[31 ] 



IV. On Acclimatizing Plants at Biel, in East Lothian. In 

 a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. John Street, Gar- 

 dener to the Honourable Mrs. Hamilton Nesbitt. 



Read July 18, 1826. 



Sir, 



By your desire T send you my observations on, and account 

 of my practice in, acclimatizing exotic plants, in which it is 

 considered that I have been very successful. I have devoted 

 my best attention to this important subject, and have made 

 more progress than I even expected, during the ten years 

 in which I have been entrusted with the care of the flower 

 garden and pleasure grounds at this place. The following 

 observations, are the result of my own personal experience 

 and practice. In the summer of 1823, 1 communicated to the 

 Caledonian Horticultural Society a statement of several plants 

 which I had at that time succeeded in naturalizing, and which 

 is printed at page 393, of the third Volume of the Memoirs 

 of that Society. 



I find that poor, dry, and shallow earths and declivities are 

 particularly well adapted to preserve many plants through 

 the winter season. The quicker the superabundant fluid 

 passes away from their roots, the better. When excess of 

 rain or moisture, and severe frost happen nearly together, 

 plants generally suffer much more than by dry frost. If the 

 situation of the plants be dry, frost does not hurt them so 

 soon as if it be wet. Many kinds of plants certainly can en- 

 dure a more uncongenial climate or situation than their native 



