HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 79 



of 150 varieties of that noble family, the Erica, which are exclusively grown 

 in peat with a small mixture of turfy loam; he also uses liberally peat char- 

 coal and white sand. I have never since seen any collection superior in lux- 

 uriance of growth or of bloom. The peat is obtained from that part of the 

 mountain where the heath grows, and the sods are piled in a heap for twelve 

 months before using. 



A few of the varieties which I most admired were Hartnellii, which pro- 

 duces a profusion of red flowers, and possesses the property of blooming twice 

 a year; Archeriana, which I never saw at any time lack its dozens of beau- 

 tiful scarlet clusters ; Propendens, a highly esteemed favorite, bearing in 

 spring its fragrant purple bells in great profusion— one called hybrida, with 

 tubular glistening red blossoms, deserves especial notice ; Westphalingia, 

 bright crimson,— most of the ventricosas; Bothwelliana, the best specimen I 

 have ever seen, its flowers resembling ven. grandiflora; Cavendishii and de- 

 pressa, splendens, ampullacea superba; Masonii, perspicua nana ; triumph- 

 ans, Shannonii, and almost endless variety of fine sorts. In a visit which I 

 lately paid to the nursery of Mr. Menand, I was much gratified by the healthy 

 appearance of his fine young specimens of this family, which are the founda- 

 tion, I don't doubt, of something astonishing — even so much as Chiswick 

 specimens. 



Both the kitchen and flower gardens at Lismore are remarkable for their 

 tasteful and peculiar construction, with winding walks and lofty trees; and 

 well worthy of notice is the " dark ivalk" so called from the fact that the 

 brightest rays of the sun cannot penetrate the densely leaved arcade of Yew 

 trees, the growth of centuries. 



Along the south walls in the pleasure grounds are planted all the fine va- 

 rieties of tea and china roses, besides a large collection of beautiful climbers, 

 such as Clianthus puniceus and Glycine sinensis; some fine Magnolias, the 

 finest Coral tree I ever saw, two extraordinary Yuccas, var. gloriosa,. which 

 recently threw up spikes of flowers 17 feet from the ground. An Acacia 

 afiinis stands 30 feet high, an Araucaria imbricata not less than 12 ft. high. 

 I once had the pleasure of showing a gentleman from New York around this 

 establishment, and many times did he sigh for some such places in America, 

 and so do I — but as the inclemency of our winters wont permit such rarities 

 to live out of doors, let our gentlemen of sufficient means imitate my employ- 

 er, in the erection of glass, and then we can have the pleasure of their beau- 

 tiful appearance. Let our ladies also warmly advocate the cause, as it is 

 only a natural circumstance that the gentlemen should listen to their solici- 

 tations, and thereby evince that zeal which no tasteful mind should lack. 



Maurice Walsh, 

 gr. to E. Corning ', Jr. Esq., Albany. 



