The notice alluded to by our correspondent (Gard. Mag. 323.) is a translation from a note by the distinguished French agriculturist, Yvart, given in an edition of the Théâtre d'Agriculture d'Olivier de Serres, Paris, 4to. 1804, vol. i. p. 171. It coincides with the Agricultural Chemistry both of Chaptal and Sir H. Davy, and with our own observation and opinion. Salt may stimulate both arable land and pasture, without being a manure, or, in other words, a food for plants. We shall, however, be happy to see Mr. Collyns's pamphlet on the subject, to make known his experience to our readers, and to change our opinion on conviction. We shall also be particularly obliged to our correspondent for suggestions as to cottage medicine from indigenous or common plants; and we think it might be useful to point out the native plants fit to cook with common food as spices or condiments; such, perhaps, as crow garlic, Alliaria officinalis, wormwood, &c. &c. Might not the tender tops of common clover, thorns, elms, &c. be rendered palatable by such means? and would not a decoction of common hay tea, which is known to be very nourishing, be rendered palatable by something easier or more universally to be got at than salt or sugar? We do not mean that these things can ever be either profitably or agreeably used as food, but we should like to know what could be made of them in seasons of great dearth, and in the uninhabited regions encountered by emigrants.-Cond. ART. XVI. On the Culture of Nerium oleander splendens. By Mr. JAMES REEVE, Gardener to G. F. Evans, Esq. and Lady Carberry, at Laxton Hall, near Wandsford, Northamptonshire. Sir, PERMIT me to send you a description of a plant of the Nerium oleander splendens, which I have succeeded in flowering in a superior manner this season, and which I trust you will approve as being worthy a page in your interesting Magazine. A cutting was sent me from Brighton, in a letter by post, in July 1823, which I immediately struck in water. After it had taken root, I potted it in a light composition, and kept the pot standing in water. It was my object not to suffer it to flower, or form any head, till it attained the height of two feet, or two feet four inches; and therefore, during its growth to that size, I continually disbudded, observing at least to leave four buds nearest the top for the purpose of forming the head. 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 derries 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 7 lbs. of This, when melted, berries, 4 lbs. of which yield 1 lb. of wax. 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 ger minate 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. 80 d- 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 These root-end sets (from the root end (c and d) still later. 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 |