



I I u 



rvT 



ducuve ttees; and there is no perceptible ditlerence 

 between the fruit which they bear and that of the com- 

 mon Green-ga-e. The parent tree must, I suppose, have 

 been raised from seed. I have a young tree that i 

 raised from a Green-gage stone, and I perceive that tne 

 foliage is more like that of its parent than any other. 

 These facts have induced me to put the question to your 

 correspondents, whether the experience of any ot them 

 confirms the supposition that the Green-gage can some- 

 times be reproduced by seed ? Coe's Golden L>rop is 

 another admirable Plum, but I find that more than 

 three-fourths of the fruit fall off when they are about 

 the size of Damsons. How is this to be accounted 

 for ? My tree is trained on a west wall. I raised 

 two seedlings from it, but they have all the appearance 

 of the common wild Plum. Reme Claude \ tolette or 

 Purple-gage, the merits of which were recorded by one 

 of your correspondents some time back, is, as regards 

 flavour, the most delicious Plum I have ever tasted, 

 superior to the old Green-gage, and rather larger It 

 bears well here as an orchard tree, but it is a little 

 inclined to crack and produce gum. Is this tendency 



that each might have its English clase, order, and genus 

 defined, as well as seme merely trivial name, by which 

 it is at present most generally known. No doubt we 

 shall have some objectors to the introduction of village 

 botany, and a few scoffers at teaching children such 

 long-winded words as Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. 

 But even the last is one syllable short of Plenipotentiary, 

 and a host of others introduced into our spelling-books. 

 E do not see why a child should not be taught the mean- 

 ing of a long word which is used in the classification of 

 plants, rather than be compelled to learn such a one as 

 is intended to set forth the office of the above-named 

 functionary, whom neither they nor I, and probably not 

 one of your readers ever yet saw, or is ever yet likely to 

 see. Explain the meaning of the terms essential to the clas- 

 sifi cation of plants, and children get them up very readily 

 and learn to apply them very satisfactorily. The habit 

 of discrimination, which a little knowledge of natural 

 history confers, seems to me eminently useful to our 

 village scholars, and I wish I had thought of introducing 

 the subject earlier. In order to assist them in dis- 

 criminating the plants brought to the school, I have 



At our horticultural 



the 



likely to be prevented in the case of young trees of this ' placed there an herbarium of most of those which have 

 variety by training them on a wall J One word more, been found in the village, and I dare say, before the year 

 Is there any one who can tell me the name of a Damson 

 answering "the following description. The tree is an 

 abundant° bearer, ripening its fruit in October. The 

 fruit itself is almost black, of the size and form of the 

 common Muscle Plum, and therefore larger than other 



In 



among 



Damsons, being from 1 inch to 1| inch in diameter. 

 other respects the tree was like the common Damson ; 

 it grew in the garden of Saling Hall, Essex. C. B., Rut- 

 land.— ¥.$. In Forsyth's old book upon Gardening 

 there is, under the name of " Shropshire Damson," a 

 description which answers exactly to the Damson I 

 have just described. But that name is now given to 



the Prune Damson. 



Deodars.— I believe that an "Old Sawyer" has hit 

 upon the true solution of the imperfect growth of some 

 Deodars. I have planted both cuttings and seedlings. 

 I never could get a cutting to grow upright, or furnish 

 itself well, and I never knew a seedling fail to do so. I 



is over it will be pretty complete, 

 show last. June we had 56 competitors 

 children of the village for prizes for wild-flower nosegays. 

 It was an interesting sight to see them all busy preparing 

 their nosegays on the spot, and afterwards to see these 

 ranged on the stands before the more showy flowers of 

 the garden. Some of the farmers complained that the 

 children got among their Wheat to gather Poppies, for 

 which the children were duly lectured, and told they 

 were not to do so again ; and the complainants were 

 duly advised not to tempt the children by allowing 

 Poppies to grow among their Wheat. I hope this year 

 to find out who knows the most names, and who can 

 refer most plants to their proper orders, and to reward 

 accordingly. As for teaching matters which do not 

 immediately bear on the occupations of the parties we 

 have to instruct, it would be difficult to object to teach- 

 ing our villagers a little botany, whilst mathematics 

 is made the staple of a clergyman's education at the 



have some planted in very exposed situations, and some 



among trees ; all grow equally upright, though the shoot University. This or that is taught in order to improve 

 is pendulous when young. Perhaps if a tree raised from i the mental faculties ; and if in addition we can super- 

 a cutting be cut down to the ground, it will afterwards add a little information that may be either pleasurable 



er useful through life, we need not care for the stric- 

 tures of those who condemn what they do not compre- 

 hend. That our populations are woefully in need of 

 better education than most of them receive is now 



grow symmetrical. Cuttings of Araucaria excelsa will 

 make trees thus, otherwise they are quite one-sided. 



* R 



Village Instruction. — Months have passed, and I have 

 not been able to devote a thought to the fulfilment of a 

 half promise I made you, of saying something on this 

 subject, as an appendage to what I stated about 

 u village excursions." And, after all, I feel myself ill 

 qualified for saying much on the subject of village 

 education, for my experience does not extend beyond 

 the management of an ordinary village school, of about 

 SO children, all under 14, over which there presides a 

 mistress, not regularly trained to her duties. My friend 

 Dawes, the present Dean of Hereford, has shown us all 

 what may be done for our villages, provided a fair start 

 can be made, with sufficient accommodations for a corn- 



become a trite observation, and if your readers will 

 refer to a pamphlet or two, that have lately been 

 written by Mr. Zincke, they will see sufficient reason 

 for wishing that the plan suggested by Mr. Dawes 

 could be carried out in every village in the kingdom. 

 J. S. Hmslow, Hitcham^ April 28. 



Studding Walls. — I did not see your Paper of the 

 19th ult. until late last week, or I would have u obliged" 

 " David " earlier, by stating that wall studs, if I under- 

 stood the information referred to by me at page 230 

 aright, injure trees by presenting objects against which 

 their branches maim themselves, as they advance in 



petent teacher. He has so fully discussed the merits j growth and acquire comparatively immovable positions; 

 of the case, that it would be idle for me to add my and further, they were discarded because found to be 

 inferior experience, except, perhaps, in a single point, I far from "efficient," particularly in training young 

 on which 1 will venture to say a word or two. The] trees. I am not aware that I am at liberty to refer 

 plan of questioning children on a variety of topics, and publicly to the establishment alluded to at page 246, but 

 giving them occasional information in the way which ] if " David " will let me take his name and address at 



the post-office, Bedford, I will give him privately the 

 name of such establishment. J. T^ Bedford, April 29. 



The Calceolaria.— In an article on tins flower, at page 

 262, by " AL P/' it is stated, that, the plan of propa- 

 gating by seed is undoubtedly the best. In this I beg to 



the Dean of Hereford has 





suggested, is probably 

 familiar to many of the clergy, though few may have 

 carried it to the extent which he proposes — one plan 

 leads to another, and the establishment of horticultural 

 shows in connection with an allotment system lately 

 introduced here, gave me the idea of teaching our school 

 children the names of our Hitcham wild flowers, and 

 pointing out the leading distinctions between the several 

 families to which they belong. I began last June by 

 fixing narrow stands across the end of the school- 

 room, in which were placed vials filled with water, 

 and before them the names of all our wild flowers 

 systematically arranged. The children were directed 

 to bring all they could find in flower and the stands | none oftT^^ 

 were soon filled. I found they eagerly caught up the ' that for general 

 plan, and soon became familiar with the chief families, seedlings is not 

 so as to be able to recognise a plant belonging to them 



differ from the writer ; I consider that the method of 

 propagating by cuttings possesses a decided superiority 

 over seed ; for whatever object the plants are grown, 

 whether for internal or external decoration, it is indis- 

 pensable that the colours of the flowers should be bright, 

 distinct, and well contrasted. Now it must be evident 

 to every one, who has had much experience in the raising 

 of seedlings, that the majority are worthless, possessing 



when first presented to their notice. This year nothing 

 seems to escape them ; and every child who first brings 

 a fresh flower enters it with the date when gathered 

 and I have already had two added to my hitherto 

 known stock. In order to assist them in this pursuit 



be fraught 



adoption, the practice of raising 



to be commended, as it' will only 



with disappointment to those who 



I have printed our list, of which I enclose you a copy 

 and I propose drawing up brief descriptions sufficient 



have but limited means at command. Of course, these 

 remarks do not apply to those who have abundant faci- 

 lities, and who cultivate with a special view to the raising 

 of improved varieties. I consider that an intermediate 



shift is better than to transfer tlie plant from small pots 

 into their flowering ones, as the plants are impatient, at 



were last year discussing the question of establishing sorbin* ™™tw «J ;i .JS^SS 



an English nomenclature for Botany, and it seemed 



to be your conclusion, that it would not be 



expedient to form one for all plants, in which I perfectly 



agree. But it seems to me very expedient to establish 



an English nomenclature for our British plants ; and so 



far as our Hitcham wild flowers are concerned I have 



sorbing properties are m 

 state. There is another 

 "M. P.'s" 



their ab- 



dormant 

 I think 

 that of 



attempted this in the list now forwarded. 



a comparatively 

 point in which 

 system of . culture is behind 

 many of the cultivators of the present day ; and that 

 is, in the omission of watering with liquid manure 



well diluted with water • thia fa «n^ «4 ±u~ mos t 



with water; this is one of the 



ned 1 Have essential features of a system producing a very high 



of the orders are chosen from your "Vegetal As soon as the roots have 



dom," and the genera and species selected" chiefly from 

 Hooker's and Arnott's recent edition of the " English 



In tins work two or more names are given to 



Flora." 



o - r"'" uvi ^o^vuu a** cue roots nave 



reached the sides of the pots, applications of liquid 

 manure should be resorted to once a week, and 



the same genus, and I have consequently been obliged 

 to select one ; and in some cases to deviate from the 

 name given to the species. I could wish to aee a com- 

 mittee of botaui.ts established for set ng definitively 

 an English nomenclature for all our British plants so 



placed under the pots, kept constantly partially filled 

 with the same ; the result of this will be remarkably 

 healthy foliage and noble flowers, far surpassing in 

 beauty those which have had no such assistance, though 

 grown m precisely the same soil. Syringing, though 

 requisite „to produce sufficient atmospheric humidity 



is of very little utility in preserving the plants from 



fu. ^ 



two evenings m succession, at inter*.,. , 

 weeks or a month. W. Runley, Cka £*£ 

 Penny Banks.— Can you answer T™* 

 may benefit gardeners' boys. It « J^ J**** *4 

 banks have been lately e^tablisneS « d ^ ** 

 viceable. A benevolent lady in thklLv 

 anxious to promote one, but can get no 703? 

 tion on the subject. If you coufd ^^ 



publications on thi* riiV^ q «± * . c an J 





capable 



H 



much oblige. I doltot mean ^vS^^J* ^i 



lank _ 

 A Curiosity.— yy t> nave received thk m i 

 iswer among Notices to Corespondent^!*** 



*ery reason ti ff 



exhibitions. 



A n y practice man quite Ab%m-r\ 



Crop from Sun or air I hope you were not affrL't^SS* 

 few lines I Sent Coneernmg the Steakin* of^L^SS** 

 make there Apperance or immediateley after W t^ 1 * 

 he the most experiensed gardener in Ene»laiTrf In *fc!* 

 us to Stick pea* Before the Ar Sown. iSn!?* 

 to DUBud tor this last 20 years and one of the w J? 



SS^P r paper for A sltuatiou ' jour *«**5i 



HoitTI CULTURAL ANNIVERSARY, Jlfoyl.^jj 



Esq., in the chair. The annual report of the ( *2 

 and Auditors was, read. It was resolved na^J? 

 that this report be adopted. It was prepoa^TS? 

 Charlwood, and seconded by Mr. Gleadinrin/ fc 

 the Council take into consideration, it tbTtrib! 

 possible opportunity, the expediency of th? 

 Fellows to obtain any number of tickets tfc Ji J 

 each, up to some given period antecedent to fc «■£ 



It was also proposed by Mr. a hs3 

 and seconded by Mr. Matyear, that the ConJ5 

 wise take into their consideration the expe&gttf 

 allowing Fellows personal admission, with tiicik^i 

 the gardens on Sunday afternoons, -subject to so* » 

 strictions as might be considered necessary. The hit 

 for Council and officers then took place, when Sir P. | 

 Egerton, Bart., M.P., Sir C. Lemon, Bart., MJr\* 

 Dr. Royle, were elected new Members ofCasii 

 the room of Dr. Daniell, J. E. Denison, Esq*, MJ. 

 and R. S. Holford, Esq. The Duke of Devonshire 

 elected President ; J. R. Giowen, Esq., Treasurer ;i| 

 Dr. Royle, Secretary. S. F. Gray, and C. Lodfa 

 Esqrs., were appointed Auditors for the ensuing jm 



Royal Hobticdltosai. of Iceland.— [We finding Ml 

 Commercial Journal and Family Berald, the following ofcu- 

 diuary statement. The italics are ours.]— The Spring &mi 

 this Society took piace on Tuesday, ut the Rotuofr, !fc 

 weather was highly favourably, and the visitors ounomai 

 most fashionably, notwithstanding an unwortby uul «fc 

 attempt to prejudice the attendance by in adyertisemot km 

 the *' Royal Horticultural Improvement Society." Tktimh 

 of greenhouse plants urns gorgeous ; in the list-tf prize** 

 particularise. The horticultural productions wmwnt*'* 

 deed, but ice missed some of tlie contributions tojlorMfmm, 

 which was a serious drawback indeed. The Hyacinth eta 

 was admirably contested. His excellency the Lord Lie** 

 and the Countess of Clarendon and sotte honoured tfo Edi- 

 tion about 3 o'clock, and were accompanied by Lord JtaA 

 J. R. Weld, Esq., C. P. Croker, Esq., ja.P., George RoiJiJ, 

 J. M. Cbaytor, Esq., J. W. Lane, Esq., Sir George 

 Bart., <fcc. [Are we to infer from this, that 

 plants consisted of the Lord Lieutenant and his suite 



Botanical of Edinburgh, April 10.— The ft** 

 in the chair. Several donations were announced. » 

 M«Nab exhibited a stem of Statice arborea, few » 

 Syme's garden at Millbank, nearly 1| inch* « 

 together with a specimen of the stem of CaxyofW 



which had been cut down last y ear ^.; b /r^i 

 Garden. The same gentleman also e3dubited,w» 

 garden of Dr. Neill, an example of GentomJ* 

 lull Mower, in a pot. The patch was 8 inches ina^ 

 and the number of flowers was 106. A ffff?*C 

 of what is now generally cultivated m tftiMF^ 

 under the name of Bryanthus erectus was w 

 The original plant was produced, during ^-l^ 



(Menziesii) *p*{ 



»*\r 



fertilised with the pollen of Wwdodenton , 

 cistus. This mule has therefore been "^Tp^ 

 generic name which it is not entitled to (see 

 "Flower Garden," No. VII., Sept., 18a0j. " u 

 ever, exceedingly beautiful and flowers , J» M 

 the open border during the months ot w» /^ 

 and is one of the few instances we bave « ^ 

 raised between two distinct genera, lne TL,«nie 

 munications were read :— 1. On a sa W?*\jM.A 

 of Rubus. By i\ J. A. Hort, Esq., ^JJf^J.l 

 Notice of Narcissus (Ajax) lobulars H*£ ^ 

 Syme, Esq. Dr. Balfour read » # canffl"«» rf # 

 Dr. Duncan, on the supposed po 18000 "!!,^ * 

 eeeds of Abrus precatorius. This COJDn ™ hrs fa* 

 reference to the case of three cldhlren m a^ _> 

 after swallowing some of the seeds o ^ 



rius, well known as the red West Injan ^ 

 black specks on them, had been attache a ^ m 

 giddiness, and other symptoms of P 01S0 " "Woon,* 

 had been swallowed about three m tne . % # 



the symptoms developed themselves i aw» « $p 

 evening. Under the use of emetics ttie cuu ^ 

 covered. It was remarked, that ^Si P* £ 

 of opinion exists, as to the qualities <» » ^m 

 M'Fadyen, in his « Flora of J aroa, f* !/• *h* J 

 are merely indigestible, and not po»»*a» ^ ^ # 

 Lindiev and others state that they Denwb 









