12 
METHOD OF NATURALISING PLANTS. 
" Sucli are the cliaiiges which go on in the dead plant. That mysterious agent, 
Life, is able, by its peculiar power, to control and overcome tlie chemical attrac- 
tions which tend to produce these changes, and retains these elements in that state 
of combination best adapted for the performance of their proper functions : at th^ 
moment, however, in which life ceases to superintend the exercise of these functions, 
they cease, and the chemical attractions, no longer restrained by the vital prin- 
ciple, obtain full sway. The carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, formerly existing in 
the state of wood, bark, leaves, fruit, or seeds, obey the laws of chemistry, return 
to the state of carbonic acid, water, or inflammable gas, mix with the earth and 
atmosphere, afford nutriment to new plants, again form leaves, flowers, and all 
the beautiful and diversified organs of the vegetable creation — again wither and 
decay, and return to the soil to supply new generations, and continue the same 
series of unceasing revolutions." 
A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF NATURALISING NEW HOLLAND 
PLANTS, &c. 
We trust the following remarks, the favour of a correspondent, will be useful 
to such of our horticultural brethren, who may be interested in the subject of 
acclimatising or naturalising plants :— - 
" Having for the last ten years annually introduced to the pleasure-ground 
such of my New Holland plants as I judged most ornamental, it may not prove 
uninteresting to notice my mode of enabling them to resist the winter. I prefer 
the month of March to any other, making sure that vegetation shall not take place 
before they are planted out ; I then support each plant with four or five stakes, 
reaching to the top in an angular position. Thus surrounding them from bottom 
to top with hay-ropes, — not too close ; I then cover the surface for several feet 
round with fine sand to prevent the frost from entering : having succeeded in this 
way the first winter, they fearlessly encounter every succeeding winter, and vie 
with our common laurels. — Amongst those alluded to the following are a few : — 
Vistea Lyccoides, 6 ft. by 12 in cireumfe- Laurus indica, 12 ft. by 18. 
rence. Hakea florida, 12 ft by 20. 
Hakia salig-na, 8 ft. Crataegus glabra. 18 ft. 
Fuchsia arborea, 9 ft. in flower. &c. &c. &c. 
''Ireland, October 12th, 1837." 
Being interested in this subject, we should be glad to receive lists of such New 
Holland plants, or any particulars connected with them, as have been brought with 
success to endure the open air. — Ed. 
