should fail to render our Society one of mutual instruction, which we will undoubtedly do, when each and every member, following his own taste and inclination, shall lay the result of his researches before the Society, proving that he is alike willing to impart and receive information. It is only from acting thus that the full advantage which such an institution is capable of affording can be realised; when, mind acting upon mind, the developement of one man's genius animates, enkindles, and expands the genius of his neighbour. Thus acting, we shall likewise be lending our efforts to engraft the scattered branches of knowledge upon one living stock; to make the same vital sap circulate through them all; to clothe their naked outline with the blossoms of a new spring;" to expand our own hearts with the sentiments of truth and benevolence; to triumph over the natural principle of selfishness; and, shedding around us a halo of philanthropic love, to prove that, if our abilities were equal to our wishes, there would neither be misery nor sorrow, ignorance nor delusion, in the world.

ART. II. On the Gardeners and Gardening of Russia. By N. N.

In reply to your enquiries how the market-gardeners in Russia employ their time during the winter months, I must, to render myself more comprehensible, divide them into two

classes.

The first class consists of gardeners who take care of hot-houses and green-houses where early forcing is resorted to; and they have continual employment in the management of pines, flowers in pots, and early fruit trees; they also raise cucumbers, kidneybeans, salads, strawberries, &c., in hot-houses occasionally, even before the commencement of the new year, but most certainly soon after it. Thus this division of gardeners is never without work; and the out-of-door labourers are discharged till spring.

The second class requires a more detailed description, because their way of life differs from that of any set of men in England. The greatest part of these gardeners come from the district of Rostoff, so that, at a distance from their home, a gardener and Rostovite are synonymous terms. A few come from the neighbouring district of Ouglitch; but so few, that they are lost under the former appellation.

Generally about the middle of Lent, or towards the beginning of it, they leave their villages; and such as have property buy horses, and load them with frozen pork, garden seeds, linen, onions, and other smaller articles not worth enumerating, but suited to the part of the empire to which they direct their steps. On arrival at their place of destination, they, in most cases, sell

their horses to profit, as well as their venture, and then begin their gardening operations, first by early hot-beds, but, as soon as the ground is thawed, by general cultivation. When the winter sets in, they collect their debts, and go back to their respective villages, waiting for the return of their migratory season; for spring it cannot be called. They are a most industrious race of men, and spread over almost every part of the empire which is somewhat advanced in the comforts of life; even as far as Poland, and down to Abo, on the Gulf of Bothnia. A few, of course, remain in the great towns during the winter; but they must be viewed more as shopkeepers than gardeners; for their time is spent in vending vegetables, which they preserve through the severe season in a masterly way; so that the green cellars in Petersburg are well worth visiting in the months of December, January, and February; keeping, however, the climate in view, and not expecting to meet with a counterpart of Covent Garden.

Rostoff is 797 wersts, and Ouglitch 732 wersts, distant from Petersburg: each werst being 3500 ft. and the gardeners travel this distance (nearly 700 English miles) twice every year.

The young peas (see Vol. XII. p. 95.) I sent you, and about which you enquire, are dried in the interior, as labour is too valuable, and the demand for vegetables too extensive, to allow of their preparation near the capital. The process, as far as I can learn, is, after being shelled, to throw them into boiling water, and just scald them; next to put them on linen and let them dry, but not in the sun, as that would bleach them; occasionally turning them over, to prevent their moulding. Lastly, they must be put on paper, and dried on the top of the oven, as, by keeping them in the inside of it, though a cool oven, they would damp; or, in preference, they are put on a flue used as a bedstead, where the Russians deposit a bed and pillows, and, employing it generally for a siesta, enjoy the luxury of the warmth it imparts, which rises up about them, and lulls them to repose. The migration of the working class is not confined to gardeners, but carpenters, bricklayers, masons, &c., follow the same plan.

Cronstadt, May 6. 1836.

ART. III. Botanical and Horticultural Tour in Lombardy.
By GIUSEPPE Manetti.

(Continued from Vol. XII. p. 450.)

THE Garden of Casa Ulrich, near Milan. - This beautiful garden contains about 20 Milanese perches; and it was laid out by a German, about 20 years ago. The present gardener, Signor Mose Mavari, is however, improving it every day. There is a

green-house, in which are cultivated about 300 camellias; among which are C. reticulata, and the most recent varieties. Rhododéndron arboreum hybridum, R. a. mutábile, R. a. Cunninghàmii, R. a. Russelliànum, R. a. Goweniànum, R. a. álta-clerénse, R. campanulatum, R. phoeniceum, R. Smithii, ?R. nazarèthium, ?R. triumphans; Abies Douglàsii; Araucária excélsa, about 8 ft. high; A. Cunninghami, the same height; A. alàta, A. imbricata, A. brasiliana; Juníperus péndula, J. recúrva, J. repánda; ? Táxus neriifòlia, ? T. Siebóldtii, Andrómeda arbòrea; Magnòlia gigantèa, M. máxima, M. triumphans, M. Soulangiana, M. Norbertii, M. Alexandrine, M. Candólli; are also in the greenhouses. The following, in the open air, are worthy of notice: Rosa odoratíssima, R. Smithii, R. Noisette Duprey; Méspilus (Eriobotrya) japónica, Pìnus austràlis (palústris); Ribes sanguíneum; Catálpa syringefòlia, 40 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 6 in., and that of the head 28 ft.; Magnòlia rústica (ferrugínea), 15 ft. high, and 2 in. in diameter; Alnus glutinosa laciniata, 60 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 6 in., and of the head 28 ft.; Cèdrus Libàni, 25 ft. high, diameter of the stem 6 in.; Tília álba, 55 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 9 in., and of the head 26 ft.; T. a. asplenifòlia, 10 ft. high; and a fine group of Rhododendron pónticum and R. máximum.

The Garden of Casa Nova. - This very small garden is worthy of notice, on account of the following plants: -Gleditschia triacánthos, 25 years old, 85 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 6 in.; Sterculia platanifòlia, of the same age, 50 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and the head 38 ft. This is the most beautiful specimen of the species I have ever seen. It does not stand unprotected at Monza. Lagerstræ`mia índica, 25 ft. high, and its principal trunk 1 ft. in diameter.

The Garden of SS. Negri, Brothers. This small garden is kept so well, that it shows the owners to be devoted to Flora. Messrs. Negri were the first in Lombardy who flowered a camellia they had raised from seed: they called it Caméllia neriiflòra, from its having the appearance of the flower of the Nèrium Oleander spléndens. In their green-house are more than 1500 plants of camellias, a beautiful plant of Araucaria brasiliana, A. excélsa, Banksia fagifòlia; and, in the hot-house, Eugènia nervòsa, E. macrophylla, Chama'rops Palmetto, Strelitzia reginæ, S. júncea, Dillenia speciosa, Zàmia púngens, Córypha hýstrix, C. mìtis, Latania sinensis, Theophrásta longifòlia, and the Mùsa rosacea, were in full flower on the 10th of June.

The nights of the 1st and 2d of the current month, the temperature was so low as 3° below zero. I was afraid of my O'xalis crenata, as the haulm was gone, and took them up; when from the 28 tubers which I planted I found 5 lb. Milanese, that is 140 oz., which were from the size of a pea to that of a walnut. The

largest weighed 9 denari (6 gr.), and was of the length of 7 punti, and the diameter 1 in. of the Milan yard. — Monza, Nov. 1. 1836.

ART. IV. An improved Mode of painting, lettering, and varnishing Tallies. By W. A. NESFIELD.

You requested me to forward my observations on the tallies in the arboretum at Chatsworth, which, in September last, I perceived had already suffered from the weather; that is, some of the white letters had begun to run together, or wash away; which I attribute to the use of common house-painters' vehicle and colour. Whether lettering be on an extensive scale or not, it is a matter of much importance to obviate this defect. I therefore feel persuaded that the following method is worth notice, as it will resist the effect of damp for many years, although it incurs a trifling additional expense.

Mr. Paxton's preparation of the wood cannot be better; viz. "steaming the heart of oak, in order to draw out the sap, and then boiling it in linseed oil;" but, instead of painting a black ground, I would substitute a very dark lead-colour, composed of ivory black (not lampblack) and flake white, mixed with boiled linseed oil. My reason for disapproving of a pure black ground is founded on the fact, that certain colours, having a greater affinity for water than for oil (such as blacks, umbers, and ochres), are liable to be affected by damp, unless they are held together by a powerfully oleaginous vehicle, with a small portion of white lead; the latter not only resisting wet admirably, but causing whatever is incorporated with it to dry harder and sooner, and likewise giving a degree of consistency to the ivory black, which is in itself very transparent. The tint of the dark lead-coloured ground, which I would prefer to the black, would have the same relief for the letters; because I should use pure white, which is so much more brilliant than that which is commonly used, and which is so much adulterated with Paris white. In fact, what the proposed ground loses in intensity, the white letters would gain in brilliancy; which, therefore, would about equal real black and bad yellow-looking white. Again, I would, after three coats of the lead-coloured ground, use, as a vehicle for the white lead, copal varnish and nut oil, mixed in nearly equal quantities, allowing the latter rather to predominate, that the painter's pencil may not clog. It is also desirable that the white should be used as thick (or, more technically, as fat) as it will flow, because the letters would be so much the more opaque; and the varnish should be mixed with only a small quantity at a time, such as enough for half a day's work, since it sets very rapidly. Turpentine must be avoided in toto (except

for cleaning pencils), as it not only soon evaporates, but causes colour to look dead and chalky; whereas the varnish bears out and hardens as it becomes older. My reason for proposing varnish to be used with the letters only is, because damp is apt to cause what is termed a chill, which would be visible on the dark colour, but not on the white. The best quality of the colours in question is to be had at Messrs. Robertson and Miller's, 51. Long Acre, whose prices are, for flake white, per bladder, weighing lb., 1s.; ivory black, ditto, 1s.; oil, per pint, 2s.; copal varnish, per pint, 6s. Two shilling bottles of copal would be sufficient for an immense quantity of lettering. Finchley, Nov. 11. 1836.

ART. V. Notices of Gardens and Country Seats in Great Britain and Ireland, supplementary to, or corrective of, the Notices given in the "Encyclopædia of Gardening." By various Contributors.

SOME of our readers having expressed surprise at our having noticed small residences in our Encyclopedia of Gardening, while we omitted all notice of larger ones; and others having complained of inaccuracy in our statements, we have determined on commencing the present article, and continuing it for some time, so as to give such of our readers as wish to supply us with corrections and additions an opportunity of doing so. As the article will always be printed in a smaller type than that of the other original communications, it will not interfere much with the usual matter of the Magazine. If those who send us notices will, at the same time, send us views, ground plans, or sketches of trees, or of any remarkable object on the residence of which they send us a notice, we shall endeavour to have them neatly engraved, unless in cases where the expense would be too great.

SCOTLAND.

The Park of Blairdrummond, near Stirling, the Residence of William Holm Drummond, Esq., is laid out in the English style: it lies on the south-west bank of the river Teith, about six miles from Stirling. To the south and east of the house it has a beautiful level surface; on the south-west is an artificial lake, about 1000 yards in length, encompassing a beautiful wooded island; to the north and west of the house the ground is more elevated, and finely undulated. Next to the house, on the north and west, is a fine grove of large oaks, beeches, larches, Weymouth pines, &c. The walks in this grove command a fine view of the westerr extremity of the Ochil Hills, Abbey Craig, Castle of Stirling, Craigforth, Campsie Hills, and several gentlemen's seats. From the park and approaches, north-west of this, are views of Ben Lomond, and some of the Grampian Hills, such as Ben Ledie, Ben Voirloch, and the fine old ruin of Doune Castle. The extensive walks and shrubberies lie on the north-west of the grove. The shrubberies, at the time they had been planted, contained a first-rate collection of hardy shrubs and trees; some of which are now very ornamental, and of great size. The garden and nursery lie on the north-west of the shrubberies: the garden contains about 2 acres and 3 roods, enclosed by a brick wall 13 ft. high; and the side slips contain about 2 acres. There are two peach houses, a vinery, a stove, and two ranges of melon pits, erected in 1834, on a somewhat new principle, which you can have an account of, at some future period, for your Magazine. The nursery contains about an acre and a half. - James Drummond, Gardener. drummond, July 7. 1836.

Blair