Domestic Notices : — England. 311 



effect, mixed with the white azaleas, from the large size of their blossoms, 

 and their number. This group, from its brilliant masses of colour, quite 

 defied the painter's art to depict, and ours to describe. 



Of Tropae^olum tricolorum there were many fine specimens in full flower, 

 trained over wire frames, of all fantastic shapes. At a distance, the flowers 

 looked like a number of little scarlet bells, or a green robe exquisitely embroi- 

 dered with scarlet. The ixoras, with large orange scarlet heads of blossom, were 

 among the most showy plants exhibited, and their flowers were well set off by 

 the deep glossy foliage from which they rose. Perhaps the most remarkable 

 plant of the whole was a seedling 7?hododendron from Mr. Smith of Nor- 

 biton Nursery, with large yellow flowers, said to have been raised between 

 Azalea sinensis and iEhododendron maximum. We cannot close without 

 noticing that one entire tent was occupied by a collection of fine plants 

 from Mr. Harris, including the cacti above mentioned. Notwithstanding the 

 unfavourable weather of the morning, there was a tolerable attendance, and 

 the general opinion seemed to be, that it was the best May show that had 

 ever been seen in the gardens. — W. A. M. May 16. 1840. 



Mr. Knight^ s Catalogue of ConifercB, '^ust printed, contains : J^bies 4 species 

 and varieties; Araucaria 4 species; Callitris 1 species; Cedrus 2 species; 

 Cunninghamza 1 species ; Cupressus 8 species and varieties ; Dacrydium 2 

 species ; J^unfperus 17 species and varieties ; iiirix 3 species and varieties ; 

 Picea 15 species and varieties ; Pinus 55 species and varieties ; Podocarpus 

 4 species ; Taxodium 4 species ; Taxus 7 species and varieties ; and Thuja 

 6 species and varieties. In all 140 species and varieties. 



Works on the Cacti are said to be in preparation by Zuccarini at Munich, 

 and Dr. Lhotsky in London ; and the late Duke of Bedford had 80 species 

 figured at Woburn, with a view to a splendid publication on this tribe of plants. 

 This work, we understand, is suspended for the present ; but we have no doubt 

 the present duke will resume it in due time. 



Bedgebiiry Park, Kent, is at present the scene of very extensive improve- 

 ments, under the direction of the very intelligent young gardener, James 

 Finlay, formerly assistant to Mr. Wood at Deepdene. A new kitchen-garden 

 has been formed, and also a new flower-garden, with an extensive range of 

 hot-houses, pits, sheds, &c. Many miles of road have been laid out through 

 the woods and farm lands, under draining extensively executed ; planting, and 

 also thinning, existing plantations, carried on in various directions ; cows im- 

 ported from Holland, Jersey, and Ireland, to prove which are the best milkers ; 

 Colonel Le Couteur and M. Vilniorin's improved varieties of wheat have been 

 tried, besides many other improvements connected with agriculture, gardening, 

 and planting ; but being now on my commercial journey, I have not time to 

 go into farther details. — T. B. Tunbridge Wells, May 8. 1840. 



Wistaria sinensis, at Lavender Hill Nursery, is now (May 5.) well worth 

 your inspection, for two or three things : 1st, The plant occupies a part of 

 three sides of the house, and consequently gives three successive sheets of 

 flowers on the three aspects. 2dly, The flowers are quite as numerous, and, 

 perhaps, more beautiful, certainly of a deeper tint, and they last much longer, 

 upon the east and north sides, than on the south side ; and, 3dly, there 

 cannot possibly be found a more cutting or cold and exposed situation than 

 that corner of the house which faces the north and the north-east, and yet 

 the plant grows, flourishes, and blossoms most profusely, flowering also during 

 the summer and nearly into the autumn again. The plant is this year very 

 regularly covered with flowers, and the number of bunches is very great. — 

 W. Pamplin,jun. 9. Queen Street, Soho Square, May 5. 



The Vine at Valentines, once so celebrated, is now declining in health, and 

 bears very sparingly. The branches, which used to fill a house .72 ft. long, are 

 now not longer than 20 ft. The thickest part of the stem is 2 ft, in circum- 

 ference. A fine myrtle in the green-house here 15 ft. high, with a trunk as 

 many inches in diameter, and a magnificent conical head, was last autumn cut 

 down to the ground, but is springing up again with vigour. — J. J. Valentines, 

 May 12. 1840. 



