170 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct'k. 



shoots 18 inches long on the English elm, two successive years after % 

 being felled, and 12 inches on the ash and oak — and in 1850 I saw^/ 

 large poles of ailanthus standing on end against a south wall with 

 shoots six, eight, ten, and twelve inches long, and plenty of them. 

 They had to find out the reservoirs where the sap was kept in readi- 

 ness, when their "roots were cut off." 



In concluding allow me to point out a small tithe of the advan- 

 tages of a more extended study of vegetable Physiology. To young 

 gardeners it is invaluable, leading them to a knowledge of the prin- 

 ciples on which their practice rests, the reasons why their operations 

 are in their various ways conducted, and thus opening the way to all 

 kinds of improvements benefitting themselves and their cause. To 

 the amateur or patron, and the lover of nature, it unfolds innumera- 

 ble sources of "the purest mental enjoyment — while to the general 

 philosopher, it may often afford the material for many useful discov- 

 eries, fraught with advantage to natural science in its various branches 

 and consequently to the human race. 



Thomas Meehan. 



Aspects of Agriculture in Great Britain. 



BY F. W. CONNOR, DUBLIN. 



I promised to write you a few notes from time to time on the state 

 of agriculture with us, as no doubt it is a matter of some importance 

 to your readers to know how we manage to keep afloat with high rents 

 and a potato disease still continuing. Since my last the general elec- 

 tions changed but little the aspect of parties as regards the principle of 

 protection. The country failed to reverse its former testimony to any 

 extent, leaving the protectionist party in almost as unsettled a posi- 

 tion as they occupied previous to the appeal to the country. Strong 

 feelings were evidently evinced by both parties not at all creditable 

 to the usual coolness of John Bull. The most important feature is 

 the successful issue of the harvest which after all is of more moment 

 than all their electioneering contests. Flax and green crops generally 

 have had a propitious season, but the unfortunate potato has again 

 failed to a great extent. The disease having returned in its most 

 virulent form, carried off more than half the crop. For some time 

 past and indeed we may say for the future, potato culture may be 

 considered as nothing less than gambling — as the result is almost as 

 uncertain. 



The meetings of the several Agricultural societies have been pro- 

 ductive of much renewed interest. At one meeting at Lewes, in 

 Sussex 44 prizes were given for implements, varying from $20 to 

 $200. Drilling and threshing machines attracted a large share of 

 attention. Some of the latter of from 2 to 8 horse power were ex- 

 hibited. Much improvement has been effected in the breed of pigs, 

 both in the large and small kind. We are becoming quite connois- 

 seurs in our regards for this section of the farm animals, and the ef- 

 fect* are already visible. Indeed we are becoming quite a pork con- 

 suming people. In the poultry line beautiful specimens of the 



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