ofilie Botanic Garden at Berlin. 301 



provided with two strong 

 claws, or feet, attached 

 to its body near the head, 

 by means of which it 

 makes its way through 

 the ground like a mole, 

 and with as much dex- 

 terity. Nothing in the 

 herbaceous way is proof 

 against its ravages. I 

 have seen the stem of a 

 dahlia an inch thick cut 

 through by it in the 



course of a night, with as much precision as if done with a knife. From the 

 circumstance of these insects seldom appearing on the surface, and the rapidity 

 with which they breed, no method has been fallen upon whereby they are 

 likely to be eradicated, although hundreds of thousands are caught yearl}- by 

 means of flower-pots, plunged with their brims about 2 in. below the level of 

 the surface, into which the insects fall during their nightly rambles : nests are 

 also sought for and destroyed. Do you know any means by which this de- 

 structive insect could be extirpated ? It is the greatest enemy the gardener has 

 to contend with at Berlin. 



The collection of alpines is large, and among them are many little gems, 

 particularly belonging to the order Primulaceae. The plants are shifted early 

 in spring, and placed in a shady situation, every genus being placed by itself. 

 I would here have made a few remarks on the number of deciduous shrubs and 

 trees, their size and general arrangement ; but, from the correct manner in 

 which this has already been done by Director Otto, any thing from me on that 

 head would be superfluous ; only, 1 would observe, that about half an acre is 

 kept as a nursery, for the raising and propagation of the more rare kinds ; so 

 that, when improvements are making, or a vacancy occurs, the garden can be 

 supplied from resources of its own. 



The arboretum, though rich in trees and shrubs of deciduous kinds, is as far 

 in the other extreme with regard to e\ ergreens ; and this may be accounted 

 for by the coldness of the climate, and the unsheltered situation of the garden. 

 The i?hodode_ndron ponticum and azaleas, of which there are several groups, 

 are covered in winter with dense coverings of pine branches, and, in very 

 severe weather, receive an extra layer of leaves. The only evergreens which 

 seem to bid defiance to the bitter cold are, Thuja occidentalis, J^unfperus vir- 

 giniana, and ./. ^Sabina ; Pinus resinosa, P. \Cemhra var.] siblrica, P. [Larix] 

 microcarpa, P. mariana, P. nigrescens, P. rubra, P. inops, P. [? i,] pendula, P. 

 rigida, P. variabilis, and P. hispanica. Portugal laurels and bays [ ? Cerasus 

 Laurocerasus], there are none ; and I have never seen a good specimen of the 

 common holly in the country. Owing to the absence of these and similar 

 evergreens which stand the open air in Britain, you can easily imagine the 

 bleak aspect which the country assumes in winter. 



The months of February and March are, in general, cold, with sharp easterly 

 winds; and, before the beginning of April, vegetation is scarcely perceptible; 

 but the rapidity with which Nature now unfolds her gay productions, spread- 

 ing her mantle over field and garden, is truly astonishing, and, in some mea- 

 sure, may be said to resemble the springs of North America. The activity of 

 the gardener is now called into exertion ; the plants are uncovered; and the 

 vines, which have lain buried in the ground all the \vinter, are taken out, 

 pruned, and tied to their trellises. One of the greatest beauties of the garden, 

 at this time, is the Cercis canadensis, of which there are several fine specimens, 

 covered from bottom to top with flowers. 



The more hardy kinds of house plants are, by degrees, removed to the open 

 air, and arranged in groups in front of and between the ranges of houses. 

 The figures M'hich they form are of different shapes, to suit the sweeps of the 

 walks, or to take advantage of the shade of walls or laree trees. The larger 



