of our wild grasses; yet, when sown in the garden, the produce proved to be wheat of the spring kind; and the grains were nearly, if not quite, as large as those of the ordinary spring-wheat. It could not be ascertained from what part of the Peninsula this Hill-Wheat (as it was called on the paper containing the seed) was brought but the following notification is subjoined, for the sake of obtaining information:

This hill-wheat is no doubt known to some persons, who either are now in India, or have returned from thence into this country; and it is certainly a matter of some importance to know what they can inform us on the subject of it; especially whether this wheat is a cultivated, or a wild plant; as we shall, if the latter is the case, ascertain two of the greatest desiderata of cultivators; the country where wheat grows spontaneously; and the nature of the grain in its ori ginal state, when unassisted by the fostering hand of man.'

On the Culture of the Crambe Maritima of Linné, or Sea Kale. By Mr. John Maher, F.H.S.-In this paper we meet with an object strictly within the department of the Society; and Mr. Maher has given plain directions for raising in our gardens this vegetable, which by some persons is much esteemed, and placed almost on a level with asparagus. After having given its botanic description, and the usual places of its habitation on our sea-coasts, Mr. M. describes the mode of deep trenching, manuring, and lightening the soil by the addition of sand, where it is necessary, as well as the management of the plants in the beds, and the blanching them by pots. A plate representing the blanching-pot, made of baked clay, in the shape of a bell-glass somewhat flattened, is subjoined.

Some Hints respecting the proper Mode of inuring Tender Plants to our Climate. By the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart., &c. Mr. Knight's principle of giving hardihood to plants which came originally from a warm climate, and of training them gradually to bear the severity of our own, by propagating not from suckers but from seeds, through a number of generations, is here very well illustrated :

v;

In the year 1791, some seeds of Zizania aquatica, were procured from Canada, and sown in a pond at Spring Grove, near Hounslow it grew, and produced strong plants, which ripened their seeds; those seeds vegetated in the succeeding spring, but the plants they produced were weak, slender, not half so tall as those of the first genera tion, and grew in the shallowest water only; the seeds of these plants produced others the next year sensibly stronger than their parents of the second year.

In this manner the plants proceeded, springing up every year from the seeds of the preceding one, every year becoming visibly stronger and larger, and rising from deeper parts of the pond, till the last year, 1804, when several of the plants were six feet in height, and the whole

Pond

pond was in every part covered with them as thick as wheat grows on a well managed field.

Here we have an experiment which proves, that an annual plant, scarce able to endure the ungenial summer of England, has become, in fourteen generations, as strong and as vigorous as our indigenous plants are, and as perfect in all its parts as in its native climate.'

This experiment is encouraging, and by a subsequent paper our hopes are strengthened.

On a Variety of the Brassica Napus, or Rape, which has long been cultivated on the Continent. By Mr. James Dickson, F.L.S. V.P.H S.-This Brassica Napus is represented as far superior to the common Turnip in flavour. It is said to

enrich all the soups in Germany, and to have so thin a rind as to require merely to be scraped. We are also informed that it is sold by only one person in Covent Garden: but, as the name of this person is not given, the reader will probably wish in vain for this turnip of turnips.

Observations on the Method of producing new and early Fruits. By T. Andrew Knight, Esq. F.R.S. &c.-The principles laid down in this paper appear to be judicious; and the results of the trials made by the author, in raising new plants from seeds of the apple and of the vine, are promising: but, as his experi ments are yet in their infancy, we shall not here enter into any detail, merely stating this single maxim for the direction of the horticulturist who may wish to imitate Mr. K.

New varieties of every species of fruit will generally be better ob tained by introducing the farina of one variety of fruit into the blos som of another, than by propagating from any single kind. When an experiment of this kind is made, between varieties of different size and character, the farina of the smaller kind should be introduced into the blossoms of the larger.'

On the Cultivation of the Polyanthes Tuberosa, or Tuberose; with its botanical Description and Figure. By Richard Anthony Salisbury, Esq. F.R.S. &c.—After having sung the praise of Horticulture (here termed the younger and more delicate sister of Agriculture) in poetical prose, Mr. Salisbury proceeds to recommend the culture of the Tuberose as likely, in the warmer soils of this kingdom, to repay with profit the labour attending it. The history of this beautiful and fragrant plant is given; and though we have hitherto received its roots from the warmer provinces of North America as well as Italy, Mr. S. adduces his experience to prove that we need not be indebted to foreign countries for this supply. He has cultivated the Tuberose for many years in the open air at Chapel Allerton, and details his mode of proceeding: but we think that his calculations of profit are too liberal. A fine plate is added.

On

On the Revival of an obsolete Mode of managing Strawberries. By the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. &c.-The Strawberry is supposed to have obtained its name from the straw which was originally laid under the plants when their fruit began to swell, and the advantages of this good old custom are here recapitulated.

On raising new and early Varieties of the Potatoe (Solanum tuberosum.) By T. Andrew Knight, Esq. &c.-It is well known that the early varieties of this plant do not produce seed; and Mr. K., suspecting the cause to be the preternatural early formation of the tuberous roots, proceeded by first washing away the earth to separate from the stem of the plant the runners on which the bulbs are formed, and which are perfectly distinct organs from the fibrous roots. By this process, preventing the strength of the plant from being exhausted at the root, he enabled the stem to flower, and to perfect its seed. The discovery is important, and may be followed by useful consequences. We are therefore glad that this vegetable physiologist purposes to follow up his experi

ments.

On the Advantages of grafting Walnut, Mulberry, and Chesnut Trees. By the same.-Grafting, as a process for bringing trees into early bearing, is well known: but it is here recommended to be applied to trees which are not usually grafted in this country. The author maintains, on the ground of long experience, that the graft derives nutriment only, and not growth, from the young stock in which it is inserted; and that with the life of the parent stock the graft retains its habit and its constitution,'

An Account of some New Apples, which, with many others that have been long cultivated, were exhibited before the Horticultural Society, the 2d December, 1806. By Mr. Arthur Biggs, F.H.S. -We have here a catalogue of ten apples which ripen early, of 53 autumn and winter varieties, (all those which are valuable being marked with a star *) and of 8 new varieties. Mr. B. also particularly describes the William's Pippin, Padley's Pippin, Bigg's Nonsuch, and Minier's Dumpling.

On the Cultivation of the common Flax (Linum usitatissimum of Linné,) as an ornamental Plant in the Flower Garden. By Mr. John Dunbar, Gardener to Thomas Fairfax, Esq.-Mr. Dunbar wishes to see the Flax supplant the cumbersome yellow Lupine' in our flower-border, and he thinks that the advantage to the servants, if not to the master, may be considerable. He tells us, indeed, that, by this simple expedient, a family consisting of five persons has been supplied with all the linen which they required; and he adds directions for the cultiva

tion of the plant, and the preparation of the flax till it is sent to the dressers.

An Account of the Method of cultivating the American Cranberry, Vaccinium Macrocarpum, at Spring Grove. By the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. &c.-The Vaccinium promises, by this short report of its first cultivation, on an artificial island, and then on the banks of a pond at Spring Grove, near Hounslow, to form a valuable addition to our horticultu ral riches, when it can be planted near water in a boggy soil.

It is remarkable that, during the seven years these Cranberries have been cultivated at Spring Grove, no circumstance has arisen, from the variety of seasons, from blight, or any other circumstance, that has diminished the quantity of a full crop; the flowers have issued out of their buds, in abundance, in their due season, and fewer of them have been abortive, than in general is the case in other plants. The fruit has gradually swelled and duly ripened without being subject to the attack of any vermin, or to injuries of any kind from the excesses of heat or cold, or from those of wetness or of drought.'

The fruit of the Cranberries grown at Spring Grove is said to be superior in flavour to any that is imported. The contents of the beds are 326 square feet, and they produced in the year 1807 five dozen bottles.

On a new Method of training Fruit Trees. By T. Andrew Knight, Esq. &c.-A plate is annexed to this paper, without which it is impossible to convey an adequate idea of the process here recommended. We shall only remark that, in Mr. K.'s method of treating Peach-trees, very little use was made of the knife during winter; and that the necessity of winter-pruning should be avoided as much as possible.

Observations on the different Species of Dahlia, and the best Method of cultivating them in Great Britain. By R.A. Salisbury, Esq. &c.-This curious paper does not admit of abridgment; and we can merely state that the Dahlia, a native of Mexico, was introduced into this country from Madrid by Lady Holland, that it flowers with us in September and October, and is a valuable addition to our ornamental perennial plants. Mr. Salisbury minutely details his mode of raising and cultivating it.

A Description of a Forcing House for Grapes; with Observations on the best Method of constructing them for other Fruits. By T.A. Knight, Esq. &c.-Under a conviction that few of our Forcing Houses are well constructed, Mr. Knight judiciously investigates the principles which should guide us in the erection of theni.

It is well known, he observes,) that the sun operates most powerfully in the Forcing House, when its rays fall most perpendi cularly on the root: because the quantity of light, that glances off without

without entering the house, is inversely proportionate to the degree of obliquity with which it strikes upon this surface of the glass; and it is important to every builder of a Forcing House to know by what elevation of the roof, the greatest quantity of light can be made to pass through it. To ascertain this point, I have made many experi ments, and the result of them has satisfied me that, in latitude 52, the best elevation is about that of 34 degrees.'

No upright front glass, he says, ought in any case whatever to be used. To prevent the bleeding of Vines, he recommends a composition made of 4 parts of scraped cheese and r part of calcined oyster-shells, or other pure calcareous earth. If this mixture be pressed strongly into the pores of the wood, the sap will instantly cease to flow; it therefore enables us to take off the largest branch, at any season, with safety.

A short Account of Nectarines and Peaches naturally produced on the same Branch. By R. A. Salisbury, Esq. &c.-Six instances are given of this anomaly, the 5th and 6th of which were seen and examined by Mr. S. He is not satisfied with attributing them to the pollen of neighbouring Nectarines, but concludes that these and other variations proceed from laws in vegetation, of which we are yet ignorant, but which are immediately connected with the transudation of the sap through the cuticle.'

An Account of a Method of hastening the Maturation of Grapes. By John Williams, Esq.-In order to prevent the return of sap towards the root, and to retain it in the fruit-bearing branches, Mr. W. cut through the cortex and liber of the stem, without wounding the alburnum, and took out a narrow circle, from one to two-eighths of an inch wide; by which process he caused the fruit rapidly to swell, and to ripen earlier than it would on other plants not similarly treated.

Observations on the Culture of the Dahlias, in the Northern parts of Great Britain. By John Wedgwood, Esq. F.H.S.-This short paper, on those highly beautiful flowers, the Dahlias, may be regarded as a supplement to the communication, before-mentioned, from Mr. Salisbury, to whom it is addressed. Mr. W. considers these plants to be nearly as hardy as the Potatoe, and is persuaded that they may be naturalized in Devonshire.

Hints relative to the Culture of the Early Purple Brocoli, as practised in the garden of Daniel Beale, Esq. at Edmonton. By Mr. John Maher, F.H.S.-We have here a detail of the particulars of Mr. M.'s mode of cultivating this useful vegetable, which of late years has been greatly improved.

An Account of the Burr-knot Apple. By the Rev. John Simpson. This species of apple-tree may be propagated by REV. Nov. 1809.

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cuttings