684) Calls at Suburban Gar-dens. 



branches produced only drooping sprays on the under side, and that both 

 sexes of the flowers were detected." {Ed. Phil. Journ., xix. 406.) Mr. San- 

 derson, on the authority of old Scotch history, stated that " the northern part 

 of Ireland was so much infested by yew trees, that a great emigration of Irish 

 took place in consequence, who, with their families and cattle, went over to 

 settle themselves in Scotland; these yew trees every year destroying their 

 cattle in Ireland." Dr. Litton said, he had tried the age of the celebrated 

 yew tree at Muckross, by De CandoUe's test, and found that it nearly agreed 

 with the traditional one. {Ibid.) 



Melampyrum arvense, Mr. Curtis remarked, would only grow amongst corn, 

 and could never be cultivated from seed. (Ibid.) 



A Plan for the Forinatioii of a Natural Arraiigement of Plants for a Botanic 

 Garden, by Mr. Niven, was read, accompanied by a drawing ; and the presi- 

 dent. Dr. Allman, laid before the Association " a diagram showing his plan 

 of a natural arrangement of plants." {Ibid., p. 400. 404.) We should be 

 greatly obliged to these gentlemen, if they would communicate to us outlines 

 of their plans, for publication. There is nothing that we know of so well 

 calculated to spread a taste for a knowledge of plants, as to see them grouped 

 together, according to their af&nities and exterior appearance; which can alone 

 be effected by the natural system. — Cond. 



Qi'lea europcB^a. — The iong-leaved Spanish variety of olive is now in full 

 flower on an open south-east wall in my garden : the plant is only about four 

 years and a half old. — R. Mallet. Dublin, July 23. 1835. 



Art. IV. Calls at Suburban Gardens, 



Ham House ; S. Gurney, Esq. — Oct. \ 3. We had much pleasure in ex- 

 amining the fine old specimens of trees and shrubs at this place, and in seeing 

 the very high order in which it is kept by our namesake, the head gardener, 

 Mr. James Loudon. As a place, that is, as a specimen of rural architecture 

 and landscape-gardening. Ham House has little or nothing to boast of: the 

 grounds are flat, and the trees so thinly sprinkled over them, that, from most 

 points, we can see the whole at once. The great charm of the place is the 

 fine old specimens planted by Dr. Fothergill about the middle of the last 

 century, of all of which we have received the dimensions. We shall only 

 mention one or two trees at present, and refer for the rest to our Arboretum. 

 Cratas^gus viridis is here 12 ft. high, and forms a curious scrubby tree : it is 

 not grafted on the common thorn, as a sucker from the root proves. There 

 are several fine specimens of hop hornbeam, from 25 ft. to 40 ft. high. J^cer 

 monspessulanum, 27 ft. high, is a very handsomely formed tree. Kolreuten'a 

 paniculata is 37 ft. high ; and a most picturesque tree of i7amamelis virginica, 

 25 ft. high. If this tree had not been crowded by others, it would have been 

 the most interesting in these grounds : even as it is, we believe it is the best 

 in the neighbourhood of London; for, as we have elsewhere stated, the 

 hamamelis is too generally neglected by planters. Jraxinus americana pan- 

 nosa has attained the height of 60 ft., with a magnificent columnal trunk of 

 about half that height. After walking round the place, and noting down some 

 full-grown trees, of which we intend to have portraits taken for our Arboretum, 

 we entered the very picturesque thatched cottage of Mr. Loudon, and were 

 grieved to find that what was so very pretty without was so very objectionable 

 within. The rooms are small, and so low in the ceiling as to be quite disagree- 

 able to the eye; and, to a person breathing in them for any time, most 

 unwholesome. 



We cannot too strongly express our disapprobation of those architects who 

 think more of external effect than of the comfort of the occupant, and 

 actually do not bestow half the care on a cottage for a fellow-creature that 



