occasionally offered for sale. I ought to mention that an English gentleman, our principal proprietor here, possesses a garden equal to those attached to most seats in England, and as well attended to. Of the melon tribe, and similar plants, he rears an immense quantity for himself and friends, commencing in frames, as upon the English method, to guard against the later spring frosts.

From my preceding letters you have no doubt derived some information as to the geological position of this district. We are just within the verge of what is probably by far the most extensive coal formation in the world the qualities of which coal are as yet scarcely known on the eastern coast and in the great cities. It is highly bituminous; more so, I conceive, from the experiments I have tried, than even the Northumberland coal; certainly much more so than the best Welsh coal. From it I have produced tar and coke of superior quality. Neither of these manufactured substances are known to the Americans. The tar of this country is produced from wood, like the Swedish, and the small quantity of coal tar consumed is imported from England, at a very high price. These circumstances, and the demand for similar articles hereabouts, have encouraged me to commence the manufactory of them; and I have purchased a convenient site for the undertaking, half a mile from my residence, and adjoining our turnpike road to Erie. The vein I am now working is 44 ft. thick, of suitable quality for my purpose, and of itself will furnish a large extra-supply for sale. I have traced at least four or five other veins also in the same locality, which will yield me more than I can require or raise for the rest of my life. There is, beneath the coal, an extensive bed of fire clay, adapted to make the best quality of fire bricks, such as are now imported into the principal American sea-ports, from England, and sold wholesale at 32 to 35 dollars per thousand. I hope at last that I shall bring my geological propensities to account; that they have been useful to me in the choice of this spot I at any rate have some satisfaction in believing. I turned to your Encyclopædia of Agriculture, to find something about coal, coke, and coal tar, and the apparatus requisite: but little is introduced on these points on the first, and nothing on the others; probably because you considered the subjects rather too remote from the other improvements of landed property, and not altogether belonging to an agricultural work. The great receptacle for iron ore, and the site of its conversion into pig-iron, is immediately east from this, a few miles over the Alleghany ridge. Thence it is brought hither and to various forges, to be converted into bars or manufactured into various forms, or conveyed 150 miles farther west, as far as Pittsburg, increasing in value at every mile. The ore is of the hæmatitic kind, very rich, and the iron it yields is equal to the best Swedish. Charcoal alone is employed in its production and conversion. The quantity of wood consumed in converting a ton of iron is prodigious, and occasions a great destruction and consumption of timber: so much is this already felt, that even in this region of forests we hear and wonder about wood for charcoal becoming scarce and expensive in the neighbourhood of all the great iron-works. Sooner or later the English method of employing coke from coal must be adopted, which will then occasion a material reduction in the cost of producing iron, and consequently effect another great advantage, by encouraging the native manufactures of the United States. We have at this village an extensive manufactory of screws, which far excel in workmanship any I ever saw in England. Of course those who are interested in American manufactures are anxious for all the protection against foreign competition and importation that our government can enforce. The tariff regulations have afforded a vast field for political discussions and disputes, which will perhaps terminate in the separation from the Union of one or two of the Southern States. Under all circumstances, I am decidedly of opinion that the true American policy is just that which she has been

forced to adopt. She is called upon to encourage her own internal trade, to stimulate her native industry, to promote public improvements, to rear up, under her patronage, an increasing community of enterprising manufacturers, and to bring into exercise and usefulness the unbounded natural resources of this vast country; thus making herself in practice, as she is in theory and politics, independent of the rest of the world. But I must draw to a termination. . . . I remain, Sir, yours, &c. - R. C. Taylor.

New York, October 6. 1831.— Sir, I dare say the few Alleghany acorns which I enclose are of very small value in your opinion; yet as they grew upon a little estate which I now call my own, perhaps you may not think the worse of them, as coming from an absent friend. The small acorns are those of the white oak; the best of the tribe in the United States. The largest are from the red oak; not so good in the quality of its timber, and far less durable. There is also the black oak. With these are some haws from our common whitethorns [these seem to be of Cratæ gus coccínea L.]; also some cones from the red or pitch pine [these are of the Pinus pungens Lamb.; specimens of the beautiful cones, and plants, of this species are rare in England], and the white pine of the Alleghanies [these are of Pinus Stròbus]. I would have collected others more worthy your acceptance, but my time was too short to enable me to search. I have, with Mrs. Taylor, taken a journey altogether of 700 miles, at twenty-four hours' notice. In haste. Yours, &c.-R. C. Taylor.

We have received the packet of seeds safe, and have shared them as follows:- In England, to Mr. Brooks of Flitwick and Mr. Donald of Woking; in Scotland, to the Rev. Mr. Carruthers of Dalbeattie, Sir William Jardine of Jardine Hall, and Mr. Gorrie of Annat Gardens; in Wales, to Cymro at Brecon; and, in Ireland, to Dr. Drummond of Belfast. Cond.

AUSTRALIA.

Van Diemen's Land. We are indebted to some kind friend in Hobart Town for the Hobart Town Courier, which has been regularly sent us for some years. It is a newspaper which, for variety of subjects, orderly arrangement, accurate (and, when required, even elegant or eloquent) composition, printing, and paper, equals any, and surpasses most, of our provincial journals. The editor is evidently a man of far more general knowledge (particularly of natural history and of country matters) than is usually found in the editors of provincial papers in England; and he brings that knowledge to bear in an earnest and effective manner on every subject which comes before him.

On looking over the last packet sent us, containing the news up to the end of June last, the chief thing that strikes us is the increasing prosperity of the country, which is readily judged of by the number and kind of advertisements, the formation of roads, establishment of stage coaches, &c. As the great majority of the settlers are Scotch, one of our countrymen going there would find himself at home at once. A gardener, and also a clever builder, who could act as architect and surveyor, we are sure would do well. Designs for cottages and small villas, we are told, are much wanted; and we have seventy already engraved, and as many more drawn and in progress, with a view chiefly to Australia and America.

Respecting the products of the country, we find in a paper dated May 28., that the gum kino, a hitherto neglected item, is now being gathered from trees in abundance for the London market, as well as some other native gums. It appears that Dr. Murdoch and the editor of the Hobart Town Courier pointed out the value of these gums five years ago, and have since been calling attention to them from time to time. It must be highly gratifying to these gentlemen to find that they have at last succeeded.

The Gum Kino is an excellent tan, much superior to the best extract of wattle or other bark, and might be very profitably used as such, independ

ently of its great use in medicine. It may also be used as good and durable ink. As to the gum arabic, it is that which flows so abundantly from all the species of acacia or wattle trees in the island. It is about one half the value of the other, but is used by manufacturers in vast quantities, as well as in medicine. Dr. Murdoch of Risdon has this year manufactured, from the produce of his garden there, a considerable quantity of excellent oil of lavender; a profitable article of produce, which we are glad to hear that gentleman intends to cultivate largely for export to London, where it is of considerable value. (Hobart Town Courier, June 4. 1831.)

The Fruit of Feuillea cordifolia [a plant which we could wish were introduced to Britain], Mr. E. Drapiez has ascertained, by numerous experiments, is a powerful antidote against vegetable poisons. He poisoned dogs with the Rhús Toxicodéndron (swamp sumach), hemlock, and nux vomica. All those that were left to the poisons died, but those to which the Feuillea was administered recovered completely, after a short illness. (Ibid., May 28. 1831.)

Roads, we observe, are advertised as open to the public in different directions. We hope that in laying out the lines of these roads, the most scientific views of the subject of road-making have been acted upon. We would direct the attention of those concerned, and more particularly that of the editor of the Hobart Town Courier, to what we have said on the subject in our preceding volume (Vol. VII. p. 520.), as also to what will be found in this and our succeeding Number. (See, further, a letter on the subject in the Morning Chronicle of December 31. 1831.)

With respect to Emigration, the editor observes that from the experience of a long residence in a populous part of England, previous to his settling in Australia, he can state that paupers, who have become so in the mother country from indolence and an indisposition to work, will continue so in the colony; but that industrious men will speedily, by the fruits of their labour, remunerate the expense that may have attended their passage. (Ibid., June 18. 1831.).

The Swan River Settlement, from all the accounts we have seen, appears to be a failure. "Settlers are in general leaving their first locations, and removing farther into the country; in short, there is no soil until you get near Darling's Range, when some good ground will be found on each bank of the Canning, on which Lieut. Bull grew good wheat, as well as Mr. Wright and Mr. Adams. The crops were very light, Lieut. Bull growing about 5 bushels, Mr. Wright 10 bushels, and Mr. Adams 7 bushels to the acre. The land was certainly very sour, having never been exposed to the sun; and the next season they expect a fair average crop. The expense of clearing, &c., was about 30%. the acre. There have, however, been some good vegetables grown even in the sand, with the assistance of manure, especially cabbages, turnips, potatoes, and radishes. There is a radish growing at Perth, in a shoemaker's garden (reserved for seed), as thick as a stout man's thigh, and from 10 ft. to 11 ft. high: in fact, the radish appears to take a different character in the deep and moist sands of Perth. (Ibid., Feb. 5. 1831.)

Sydney. In looking over the Sydney Gazettes, from May 5. to June 28. 1831, inclusive, we do not find much that can interest the gardening world in this country. The improvement of the government demesne or public park and promenade of Sydney, seems to have attracted the attention of government. Mention is made of the skill of the person who has planned the walks, carriage drives, and avenues, which are said to form a delightful place of recreation for the citizens of Sydney. We wish our correspondent, Mr. Thompson, would send us such a sketch and description of this park as he furnished us with of Hyde Park, and his projected improvements in it, for our First Volume.

A writer on the cultivation of the vine in Sydney states that blight, after the fruit is set, may be prevented by ringing the old wood which sus

tains the young branch. He says that the great enemies to the culture of the vine in Australia are, "the rime, or white frost, which settles on the young shoots in the first stage of their vegetation, and the light mists which shroud the valleys and the sides of the hills before sunrise. When the solar rays reach either of these phenomena, it becomes suddenly dissipated; and the young shoots of the vine and their incipient blossoms are exposed to an instantaneous transition from extreme cold to extreme heat."

Frost he does not consider so great an enemy to the grape in Australia as the mists, which, during the spring months, hang like a fleecy mantle over the forests, and trail along the vales. He recommends selecting the steep sides of declivities for the sites of vineyards, and, at the same time, burning the forest for a considerable distance on each side of the space intended to be planted with vines. The advice, as far as it regards situation and free exposure, will apply to the planting of orchards in Britain.

The New Zealand flax, which forms an important article of commerce between Sydney and New Zealand, is recommended as a very suitable plant for the moist lands of New Holland. More tobacco, it is stated, will soon be grown than is required for the consumption of the colony.

We observe (Syd. Gaz., June 16.) an advertisement for a gardener, "an experienced person, qualified to take charge of a small garden." This is a gratifying mark of prosperity.

ART. IV. Domestic Notices.

ENGLAND.

THE Gardens of the Birmingham Workmen, which you noticed Vol. VII. p. 409., were so numerous twenty years ago, that the late rector, Mr. Curtis, complained to me that they covered 300 acres, and not one of them paid any tithes. He wished me, as the bailiff of the free school, to pay that part of the tithe which belonged to the school, but this I declined. W. W. C. Clevedon, near Bristol, November 18. 1831.

New Botanic Garden at Bury St. Edmunds. On passing through Bury I called to see the botanic garden, the new one I mean. It is certainly a most eligible spot for the purpose. The architectural remains, in connection with their history and the uses which the buildings originally served, and the great variety of plants with which the garden will shortly be stored, cannot fail to make it very interesting. Mr. Hodson's new house is in the garden, in a forward state, and is in very good keeping with the remains of the old buildings. Considerable progress has been made in removing the plants from the old garden; much, notwithstanding, remains to be done. Tradesfolk were busy in preparing to put up a castiron fence on each side of the magnificent abbey gate, which is to form the main entrance to the garden, and which so highly adorns that fine open area called the Angel Hill. When all is completed I have no doubt the garden will be an ornament to the town, and a credit to Mr. Hodson and the subscribers. — J. D., senior.

The Choco Palms.· I hope soon to obtain plants of the famous Chontaduro palm of the Choco, which has never yet been examined by botanists. Humboldt speaks thus of it in his enumeration of palms which he recommends to the attention of future travellers: -" 3 Chocoenses, nemChontaduro trunco aculeis horrido, ex fructibus succulentis escam omnibus (præter unam Musam paradisiacam) præstantem largiens."

pe,

Mr.

"Trunk spinose; fruit succulent, and preferable to all succulent fruits,

except that of the Mùsa paradisiaca."

Watts in his last letter, dated Carthagena, May 1. 1830, says, "I have five healthy plants of the Chontaduro palm, which, if they continue to thrive, I intend sending you by the next packet." I have not since heard from Mr. Watts; but, should the plants arrive in good condition, I have promised one to my old friends, Messrs. Loddiges, for their magnificent collection; the other four are also engaged. The remaining two palms of Choco, noticed by Humboldt, are:-"Palma di mil pesos, oleifera; et Tapara, nana, vix 2-3 pedalis, fructibus trilocularibus magnitudine cocoes, albumine eduli.” This last, as being particularly well suited by its dwarf size to our stoves, as well as being nondescript, I am also endeavouring to procure. But there is a hardy palm growing along the Straits of Magellan, and spoken of in Viage al Estrecha de Magellanes, p. 316., which would, no doubt, answer in our pleasure-grounds, and deserves to be introduced, as might be easily done by some of our men of war or merchant ships coming from the west coast of America through those straits. Humboldt enquires respecting this palm, which also is a dwarf, " Cujusnam familiæ planta tripedalis, frondibus pinnatis, Hispanis peregrinatoribus Palma Magellanica dicta, latitudine australis 53° proveniens, Phoenici dactyliferæ similis?" By inserting this notice in your Magazine you may perhaps call the attention of some of our travelling botanists to this imperfectly known plant, and secure its introduction as an embellishment to our English landscape. It could hardly fail to thrive in our southern counties. W. Hamilton. 15. Oxford Place, Plymouth, August 28. 1830. Exuberant Bloom af a Yucca gloriosa at Wanlip Hall. This plant had stood for some time in the gardens of Wanlip Hall, where it had attained considerable size. In 1827 it flowered for the first time, and, as the flower stem decayed, the old plant put forth four shoots, which have flourished exceedingly since that period, and the bloom I am about to describe is from one of them; leaving three others which, to all appearance, will flower another season. In the spring of this year I formed an artificial rockwork around it of granite, which appeared to suit it extremely well, and I have no doubt contributed to the extraordinary fine blooms it produced. It began to flower on the 20th of July; the height of the flower stem was 5 ft. 8 in.; the side panicles were 36 in number, each panicle bearing on an average 24 blooms, making a total number of 864 flowers.

A Cereus speciosissimus, which is now four years old, began to flower on the 30th of May, and produced, in succession, eleven very large and splendid blossoms, nearly of a size. The dimensions were as follows: The stems of the plant, which are four in number, measure 5 ft. in height; the petals of the flowers were 3 in. in length; the circumference 1 ft. 6 in. It had no other than green-house treatment, was planted in a wide-topped 32-sized pot, in a soil composed of sandy loam and lime rubbish in equal parts.

Pelargonium zonale var. Blucheri succeeds better with me than any other of the scarlets. I planted one in the autumn in a wide-topped 48-sized pot, in a common green-house. The circumference of the leaves of the plant was 23 in.; the flower stem 1 ft. in length, with an umbel of flowers 40 in number, of which 32 were expanded at one time; the petals averaged in length 3 in. William Matthews. Wanlip Gardens, Leicestershire, Oc

tober 31. 1831.

* "From 2 to 3 ft. in height, fruit three-celled, about the size of the cocoa, albumen eatable."

+"To what family belongs a plant 3 ft. high, with pinnate leaves, called Palma Magellanica by Spanish travellers? It is found in lat. 53° south, and resembles the Phoenix dactylifera."