem to 

 doubt (Vol XI. p. 530.) about there being a male and female Madura aurantiaca, 

 or Osage orange, in the nursery of Mrs. M'Mahon, near Philadelphia, There are 

 four old trees in that nursery, three females and one male. Only the female 

 that stands alongside of the male produces perfect seeds. The other females 

 are about 30 yards from the male, and their fruit is abortive, and is not near 

 so large as the fruit from the productive tree. The above facts became pub- 

 licly known in 1832, while the nursery was in the possession of the late firm of 

 Hibbert and Buist. I have not the smallest doubt but the Maclurffl would 

 produce fruit in the south of England by planting a male and female close to- 

 gether. It is generally supposed that the wood will make an excellent 3'ellow 

 dye. Should you deem these remarks worthy of a place in your Magazine, I 

 think it will be the means of our nurserymen exporting euphorbias. I shall 

 continue with pleasure to inform you of anything that may come under my own 

 observation. — Peter Mackenzie, Gardener to Henry Pratt, Esq., Lemon Hill, 

 Philadelphia. 



Our correspondent is so kind as to offer to send us certain dried specimens 

 and native plants. We should prefer to them seeds of trees and shrubs, if it 

 would not give him too much trouble to collect them. We particularly wish 

 acorns and nuts, and these should be packed in moist 6phagnum, as soon as 

 convenient after they are gathered, in order to preserve the vital principle. If 

 they vegetate during the voyage it will be of no bad consequence. — ■ Cond. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



The Timber Trees ivhichgroiv in the Neighbourhood of Caraccas. — I have just 

 received from Sir Robert Ker Porter a valuable box of specimens of the 

 various timber trees which grow in the neighbourhood of Caraccas, most of 

 which promise to become of great commercial importance, when the state of 

 society admits of the formation of roads and other conveniences for felling, 

 transporting, and shipping them. At present they are of no commercial or 

 other earthly value. I regret that among them I have no specimen of the 

 aguatire {SicMngia Erythrdxylon Humb.), which abounds on the mountains 

 of Higuerote, and furnishes a timber of the most beautiful blood-red hue, and 

 compact grain : of this I have been labouring in vain for years to obtain a 

 specimen. Sir Robert gives me only the local names of specimens he has sent, 

 which prevents my learning anything farther about them ; nor has he accom- 

 panied them, as I requested, by specimens of their leaves, flowers, or fruit. 



