l.EYDEX. 157 



(181C). The bunch still remained on the plant, and, as 

 we were told, had not undergone much change in colour or 

 appearance ; it seemed to consist exclusively of male flow-, 

 ers. 



Last year, also, an American aloe (Agave Americana) 

 flowered here ; and as this is a rarity in the north of Eu-, 

 rope, and more particularly in Scotland, we felt gratified 

 in having an opportunity to see even the dried stalk, about 

 fifteen feet high, remaining on the plant, and still support, 

 ing some of the decayed flowers. This specimen of the 

 American aloe is about fifty years old \ and it seems pro-, 

 bable that it will never entirely recover from the effort of 

 flowering, 



Among the green-house plants now set abroad on the 

 sides of the walks, we remarked an African Bladder-nut 

 tree (Rayena lucida), of large size, and evidently of con- 

 siderable age. Few of our British specimens exceed six or 

 eight feet in height ; but this one, measuring from the bot- 

 tom of the tub in which it grew, was about sixteen feet 

 high. In another box near by, stood a fine specimen of what 

 the gardener called Laurus orientah c, about ten feet in 

 height ; — perhaps the Willow-leaved variety of L. nobilis ? 

 A strong inclination is shewn in this garden to bring to-* 

 gether in one spot and at one view all the plants belonging 

 to a particular tribe, or such as form natural groups. Thus, 

 there is a separate semicircular house, or compartment of a 

 house, appropriated to the Aloe tribe ; and the collection 

 of these is very considerable. The specimens of Aloe fe- 

 rox, or Hedge-hog aloe, are particularly large and remark- 

 able in appearance \ having been first brought hither from 

 the Gape many years ago. It may be remarked, that a 

 great proportion of the aloe plants are set forth in the open 

 fn> during the summer months, and that this free exposure 



