ENGHIEN. 331 



whether that- of the hot-house, greenhouse, or open air ; 

 the mode of propagation, whether by seed, dividing the 

 roots, layering, budding, or grafting by approach; and- 

 lastly, he even indicates the soil best adapted for the plant: 

 this last object he accomplishes by making A signify two- 

 thirds light garden-mould, with one-third moor or heath 

 soil ; B, one-third garden-mould, with two-thirds heath 

 soil ; and C, bog or heath soil, with a considerable inter- 

 mixture of sand *. 



For more than twenty years past, Mr Parmentier has 

 devoted himself to the cultivation of plants. Even since the 

 peace of 1814, he has introduced more than a thousand 

 species which were never before seen in the Low Countries. 

 He has raised from seeds sent to him by the celebrated tra- 

 veller Baron Humboldt, several curious plants, besides the 

 pine already mentioned : specimens of these he has furnish- 

 ed to the Jardin des Plantes at Paris, and to the Botanic 

 Garden at Berlin. At Brussels, there are no facilities for 

 the publication of figures or descriptions of nondescript 

 exotics ; and this disadvantage is very sensibly felt by so 

 zealous a cultivator as Mr Parmentier -f*. 



• In the summer of 1819, M. Mary, a nephew of the Mayor, visited 

 Edinburgh ; and on that occasion we received from him, both a printed copy 

 of his uncle's catalogue, and of a small but valuable statistical work, enti- 

 tled, " Expose succinct des products du regne vegetal et animal dans le Canton 

 d'Enghien." This work is divided into two parts. In the first MrParmentier 

 treats of the general state of husbandry, the soil, the crops, &c. and the ani- 

 mals reared : In the second, of the products, vegetable and animal, and their 

 respective values. The minutely accurate local knowledge which he displays 

 in this work, along with enlarged views, where these can be introduced, 

 prove him to be one of the most intelligent of magistrates that any country 

 can possess. 



-j- Till lately, the cultivators of curious plants in Scotland laboured under 

 the same disadvantages. The great distance prevented the sending of new 



