and of Rural Improvement generally ^ during 1836. 637 



a quantity of seeds of the Lombardy poplar, which we have 

 distributed ; and, if they should vegetate, and plants should be 

 raised from them, there will doubtless be found among them 

 the female, which has not hitherto been introduced ; the Earl 

 of Rochford, in 1758, having only brought over cuttings of the 

 male plant. 



On the State of Gardeiiing in Spai?i, Portugal, Sardinia, 

 Greece, the Ionian Isles, Malta, Gibraltar, and other Paj-ts of 

 Europe, we have nothing to state. It is gratifying to find at 

 Gibraltar a descendant from the family of Andrew Heron of 

 Bargally, as noticed in a future page, imbued with the same 

 taste as that eminent botanist and horticulturist, and cultivating 

 there "florists' flowers," pelargoniums, and other Cape shrubs, 

 with the plantain of the tropics, and the raspberry of the North 

 of Europe, all in the same garden. 



From Africa and Asia we are without gardening news ; unless 

 it may be considered as belonging to this head, that plants, in 

 boxes covered with glass, and hermetically closed, have arrived 

 safely, with all the plants alive, at Calcutta, from London ; and 

 at Messrs. Loddiges's, London, from Dr. Wallich, at Calcutta. 

 (See p. 263.) The discovery of the tea plant in Assam, in great 

 abundance, was announced in our preceding Volume; and, as 

 we have since learned that this immense tract of country 

 abounds in botanical riches, we hope it may be found to con- 

 tain many plants which are likely to prove hardy, or half-hardy, 

 in the temperate climates of Europe and North America. 



In North America, gardening, in common with every other 

 description of rural improvement, is making rapid progress. 

 Two magazines, exclusively devoted to gardening, are published, 

 one in Philadelphia, the other at Boston ; and, as we believe 

 they have both reached a second volume, we may consider them 

 as established. In these magazines, accounts are given of the 

 improvements made in the country seats of several men of 

 wealth, and of various extensive ranges of glass, heated by hot 

 water; and including all the modern European improvements. 

 We refer to the other articles headed North America, under 

 our Foreign Notices. 



From the British West India Islarids a new orchideous plant is 

 occasionally received ; but we have had no accounts lately of the 

 progress of garden cultivation in that quarter ; though, happily, 

 the new law respecting the emancipation of the slaves is said 

 to work well. 



From South America Mr. Matthews continues to send home 

 splendid specimens ; and the Horticultural Society of London 

 have lately sent to Mexico a zealous young naturalist, M. Hart- 

 weg, who will probably penetrate into Columbia. Engravings 

 of some new species of pines and firs, brought from Brazil 



