2 FAMILIAR GAliBEN FLUIVEUS. 



west coast;, he describes the forests and the vegetation 

 as rejiresenting tin equable climate^ somewhat colder gene- 

 rally than that of places corresponding in latitude in the 

 northern hemisphere. He says : " In Chiloe (corresjjonding 

 in latitude with the northern jjarts of Spain) the jieach 

 seldom jiroduces fruity whilst strawberries and app)les thrive 

 to perfection. Even the crops oi barley and wheat are 

 often lirought into the houses to be dried and ripened. At 

 Vsildivia (in the same latitude of 40'^ with Madrid) grapes 

 and figs ripen, but are not common ; olives seldom ripen 

 even partially, and oranges not at all. . . Although the 

 humid and equalile clitnate of Chiloe, and of the coast north- 

 ward and southward of it, is so unfa\'ourable to our fruits, 

 yet the native forests, from lat. 45'-' to 38'"', almost rival in 

 luxuriance those of the glowing inter -trojucal regions." 



From the foregoing extract it will be understood that 

 Darwin's Ijarberry as a garden plant is particularly adapted 

 for our western counties. Such is, indeed, the fact ; but, 

 happily, it thrives to perfection in the near neighbourhood 

 of London and far away northward, always best in a moist 

 air, wdtli shelter from east winds, and in a deej), moist, 

 mellow soil, but whether this be (-)f peat or loam seems of 

 little consequence. One of the most enjoyable features of 

 a garden we have ever worked out is our barberry pilot, tlie 

 plants being in beds of peat on a large half -shaded lawn, 

 and comprising all the species and varieties of the genus 

 Jjerberi.'i that are known as sufficiently hardy for the climate 

 of Lfindon ; and amongst these the glistening Berheris 

 iJarwiiii is conspicuous for its beauty, although, as attrac- 

 tive plants, the elegant B. sletiophijlht and the dwarf and 

 distinct B. fjluinacen compete with it for praise, and are 

 found to obtain a share. 



