80 Magasin d^ Horticulture. 



given, to determine its culture in another country." To solve 

 the problem, regard must be had to the station or habitat of the 

 plant in its native country, the climate, the elevation, the soil, 

 the supply of v^^ater, and the nature of the plant itself; viz., -whe- 

 ther it is a tree or shrub, deciduous or evergreen, annual or 

 perennial, &c. &c. The subject of the geography of plants only 

 began to be studied at the beginning of the nineteenth century ; 

 and little has yet been done in the way of its application to 

 the arts of culture. Plants may be divided, with reference to 

 cultivation, into those of the open air, the orangery or conserv- 

 atory, the green-house, and the stove. Each of these classes 

 may be again arranged into those of common soil and those of 

 heath soil. In duration, they are either annual, biennial, or 

 woody ; and, in regard to growth, either summer-growing, that 

 is, making their young shoots in summer ; or winter-growing, 

 that is, making their young shoots in winter. The general prin- 

 ciple. Dr. Courtois observes, is, to place the plant we wish to 

 preserve in the same circumstances, as far as practicable, as it 

 was in in its natural habitat. He next describes the climate of 

 Belgium, which appears to be much the same, in point of irregu- 

 larity, as that of Britain ; but with a more severe winter, and a 

 hotter summer. The plants which survive the Belgic winter in 

 the open air are those of Russia in Europe, Caucasus, Siberia, 

 Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, the Nether- 

 lands, France on the north of its central range of moun- 

 tains, England, North America, Thibet, and Nepal. Those of 

 the above countries are to be excepted which grow on the 

 summit of high mountains, where they are sheltered during 

 winter by a thick layer of snow. These require, in Belgium, 

 during winter, to be covered with peat ashes, leaves, moss, or 

 litter, or, for greater security, to be put in pots, and kept in a 

 frame or conservatory. In the latter cases, they flower in 

 February or March. The same plants which require to be 

 kept in green-houses in England, require a green-house also in 

 Belgium ; but a number which stand the open air about Lon- 

 don, such as the Camellm, Sec, and even some of our common 

 hardy evergreens, will not stand the open air during winter 

 either near Brussels or Paris. 



In the fifth number of this work, we find a notice of a rival 

 publication, U Horticulteur Beige, in monthly 12mo numbers, 

 each number containing twelve pages, and the subscription for 

 the year to be three francs (25. 6d.). Many of the articles in this 

 publication are said to be taken from the work of Dr. Curtois ; 

 but, in the sixth number of the Magasin d' Hortictdttire, we 

 learn that D Horticulteur Beige was discontinued after the third 

 number. 



In speaking of the new fruits raised from seed by M. van 



