species. The error was very natural, but we lose no time in correcting it, and also another which crept into the same Review, viz. that " Ehrenberg and Hemprich in Egypt, and Sello and Olfers in the Brazils, are collecting for the Emperor of Austria;" they are collecting for the King of Prussia. This fact, and the circumstances noticed by Mr. Taylor in the foregoing letter, show the extraordinary exertions in botany and horticulture going forward in Prussia. - Cond.

National Forests. A German agricultural Journal (Oekonom. Neuigkeit. und Verhandl., 1826, No. 48. p. 382.), contains an able paper on the inutility of a government's having national forests, any more than national brickkilns, or breeding farms for horses. The author concludes, that in a state in which order and security prevail, and where there exists a mild and enlightened government, there can be no need for national forests, and all the wood of the country will be better in the hands of private persons. This, he says, is proved by the example of Austria, by reason, and by experience.

ITALY.

Agricultural Penance. The Curate of Montagano, in the county of Molise, in the kingdom of Naples, gave as a penance to the farmers who confessed to him, that they should plant so many olives, vines, or other trees, in certain naked parts of the country: the consequence is, that what before was a desert has now the appearance and productiveness of an orchard. (Bull. Univ. Août, 1826.)

Glycyrrhiza glabra, the plant which produces the liquorice of the shops, is cultivated in England for the use of brewers and distillers, but liquorice is manufactured from it only in Sicily and Spain. It grows naturally in these countries and in Languedoc, and in such abundance in some parts of Sicily, that it is considered the greatest scourge to the cultivator. Its roots penetrate to a great depth, and the deeper the ground is opened with a view to eradicate them, so much the more vigorous is the succeeding crop, as is pretty nearly the case in digging up a crop of horse-radish in this country. No other culture is given than removing the crop, thus spontaneously produced every third year. The juice is expressed from the roots, much in the same way as oil is from olives: they are first washed perfectly clean; then crushed in an olive mill; then boiled four or five hours; pressed in the olive press, and the juice slowly boiled in an iron vessel. (Bull. Univ. Août, 1826.)

bean.

SPAIN.

Ceratonia siliqua, or St. John's bread. This tree is of great importance on account of its fruit, which grows in pods, and is about the size of a Mazagan In Valencia one tree will sometimes yield a crop worth from 80 to 100 francs; it is generally used for feeding horses, but also as human food in times of scarcity; it is also used to adulterate coffee and cocoa The plants are grafted when a year old, and as the male and female blossoms are on different plants, a scion of the male is generally grafted on the female when the tree is to stand alone; but in a plantation one male tree is found sufficient for thirty females. (Bull. Univ.)

Agriculture. The late M. Correa de Serra wrote in the Archives Littéraires, tom. ii. p. 226. an essay on the agriculture of the Arabs in Spain. In this work, which was much esteemed at the time, Mr. Correa thinks that agriculture has never been so flourisking in Spain as it was when the country was inhabited by Arabs. In order to examine the cause of the superiority, he has analysed the Complete Treatise on Agriculture of Eben-el-Awarn, and of a fragment of a manuscript on the culture of the Arabs by Kutsami, a Chaldean,author. The result is, first, that in the time

of the Arabs there were cultivated in Spain a great number of useful vegetables, of which some are at present unknown, and others very rare; second, that the Arabs bestowed a great deal of attention on the different kinds of manures; third, that they bestowed a great deal of labour on the ground; and, fourth, that they took great care to profit by the experience of other nations. Mr. Correa concludes, therefore, that the superiority of agriculture in Spain in the time of the Arabs ought to be attributed to their numerous population, to their laborious industry, and to their practical knowledge. (Bull. Univ.)

HOLLAND AND THE NETHERLANDS

Boulevards of Brussels. Amongst the most considerable of the recent improvements in Brussels are the Boulevards, or lines of elm and lime trees, inclosing three distinct and parallel roads for foot passengers, carriages, and horses, and occupying the place of the old ramparts, which have been removed and levelled. By the judicious plan of concealing the new wall, built to prevent the smuggling of articles that pay town dues, in a sunk ditch, an uninterrupted view of the beautiful surrounding country is afforded on that side of the boulevards; while the side next the city is faced with handsome new houses or gardens, mostly fenced in that direction with uniform iron palisades. This improvement has been completed some years on the east, south, and south-west sides of the city, supplying a delightful walk, ride, or drive under trees which already begin to afford shade for two or three miles, and is still in progress on the lower or north side. (A Brussel's Reader of the Gard. Mag.)

New Botanic Garden at Brussels. The very limited extent of the old garden, and its unfavourable situation in the midst of houses, having long pointed out the necessity of measures for remedying these defects, a society has been formed under the patronage of the king, to be entitled "The Royal Society of Horticulture of the Netherlands," for the purpose of establishing a new botanic garden. The capital of the Society is to be 200,000 florins, (17,500/.) raised by 400 shares of 500 florins each, each share bearing an interest of 4 per cent. (to arise from annual sums granted by the Regency or Corporation of Brussels, &c.), and being entitled to a proportion of any sum remaining after the annual expences have been paid. Many of the shares are already taken.

The site chosen for the garden is a tract of ground of considerable extent just beyond the Boulevards to the north of the city, between the gates of Schaerebeek and Guillaume, and workmen have been some time busily employed in levelling and preparing the ground. As the surface has a good deal of irregularity, being partly on the side, and partly at the bottom of a hill, and the garden will be fully commanded by the adjoining boulevard, it will, if laid out with taste, be a great addition to the beauty of this part of the city. The subscribers are to be admitted every day: the public, as in the present Botanic Garden, thrice a week, from ten o'clock to three.(Journal de la Belgique.)

Park at Brussels. It is said to be in contemplation to remove the exterior row of clipped lime trees, and the hornbeam hedge at the south end of the park, fronting the king's palace, (lately enlarged, and in part rebuilt,) and to replace the latter by iron palisades, which at some future time wili probably be substituted for the present hedge all round the park. (Ibid.) Vines. A late Belgian journal states, that the experiment made within these few years to cultivate the vine in South Brabant promises every success. The vintage at Wesemael, which finished on the 25th October, will produce 130 casks (pieces) of wine from about eight bonniers (hectares) of land, which last year vielded but 55 casks. The land thus cultivated is

said not to be fit for any other produce. At the close of the vintage a fête, and a cask of wine to drink, were given to the labourers employed. New Botanical Works. Two new botanical works are announced for speedy publication at Brussels. 1st," Sertum Botanicum," to comprise 600 plates, coloured with the greatest care, of plants the most remarkable for their elegance, their splendour (éclat), or their utility; and 2d, " Annales de la Societé Royale d'Horticulture des Pays Bas;" which will contain, first, new plants discovered by travelling naturalists, and, secondly, plants previously incorrectly or imperfectly figured, accompanied with an explanatory text, and notices regarding the culture of interesting species. Both works will be edited by a Society of Botanists, and published under the superintendence of M. P. C. Van Geel, Member of the Council of Administration of the Royal Society of Horticulture of the Netherlands. These works will be published monthly, in livraisons of six plates each, and three or four leaves of text; the whole in small folio, on hot-pressed vellum paper. The price of the Sertum will be 2 florins (4s. 4d.) each livraison; of the Annales 3 florins (5s. 3d.) the livraison. (Journal de la Belgique.)

The Horticultural Society of Ghent held their winter show of plants on the 31st of January last. The medal of honour for the finest collection of plants in flower was adjudged to M. Josse Verleeuwen, nurseryman and florist at Ghent. A list of 15 plants which obtained this honour gives a favourable idea of the state of exotic culture in the Netherlands: they were Strelitzia regina, Acacia laurifolia, and pubescens, Pæonia moutan, rosea, odorata, and suffruticosa, Cypripedium venustum, Azalea indica, fl. purpureo, Camellia japonica, fl. variegato, Zamia integrifolia, Epacris attenuata 2 plants, E. rosea 2 plants, E. purpurascens and pungens. The prize de la belle culture was adjudged to Strelitzia rutilans, from the collection of M. A. Van der Woestyne, of Wandelghem, near Ghent; and la mention honorable was adjudged to a number of cultivators and amateurs. The same Society have offered their silver medal for the finest collection of the genus citrus, to be exhibited at their summer show of 1829. At the exhibition of this Society, last June, the prize was adjudged to Astrapea Wallichii, to M. Verleeuwen as before. Among the plants, the best grown were Cordia speciosa, Nerium coronarium, Cerbera manghas, Ixora coccinea, &c. (Ibid.)

The Society of Domestic Economy at Utrecht, at their June show of plants, "crowned" Zamia horrida, from the garden of M. Beelschaijder, of Rupelmonde, and Iris nepalensis, from that of M. Van der Hoop. Among the best grown plants were Protea pinifolia, Gardenia florida, and Hakea amplexicaulis. (Bull. Un.)

POLAND AND RUSSIA.

Culture of the Vine, in the Southern district of Russia. This is making considerable progress. In Moldavia, and on the left bank of the Pruth, a white grape, containing a great deal of carbonic acid, is successfully cultivated. In the Crimea, especially at Soudak, grapes are grown with very large berries, often not less than plums; but they do not yield well in the press.. The vines of Spain and Languedoc are successfully cultivated by a Frenchman, at Larci, near Balaklava. A white wine is produced on the banks of the Molotschna, which falls into the Don; which wines are very well known in Moscow and Petersburgh under the name of Don wines. There is a vineyard near Astracan, which produces very good wine, the greater part of which is sent to the imperial court of Petersburgh: what is sold produces a higher price than the wines of France. The north side of Caucasus produces a wine of middling quality, and in sufficient quantity

for the inhabitants of these countries. In Georgia and Mingrelia, Russia may produce wines to rival those of Hungary and France. Already Georgia produces a considerable quantity of excellent wine, and in less than twenty years as much will probably be produced there as will supply the whole of Russia. (Ekonom. Neuigk. und Verhandl. 1825.)

Peckra, the country residence of the Prince M. P. Galitzin, (fig. 28.) is situated a few miles to the south of Moscow, on an elevated sandy bank, on

the margin of a small lake. The house, for a Russian country-seat, may be considered small; but the church is large, and forms, with the house, very picturesque combinations from different points of view. At a short distance is a village, reckoned one of the handsomest in Russia; it consists of a street of cottages and gardens, detached, and highly ornamented. The gable ends of the cottages are the chief places where ornament is displayed. The roof projects over them, and, suspended from the eaves are carved figures of the sun, moon, stars, wheels, double eagles, wolves, human faces, &c., all carved in wood, and with no other instrument than the axe. The chief ornament in front is a porch, and sometimes a rustic veranda. The walls are built of logs, and the roof covered with shingles. The interior is one room with a stove, sometimes in the end, but more commonly at one side opposite the door. (J. L. 1825.)

The Wild Pear. A writer in the Annals of German Agriculture considers this fruit as having, in remote ages, afforded the principal nourishment of the inhabitants of Europe. It is certain that it grows wild in every country and in every soil, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. It is at present most common in Russia, as being the least cultivated country; its fruit, under the name of grouschi, is eagerly devoured by the natives in a raw state: and where they are abundant, they are dried and laid up for winter use, and form soups and stews with different species of mushrooms; they are also sometimes fermented and distilled, or made into that agreeable liquor called quass; while the must, mixed with chaff, forms a most inviting food for horses. The timber of the tree is of known value to turners and patten-makers. The Pyrus nivalis, discovered on the Austrian Alps by Jacquin, produces a fruit similar in quality to that of the Pyrus

Thongs of twisted leather are used in Poland and Russia, instead of tanned leather, in the harnessing of horses. The skins are prepared by drying, steeping in warm water to get rid of the hair; drying again, and then steeping in hot grease. After this several thongs are tied together at the ends, and twisted by fastening one end to the floor, and turning the other round by a stick. The heat, the grease, and the continued twisting and untwisting, softens the leather, and renders it fit for use. Such a practice may sometimes require to be resorted to by emigrants in uncultivated regions. (Bull. Univ.)

NORTH AMERICA.

Linnean Botanic Garden, Flushing, near New York, Feb. 14th, 1826. We have received an account of this extensive establishment from its proprietor Mr. Prince, that we cannot but think will be gratifying to our readers. The efforts of Americans in every useful art are gigantic like their country. "This establishment," Mr. Prince observes," is so much larger and more extensive than any other, or than all others combined in America, that I have no doubt it would be a matter of surprise to you in so new a country. The collection of young fruit trees, plants and flowers, alone, covers 32 acres compactly filled. The green-houses are 200 feet by 30. The number of species and varieties exceeds 8000. The collection of oranges is the best known out of Italy, and the collection of fruits equal to any in the world, having culled the most select from Brussels, the north of France, Paris and its vicinity, and Marseilles and the rest of the south of France. Those offered for sale as very select, after rejecting several hundred kinds of European inferior varieties, are as follow: apples, 172 varieties; pears, 202; plums, 140; cherries, 76; apricots, 25; peaches, 84; nectarines, 16; almonds, 14; quinces, 8; mulberries, 14; figs, 17; currants, 15; raspberries, 15; grapes, 545; strawberries, 21; roses, 610; ornamental trees of the largest size, 80; ditto second size, 65; ornamental shrubs, 150; evergreens, 65; hardy vines and creepers, 68; pæonies, 41; carnations, 115; Chinese chrysanthemums, 32; iris 54 distinct species, and varieties innumerable; hardy herbaceous plants, above 1000 species; hyacinths, 388 varieties; tulips, 620; amaryllis, 60; and other bulbs in proportion; oranges, near 40; camellias, 32; and the whole collection of green-house and hot-house plants exceeding 2500 species. With regard to fruits, I have for 30 years pursued the principle of planting out specimen fruit trees of every variety, to ascertain decisively as to their correctness; and I have now above 1200 varieties, which stand as bearing trees to afford permanently genuine grafts, and to show the genuine kinds to persons visiting the establishment. I take as my guide for French fruits, Duhamel, the Bon Jardinier, and the government publications. I have originated a great many extremely valuable fruits by mixture of the pollen; one of the oldest, and which is of about 30 years' standing, is the Princes St. Germain, originated by my mixing the pollen of the Virgouleuse with the St. Germain, and it is known throughout our country as one of the finest fruits; the original tree is now full, and if I can recall it to mind, I will send you a box of the pears this season. estimate very highly the experiments making by the Hort. Soc.; but the theory as to the duration of fruits for a certain period, and that they then become universally extinct, can be very easily overturned, as I will shew you hereafter. I am at this moment engaged in tasting the fruits of every section of Europe in order to arrange the synonyms, and you will see when my pamphlet catalogue reaches you, that I have paid great attention to that particular.”

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