640 Obituary^ Literary Notice. 



at, any future period suffer from intense frost. It is lamentable to witness the 

 havoc that is made through the intensity of last winter : there are doubtless 

 many thousands of evergreens irretrievably lost, and there are vast numbers 

 but partially injured, having only their leaves and a part of their branches 

 killed. The question, therefore, which I should like to see discussed, refers 

 to the latter. It has been the practice of many gardeners, under similar cir- 

 cumstances, to let the dead leaves and parts of branches remain, until it be 

 seen from what parts of the tree or shrub fresh shoots are protruding, and 

 then to cut back accordingly. Now, the question is, whether or not it would 

 be the better way to at once divest the plant of, at least, its dead leaves ; and, 

 should the question " Do decaying leaves absorb, and assist in evaporating, the 

 sap of the plant," be answered with truth in the affirmative, all doubts upon 

 the subject would be obviated, as, in that case, the sooner the dead leaves 

 are removed the better, — T. Rutger. 63. Portland Place, April 3. 1838. 



Art. V. Obituary. 



Died, at MoncriefFe House, February 7., Mr. John Mitchell, gardener, in 

 his 77th year. His attentive and faithful services secured him the confidence 

 of the honourable family with whom he so long resided. The extent of his 

 practical knowledge, and the urbanity of his manner, made him respected by 

 all of the same profession in many and distant parts of the country ; whilst 

 his unaffected piety, and kindly disposition, endeared him to his family and 

 neighbourhood. He was considered the oldest servant in his profession, 

 imder the same family, of any in Perthshire. (^Perthshire Advertiser, Feb. 

 28. 1838.) 



The above was sent us by our valuable correspondent, Mr. Cameron, on 

 Oct. 6. ; who expresses surprise that some of our Perthshire correspondents 

 had not anticipated him. Mr. Mitchell, he says, was reckoned a first-rate 

 gardener in his day ; he was held high in estimation by the Caledonian Hor- 

 ticultural Society, who awarded him many prizes for various productions, 

 exhibited at different times. About thirty years ago, there was a very select 

 collection of stove and green-house plants, which were well grown, at Mon- 

 crieffe House. Mr. Mitchell also excelled in growing carnations, and raised 

 many good sorts from seeds. These he used to ripen by placing his plants on 

 the top of the stage of his circular green-house. Mr. Murray, of the Glasgow 

 Botanic Garden ; Mr. Forbes, Woburn Abbey ; and Mr, Shillinglaw, Duplin ; 

 with many other good gardeners, were pupils of Mr. Mitchell. — D. Cameron. 

 Bot. Gard., Birmingham, Oct. 6. 1838. 



Art. VI. Literary Notice. 



The Ladies' Floiuer-Garden of Ornamental Annuals, by Mrs. Loudon, will 

 be published on January 1. 1839, by W. Smith, 1 13. Fleet Street. This work will 

 appear in monthly numbers, and will be completed in one volume 4to. Each 

 number will contain three lithographed coloured plates ; each plate containing a 

 group of three or four annual flowers of the natural size, by the same artists as 

 those employed on the Floral Cabinet. The letterpress will be arranged on the 

 same plan as that of the Arboretum Britannicum, and will include a full account 

 of all the annual flowers cultivated in British gardens; distinguishing such as 

 are truly ornamental, from the numerous sorts that scarcely deserve culture. 



END OF THE FOURTEENTH VOLUME. 



London : Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square. 



