648 Foreign Notices : — Germany. 



this simple method I have not got a single club-rooted plant in the garden, 

 although many of them had begun to club in the seed-bed. (G. Fielder, in Gard. 

 Ckron., vol. i. p. 662.) Clubbing in the -Srassica tribe is prevented by putting 

 a little quicklime in the hole while planting. (/. Hislop, ibid., vol. i. p. 613.) 



Asparagus is blanched by covering veith sand by Mr Buchan at Blythfield, 

 who finds the branch part more tender, the colour more delicate, and the 

 flavour improved ; nor are the plants so liable to rot in winter as when 

 the beds are covered to a great depth with dung and soil. {Gard. Chron., 

 vol. i. p. 86.) Sand laid over the drills of newly sown peas from i in. to i in. 

 in thickness, is an effectual remedy against mice, and also small snails. {Ibid., 

 p. 107.) 



O'xalis Dejypei has been cultivated in Belgium for culinary purposes. The 

 young leaves are dressed like sorrel, in soup, or as a vegetable ; they have a 

 fresh and agreeable acid, especially in spring. The flowers are excellent in 

 salad alone, or mixed with corn salad, endive of both kinds, red cabbage, beet 

 root, and even with the petals of the dahlia, which are delicious when thus 

 employed. When served at table, the flowers, with their pink corolla, green 

 calyx, yellow stripes, and little stamens, produce a very pretty effect. The 

 roots are taken up in September or October, and preserved through 

 winter in a cool cellar. They are gently boiled with salt and water, after 

 having been washed and slightly peeled ; they are then eaten like asparagus, 

 in the Flemish fashion, with melted butter and the yolks of eggs. They are 

 also served up like scorzonera and endive, with white sauce. They form, in 

 whatever way they are dressed, a tender, succulent dish, easy to digest, and 

 agreeing with the most delicate stomach. The analogy of the root with salep 

 indicates that its effect should be excellent upon all constitutions. {Professor 

 Morren, in Gard. Chiton., vol. i. p. 68.) 



Comfrey {Symphytum officinale) is recommended as a perennial spinach plant ; 

 and the young shoots, blanched by being forced to grow through loose soil, as 

 a substitute for asparagus. {Gard. Chron., vol. i. p. 262.) 



Victoiia Rhubarb can be gathered, in a young and tender state, in much 

 greater bulk when forced, than in the case of other varieties. {Ibid., p. 167.) 



MyatVs Pine Strawberry Mr. Lymburn found to grow profusely on light, rich, 

 sandy, alluvial soils near the sea, where other strawberries are apt to throw 

 out too many runners. {Ibid., p. 550.) About London it is very difficult 

 either to grow or fruit. 



Fuchsm fulgens produces fruit not unlike a small gherkin, which, when 

 quite ripe, turns to a pale yellow, and comes off at a touch. " They are, 

 to my taste," says Mr. Herbert, " as good as any grapes, except the high- 

 flavoured sorts of muscat." {Ibid., p. 685.) 



T?-ifdlium incarndtum is found of great value in filling up blanks in fields of 

 common clover. Examine the field immediately after the corn crop, among 

 which the clover is sown, is cut and carried, sow T. incarnatum in the blanks, 

 and hoe, rake, or harrow it, as most convenient. {Ibid., p. 645.) - 



Art. II. Foreign Notices. 

 GERMANY. 



LOUISAINE, near Dessau. — On the 18th of December last the duke's garden 

 here sustained great damage from a tremendous storm. A great many trees, 

 particularly of the genus Pinus, were either torn up by the roots, or had their 

 branches broken. The tree which suffered the most was the largest and finest 

 of the scarlet oaks ((^nercus cocclnea Wajigenh.) : it was thrown down, and 

 completely uprooted. This magnificent tree was one of the largest, if not the 

 very largest, in this part of the country, and, perhaps, in all Germany. It 

 measured 90 ft. in height j its circumference, at 6 ft. from the ground, was 4i 

 ellsj and at the height of 43 ft., where the stem divided into two principal 



