with a hoe, or draw a shallow drill with the plough, and draw the earth in, covering with the hoe, so that a small ridge may be formed over the seed, but do not beat it down. I am speaking on the assumption that the whole of this work be commenced in the beginning of March, as indicated in my previous communication. If all this be observed, the early potato will be plentiful enough about Dublin next summer. They have this year (1833) failed not only in acres, but in forces [? scores] of acres ; and persons here have, this season, had to replant all the ground with some one or other of the native kinds of potato: this is not the first year that they have missed here, but it seems they never before missed so completely as in this year. James Hart. Drumcondra, Dublin, July 10. 1833.

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A Norfolk Tankard Turnip grown in Ireland to the Weight of Thirty-six Pounds Avoirdupois. Sir, As a matter of curiosity, and to show you that we have both a fine climate, and a productive soil (indeed I do not remember ever seeing an old abbey or cathedral situated otherwise), I may mention that a turnip of the Norfolk tankard variety was pulled in this demesne, which weighed no less than 36lbs. avoirdupois. -J. Elles. Palace Gardens, Armagh, Dec. 4. 1832.

The propagating of Cabbages by Slips and Cuttings (p. 226.). -The first shoots only are applicable to such a purpose; the second run to seed. (Maund's Botanic Garden, June, 1833.) This fact, one of some consequence, is stated by Mr. Maund, on the cover of his number of the Botanic Garden for September, to be supplementary to the information on this subject in p. 126, 127., and to have been communicated to him by the author of that article, Peter Kendall, Esq.

A Melon Plant grown by the Author of the "Domestic Gardener's Manual," in soil which did not suit it (a puny plant, as we are informed), sent its roots through the wall of the pit, into a small cistern of water adjoining, and there produced what Dr. Keith calls the "fox-tail root." This is nothing more than what we should have expected with any other dicotyledonous fibrous-rooted plant, tree, or shrub, similarly circumstanced; but our ingenious and philosophic correspondent thinks it a proof that the melon is an aquatic or amphibious plant.- Cond.

Tagetes lucida, a half-hardy annual, the herb of which is delightfully fragrant when dried, is found to give vinegar very nearly the same high flavour as tarragon. This fact, which may be useful to those who, like ourselves, are fond of tarragon vinegar, was stated to us by W. Wells, Esq., of Redleaf, and we have since proved it ourselves. Cond.

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REVIEWS.

ART. I. Verhandlungen des Vereins zur Beförderung des Gartenbaues in den Königlich Preussischen Staaten. Transactions of the Society for the Advancement of Gardening in the Royal Prussian States. 4to, 2 Plates. Vol. V. Berlin, 1829.

(Continued from p. 96.)

10. Some Observations on the Culture of Alpine Plants.
By Dr. Link.

PLANTS are called alpine when their natural habitations are where trees cannot exist, such as the tops of mountains, or very high degrees of latitude. They are, however, often found in various low situations, where they flower and produce their seeds as well as in those higher regions; but this is always referable to the agency of wind or water, which convey the seeds from their original places of growth to the lower parts of the country. These plants will grow very well in a bed in the garden, the soil of which should consist of one part peat, one part leaf-mould, and two parts pasture ground, mixed with a little sand: the principal object of their culture, however, is moisture. The alpine plants, although they are in winter chiefly protected by snow in their native places, can stand very severe frosts, to which they are often exposed before the snow falls, or after it is melted. They are also not much injured by the heat of the sun. In their natural situation they are continually exposed to extreme changes; from severe frost during the night, to the burning rays of the sun and to tempests during the day. Artificial rockwork for the cultivation of these plants is of no other use than for ornament. The cultivation of alpine plants in pots is in so far preferable as it is easier to supply them with those advantages which they have in their wild state in winter they may be removed to a cool moist place, instead of exposing them to the dry frosts; in summer they can be kept moist, which is the most essential part in the cultivation of alpine plants.

11. On the Method to increase the Production of Vines, and to protect them from Spring Frosts. By Baron Kottwitz. The vine is manured with bullock's blood in autumn, and the shoots are laid down and covered with dry leaves; by

which they are protected against severe frosts, and also in the beginning of spring against those fine days which occasion their early vegetation. They are pruned in spring after the leaves are removed.

16. Some Observations on the Chestnut (Fàgus Castànea).

By M. Hansen.

The wood of the chestnut, he says, is of little value for firing or for building; but it is very durable in the ground, as much so as that of the best oaks. If used as casks for wine, it gives the liquor not only a beautiful colour, but also an agreeable flavour.

17. Description of the Imperial Garden at Nikita.

By Dr. von Steven.

This garden was laid out in the year 1812, during the time of the governor Duc de Richelieu. It is about half a German mile long and 500 fathoms broad, along the shore of the Black Sea. It was first designed for plants from warmer climates only, but now fruit trees are also cultivated in it to supply the increasing population.

18. Observations on the Growth of Plants during different Times of the Day. By M. Meyer, Director of the Botanic Garden at Königsberg, in Prussia.

To ascertain in what degree the different times of the day promote the growth of plants, M. Meyer occasioned a scape of Amaryllis Belladonna, well known to grow very rapidly, to be measured thrice a day, - at six o'clock in the morning, twelve at noon, and six in the evening. The thermometer was also observed, and the results are exhibited together in a table. This table shows that the plant grew in the day almost twice as much as during the night, which M. Meyer ascribes to the influence of light and warmth. He observes that the increase of the plant was proportional to the height of the temperature; but in what degree the light contributed to the growth could not well be ascertained. The entire deprivation of light would have lowered the temperature, and also injured the health of the plant, in which case the result of the observation could not be depended upon.

22. Some Observations on the Growth of Trees.
By Professor Reum.

After he has described his method of transplanting seedlings, &c., he recommends hard-shelled seeds of trees to be put in pots of sand or mould during the winter, which pre

VOL. IX..

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pares them for germination when sown in the following spring.

23. On Oxalis tetraphylla as an ornamental Plant, and as a Vegetable. By M. Witzel, Gardener.

This plant is used for ornament, especially for edgings. It is also very good used as sorrel, and the bulbs are almost like potatoes in flavour; the leaves, when mixed with New Zealand spinach, give it a peculiar and pleasant acid flavour. The plant is very easily cultivated; it grows almost in any soil, and increases its bulbs abundantly. If planted in a frame in spring, it may be obtained earlier.

24. Extract from the History of the Gardens at Wörlitz.

By M. Schoch, Gardener.

The gardens at Wörlitz are about six English miles in circumference, on a plain which is variously subdivided by canals for pleasure-boats. The whole, however, is subdivided into five different parts. Around the castle it is chiefly laid out in the English style, and contains a great number of various North American trees and shrubs, which were among those first introduced in Germany. In the years 1770-1774 another part was laid out on one of the islands in the garden, where a considerable piece of rockwork is erected in the form of a grotto. This is surrounded by fig trees, which in winter are bent into the interior of this grotto for protection against frost. In the centre of this mass of stones is a cavity for an artificial volcano, which, when displayed, affords a beautiful spectacle by the reflection from the artificial lake and canals. There is also a nursery for the supply of the gardens.

26. Account of Dreienbrunnen, near Erfurth. By Dr. Volker. This place has long been distinguished for the extensive culture of vegetables. The kitchen-gardens are variously crossed by trenches supplied with water by three large reservoirs, for the purpose of watering. This is performed with a sort of shovel, with which the water is spread over the beds. On the sides of these trenches water cresses are grown abundantly. Fruit trees are not much cultivated in these gardens, as they are considered injurious to the growth of the water cress.

27. On the Cultivation of Orange Trees. By M. Mertens, at Herrnhausen.

He re-pots his trees every sixteen or twenty-four years. The soil consists of two parts cow-dung, two parts loam, three parts rotten horse-dung, and three parts of the old soil from the pots. They are occasionally watered, and fresh

cow-dung is laid on the top of the soil every year as manure. The trees are pruned in September in preference to the pruning in spring, by which three or four weeks are lost in their growth.

30. Gleditschia hórrida recommended for Enclosures.

Young plants should be planted, one foot apart, in welltrenched soil. The first year they should be shortened to eight or twelve inches; in the second year to eighteen or twenty-four inches; and so on gradually to the height required. The lateral branches, if not required to fill up vacancies, are shortened to six inches. The hedge should be kept clean, and occasionally watered when newly planted.

31. Description of a flowering Zàmia hórrida at Cassel.
By M. Schelhas.

This plant flowered in the year 1827, and proved to be a male, the anthers of which are sessile on the under side of the scales.

33. Report on grafting Pears on Sórbus aucupària. By M. Floss.

These trees grow on sandy soil, where pear trees do not prosper, which induced M. Floss to graft them with pears, in which he succeeded perfectly. He observed further, that one or two branches of the stock should be left, to hinder the graft from growing too rapidly, because in that case the graft grows much thicker than the stock, and is easily broken by the wind; but when branches of the stock are allowed to remain for two or three years, this does not happen. He also observed that the pears obtained from trees treated in this manner seem to keep longer, although they are not so well flavoured as when grafted on the wild pear stocks.

39. Description of a Method of growing Alpine Plants, used in the Garden of Dr. Wild, at Cassel.

On a site of 8000 square feet he cultivates about 700 different alpine and forest plants. In five of the beds a stratum of gravel is laid at the bottom, which is covered about 2 ft. in thickness with peat. The rockwork is also planted with alpine plants. The clumps in some places are planted with various evergreen shrubs, and surrounded by an edging of Gentiana acaúlis, Verónica fruticulòsa, &c. The uppermost clump is 27 ft. higher than the lowest; and from that elevated situation the neighbouring country may be seen to great advantage. This communication is followed by a list of plants cultivated in the garden.