Foreign Notices : — Germani/. 54-3 



and atropurpureum, Corylus tetraphylla, Lonfcera Ledebouri and hispida, 

 ^^cer ibericum and littorale, Quercus Thomasz and other sp., Pinus, &c., 

 Pruniis chinensis and ^rmeniaca leucocarpa, Quercus mongolica, Picea obovata 

 Ledeb., ^^bies siberica Ledeb., Larix siberica, Sklix alba, var. tristis, pallida, and 

 several other species. — Otto. Botanic Garden, Berlin, August, 1835. 



Frankfort, Jan. 18. 1835. — There is nothing very new in gardening in our 

 neighbourhood. In all useful improvements, Germany stands in need of new- 

 information, greater exertion, and a stronger impulse, than England, where a 

 hint is sufficient to send a new discovery,"or a new plant, from one end of the 

 country to the other. It appears that our gardens, although very beautiful, are 

 far behind those of England. Nothing that is new seems to be wished for, 

 while what is old is still so beautiful ; and, although we have many experienced 

 gardening amateurs, only a few are acquainted with those great improvements 

 which are so much admired in England ; yet we have made, for a short time 

 back, some advancement. The ingenuity of our people will at last break 

 through prejudices, and overcome every obstacle. Frankfort can give you a 

 proof of this. You would suppose that, in this rich city, the seat of a power- 

 ful diplomacy and of merchandise, with 50,000 inhabitants, and in a part of 

 Germany so well situated for trade, there would be many considerable and 

 beautiful gardens and nurseries in a flourishing state; yet this is not the 

 case. Since the establishment of our business, we have been obliged to make 

 use of every means in order to profit by what the place afforded, and, with 

 great trouble and certain risk, we have at last succeeded in bringing our col- 

 lection of plants to a state of perfection which, for Germany, is very consi- 

 derable. While we were so busily employed, the people of Frankfort, with 

 one or two exceptions, seemed to take no interest in us. A general emula- 

 tion appeared to be wanting ; and I therefore, this spring, suggested the idea of 

 the Polytechnic Society in this place preparing a flower show. The proposal 

 to the Society was at first coldly received ; indeed, they somewhat laughed at 

 it. By the praiseworthy promptitude of M. von Bethmann, Mr. John An- 

 right, and their very s'cientifically educated gardeners, M. Sester and M. 

 Tepwich, our courage in this undertaking was alone supported. These few 

 exerted themselves with true zeal; their good example was imitated; and the 

 show which took place on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of May (and of which I 

 take the liberty to enclose you a Catalogue and Description\ exceeded all our 

 expectations. About 12,000 inhabitants and strangers thronged to the show, 

 and the general voice of applause effected in only three days a decided victory. 

 This show occasioned a general enthusiasm. People have now begun to be 

 convinced of the importance and pleasure of the art of gardening; and it is 

 to be hoped that Frankfort will, in the course of five or ten years, be particu- 

 larly celebrated for gardening : it is even now in contemplation to establish 

 an institution for garden culture, in union with the before-mentioned Poly- 

 technic Society, and the future prize shows will be prepared by both ; thus, 

 by every opportunity the love of gardening will be promoted. May this in- 

 stitution prosper ! 



In the public gardens surrounding our city are several parts very beautifully 

 laid out, within the last two years, with fountains, and jets-d'eau, and ponds 

 stocked with abundance of gold-fish. M. von Bethmann's garden is, at the 

 same time, laid out in a truly masterly manner. 1 never before saw, in so small 

 a space, so many beauties near each other ; and yet it is not crowded. If 

 agreeable to you, I will send you drawings of both these gardens. [We have 

 written for them,] I received lately from Vienna some varieties of pelargo- 

 niums quite new there, which are not only as beautiful as English ones, but 

 some of them are even far superior. This is, for German}', quite a subject of 

 rejoicing. The Camellia frankfurtensis is not white and red, but dark and 

 light red. Mi-. Low at Clapton has a plant of it. The drawing is not a good 

 one, but it is a faithful representation of the flower. We have also the fol- 

 lowing seedling camellias, which have flowered the first time this spring, and 

 are well deserving of notice. Camellia Gunnelh'?, pure white, fine large magni- 



