606 Notice of a Visit to Bicton Gardens. 



wooded plants ; although many practical men are aware I have been in the 

 practice, tor years, of giving plants very extensive shifts : how else could it be 

 possible to have plants growing in a small 60-sized pot, and the same plants in 

 a few months large specimens in a No. 1- or 2-sized pot, amongst lumps of soil 

 and stones larger than a 60-sized pot itself? For my own part 1 shall always 

 shift a plant, if possible, when it requires it. 



Mr. Ayres, in his Weekly Calendar to the Amateur, in the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, in the beginning of this sunimer, makes an observation on the use 

 of charcoal. He says, " I attribute my whole success in plant-growing to the 

 use of it ; " observing that the charcoal I make use of is all made from 

 vegetable refuse. Possibly, if Mr. Ayres should happen to read my method 

 of plant-growing for the next year, he will discover there is something else 

 besides charcoal used by me ; and that I find charcoal made from an old gate 

 post, for different purposes, answers as well as other vegetable refuse. Although 

 it has not exactly the merits of Old Parr's or Morison's pills, I hope never 

 to be without it for plant, fruit, or vegetable growing. 



Bicton Gardens, Sept. 20. 1843. 



Art. VIIT. Notice of a Visit to Bicton Gardens, in October, 1843. 

 By Thomas Bray, Gardener to E, B. Lousada, Esq. 



I HAVE been in the habit of visiting the noble gardens at Bicton for the last 

 six years. A few days since I visited Mr. Barnes, the gardener, and I found 

 him just in the act of cutting two Queen pine-apples. As they were such 

 handsome fruit, I beg to forward you the dimensions, weight, &c., of them. 





Weight. 



Length. 



Circumf. 



Length of Crown. 



Length of Stalk. 



1st. 



61b. 2oz. 



11 in. 



18 in. 



2 in. 



Sin. 



2d. 



5 lb. 7 oz. 



lOiin. 



17 in. 



2 in. 



Sin. 



A third not cut, but equally handsome, and regularly swollen. These are 

 not singular, nor any novelty there ; for at all seasons of the year fine pines are 

 to be seen at Bicton. Mr. Barnes thinks he will improve, even on these ; 

 for he picks out some fault himself in every thing he produces ; and, judging 

 from the extraordinarily robust, healthy, and vigorous succession pine plants 

 he has, I think he is going a fair way to improve. 



I can only say, all the other houses, and every department, are in equally 

 good keeping, and fully bear out all that has been said of them this last year in 

 your valuable Magazine. I have observed in the present month's Magazine 

 it is likely we shall soon see Mr. Barnes's method of pine-growing. It ap- 

 pears to me so different from all others, that it is likely to cause a greater 

 sensation amongst pine-growers generally than any thing before produced; 

 and I am sure it will be viewed with much interest. In every house you go 

 through at Bicton there are some novelties to be seen : the orange, camellia. 

 New Holland, and heath-houses, have all rare specimens, in the most vigor- 

 ous condition. The extraordinary specimen of Erica. Masson?', I must say, is 

 at this time truly grand, with upwards of 300 heads of its beautiful wax-like 

 flowers expanded. It is worth going any distance to see. 



In the large palm-house, with its noble and interesting plants, I ob.served at 

 this time in fruit four varieties of Musa ; viz,, M. Cavendish/i, M. Dacca, 

 M. sapientum, and M. paradisiaca. A noble plant of Doryanthes excelsa 

 has lately been in flower, and there are many other equally fine plants. 



The orchideous, stove, greenhouse, and conservatory plants are all equally 

 healthy ; and in each house there are many beautiful and rare specimens. 



The vinery I must not forget, which, in ray humble opinion, far surpasses 

 every thing grown in the way of grapes, with its fine handsome bunches and 



