Where a regular form is preferred, and where the space to be devoted to an ericacetum is limited, we would recommend an excavation surrounded by a sloping bank and a terrace walk, treated in the same general style as the design for the ericacetum fig. 888. p. 1099. In such a case, the substratum of every walk might, if necessary, be made into a drain, which could easily be done by forming the walks of pavement, supported by two walls of brick, 4 in. wide, and I ft. or 1 ft. 8 in. high. Fig. 1005. p. 1184. is a design for the area of an oval ericacetum by Mr. Rutger, which may be treated in the same manner as the ericetum referred to. Instead of being surrounded by a sloping bank of turf, this design is supposed to be bounded by a sloping bank of rhododendrons, so arranged as to complete the figure of a parallelogram. Beyond these evergreens, and 8 ft. or 10 ft. above the level of the area, may be a terrace walk; and beyond that a border, and a wall, for containing halfhardy ligneous species, and growing a collection of bulbs. A portion of the area is shown in turf, with beds in the centre of each compartment. These beds are supposed to be exclusively devoted to Cape heaths, grown in large pots or tubs, like those in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, plunged out in these beds in the summer time, and taken in on the approach of winter. The beds, after the pots are removed, may be turfed over till the following spring; or filled with winter-flowering hardy heaths. Every description of garden, to be complete, requires some architectural appendages to be introduced into it. As water is so necessary in the cultivation of all plants, an architectural fountain is at once an ornamental and a useful object to every scene of culture, however small, or however large; and the magnitude and style of design of fountains may be varied almost infinitely. The next class of useful ornaments are, seats, or resting places, open and covered and these lead to an almost endless variety of structures; some of wood, and portable; and others of wood, of rustic-work, or of masonry, and permanently fixed. Fig.1006. p. 1185. is a design from the elegant pencil of Mr. Lamb, in which the ericacetum is of an oval form, surrounded by a terrace 5 ft. above it, from which there are flights of steps to descend to the area containing the beds for the plants. This area is ornamented with two fountains; and there are stone seats along the terrace walks, and also in the surrounding amphitheatre of trees. CHAP. LXX. OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE THIS order contains only one genus, Symplocos, the species of which are chiefly tender shrubs or trees from South America; but there is one, a native of China, which is considered half-hardy ; and another, a native of Nepal, which might probably thrive in the open air with a little protection, but which has not yet been introduced. In the south of England, wherever there is a tolerably complete collection of half-hardy ligneous plants, the genus Symplocos, as being the representative of an order, should never be omitted. Symplocos sinica Ker Bot. Reg., t. 710.,' and our fig. 1007., has the leaves elliptic-oblong, attenuated at both ends, mucronately serrated, downy on both surfaces, and wrinkled; racemes compound, terminal, and axillary. It is a shrub, growing to the height of 3 ft., a native of China. Introduced in 1822, and producing its delightfully fragrant white flowers in May. It requires a wall, and is rare in British collections. S. crategöldes Hamilt., Don's Mill., 4. p. 3., has ovate, acute, serrated leaves, and the habit of Cérasus Mahalcb. It has not yet been introduced CHAP. LXXI. OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER STYRA CEE : GENUS I. STY RAX L. THE STORAX. Lin. Syst. Decándria Monogynia. Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 595.; Tourn., t. 369.; Juss. Gen., 156.; Gærtn. Fruct., 1. p. 284. t. 59. Synonymes. Alibocifier, Fr.; Storax, Ger. Derivation. The word sturar, applied to this plant by Theophrastus and Dioscorides, is a mere alteration of assthirak, the Arabic name of S. officinale. Gen. Char., &c. Calyx permanent, campanulate, 5-toothed. Corolla monopetalous, funnel-shaped, deeply 3-7-cleft, but usually 5- or 6-cleft, valvate in æstivation. Stamens 10, exserted. Filaments monadelphous at the base, adnate to the tube of the corolla. Anthers linear, 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise inwardly. Ovarium superior, 3-celled, many ovuled, erect. Style 1. Stigma obsoletely 3-lobed. Drupe nearly dry, containing a 1-celled, 1-3-seeded nut. Testa of seed double; inner cobwebbed, outer spongy. Embryo inverted, with elliptic cotyledons, and a thick superior radicle. Albumen fleshy. (Don's Mill., iv. p. 4.)- Elegant trees or shrubs, of which 27 species are described in Don's Miller, chiefly natives of Asia and South America; but there are four hardy species, natives of Europe or North America, which are cultivated in British gardens. They require a soil rather light than otherwise, on account of their hair-like roots; and to be placed against a wall, in the climate of London, when it is intended that they should flower freely. In affinity, as well as in general appearance, this genus approaches near to that of Halèsia; and there is such a close general resemblance among all the allied species of Styrax, that they may possibly be only varieties of one form. The price of plants, in the London nurseries, is from 1s. 6d. to 2s. each. 1. S. OFFICINA LE L. The officinal Storax. Identification. Lin. Sp., 635.; N. Du Ham., 7. p. 7.; Don's Mill., 4. p. 4.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. Engravings. Cav. Diss., 6. p. 338. t. 118. f. 2.; Woodv. Med. Bot., 197. t. 71.; Church. et Stev. Med. 1008 Spec. Char., &c. Leaves ovate, clothed with hoary hairs beneath, shining and green above. Racemes simple and axillary, 5-6-flowered, shorter than the leaves. Leaves about 2 inches long. Flowers white. Drupe ovate globose. (Don's Mill., iv. p. 4.) A shrub or low tree, from 12 ft. to 15 ft. high; a native of Syria and the Levant. Introduced in 1597, and producing its flowers, which resemble those of the orange, but are smaller, in June and July. It is naturalised in hedges in some parts of Italy, particularly near Tivoli. It has been known in England since the time of Gerard, who had two small trees of it in his garden, "the which," he says, "I have recovered of the seed." As the plant does not grow very freely, except when placed against a wall, it is not very common in collections, though it well merits a place there, on account of the beauty of its pure white flowers, and the great profusion in which they are produced. The finest specimen in the neighbourhood of London, and perhaps in Britain, is in the Chelsea Botanic Garden, where it is 12 ft. high, against 413 a wall, flowering profusely every year, and ripening fruit. There is also a very fine tree against a wall at Messrs. Loddiges's, which was profusely covered with flowers when we saw it, on June 18. 1836; and with fruit, on August 18. of the same year. Properties and Uses. The Styrax officinàle is chiefly useful in a medical point of view; the powerful and fragrant balsam called storax being obtained from it. For this purpose, incisions are made in the bark of the trunk and branches, from which incisions the resin issues in a liquid state, and is either collected in reeds (whence its ancient Greek name of Sturax kalamites), or left to harden, when it is scraped off in irregular compact masses, interspersed with smaller pieces, which are called tears. Storax is stimulant and expectorant, and was formerly prescribed for asthma and chronic affections of the windpipe; but, according to Dr. Thompson, it is now scarcely ever used. In Gerard's time, there were made from it "sundry excellent perfumes, pomanders, sweet waters, sweet bags, sweet washing-balls, and divers other sweet chaines and bracelets." In the present day, it is much used in Roman Catholic countries to burn as incense. Chemically, it consists principally of resin, with a small portion of benzoic acid; and it dissolves easily in spirits of wine. The common storax of commerce differs from that of the apothecaries, and is a liquid balsam, said to be obtained from Liquidámbar Styraciflua. Soil, Propagation, &c. A light sandy soil, rich rather than poor, suits this species best; and it is generally propagated by seeds obtained from the south of France. It will also grow by layers, and by cuttings. It is observed in the Nouveau Du Hamel, that it does not flower well in pots or boxes; and that it does best near Paris when placed against a wall with a southern exposure, and protected during winter. In the neighbourhood of London, however, it does not require protection. Its rate of growth, for the first ten years, is not above 8 in. or 9 in. a year. Price of plants, in the London nurseries, 1s. 6d. each. 2. S. GRANDIFO`LIUM Ait. The large-leaved Storax. Identification. Ait. Hort. Kew., 2. p. 75.; Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 450.; Don's Mill., 4. p. 4 Synonymes. S. officinale Walt. Fl. Carol., 140.; S. grandiflorum Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 2. p. 41. Engravings. Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 1016.; Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 129.; and our fig. 1009. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves broad, obovate, acuminated, green above, but clothed with hoary tomentum beneath. Lower peduncles solitary, 1-flowered. Flowers white. (Don's Mill., iv. p. 4.) A shrub or low tree, growing from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high. A native of North America, in woods, on the banks of rivers from, Virginia to Georgia. Introduced in 1765, and flowering from June to August. It is a fine ornamental shrub, but not common in collections. Halèsia díptera, the leaves of which closely resemble those of Styrax grandifolium, but differ from it in not being downy beneath, is frequently sold for it in the nurseries. It requires the same treatment as S. officinale, of which it appears to us to be only a variety. 3. S. LEVIGA'TUM Ait. The smooth-leaved Storax. 1009 Identification. Ait. Hort. Kew., 2. p. 72.; Willd. Sp. Pl., 2. p. 624.; Don's Mill., 4. p. 4. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves oval-lanceolate, acute at both ends, glabrous on both surfaces, toothed. Peduncles axillary, or twin, 1-flowered. Stamens from 6-10. (Don's Mill., iv. p. 4.) A shrub, from 3 ft. to 4 ft. high; a native of South Carolina and Virginia, in swamps. It is stated to have been introduced in 1765, and it flowers in July and August. It bears a close general resemblance to S. officinale, but is smaller in all its parts. Whether a species or a variety is a matter of the less consequence in a gardening point of view; as few plants of the woody kind better deserve a place against a wall, on account of the beauty of its white blossoms, which resemble those of the jasmine, and are produced in the greatest abundance, on almost every part of the plant. In fine seasons, these are succeeded by fruit about the size of a red currant, or of the fruit of the nettle tree. Price, in the London nurseries, 2s. each; and at New York, 50 cents. 4. S. PULVERULE'NTUM Michx. The powdery Storax. Identification. Michx. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 41.; Wats. Dend. Brit., t. 41.; Don's Mill., 4. p. 4: Synonyme. S. lævigàtum Curt. Bot. Mag., t. 921. Engravings. Bot. Mag., t. 921.; Wats, Dend. Brit., t. 41.; and our fig. 1011. Spec. Char., &c. Leaves almost sessile, p. ovate or obovate, obtuse, clothed with Pursh, it bears a close general resemblance to S. grandifolium. CHAP. LXXII. OF THE HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER HALESIA CEÆ. GENUS I. HALE SIA Ellis. THE HALESIA, or SNOWDROP TREE. Lin. Syst. Identification. Ellis in Lin.'Gen., No. 596.; Gærtn. Fruct., 1. p. 160.. t. 32.; Juss. Gen., 156.; Lindl. Synonyme. Halésie, Fr. and Ger. Derivation. Named by Ellis in honour of the learned and venerable Stephen Hales, D.D. F.R.S., author of Vegetable Statistics. Filaments combined into a tube Anthers oblong, erect, 2-celled, de Gen. Char., &c. Corolla monopetalous, ventricosely campanulate, with a 4-lobed erect border. Stamens 12 to 16. at the base, and adnate to the corolla. hiscing lengthwise. Ovarium inferior. Style 1. Stigma simple. Drupe dry, corticate, oblong, with 2-4-winged angles, terminated by the permanent style, containing a 2-4-celled putamen, which is acute at both ends. Cells 1-seeded. Seeds attached to the bottom of the cells. Testa of seeds simple, very thin. Embryo the length of albumen, with linear-oblong cotyledons, and a long, linear, compressed, inferior radicle. Albumen fleshy.Trees, with alternate serrated leaves, and lateral fascicles of pedicellate |