Short Communications. 



71 



an old apple tree ; and, through this man's ignorance, the beau- 

 tiful magnolia was, by mistake, levelled to the ground. 



The trunk of the tree was about 5 ft. in height ; and it was 

 1 ft. 6 in. in diameter. Tupman remembers a scaffolding erected 

 about it, in his father's time, on which tubs were placed, to pro- 

 pagate it by layers. 



A s.mall part of Exmouth lies in the parish of Wittycombe 

 Rawley, in which parish the garden and premises of the said 

 Sir J. Coiliton were situated. 



Bicton Gardens, Dec. 28. 1834. 



ci~^- 



,^ 



Art. VII. Short Communications. 



Gate-fastening in Lord Aylesford's Park, near Meriden, 

 Warwickshire. — This fastening is simply a wooden drop latch, 



but it forms part of 

 ^^ one of the bars to 



the gate ; and thus 

 has a neater ap- 

 pearance than most 

 of the common fast- 

 enings, not being 

 perceptible unless 

 when you are very 

 near it, and being 

 of the same colour 

 as the gate. The 

 latch is that part of the bar [Jig. 15.) which is coloured black, 

 and lifts up in the ordinary manner, with a pin at a. The catch 

 into which it falls has a screw pin through the post, and will 

 drive lower, if the gate happens to sink ; but this latter contri- 

 vance may be adopted or not. The keeper of the lodge stated 

 that this mode of fastening was a plan of his own. — Anon. 

 April 19. 1834. 



All plants, whether in the garden, field, or forest, if in rows, 

 should be placed in the direction of north and south, in order 

 to admit the sun's rays every day equally to both sides of the 

 row. — A. S. 



Equalisation of Soils. — As in every climate, and in every 

 degree of elevation above the level of the sea, at which useful 

 plants will thrive, there are found soils formed by nature which 

 are eminently productive; so, by analysing these soils, and imi- 

 tating them by art, every portion of the cultivable surface of 

 the globe might be rendered highly and equally productive, pro- 

 vided expense were no object. — A. S. 



