These four buds broke forth with much vigour, and shortly opened four umbels of fine flowers. After flowering, I took it from the water, and placed it in its proper temperature to share the same attention and care as the common green-house plants, among which I allowed it to remain during the winter. In February, 1826, I removed it to 6 degrees more heat than its common temperature, at which time I reduced the ball of roots considerably, replaced it into its former pot, using the like composition as before, (the pot is of the No. 24 size,) and placed the pot again in water, in which situation it remained three weeks. I then removed it to an increased heat of 8 degrees, and it shortly after began to make a profusion of luxuriant shoots, on which umbels of flowers began to appear; and in the beginning of April it had absolutely become a complete picture, both in its growth, foliage, and bloom; and I much regret that a drawing of it was not taken while in its beauty, at the time it stood in the drawingroom of my employers, who bear testimony to the multiplicity of its flowers and general beauty. On the 2d of May, when in its most perfect state, I counted the number of flowers and umbels, and found them to be as follows: viz. umbels, 18; flowers in full perfection, 48; buds not opened, 63. It continued in great beauty till the 4th of June, still having many buds not arrived at maturity. I flatter myself I have also made considerable progress in a new system of working oranges, which at a future time may form the subject of another letter. Meanwhile, duly appreciating the value and utility of your Magazine, and of the honour and advantage which they who profess the art of gardening may attain through its publication, I beg leave to subscribe myself, most respectfully, Laxton-Hall, June 14. 1826. Dear Sir, &c. JAMES REEVE. ART. XVII. On the Cultivation in England of the Carolina Wax Tree, with a View to its Produce in Wax. By WILLIAM HAMILTON, Esq. M.D. Sir, CONCEIVING it the duty of every good citizen to contribute his mite to the good of the community of which he forms a part, either by personal exertion, or suggestions calculated to stimulate others to useful pursuits, I beg leave to call the attention of your experimental readers to the cultivation of a shrub which appears well suited to the mild climate of our southern and western, if not likewise of our northern and midland counties; and which, while adding considerably to our national resources, promises a rich harvest of reward to those whose public spirit leads them to prosecute the speculation with skill, industry, and spirit. The shrub to which I allude is the Myrica Carolinensis, or Broad-leaved Wax Tree of Carolina, a hardy plant, perfectly acclimated in France, where it flourishes luxuriantly in a sandy and blackish turf, rising from the height of four to six or even seven feet, producing in general an abundant crop of berries every year, and requiring little care in its culture. It is readily propagated, either by sowing the seeds in spring, and afterwards transplanting, or, which is the most expeditious method, and equally successful, by taking off the young shoots, which rise in profusion at the base of the larger shrubs, and planting these out at the distance of about three feet from each other. The Myrica Carolinensis succeeds wherever the soil is light and rather moist; and has been long known to flourish even in the dry sands of Prussia. In this latter kingdom, as we learn from an interesting memoir of Charles Louis Cader, inserted in the Annales de Chimie, it was successfully cultivated by the late Mr. Sulzer in a garden on the banks of the Spree, half a league from the city of Berlin, in latitude 52° 53', which is nearly a degree and a half farther north than London, and where the mean annual temperature is only 2° 9' higher than that of London. Here the wax tree attracted the peculiar notice of every visitor by the delicious odour of its leaves, which they preserved a long time, and the fragrance of its berries. The wax obtained from these berries was also so highly odoriferous, that a single candle formed from it not only perfumed the room in which it was lighted during the period of its burning, but also for a very considerable time after it was extinguished. From what has been said we may, I think, fairly conclude that this valuable plant is capable of being successfully_cultivated in the light sandy soils of a considerable part of Hampshire, in the Isle of Wight, in the vicinity of Plymouth, and in many parts of the open, and, at present, neglected tract in the neighbourhood of the Lizard, where acres, now not worth 2s. 6d. an acre for their produce above ground, might be made almost to rival on their surface the wealth which they conceal in their bowels. In America, to which we are indebted for this valuable production, a very fertile shrub will yield nearly 7lbs. of berries, 4 lbs. of which yield 1 lb. of wax. This, when melted, is of a greenish yellow colour, and of a firmer consistence than bees-wax. Candles made of it give a white flame and good light without smoke, and do not gutter like tallow candles. When quite fresh they afford a balsamic odour, which the inhabitants of Louisiana esteem highly salubrious. The following is the simple process by which the wax is separated from the berries. Having collected a sufficient quantity, they are thrown into a kettle and covered with water to the depth of about six inches; the whole is then boiled, stirring the grains about, and rubbing the berries against the sides of the vessel to facilitate the separation of the wax, which rises to the surface of the water like fat, and is skimmed off with a spoon, after which it is strained through a coarse cloth to free it from impurities. When no more wax rises, the berries are removed with a skimmer, and a fresh supply put into the same water, taking care to add boiling water to supply the place of that evaporated during the process, and changing the water entirely after the second time. When a considerable quantity of wax has been thus obtained, it is laid upon a cloth to drain off the water still adhering to it; after which it is dried and melted a second time to purify it, and is then formed into cakes for use. Such is the process for obtaining this vegetable wax, which, besides its value as an article for the manufacture of candles, and serving even better than tallow for making the finest soap, is, from a degree of astringency which it possesses, better suited perhaps than common wax for the composition of some plasters, in which this quality is desirable. Should these hasty remarks prove the means of directing any of your numerous readers to the cultivation of this valuable shrub in some of the waste and hitherto unproductive lands of this country, it will afford much satisfaction to, Sir, &c. Fareham Place, near Plymouth, WILLIAM HAMILTON. ART. XVIII. On the Culture of the Early Potatoe as practised in Lancashire, and on the Mode of cooking the Potatoe there. By R. W. In the western parts of Lancashire, two very early potatoes are cultivated, the small round (I am unacquainted with its particular name), and the Lady's Finger, or Early Rufford Kidney potatoe. Both sorts are excellent, as all Lancashire men will testify, and are produced and brought to market as early as May and June. I will speak particularly of the Lady's Finger, or Early Rufford Kidney potatoe. A cultivator may pursue a similar plan with the other if he deems fit. It is well known in Lancashire to some, though I believe to very few, cultivators of the potatoe, that different eyes germinate and give their produce, or become ripe at times varying very materially, say several weeks, from each other; some being ripe, or fit for use, as early as the middle of May, and others not till June or July, as may be best shown by the accompanying sketch. The sets nearest the extremity of the potatoe (fig. 80. a) are soonest ripe, and in Lancashire ... are planted, as hereinafter mentioned, in warm places in March or the beginning of April, and are ready for the market about the 12th or 15th of May. The produce of the next sets (b) are ready in about a fortnight after, and those from the root end (c and d) still later. These root-end sets (from b to d) are usually put together, and the extremity of the root end is thrown aside for the pigs. The eye of the set or plant should be near the middle of the cut, and a moderate portion of the tuber round each bud, as shown in the sketch, is sufficient. In a certain part of Lancashire this potatoe is cultivated with peculiar care, and some growers shelter the young plants with hurdles and hedges of furze here and there, to protect them from the cold winds, and sometimes even cover them with mats during the night. The sets are there planted in the month of March or beginning of April as before stated, in drills of twenty-four drills in twenty yards, and of sixteen inches to the top of the drill in the following manner. After the drills are formed (fig. 81. a) loose earth is brushed with a spade, or harrowed down, to the depth of six inches in the interval between them (b);" dung is then placed over this loose earth, to the depth of four or five inches (c); the potatoe sets of the earliest degree (fig. 80. a) are then laid on the manure, at four or five inches apart, for the early crop, and sets of the second degree (fig. 80. b), at from six to eight inches apart, for later crops, and so on 80 The sets for the early crop are then covered with a spade to the depth of two inches, and subsequently covered at two or three different times to the depth of about five inches. The second and third crops are usually covered with the plough. Some lay the potatoes intended for plants early in the year, before they are wanted to be cut, loose and separate on straw, or on warm boarded floors, and others put them on flakes or frames in warm situations near the fire, for the same purpose, in order that they may sprout, and when so sprouted to the length of half an inch or an inch, they are then carefully cut as described, assorted and planted. Some of the growers, who take great pains in the early production of this potatoe, obtain in Manchester market two or three shillings per pound, and from their delicacy they are worth the money. You will not fail to observe, that part of the potatoe near the root or runner end, as per section, is of no use whatever for sets or plants, yielding only stems, and small potatoes not worth cultivating: in cutting the sets this part is usually thrown into a fourth vessel, and given to the pigs. Perhaps the Lancashire mode of dressing early potatoes may not be unacceptable to some of your readers. "Brush off the skins, set them on the fire in cold water: when boiled, pour off the water completely, add a little salt, and dry them well on the fire." An iron pot, I conceive, is the best vessel for the purpose, and the sooner they are eaten with cold butter the better. London, Feb. 11. 1826. I am, Sir, &c. R. W. ART. XIX. Description of a Pine Pit, to be heated by Steam, erected in Shugborough Gardens, Staffordshire. By Mr. ANDREW JOHNSTON, Journeyman Gardener there. Sir, I ENCLOSE the following plan of a pine pit, (figs. 82. and 83. engraved from sketches, remarkably well delineated, which I hope you will consider not unworthy of a place in your very valuable Magazine. It has not as yet appeared in any publication, although one of a very similar nature has been sent by Mr. McMurtrie to the Horticultural Society; and, I dare say, will soon appear in their Transactions: but as their reports |