Le Bon Jardinier, 1839. 163 



. Medicdgo sativa L., the Lucerne. — This plant is cultivated in Chile, where 

 it has doubtless been introduced by the Spaniards. It is there called Alfalfa ; 

 and seeds have lately been sent to France under that name, which was sup- 

 posed to be that of a new species. Some years ago, Mr. Masters of Canter- 

 bury, also, received seeds of the common lucerne, from Chile. 



Trifdlium hybridum L. is a native both of France and Sweden, and has been 

 cultivated in the latter country in artificial pastures for about forty years. M. 

 Vilmorin has lately tried this species in France. He does not consider it as 

 a hybrid between the common red and white clovers, as has been generally 

 supposed, but as a natural species. It resembles more the white clover than 

 the red clover; but, though its stems are recumbent, they do not root into the 

 soil like those of the former species. In short, it appears like a giant white 

 clover, but with flesh-coloured flowers. In Sweden it has been known to grow 

 as high as 5 or 6 feet, and to last for fifteen or twenty years, yielding one 

 mowing every year. It is a perennial, and prefers strong moist soil. It has 

 been introduced into Scotland by Mr. Stephens, a professional drainer, who 

 goes annually to Sweden, and who received a medal from the Highland Society 

 of Scotland for introducing this plant. 



Avena sativa L. — The agricultural journals of Flanders have lately been 

 loud in their praise of two new varieties of oat, the one white, avoine blanche ; 

 and the other black, with the rather singular name of avoine de trots lunes, 

 which probably alludes to its quickness in ripening. The white variety, M. 

 Vilmorin says, somewhat resembles the potato oat ; and the black promises to 

 be very productive. 



Betterave jaune d'Allemagne is a new variety of mangold wurzel, which is 

 found to be far superior to any other hitherto in use for fattening cattle. 

 Seeds of this plant, as of all the others mentioned, or to be mentioned, which 

 ripen seeds in Europe, may be obtained of M. Vilmorin. 



Polygonum tinctorium Loureiro, Persicaire Indigo, ou Penouee tinctoriale. — 

 This plant was introduced from Asia in 1837, and has proved to be a valuable 

 accession to the plants used in dyeing. It will doubtless succeed as such in 

 the south of France, but not in the climate of Britain ; where, though it may 

 grow during summer, like any other tender annual, the want of bright sun- 

 shine will prevent it from arriving at a sufficient degree of perfection, to render 

 its juices of much value as a material for dyeing. 



Pced?ii& albiflorafasta, raised from a seed of P. edulis, has very large double 

 white flowers, sometimes 7 or 8 inches broad, with some of the interior 

 petals tipped with bright carmine red. It is said to be the handsomest of all 

 the peonies, ligneous or herbaceous. A figure of it is given in L'Herbier de 

 V Amateur, and there is a copy of this or some other foreign plate, in Marnock's 

 Floricidtural Magazine for March, where it is called P. Makoya, and where the 

 flower is said to be highly scented, a property not mentioned by M. Poiteau in 

 the Bon Jardinier. 



A^bies Pinsapo Boissier, Picea Pinsapo, Gard. Mag. — An abstract is given 

 of the article on this fir' in the Bibliotheque Universelle. See Mr. Lawson's 

 translation of the article, with M. Vilmorin's postscript, p. 109. Since that 

 article appeared, we have obtained a specimen of the pinsapo ; and seed may 

 be had of M. Vilmorin or Mr. Charlwood. Some seeds were sent to the 

 Horticultural Society from Geneva, last year; in consequence of which 

 we have introduced it in the Second Additional Supplement to the Hort. Brit. 



Pinus pyrenaica Lapeyrouse, Pin des Pyrenees, was described by the late 

 Picot Lapeyrouse in his Flora of Toulouse ; but it was forgotten till again 

 brought into notice by Capt. Cook, in his Sketches in Spain, M. Vilmorin's 

 attention being directed to this species, he succeeded in procuring seeds. He 

 finds, as Capt. Cook had stated, that the tree does not grow on the French 

 side of the Pyrenees, but on the south side ; and that whole forests, in the 

 province of Arragon, consist almost solely of this species. " The branches and 

 the cones," continues M. Vilmorin, " which have been sent to me" by M. 

 Paul Boileau of Bagneres de Luchon, bear a very great resemblance to those 



