338 . Rools and other indigenous Esculents 



taken root, and their points shot up into regular trees from 

 20 ft. to 30 ft. in height. The leading shoot of the parent 

 tree appears to have been broken off at an early period, and 

 the stem has in consequence put out a number of contending 

 shoots, which reach the height of 30 ft. or 40 ft. from the 

 ground. This tree, as well as some spruces at Syon, the Whim, 

 and other places, proves most clearly, if proof were wanting, 

 that the rooted cutting of a pine or fir branch may form a tree, 

 as well as a seedling, though it does not always do so for some 

 time. In another part of the grounds, beyond the ferry-boat 

 passage, is Pyrus pinnatifida, grafted on a common thorn, a 

 shoot from the stock forming an equally large tree with the scion. 

 The road from Stourhead to Hindon is over undulating downs, 

 apparently interminable in extent. At Willougiiby Hedge Gate, 

 a whole length picture of a shepherd ariested our attention, and 

 we soon found that it was the work of the gatekeeper, Peter 

 Hawkins, a self-taught artist, who has attained considerable 

 proficiency in portrait-painting, not only without encouragement, 

 but in opposition to the wishes of his father. The latter desired 

 him to study other branches of knowledge ; but he had no inclina- 

 tion for any thing but painting. This man, like Shindle, the 

 porter at Tottenham Park (Vol. X. p. 4< 18.), is evidently a genius ; 

 and, having the advantage of youth, it is much to be wished 

 that some person of influence would be at the expense of 

 supporting him a short time in London, where he would profit 

 by having his talents brought into collision with genius of his 

 own kind in a state of cultivatiouo We arrived at Hindon ex- 

 ceedingly fatigued, and shall there prepare ourselves by repose 

 for examining Fonthill. 



(To be continued.) 



Art. II. Some Remarks on the Roots and other indigenous Escidents 

 of Van Diemens Land. By Mr. James Backhouse, Nursery- 

 man, York.* 



The most extensively diffused eatable roots of Van Diemen's 

 Land are those of the tara fern, and of various plants of the 



* The author of this article is the partner of Mr. Thomas Backhouse of 

 York ; and the nursery belonging to that respectable family is one of the 

 oldest in the north of England. Mr. James Backhouse went to Van Diemen's 

 Land purely with philanthropic views : and, though a scientific naturalist, 

 pursuits of that kind were but secondary objects with him. The last accounts 

 received from Mr. Backhouse state that he was at Sydney on his way home. 

 When he is once more in the bosom of his family, we hope we shall receive 

 many interesting particulars from him respecting the natural history and gar- 

 dening of Australia, both for this Magazine and also for the Magazine of Na- 

 tural History. — Cond. 



