A few days since, while sitting in our office, there walked in a gentleman, with an intelligent face, and frank, pleasant manner, introducing himself as Dr. Hall, of Japan, whom we had for some time well known by reputation. In the course of much pleasant conversation about the climate and productions of that country, he informed us that for the past two years he had resided at Yokohama, and being greatly interested in trees and plants, had, for his own amusement, collected in his garden all of any interest which Japan contained. It being known that he was a buyer, plants were brought him from the interior, from mountain and valley, until his collection was as rich as any botanical collectors could make it, if they had access to every part of the country, which they may not have for years. Expecting to return home this year, he had also collected a large quantity of 1 seeds of trees and plants, many of them unknown either in Europe or this country.

These plants and seeds he had brought with him, except some six Wardian cases yet to arrive, and proposed to place them all in our hands for propagation and culture.

It gave us much pleasure to meet his wishes, and he returned the next day with his collection.

If you have ever seen the eagerness with which a connoisseur in pictures superintends the unpacking of some gems of art, among which he thinks he may possibly find an original of Raphael or Murillo, you will have some idea of the interest with which all, both employers and propagators, surrounded those cases while they were being opened. Among the living plants, and in fine condition, was that beautiful new evergreen, Thujopsis dolobrata; then a new species of Cryptomeria, with some fine new conifers without name; then fifteen new double-flowering Cherries, one of them described by Dr. Hall to be as large as a rose; eight new Wistarias., of different sorts, some with variegated foliage, and one with racemes a foot and a half long; seven Salisburias, with variegated foliage; the green Aucuba, a new Japan Berberry, a new Magnolia, a dozen Make, the great timber tree of Japan; five new Hibiscus, forty-five Maples, many of them variegated, and some as drooping in their branches as the Weeping Ash; a weeping Pyrus japonica, that, grafted on a large quince or apple, would make a beautiful tree covered with brilliant crimson and scarlet flowers.

There were also four new sorts of Weigela, some of them with variegated foliage; seven new Honeysuckles; a variegated Eloeagnus; three new Oaks, one with variegated foliage and leaves a foot long, and another with very curious indented leaves; a new Chestnut; six new Japan Lilies, different from any thing yet known here; eight new Columbines and other herbaceous plants; a variegated, a dwarf, and a giant Bamboo, and six new sorts of Chrysanthemums of superior beauty; as these plants are all alive and in good condition, we hope that another year will enable us to disseminate them.

Among the seeds, which are in fine condition, are a quantity of Sciadopylis verticillata, a new Conifer, described by those who have seen it, as being very unique, and possessing unusual beauty; ten distinct sorts of Retinospora pisifera, a new evergreen shrub, some of which have variegated foliage; Pinus Massoniana, both cones and clean seed; a new variegated Pine; a fine lot of Thujopsis dolobrata;

Abies firma; six new sorts of Conifers; a lot of Wistaria seed; a peck or more of the Green Aucuba; the Japan Persimmon; seed of new Japan Lilies; new Acacias; variegated Camphor Tree; seeds of a tree with variegated leaves, and growing like the poplar; another tree, growing like the poplar, with variegated leaf and yellow Hibiscus-like flower; a new weeping tree, with white flowers; a new Juniper, new Magnolias, Maples, and Chrysanthemums; a quantity of Make, the great timber tree of Japan; a quantity of variegated Ginko tree; a new Fern; a new Primrose, whose flowers are produced in an upright cluster, the shape of a pagoda; and a large number of other tree and shrub seeds, described by Dr.

Hall as unlike any thing we have here, and as possessing great beauty.

To name these, we shall have to call in the aid of our friend Dr. Torrey, as soon as their lineaments shall have obtained by growth sufficient distinctness to enable him to pronounce upon them. Dr. Hall speaks of the great variety of trees in Japan with variegated leaves, and which are among these. They will give a new beauty to our lawns, and be more permanent than flowers. It gives us much pleasure to speak at this early period of the arrival of these plants and seeds in this country, both because we wish the horticultural world to know how much it is indebted to the enterprise and plant love of Dr. Hall, and because a collection so rich and so varied has never been obtained from any country, even by the best English collectors, while the similarity of the Japanese climate to our own renders this collection of peculiar value. The Wardian cases yet to arrive, contain Conifers and other rare plants, the character of which will be announced as soon as opened. PARSONs & Co.

Hushing, March 20, 1862.

Just as we were finishing our last form, "there walked in a gentleman, with an intelligent face, and frank, pleasant manner," but quite out of breath from his efforts to reach our elevated sanctum, which, the reader should know, is so high that we have "The World" just beneath our feet. The first glance convinced us that something good had happened. After reading the above, the reader can judgewhether we were not right. So much horticultural treasure is almost enough to turn one's head. So many fine things have never before been introduced at onetime. Our English brethren pride themselves, and justly, on their enterprise in collecting rare and beautiful plants from all parts of the world; we have done comparatively nothing. Let us hope that the splendid collection now placed in the hands of the Messrs. Parsons will, in this respect, mark a new era in our history. We shall, as soon as possible, examine this collection, and lay the result before our readers. - Ed].