Saturday 31 January 2009

The garden of Baron Zanoli, 1840

The garden of Baron Zanoli is situated at a short distance from Sesto St. Giovanni, on the high road from Milan to Monza. It is of small extent, but well laid out, and rich in fine plants, such as Laurus caroliniana, Comptonia asplenifolia, Juniperus lycia, Cupressus Tournefortii, Taxus sibirica, T. macrophylla, T. neriifolia. There are tufts of Andromeda, among which are A. arborea, A. calycina, A. speciosa, A. acuminata, A. racemosa, A. floribunda, &c., azaleas, rhododendrons, kalmias, Paeonia Moutan, P. Moutan papaveracea, P. Moutan rosea, &c., which adorn it greatly with their superb flowers; and, as the proprietor cultivates the science with great ability, he arranges the whole in so judicious a manner as to create a magical effect. Among the pines, in which the baron greatly delights, and to complete the collection of which he spares neither money nor pains, there are some species which, for the beauty of their foliage and fruit, perfectly enchant me. Your admirable Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum served him as a guide, and by the help of this work he has compiled so ingenious a catalogue, that, by referring to it, he can tell in an instant the species which he possesses, and those which are still wanting to complete his collection. He intends, when his pines have attained considerable age and strength, to have portraits of them made, and to publish the figures, with an accompanying description of them. May his love for arboriculture serve as an incentive to my rich compatriots! Here follows the list of the species which he possesses : —

Pinus sylvestris, P. s. horizontalis, P. s. uncinata, P. s. rigensis, P. s. genevensis, P. s. genevensis brevifolia, P. s. scariosa, P. s. intermedia, P. pumilio, P. p. Fischeri, P. p. Mughus, P. Banksiana, P. inops, P. mitis, P. pungens, P. Laricio, P. L. corsicana, P. L. caramanica, P. L. calabrica, P. L. austriaca, P. L. pyrenaica, P. L. altissima, P. L. taurica, 6 ft. high, P. L. Pallasiana, 3 ft. high, P. L. resinosa, P. Pinaster, P. P. maritima minor, P. P. maritima major, P. P. nepalénsis, 2ft. high, P. P. Massoniana. 3ft. high, P. Pinea, P. halepénsis, P. brutia, P. nootkatensis, 2 ft. high, P. montana, P. urulénsis, 1J ft. high, P. romana, 6 ft., high, P. echinata, P. monteriensis [?], 6ft. high, P. embrunénsis [?], 4 ft.high,P. racemosa, P. Taeda, P. rígida,/1. Sabiniana major, 4 ft. high, P. S. minor, 2 ft. high, P. S. var.. 1, 1/2 ft. high, P. Coulteri, 3 ft. high, P. longifolia, 4 ft. high, P. Gerardiana, 2 ft. high, P. australis, P. excelsa, 2 ft. high, P. canariensis, P. sinénsis, 12 ft., high, P. insignis, 2ft. high, P. Llaveana, 1,1/2 ft. high, P. Michaúii, 4 ft., high, P. Cembra, P. Strobus, P. S. compressa, 1, 1/2 ft. high, P. S, elata, 2 ft, high. P. S. excelsa, 2ft. high, P.S. Lambertiana, 1,1/2ft. high, P. S. montícola, 1,1/2ft. high, Abies excelsa, A. e. péndula, A. e. Clanbrasiliana, A. alba, A. a. nana, A. nigra, A. n. rùbra, A.n. caerùlea, A* Smithiana, 2 ft, high, A. orientàlis, 2 ft. high, A, Douglasii, 2 ft. high, A. Menziesii, 2 ft. high, A. canadénsis, A, monocaúlon [ ?], 2, 1/2 ft. high, Pícea pectinata, .P. cinérea. P* Pichla,2 ft. high, P. balsàmea, P. Fràseri, P. nóbilis, 1.5 ft, high, P. Webbiana, 5 ft. high, P. Pindrow, 3 ft. high, P. religiosa, 2 ft. high, P. Nòvae Hollandiae, 2 ft, high, P.. Fórsteri, 2 ft. high, P. Hudsoniana,, 3 ft. high. Larix europaea, L. e. péndula, L. e. fl. rubro, L. e. fl. albo, L. e. sibírica, L. e. dahùrica, 2ft. high, L. americana, 12ft. high, L. а. péndula, 2 ft. high. Cèdrus Libàni, С. Deodara, 4 ft. high. Araucaria brasiliàna, A. excelsa (Altíngía excelsa), A. Cunninghamia. Cunninghamia sinénsis. I have given the height of those only which I consider the most rare.

The Marquis Cosmo Ridolfi of Florence continues to obtain abundant produce from the batata (Convolvulus Batatas, vel Ipomo`a Batatas), so much so, that this year he has sold some hundred pounds' weight of them. He has besides found that this, climber is very useful as fodder, as its numerous branches, which contain a great quantity of starch, furnish abundant and excellent food, best adapted for cows, as it considerably augments the quantity of milk, at the same time rendering it of better quality. — Giuseppe Manetti.

No comments: