52 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ January 20, 1863. 



It has been in the garden at Tregullow near Scorrier, 

 Cornwall, about thirty-two years. 



Four years ago, another was obtained, which turned out to be 

 a male. They were allowed to roam in the garden at their 

 will. 



In 1860 some eggs were found, but from insufficient heat they 

 were not hatched. 



About the 25th July last, the gardener on passing a south 

 border observed the female tortoise making a pit with her hind 

 leg6 in a very peculiar manner. On watching her he found she 

 had made a hole some 4 incheB deep, quite flat at the bottom. On 

 returning in about five minutes, he found she had deposited 

 six eggs, and was in the act of covering them with earth. He 

 immediately removed them in a flower-pot stand, about 2 inches 

 deep, filled with white sand, to a pine-pit, and placed them on 



a tan bed. On the 16th of October following, he observed tw> 

 of the eggs had been hatched, and on looking around, he found,, 

 much to his astonishment, two young live tortoises. 



The eggs are about the size and appearance of those of a. 

 pigeon. 



The young ones are kept in a pine-pit in a wooden box, with, 

 some earth and moss, under which they nestle, they are fond of 

 lettuces and strawberries, but do not eat much ; they appear 

 quite well and lively, moving about briskly, and are now (January 

 10th) a little larger than a half-crown. 



The eggs were not disturbed while in the pine-pit, the tem- 

 perature of which, during the time they were there, was from 

 85° to 90" by day, and from 65° to 70° at night. 



The female measures 12 incheB long, by 12i inches wide ;. 

 the male 8 inches long, by 8J inches wide, each over the back. 



OENAMENTAL PLANTS 



1. Roupellia geata (Agreeable Roupellia). — This beautiful 

 stove climber is an evergreen. It belongs to the natural order 

 Apocynaceae, and to Pentandria Monogynia of the Linnsean 



system. It is a native of Sierra Leone, and produces in May 

 its white fragrant flowers in cymes at the ends of the side shoots. 

 It is known as the Cream Fruit of tropical Africa. 



2. Escaiiokia maceantha (Large-flowered Escallonia). — 

 This handsome hardy evergreen shrub is of a genus which gives 

 a name to the natural order Escalloniaceee, and it also belongs to 

 Pentandria Monogynia of Linnseus. It is a native of the cold 

 districts of Chili. Its terminal corymbs of purplish-crimson 

 tubular flowers open in June. 

 3. Dipladenia TJEOrHYiLA (Tail-leaved DipladeniaJ. — A 



stove evergreen shrub of the natural order Apocynacea?, and- 

 Pentandria Monogynia of Linnams. It is a native of the Organ 

 Mountains in Brazil. Its leaves terminate in a long point, 

 whence it obtained its specific name. In June its racemes of 

 flowers open; they are long, funnel-shaped, creamy outside, 

 yellow within, spreading into a five-lobed salmon-coloured 

 limb. 



