The annexed drawing (fig. 10.) may serve to convey some idea of the palm; but it is by no means satisfactory, as it is impossible, on so small a scale, to do it justice. It will be evident, also, that, in order to show the flowers and fruit, I have been obliged to exhibit only a few leaves, and those in so stiff and formal a manner, as to destroy the graceful and magnificent appearance of the plant itself. A sketch I made in May, 1818, (fig. 11.) will give a better idea of the number of leaves.

The mode of inflorescence may be described, pretty accurately, in the words of the distinguished naturalist just alluded to. Flower stalks much branched, invested with one large common sheath, and many partial ones."

A large upright spathe is deeply inserted in the centre, at the base of the footstalks, protruding through that fibrous texture so peculiar to the palm. Out of this the principal flower stalk arises, forming a panicle 3 ft. high, and 4 ft. in diameter at the base. The appearance of the flower is graceful; the curves of the spiculæ intermingling with each other, adding to its beauty.

12

The flowers (fig. 12. a) are sessile; they are hermaphrodite, hexandrous, and monogynous. The corolla (b) is tripetalous; the petals oval, concave, and beautifully white, but very small.

The filaments of the stamens are white, with bright orangecoloured cordate anthers. (c) The pistil is canaliculate, divided into three at its base, and has a blunt stigma (d).

The calyx is three-cleft, green at its base, but softening into a delicate white (e). Each apex is tinged with reddishbrown, so as to be distinctly visible.

The three germs (f), are coadunate and monospermous. One of these only, in almost every instance, comes to perfection. The others decay, ejected by the growth and increase of the fruitful division of the germ.

The berry is globular, about two inches and three eighths in circumference, filled with albumen, finally becoming hard, or horny. The embryo very small. The whole has very much the appearance of an immense bunch of large grapes. (fig. 13.)

The clusters are pendulous. One of these weighed 35 lbs., and contained 5640 berries. The seeds (a) are hemispherical, and by dissection show the lateral embryo (b).

As the flowers are sessile (fig. 12. f), so are the germs (e); and were each of the divisions to increase, it does not appear probable that there would be sufficient space left on the stalk for them to attain perfection.

Mr. Nickson, the intelligent gardener at Hale, has been so good as to furnish me with the following details respecting its culture:

It is planted in light sandy soil, in a sort of well, 6 ft. square, and 3 ft. 6 in. deep. During summer it requires 100 gallons of water once a week; in autumn much less; and, in winter, fifty gallons only once a month. As spring advances, a regular increase takes place, till the heat of the weather renders its largest supply necessary. In fine weather, also, at this period, it is sprinkled with the engine every afternoon, and closed up with a strong heat. To produce a constant exhalation of warm moisture, the paths of the house are copiously watered. The palm grows too luxuriantly, and Mr. Nickson is of opinion, that less heat would not be injurious; but as there are much tenderer plants in the same house, it is essential to keep the heat regularly up.

The house is 44 ft. long, 24 ft. broad, and 21 ft. 8 in. in the centre, and the general temperature ranges from 70° to 75° in summer, and to about 60° in winter.

The

This palm has been successively named, by those who have seen it," Córypha umbraculifera, Córypha umbraculifera minor, Corypha minor, and Sabal Blackburniana." latter, I am led to understand, is its present appellation, as well as being considered the most correct. Of this I will not presume to decide. T. K. GLAZEBROOK. Orford Lodge, Warrington, July 15. 1828.

ART. XVIII.

Sir,

On destroying the Mealy Bug and White Scale on Pine Plants. By Mr. W. M'MURTRIE, C.M.H.S.

AMONG the many different methods recommended for destroying the mealy bug and white scale, which pine plants are

so liable to be infested with, I send you the following, which, as I can recommend it with the utmost confidence, I hope will be found serviceable to those gardeners whose pines are unfortunately so situated. As one cannot be too particular in communicating information of this sort, and as a full description has double the effect of the sending you a mere recipe, unaccompanied with a detail of the operations, I shall minutely relate the measures I took, until I finally succeeded in clearing my plants of those pernicious insects.

When I first came to Shugborough, I found the pine plants literally covered with the mealy bug and white scale; the former had likewise so completely overrun the vines, that every bunch of grapes had to undergo an entire cleansing before it could be presented to table. In the course of my experience I had never met with the mealy bug before; and I was told by old and experienced gardeners, that I never should be able to get rid of it, and that my best plan was to throw away the plants, and get a fresh stock. This, however, I was unwilling to do, as the stock was large (never having less than a thousand plants here), so I determined to attempt to destroy the insects. For this purpose, I adopted Mr. Nichol's recommendation (mentioned in his Forcing Gardener): I got 2 lb. soft soap, 2 lb. flour of sulphur, 1 lb. leaf-tobacco, 2 oz. nux vomica, and I added 1 quart train-oil, and boiled them all up together, in 8 gallons of soft water. I had the plants taken up, shook them out of the pots, and cut off the roots of the greater part of them; they were then washed all over with the mixture: the rafters, trellises, &c. were all washed with it, as hot as it could be applied. I then took about 1 ft. of the surface of the bark-beds off, which I thought quite sufficient (instead of taking out all the bark, as is recommended by some), as it is not possible that insects or their eggs can exist below that; and after adding fresh tan, and turning the beds just as usual, the plants were replunged. This dressing completely destroyed the mealy bug, and I have never seen it in the place since. I thought I had destroyed the scale likewise; but, in about twelve months after, it again made its appearance upon some of the plants. As soon as I perceived it, I had the plants taken up and dressed with the same stuff; but, notwithstanding my utmost vigilance, which I continued for five or six years in this way, I found the insect increasing on my hands. I should have then given the whole stock a dressing; for, if it once gets amongst pines, it is in vain to expect to get rid of it by partial clearing; but I was unwilling to do this, because of an important objection I had to the former mixture, as it stunted the growth of the plants, and gave them an unhealthy appearance.

I had likewise been making experiments with another composition, and so successfully, that I determined to dress my whole stock with it. The materials in this case are, simply, equal proportions of soot and flour of sulphur, with a little pounded camphor added, in the proportion of oz. to 2 lb. of the mixture of soot and sulphur, to be dusted all over the plants, after having been washed with a lotion of soft soap and water, say 1 lb. soft soap dissolved in 2 gallons of water.

In this manner I dressed my whole stock, and the cure was most effectual, never having seen a vestige of scale on any of my plants since, which is eight or nine years ago. This plan has the advantage of the mixture Mr. Nichol recommends, as it is not so injurious to the plants, nor does it disfigure their appearance so much, the mixture being nearly the colour of the foliage. I subjoin an account of how I proceeded :— After the plants were taken out of the bark-bed, I made two men look them well over, and with dry brushes rub the insects and all dirt off them. I then had two or three inches of the mould taken off the surface of the pots; they were then handed to two more men, who washed them well over with the lotion of soft soap; two more then dusted them well over with the mixture, with puffs, or dry brushes will answer as well, taking care not to let it get into the hearts of the plants, as the insect is seldom found there, or the case must be bad indeed. They were then cased with fresh mould; and, after the bark bed had been treated as before mentioned, they were replunged and the business finished.

I must add, by way of caution, that great care must be taken not to exceed the proportion of camphor mentioned, as it would be injurious to the plants; particularly if water is allowed to touch it, as in that case it kills the leaves.

The operation should therefore be performed in October, as from that time till spring the plants require but little water, which should not at this time be poured amongst the leaves for the reason assigned. Indeed, unless the plants are very much infected, I am of opinion the camphor might be omitted altogether. After such a dressing, and if the plants are grown in a moist atmosphere afterwards, which, by the way, they should always have to be grown well, I am confident the insects will be for ever banished.

I have recommended this cure to several gardeners, and it has never failed of the effect, when done as directed.

I am Sir, &c.

Shugborough Gardens, Jan. 1. 1829.

W. M'MURtrie.

ART. XIX. On rendering Pear Trees and other Fruit Trees fruitful, by operating on the Borders, and by Natural Training. By Mr. ROBERT Hiver.

Sir,

THERE are few subjects in horticulture which can be more acceptable to your readers than a system by which good crops of fruit may be obtained from pear trees planted against the east and west walls in gentlemen's gardens; the bad crops these trees have afforded have been proverbial ever since I can remember; and the unnatural schemes which are now resorted to, such as strangulation, ringing, depressing of the branches, and reverse-grafting, show that a good system of cultivation is not yet established. This failure has generally been imputed by gardeners to the climate; but as the trees are seldom without fruit at the extremity of the branches, the supposition may be considered erroneous.

It is about twenty years ago since I noticed a brown Beurrée pear tree, trained against the east front of a farmer's cottage. This tree grew upon a limestone rock, where there was very little earth, yet it never failed to yield, yearly, plenty of large and well-flavoured fruit. From what I observed of this tree, it appeared evident that the rich and deep border, usually prepared by gardeners, was decidedly wrong, as the plants in this case generated too much sap, which always induces disease and barrenness; and, I believe, it will be found in the tree, as in the human constitution, that the state of health consists in the medium between emptiness and repletion. Sir H. Davy has shown the utility of stones in agricultural crops; and I have found them exceedingly beneficial in the formation of fruit-tree borders; they prevent the accumulation of water in very wet weather, and also retain sufficient moisture for the purposes of the plant in dry seasons. In 1813, I replanted an old pear wall, 240 ft. long: the border for these trees was 12 ft. wide, and only 26 in. deep, 8 in. of which were filled with stones, such as could be most readily procured in the neighbourhood, and the remaining 18 with the mould which composed the old border.

By this scanty supply of earth for the roots of these plants I have succeeded in obtaining a fruitful and healthy growth, equally remote from debility and luxuriance; and by this simple process I procure fruit all over the tree, as regularly as if it had been mechanically placed, both plentifully up the main stem, and on the lowest horizontal branches. My trees are fan-trained in the best manner; the shoots are kept as uniorm and straight as the plications of the instrument from