Domestic Notices : — England. 421 



Smiths, R. a. macranthum rdseum ; R. a. campanulatum hybridum, R. 

 catawbiense fl. pi., R. Farreri, R. ponticum hyacmthinum, R. ponticum al- 

 bum multifiorum, R. p. guttatum, R. p. hbwei, R. p. flore picto Cunning- 

 hams, R. p. carneum multimaculatum, R. p. strictum, R. caucasicum, 

 R. Chamascistus ; Camellia japonica Grand Frederick, C. j. tricolor elegans, 

 C. j. King, C. j. Eliza, C. j. Admiral Nelson, C. j. Hosaclda vera, C. j. 

 ochroleiica, C. j. Collette, C. j. Palmer's perfection, C. j. triumphans, C. j. 

 triphora (?). — Giuseppe Manetti. Monza, June 1. 1839. 



Art. II. Domestic Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



The Kent Zoological and Botanical Gardens, which are situated at Kosher- 

 ville, near Gravesend, were opened to the subscribers in the beginning of May 

 last. Non-subscribers are admitted at Is. each, children at 6d. each ; servants 

 having the care of children under fourteen years of age, to be admitted on 

 payment of 6d. each, and pupils of schools on payment of 10s. 6d. each 

 annually. None but subscribers and their orders are admitted on Sundays. 

 The closing of places of this description to the public generally on Sundays 

 is, in our opinion, a matter much to be regretted ; for on what other day of 

 the week can a working man enjoy a walk in a public garden with his family ? 

 Being excluded from all recreation of this kind, the working man naturally has 

 recourse to the public-house ; or, perhaps, he drinks and smokes at home. All 

 public gardens, in our opinion, ought to be as free on Sunday to the poor as 

 they are to the rich. The Kent Society were not bound to open their garden 

 to non-subscribers at all unless they chose ; but, having done so, we think their 

 excluding non-subscribers on the Sundays is a measure too aristocratic, and 

 very impolitic, if the improvement of the working classes of Kent is any object 

 with the Society. — Cond. 



Importation of Cacti. — The cargo of plants mentioned in my last letter is 

 just come to hand in the most perfect condition. There are only two cases of 

 Cacti, but of Orchideae we have no less than twenty-six cases ; many of the 

 orchidaceous plants are beautifully healthy specimens,and quite new to Messrs. 

 Low and Henchman. One Epidendron is quite unique ,• it has a strong woody 

 rhizoma, or what you might call an ascending woody stem, with a large pseudo- 

 bulb at each joint ; these bulbs are in the way of Epidendron tibicinis. There 

 are many fine plants of this species ready to burst open their buds, and in a 

 beautiful state of preservation. It must be a fine-flowering sort, as M'Kenzie, 

 our most indefatigable collector, mistook it for a fine species of Cattleycs. Of 

 this latter genus we have abundance of plants, supposed to be of the best kinds, 

 and some of them altogether new to us. This is the case also with some of 

 the Orchidaceae ; the rest are of the best species of the old established kinds. 

 We have hardly a plant in the whole lot of the weedy kinds ; though you are, 

 no doubt, aware that there are more weeds among the orchidaceous plants 

 than in any other family whatever; but, on the other hand, we have the finest 

 flowering plants of the vegetable kingdom in this family. 



There is a very increasing demand now for Orchideae, as a proof of which I 

 may mention that several gardeners from the country were anxiously waiting at 

 Clapton till the plants were divided, in order to buy up such as were new to 

 their collections ; but this circumstance may be accounted for by the number 

 of country gardeners who came up to the exhibition of the Horticultural So- 

 ciety last Saturday. Among a large assortment of seeds we have several of 

 great promise ; such as those of allied genera to the rhododendrons, hitherto 

 known in this country only by dry specimens. Altogether, we have reason to 

 be much satisfied. 



Of Cacti, we have good plants of five or six species of Cereus ; Melocactus 

 micracantha and communis comprehend our melon-shaped lot ; and of Mam- 

 miilaria we have only one species, M. glomerata. 



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