Plants in the open Air in the Borromean Islands, 24 1 



Indeed, Mr. Beaton thinks that no pot should be plunged in 

 any cold or hot medium, in or out of doors, without first taking 

 the precaution to place an empty pot under each pot ; and the 

 only thing to be attended to is, to have the mouth of the lower 

 pot a little narrower than the bottom of the pot to be placed 

 over it. This plan was shown and first recommended to Mr. 

 Beaton by Mr. Thomson, of the Horticultural Society's Garden, 

 one of the most scientific gardeners with whom Mr. Beaton is 

 acquainted." 



Isola Bella. 



Art. II. Notice of the Plants tuhich groto in the open Air in the 

 Borromean Islands (^Isola Bella and Isola Madre) in the Lago 

 Maggiore. By Signor Giuseppe Manetti. 



Vegetation in these two islands is wonderful, and bespeaks 

 the fertility of the soil and the mildness of the climate. In 

 summer they are cooled by the breezes of the lake, and in winter 

 the usual temperature ranges from zero to two or three degrees 

 below it ; or if it is sometimes a little lower, it is for a few 

 minutes at twilight, and then it never falls so low as 5° Reaum. 

 In Isola Bella, however, which is nearer the mountains than 

 Isola Madre, the temperature falls generally a degree or two 

 lower, according to the prevalence of wind. The soil is cal- 

 careous, containing a little clay (argilla) and mica, which gives 

 it a shining appearance in the sun- 



The trees which in the following list are marked with an 

 asterisk grow in both the islands ; and those not marked, only 

 in Isola Madre. 



Acacia farnesiana, A. acanthocarpa. A, latifolia, A. longifolia 

 20 ft. high, A. vera, ^^cer oblongum. Agapanthus umbel- 

 latus, A. umb. variegatus. * Agave americana, *A. amer. picta. 

 Amaryllis formosissima. ^nthyllis ^arba Jovis. Araucaria 

 brasiliana 14 ft. high, diameter of the head lOft. ; A. Cunning- 

 hamzY 14 ft. high, head 12 ft. in diameter; A. excelsa 16 ft. high, 

 head 10 ft. in diameter. I was delighted with the effect of these 

 three plants ; I send you a drawing of the last species. *A'r- 



