274) Duncan'' s Cucumber Culture. 



specimen of evergreen oak (Qiiercus I/ex) it was ever our good fortune, not 

 forgetting those truly splendid ones at Holkham, to witness. It measures, at 

 1 ft. from the ground, 14 ft. in girth^ but the stem is short, and breaks out on 

 every side into innumerable branches, forming a most noble and almost circular 

 head, which, in a dense and impervious cluster, covers a space of beyond 

 180 ft. in circumference. We noticed a plane (Platamis occidentalism which, 

 at the root, was 13 ft. in circumference. Another, standing prominently forth, 

 in full view from the house, 14 ft. in girth, with boughs forming a fine flowing 

 outline, nearly sweeping to the ground, and, at the extremity, extending over 

 a circle of 190 ft. We also observed a lime (Tilia europcsa) forming a group 

 in conjunction with an elm and a plane: of the two former, one was 12ft., 

 and the other 1 1 ft., in circumference." 



Raveningham Hall; Sir Edmund Bacon, Barf. — *' We observed, on one 

 extremity of the grounds, what we have never, so far as we remember, before 

 witnessed, a grove of old and well-grown sycamores, which for many years 

 has served for an ample rookery. But, with the exception of a few ashes 

 and a silver fir of considerable magnitude, the trees are chiefly oak, and are 

 devoid of that charm which is produced where a greater variety prevails." 



We have, we trust, given enough in the way of foretaste of these interest- 

 ing places, to induce those who wish to see them described and reasoned on 

 in detail to procure Mr. Grigor's work. We hope, when Mr. Grigor has 

 completed Norfolk, he will undertake SuiFolk; and, in short, make a business 

 of describing grounds, and recording the dimensions of remarkable trees 

 and shrubs ; because we feel confident that his doing so would increase the 

 taste for gardening and planting, already very general, but very far from what 

 it ought to be, considering the resources afforded by our nurseries. 



Our Trees in these Numbers are : No. 8. the Larch ; No. 9. the Ash ; 

 No. 10. the White Willow; No. 11. the Beech ; and No. 12. the Horsechest- 

 nut. The articles on these trees are practical and most judicious, and their 

 perusal will amply repay both the gardener and the amateur. The engravings 

 which accompany the work are of oaks, elms, limes, a poplar, a willow, 

 and others, all fine or remarkable specimens, and, for the most part, well 

 executed. 



Art. III. Cucumber Culture; being a Practical Illustration of a 

 St/stem of Forcing in con7iexion toith Natural Principles, especially 

 in relation to Winter and Scientific Modes of Growth : toherein it is 

 shoivn that Fruit may be cut during the whole Year, in beautiful 

 Perfection, on Beds and Pits of nexu and improved Construction, 

 and in the Stove. By John Duncan, author of " Culture of the 

 Melon," &c., gardener to T. Daniel, Esq., Henbury, near Bristol. 

 12mo, pp. 124), 1 plate. London, 1841. 



The title will give the reader some idea of the manner in which Mr. Duncan 

 treats his subject, which is altogether different from that of Mr. Mills's work, 

 noticed in p. 229. Mr. Mills founds his practice on experience, and Mr. 

 Duncan partly on experience, but principally on a general scientific knowledge 

 of the agents of culture. Whoever would master the subject of cucumber 

 culture should possess themselves of both works ; unless they can already 

 grow cucumbers and melons with the success of our correspondent W. H. at 

 Mawley Hall. (See p. 262.) 



Art. IV. Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of 

 Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. Vol LII. Part II., and Vol. 

 LIII. Part i. 8vo. London, 1839 and 1840. 



Our last notice of this excellent work was in our Volume for 1839, p. 281. 

 In the first of the parts before us there is a very interesting paper, " describing 



