Domestic Notices : - — England. 147 



However interesting house plants may be, they can only be obtained by 

 persons possessing large establishments ; and it must be allowed that hardy 

 plants, whether ligneous or herbaceous, useful or ornamental, are of most im- 

 portance to the country in general ; and, therefore, the^introduction of these 

 ought to be considered of paramount importance, not only with reference to 

 the general good, but to the specific object for which the Society was in- 

 stituted, as appears by their charter and the earlier volumes of their Trans- 

 actions. 



These things being attended to in the first place, as being the main objects 

 for which the Society was instituted, the introduction and culture of house- 

 plants would afterwards be just and proper. At present, we consider it 

 altogether unjustifiable ; though we confess that it is not without some pain 

 that we express our disapprobation of the Society's proceedings in so decided 

 a manner. We do it, however, with the most perfect good feeling to all the 

 parties concerned, and simply because we consider it our duty to do so. We 

 have not the least idea that our suggestions will be attended to ; because that 

 would imply a complete reformation in the manner of conducting the Society's 

 affairs, and the members, and the public generally, are much too indifferent 

 about the matter to take the trouble sufficient for that purpose. Things, we 

 suppose, must go on as they are, till by some means or other the pockets of 

 the members are touched, and then a reform will be generally called for, and 

 obtained. 



It has more than once been suggested to the Society, in this Magazine, 

 that they might do something towards the introduction, into our public 

 vegetable markets, of blanched succory leaves during the winter season. This 

 most wholesome and agreeable salad is in common use by the humblest in- 

 dividuals, throughout the whole winter, in Belgium, and in other parts of the 

 Continent, and would surely form a most desirable auxiliary vegetable in 

 London, and in our large manufacturing towns. By offering premiums for the 

 largest quantities brought to market, the Society might be the means of in- 

 troducing this salad into general use; and we would ask whether even the 

 introduction of this simple vegetable would not be more in accordance with the 

 intentions of the founders of the Society, than the introduction of expensive 

 house plants. The culture of the truffle and the morel, in our opinion, also 

 deserves the attention of the Society ; though it is clear, after what we have 

 said on the subject in our preceding Volume, that the managers of the 

 institution think otherwise. 



Having entered our protest against the present pursuits of the Society, we 

 have done our duty, and thereby satisfied our own conscience. — Cond. 

 "^Garrya, laurifolia. — Seeds of this interesting, hardy, evergreen shrub have 

 been distributed by the Horticultural Society, so that we trust so very de- 

 sirable an addition to our evergreens will soon find its way into nursery com- 

 merce. Cones of the Ocote pine of the Mexicans ( ? P. oocarpa Schiede, or P. 

 Teocote Lamb. ; Arboretum Britannicum, p. 2266.), seeds of -4'rbutus densiflora, 

 Primus Capollin (Capulin of the Mexicans), and Crataegus mexieana, have 

 also been distributed ; together with seeds and bulbs of some green-house and 

 herbaceous plants. The whole were sent from Mexico to the Society, by 

 their collector, M. Hartweg. — Cond. 



Importation of Ccicti, Orchidece, §c. — A very large collection of Cacti has 

 just been received from the Spanish Main, from the collector sent thither by 

 Messrs. Lowe & Co., of the Clapton Nursery, and Thomas Harris, Esq., of 

 Kingsbury. Nearly at the same time, another large collection arrived from 

 Mexico, and was divided between the Kingsbury collection, and that at 

 Woburn Abbey. The collector sent out by Mr. Harris and Messrs. Lowe and 

 Co. promises to be one of the most active ever employed; and he has the 

 advantage of Mr. Henchman's previous knowledge of the routes which he is 

 to take ; of Mr. Beaton's knowledge of the constitution of Cacti ; and of 

 being thoroughly acquainted with the Clapton manner of packing, the most 

 essential qualification of a botanical collector. This collector, whose name is 



l 2 



