There are a number of fine cedars of Lebanon in Arno's Grove, immense Weymouth pines, with spreading branches, and 80 ft. high; one of these has a young oak springing up through its root, the stem of which is so completely embraced by the wood of the pine, as to give the idea of its being united with it in the manner of a graft, which every one knows is impossible. This is one of those cases that occasionally occur, in which reason is more to be depended on than matter of fact, or what appears to be fact. There are very large Scotch pines, one with a curiously twisted trunk; silver and spruce firs; and some hemlock spruces. A plant of Ligustrum lucidum was 15 ft. high before it was killed down to within 6 ft. of the ground by the criterion winter. There is a fine specimen of Platanus orientalis, 55 ft. high, with a head 170 ft. in circumference, which, as compared with others of P. occidentalis in, the same grounds, shows conspicuously the greatly superior beauty of the former tree. It is somewhere remarked by Dr. Lindley, that, while there are scores of the occidental plane planted in Hyde Park and the Regent's Park, there is not one to be seen of the Platanus orientalis, though the latter is not only a much handsomer tree than the former, but much hardier. A stranger to this subject will naturally ask what can be the reason that the hansomer and hardier tree is not preferred to the less handsome and less hardy one. The answer is, that the one tree is propagated as easily as the willow, by cuttings, while the other requires to be raised by layers, or from seed. Hence the one species abounds in the nurseries, and is cheap; and the other is comparatively scarce, and, of double the price. Another reason why the occidental plane is more planted than the oriental one is, that it grows much faster. Though we have said much on the beauty of the oriental plane in our Arboretum Britannicum, yet we do not consider it superfluous to make these remarks, and to add to them the suggestion which we have before made in this Magazine, of heading down occidental planes, and grafting them standard high, or as high as may be convenient, with oriental ones. We wish we could see this done in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Among other specimens which we noticed at Arno's Grove were, a Cratï¾µ'gus orientalis upwards of 20 ft. high, with a fine spreading head; a Pyrus Aronia, forming an immense bush, 12 ft. high, and 40 ft. round; and a common berberry 96 ft. round, which is covered with fruit every year. We also noticed several magnolias, and among others a good plant of M. macrophylla. Against the wall, near the conservatory, is a plant of Lagerstr£'mia indica, which has stood out a number of years without any protection whatever. Here is also a tree of Magnolia grandiflora covering the gable end of a house at least 30 ft. high; besides a number of other conservative wall plants, which the rapid glance that we took of the place did not permit us to note down. In the hot-house we found a fine plant of Passiflora Herbertiana, covered with both flowers and fruit.
