Qtierics and Answers. 1 55 



adhere with facility to the barb of their arrows. Now, the act of boiling 

 totally destroys its viscid qualities. — C, Waterton. Walton Hall, Jan. 7. 1835. 



Soldmcm hetaceiim, or the Beet-leaved Nightshade, (p. 105.) — This shrub may 

 prove half-hardy, it is suggested in p. 105. How far this is likely, I will not 

 venture to guess : it is registered in your Hort. Brit, as a native of South 

 America ; and in Sweet's Hort. Brit., as a native of New Spain ; and in both 

 works, as being in Britain a stove shrub. Would it only thrive in open borders, 

 in Britain, through the hotter of the summer months, it would well repay 

 planting out, in the pleasure one might feel in seeing its magnificent leaves. 

 In 1816, and some time before and after, there was (and, perhaps, still is) a 

 living plant of it in the collection of stove plants in the Cambridge Botanic 

 Garden J where it produced leaves of nearly a foot in length, and towards half 

 that in breadth; and, in their amplitude and midrib down the centre, resembling, 

 more or less, those of the beet plant, as implied in the epithet Aetaceum. 

 These gave out, when handled, a strong odour, resembling that supplied by the 

 bruised wood of ♦S'olanum Dulcamara; which I have accustomed myself to 

 compare to that produced by rats and mice. Did the plants of S. ietaceum, 

 when planted out, produce only a copious clothing of such leaves, they 

 would, in themselves, be striking, and impart one additional tropical feature 

 to the British flower-garden. If the plant could be so cultivated in-doors, as, 

 when planted out for a short season of display, to produce not only its leaves 

 during that season, but the fruit also (described, in p. 105., as very beautiful), 

 its out-door attractiveness would be still greater. The difficulty of propa- 

 gating this plant, stated in p. 105., 1 should not have supposed ; and it is diffi- 

 cult to account for. The species is one of the very freest habit of growth ; 

 and one would expect it to be not more difficult to propagate than Brug- 

 manszffl suaveolens, and to thrive thoroughly and flower under just the same 

 treatment. — J.D. 



Cidtivatio7i of Trees and Shrubs in preference to Florists' Floivers. (Preface 

 to Vol. X. p. iv.) — Horticultural societies, no doubt, have done good ; but 

 they have been the means of bringing florists' flowers, and half-hardy low 

 shrubs, rather too much into fashion. These are fine things for amateurs 

 about towns ; fine things in flower-gardens at country-seats, where they are 

 allowed to be properly cared for, and where there are gardeners able to care 

 for them (Mr. Hogg would say) : his 25s. carnations are fine things for hares 

 to nibble at in winter. Owners of country residences would expend a little 

 money, annually, to much better purpose in buying those hardy foreign trees 

 and shrubs mentioned in your Return Papers, than upon florists' flowers ; 

 which are but short-lived beauties at best. But he who plants an arboretum 

 does it not only for himself, but for the next generation. — William Taylor. 

 Thainston, Jan. 16. 1835. 



Art. IV. Qiieries and Answers. 



There is not a greater Mistake, iti planting Pleasure-Grounds, than in mixing 

 the common or indigenous Shrubs of a Country with foreign or improved Species 

 or Varieties, (p. 59.) — Are the indigenous shrubs ineligible for the pleasure- 

 ground ? Are botanical affinities to be disregarded in planting a pleasure- 

 ground. — J.D. Londo7i, Feb. 2. 1835. 



The object in planting a pleasure-ground is, to create a character of art 

 throughout the plantation ; and, whenever indigenous shrubs or botanical 

 affinities interfere with this character, they are to be rejected. Botanical affi- 

 nities will not often interfere ; but, in planting trees and shrubs, the commoner 

 sorts of the neighbourhood often may. For example, suppose it were intended 

 to form a pleasure-ground, or even shrubbery, in a district of country where 

 the common oak, elm, ash, birch, poplar, Scotch pine, common thorn, holly, 

 spindle tree, elder, &c., were common in the woods and roadside plantations, 

 not one of these trees and shrubs, according to our principle of the recognition 



