180 
ON THE CULTURE OP VARIOUS SPECIES OF STAR-APPLE. 
of appearance was preserved by raking the loamy earth to a little depth over 
the black soil. Every other operation being attended to according to time and season, 
the plants flourished, grew, blossomed, and produced a charming effect for years. 
Between Hampstead and London, about Haverstock-hill, numbers of Bhodo- 
dendrons were seen a few years since growing in the nursery grounds and little 
gardens in front of the villas. They appeared in good health, although the soil was 
a strong and clodding loam, resembling brick earth. The observation was casually 
made at the time, but it accords with remarks which have been frequently made. 
Mr. Gow, from whose paper so much has been extracted, distinctly stated it to be 
his opinion that American plants, usually grown in peat, “ will grow and thrive even 
in clay, and perfectly well in loam if it be well trenched, and a portion of leaf-mould 
and of the scrapings off roads be mixed with it, the shrubs being planted from the 
second week of August to the beginning of December, in the neighbourhood of large 
trees, so as to be benefited by their shade.” He includes Kalmias, Azaleas, Andro- 
medas, Vacciniums, and Cistuses. We can attest that in the high woody lands and 
banks of Cleifden domain, Bucks, hundreds of self-sown seedling Rhododendrons 
flourished equally as the laurel. 
It is urgently recommended to all persons who desire to cultivate Rhododendrons 
extensively^ to raise the stock from seeds. The mode is a cheap one, and the variety 
obtained is almost endless as to shape, size, and colour, both of the leaves and flowers, 
particularly the latter. The seeds are sown in February, upon a gentle hotbed. 
We make no apology for thus trespassing upon the communication of an able and 
practical man. Fifteen years have elapsed since publicity was given to his article, 
and though many professional gardeners may have been and are equally skilful and 
fortunate, there have arisen thousands of amateurs who could not have met with the 
article, and to whom the information thus extracted from it may prove extremely 
valuable. We unfortunately know but little of causes, and are still in great doubt 
concerning the agency of earths, and of the decomposable substances with which they 
are and can be combined. Hence the necessity of enlarged experiments, and the 
careful observation and registry of results. As organic chemistry extends its analytic 
inquiries, we may perhaps arrive at some discoveries which will lead to general 
principles and the adoption of precise modes of practice. 
ON THE CULTURE OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF STAR-APPLE. 
The Cainito or Common Star- Apple, is the ChrysopJiyllum Cainito of Linnseus, 
and the Sideroxylon Pacurero of Loefling. It is a native of the West Indian Islands, 
and various parts of the continent of America within the Tropics, and belongs to 
the natural order Sajootacex, or Sapotads of Lindley’s Vegetable Kingdom. 
In its native country it grows to a tree fifty or sixty feet high, forming a large 
wide-spreading head. Bark reddish-brown. Branches spreading, covered with a 
