292 



General Notices. 



that, in nine cases out of ten, the cellar would require to be made above 

 ground. We have seen the plan tried in loamy soil in the neighbourhood of 

 London, and have tried it ourselves, but always without success. — Cona. 



S])orth)g of Plants. — A correspondent expresses surprise that a white rose 

 should have produced a red rose on the same branch ; and also, that moss 

 roses should sometimes be found without moss, or but partially furnished with 

 that appendage. Such sports, however, are common throughout the whole 

 vegetable kingdom ,• and it is to them that we are indebted for most of our 

 variegated-leaved plants ; for example, our variegated hollies, pines, ashes, 

 maples, &c. In herbaceous plants, double-flowering varieties are frequently 

 sports ; as well as those having leaves of abnormal forms or colours. To 

 perpetuate the sport, it is in general only necessary to cut it off, and propagate 

 from it by extension. Mr. Sabine informs us that some new varieties of 

 Chinese chrysanthemums were obtained in this manner in the Horticultural 

 Society's Gardens; but we do not recollect a new variety of fruit having been 

 so obtained. — Cond. 



Van Mons's Theory for the Amelioration of Fruits, more particularly of pears 

 and apples. — According to Van Mons's theory, trees raised from the fifth, 

 sixth, and seventh generations, without interruption, from their first parents, 

 otight to come sooner into fruit, and produce fruit of a better quality than 

 trees of the first generation, or those raised from the first sowing. This, it is 

 alleged by various physiologists, is very doubtful ; and, at all events, remains 

 to be proved by facts. As a step towards this, M. Poiteau, in the spring of 

 1836, received from M. Van Mons 1000 seedling pear trees of two years' 

 growth, raised from the fifth and sixth generations in a direct line from the first 

 parent. These trees M. Poiteau "and M. Noisette planted in a favourable 

 situation, at Mont Rouge, in the suburbs of Paris, and they were examined 

 in December, 1837, by a commission named by the Horticultural Society at 

 Paris. The trees were found in a healthy state, but had not then shown 

 flower buds, though M. Van Mons had said that a part of them would fruit 

 at the end of five years. Before planting these trees, the roots were pruned, 

 and all the pieces which were cut off, were planted, and produced shoots ; and 

 by means of the plants so raised, MM. Poiteau and Noisette intend to as- 

 Certain whether the plants raised from the roots will come into fruit sooner 

 than the seedlings from which the roots were taken. At all events, this is a 

 very ingenious and effectual mode of multiplying seedling rosaceous plants. It 

 is highly creditable to the Horticultural Society of Paris, that, in 1834, they 

 offered a premium of 1000 francs to him who, between that time and 1846, 

 should obtain the best fruit from seedling pears and apples. MM. Poiteau 

 and Noisette, also deserve the highest praise for the exertions they are 

 making to collect together varieties of fruit from all quarters, with a view to 

 proving them and correcting the nomenclature. (Annates oVHort. de Paris, 

 vol. xxi. p. 314.) 



Pudding tvith a terminal Eye. — The only advantage attending this mode is, 

 that a much longer shoot is produced than when lateral eyes are chosen ; the 



obvious reason of which is, that the terminal bud, being naturally much more 

 vigorous, has a more powerful capacity of developement. Its principal use is 



