552 Domestic Notices : — England. 



and form by far the largest proportion of the crop; though it would not 

 seem difficult, by thinning the quantity considerably, to increase the number 

 of the larger-sized and more profitable pears. Some of the baking pears 

 attain a vast size. Two which were exhibited at the Jersey Horticultural 

 Meeting last year, and sent as a present to the king, weighed 96 oz. or 6 lb. 

 each. Though the winter temperature is generally mild, it is occasionally 

 severe. Last winter, Fahrenheit's thermometer fell one night to 13" below 

 freezing, and many tender plants were killed. The Jersey gardeners say 

 that they cannot raise the Guernsey lily to such perfection here as in Guern- 

 sey, but admit that this may possibly arise from their not giving such atten- 

 tion to its cultivation. The spring having been unfavourable, fruit is dearer 

 than usual. Pine-apples (which, as well as the finer fruits, are from gentle- 

 men's gardens), Hlb., 10*. each; melons, 1*. to 2s. 6d.; grapes, Sd. to 2s. a lb. ; 

 peaches 3s. to 45. a dozen ; pears of good size, 2s. a dozen ; figs, very fine, 6d. the 

 dozen. One of the peculiar, and finest features of this lovely island, (surely, 

 with Guernsey, two of the most favoured on the earth, having all that need 

 be wished for, as to soil, climate, and position, forming part of Britain, and 

 enjoying all her advantages, and her effective protection in war, while they 

 pay no taxes, have no custom-house, import cheap foreign corn and cattle 

 for their own consumption, and send their produce to sell dear in Eng- 

 land, make all their own laws, and are, in fact, independent little republics,) 

 is the frequent proximity of fine trees close to the sea, so as to give a varied 

 and luxuriant foreground of wood to the sea views from many points, just 

 as in Italy. Some elms, which I observed on the south coast, overhanging 

 the rocks, and not many feet above high water mark, presented their fully de- 

 veloped and smiling faces to the sea, instead of turning their stunted backs 

 to it, as we mostly see on the English coast ; proving how much more they 

 suffer from the violence of the wind (from which, in this instance, they were 

 protected by a background of hills and rocks), than from the sea spray so 

 often accused, to which they were quite exposed, without having received 

 any injury from it. — fV. S. 



Petits Pais Anglais. — At Caen they give this name, by which they call them 

 in the streets, to the pods of a small white squarish kidney bean ; but why 

 does not appear, as it is unlikely that they should have originally received 

 them from England. — W. S. 



Madiii^a aurantiaca. — One of the seeds mentioned in Vol, XI. p. 313, 314*., 

 which were sent to the Manchester Botanic Garden, germinated, and is now 

 a fine healthy plant. — A. C. Manchester, Aug. 31. 1836. 



Seeds out of the same head of fruits that were sowed in Mr. Dennis's 

 nursery, and in the London Horticultural Society's Garden, have germinated 

 and produced plants : the point on which information of the result was asked 

 in Vol. XI. p. 314. has since been finally elucidated by information which oc- 

 curs in Vol. XII. p. 210. 



Shrubby Calceolarias, — Between two and three dozen specimens of almost 

 as many beautiful new varieties of shrubby calecolarias have been sent us by 

 Mr. Atkins of the Northampton Nursery. The whole of them were raised 

 by Mr. Atkins, who informs us that they are of a decidedly shrubby habit. 

 The blossoms are of very great beauty, and include white, and every shade of 

 yellow and brown, from the palest straw-colour to brown-black. Some of 

 the sorts were raised, from Calceolaria thyrsiflora, impregnated with other va- 

 rieties, and some from a new Chilian species of which Mr. Atkins has not 

 the name. Those who collect this very beautiful family of what may now be 

 considered florists' flowers, may greatly extend the number of their varieties 

 from the Northampton Nursery ; and these varieties, being shrubby, and of 

 vigorous and compact habits of growth, are much more beautiful and valuable 

 than the herbaceous kinds, whether for growing in pots or borders. — Cond. 



A Yucca gloribsa, above 8 ft. high, and containing above 1000 blossoms, is 

 in flower in the garden of Mr. William Muskett of Attleborough. QThe 

 Bury and Norwich Post, Aug. 3, 1836.) 



