what I learned, when at Perth, has given very great satisfaction. Steam could certainly be employed to great advantage in impelling this machine, as horse power is awkwardly applied when required to push instead of to pull forward. I am, &c. - James Wilkie. Uddingston, Oct. 17. 1829.

The Soude (fig. 142.) is a watering-machine, said to be used in the neighbourhood of Avranches; and

where much watering in the open air is requisite, as in the market-gardens of France and Italy, it must produce a considerable saving in labour. It is simply a cylinder of copper, brass, or tin, (wood might do) with the bottom fixed an inch or two above the lower rim, and pierced with holes like the rose of a common wateringpot, to let the water enter and

escape; and there is a hole in the handle of the upper part of the utensil (a) to let the air escape when it is filling with water. To fill it, plunge it into a well or cistern, and, when full, let the person who carries it place his thumb on the hole (a), or turn the cock (6). To let the water escape in a fine shower, remove the thumb or return the cock. The operator should have a utensil in each hand, and the sizes may be those of common wateringpots. The soude is not likely to be of much use in English gardens; but one of the simplest, cheapest, and best shower baths hitherto in use may be formed from it. We shall have one constructed, and send it and the soude to Weir's manufactory, Oxford Street. The soude was brought to us from Paris by the Baron Baude, at the suggestion of M. Souligné, late editor of the Journal Hebdomadaire. - Cond.

EDUCATION in the Canton of Geneva. It is interesting to compare the state of education in our little canton with that of the neighbouring countries, France and Sardinia. In 1827, in the department of the Seine and Loire, there were 4535 young men found liable to the conscription; of these, 2925 could neither read nor write, 1311 could both read and write, 233 could only read, and 65 uncertain. In the department of the Ain there were 3093; of whom 227 could read only, 1079 who could read and write, 1718 who could neither read nor write, and 79 uncertain. In this department is the little town of Gez, on the southern declivity of Mount Jura, in which there were 198 liable to the conscription; of these 122 could read and write, 3 could read only; so that there were but 56 in 100 who could neither read nor write. In this place, therefore, which is on the frontiers of Geneva, and the Canton de Vaud, five eighths have been at school, and acquired, at least, some knowledge. In Gez also, among all the towns in the department, agriculture, breeding of cattle, and manufactures are the most flourishing. This is, however, entirely owing to its proximity to Geneva. According to the above computation, nearly two thirds of the French youths were wholly uneducated. Of the females, six eighths may be reckoned as in the same predicament. (For. Quart. Rev., Jan.)

Education in Savoy. In Savoy, out of ten young people of both sexes, we may reckon that eight are without education, and, in the interior of the

country, for instance in the Tarantaise and Maurienne, nine. Here, in Geneva, and, for the last five years, in the Canton de Vaud, it would be difficult to find a healthy child, of ten years of age, that cannot both read and write with facility. (For. Quart. Rev., Jan.)

Education in the Canton of Argovia. - The little council of the canton of Argovia has issued an ordinance, in order to secure the benefits of education to children who are employed in manufactories. By this ordinance the owners of all such manufactories are compelled to establish a school, and provide a proper schoolmaster to instruct the children employed by them. One hour daily, or two hours every other day, is to be allowed them for the purpose. All these schools to be under the special superintendence of the counsellors of schools. No manufacturer is allowed to receive a child into his establishment without a certificate from the clergyman of the parish that the child is of proper age. (Ibid.)

In the Gymnasium at Bern the children are taught not only the exercises of the mind, but also those of the body; to swim, to jump, to climb, to ride; a plan which seems to me excellent, as giving a wholesome direction to that restless activity of boys, which so often leads them first into mischief, and then into vice. (Wood's Letters of an Architect, vol. i. p. 192.)

The Vallais is a fine valley, much narrower here than I had imagined from my view of it from above Martigny. The mountains which bound it are steep slopes, the bottom appears flat, and, altogether, it wants variety: yet it offers some beautiful scenes, especially at the openings of the little valleys. The inhabitants are esteemed to be lazy, dirty, and goitrous, and by far the most licentious in Switzerland, but rather improving of late years. Till the road over the Simplon was made, it was one of the most unfrequented parts of the country, and it may serve as an encouragement to those who fear that good roads, and freer intercourse with their neighbours, will spoil the sobriety and simplicity of the Swiss character. (Ibid. p. 197.)

ITALY.

Food of the lower Classes.- On one occasion I listened to a capuchin preaching in the Coliseum: his subject was a comparison between the Virgin Mary and the river Jordan, which descends from Lebanon as the virgin descended from heaven; and he added a great deal of stuff, which you would not thank me for remembering. I asked one of the more respectable clergy why such conduct was permitted, and he pleaded that it was necessary to please the lower classes with nonsense, as hogs are fed with garbage. To amuse and to cheat the people has been too often the endeavour of those who think themselves called to rule the world; but if they vitiate the taste of the multitude, by furnishing them with unwholesome food, it is the fault of the teachers, not of the people, if the latter lose their relish for plain and salutary truths; and this argument seems to come with a very bad grace from the Roman Catholic clergy. The watchfulness over the press, and the refusal of the Scriptures to the people, can only be defended on the plea of refusing to them, not only every thing but good and wholesome food, but all such as they can by any means misdigest, if I may coin a word, and continue my metaphor. Particular truths may be hurtful at certain times; general ones are good at all times; and he who imagines that the multitude is incapable of understanding the principles which guide his own conduct, has either mistaken his way, or is led by vanity to attribute to himself a superiority over his fellow-creatures which he does not possess. (Wood's Letters of an Architect, vol. ii. p. 386.)

SICILY.

The Botanic Garden at Palermo.-There is a good botanic garden at Palermo, and the warmth of the climate gives us an opportunity of seeing VOL. V. No. 23.

U U

many of our green-house plants growing freely and in great perfection in the open air. Among them we may observe the sugar-cane, the papyrus, and the banana; and the botanist will also be gratified by meeting with many Sicilian plants, which are hardly to be seen elsewhere. The casino was designed by M. du Fourny, whom I have already mentioned to you at Paris; the general form is good, but the details do not please me. The metopes (for the order is Doric) are ornamented with different fruits. The idea is ingenious, but it ought to have exhibited the various modes of fructification, especially such as tend to elucidate the different families of plants. In the present instance, they have neither been well chosen nor well executed. (Wood's Letters of an Architect, p. 341.)

Hedges in Sicily. -- About Monreale the aloe is very abundant, and I once counted ninety-eight flowering stems in one view. It is employed as a fence, but it is not a good one; for though excellent for one or two years before flowering, yet, as the old plant dies immediately afterwards, two or three years elapse before the offsets are sufficiently advanced to supply its place effectually. I sometimes, also, see the cactus employed as a fence; but, after some time, the lower part loses its prickles, and men and animals may creep through. (Ibid., p. 354.)

NORTH AMERICA.

Growth and Manufacture of Silk. - During 1828, six thousand copies of a compilation on the growth and manufacture of silks were published by order of the House of Representatives in congress. This compilation contains an abridgment of all that is relative to its introduction into America. Dr. Mease, of Philadelphia, has also translated Count Hazzi's Lehrbuch des Seidenbaues für Deutschland, and published it with plates. (New York Farmer and Hort. Rep., Oct. 1828.)

The Maize was the finest I had seen, having stalks 14 ft. in height, abundantly furnished with ears of grain (helotes), in which, I was informed, a minute and very venomous snake is sometimes secreted. Here the delicious cherimoyer flourishes in a wild state; roses are absolutely weeds. Among some neglected peach trees I saw an orange tree covered with fruit. (Lyon's Mexico.)

Gooseberry in Albany. - The gooseberry has not been extensively cultivated among us, and our assortment is but indifferent. The fruit is very liable to be blighted by mildew ere it is half formed, and we know no remedy for the evil. (Communicated to Mr. Saul from a Correspondent at Albany, Nov.7. 1828.)

Sugar made from the Water-Melon. It has been discovered in the state of South Carolina, that a very fine quality of sugar may be extracted from the water-melon, which grows in great perfection there. The landlord of a public-house has shown that all the sugar used in his house during the preceding twelve months, and which had passed as the finest cane, had been obtained from water-melons of his own raising. (Newsp., Jan. 1829.)

General Education. - The New England states and New-York have made the most liberal provision for the instruction of the people. It appears from a note in Mr. Cooper's book, that there were in the lastmentioned state in 1825, without including 656 schools from which no returns were made, 7773 common schools, which were supported wholly, or in part, by the public, and attended by 425,000 scholars. Besides the means afforded for the lowest elements of education, the state of NewYork has a fund which has contributed largely to classical schools, and endowments to no inconsiderable extent have been made to colleges. Other provinces have been equally munificent; and congress, in authorising the admission of new states into the union, has made to them distinct

appropriations of public lands for common schools, and for the establishment of colleges. (Rev. of Cooper's Notions of the Americans, in Westmins ter Rev. for Jan. 1829, p. 66.)

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

ENGLAND.

-

PRESTON Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. On Thursday night last, Mr. John Dewhurst, mason and slater, gave a historical lecture on architecture, to the members of the above institution. The lecture was well attended, and Mr. Dewhurst gave an elaborate account of the science, from the earliest ages to its perfection by the Grecians and Romans, which he exemplified by many well executed drawings from the most celebrated buildings of the ancient architects. He lamented the decline of the science, and concluded his lecture by exhorting his fellow-members, such as masons, joiners, and smiths, to form themselves into classes, for the study of the qualities of stone, the strength of iron, timber, &c., attributing the many accidents from the fall of buildings to a want of this knowledge. He announced the subject of his next lecture to be, the state and progress of the art from the invasion of the Romans to the present time. He then presented the whole of the drawings, together with a beautiful model of the Choragic monument of Sysicrates, which is called by the modern Athenians the "Lantern of Demosthenes," to the institution. The model was executed by Mr. Ducket, sculptor, in this town. It is composed of three distinct parts: first, a quadrangular basement; secondly, a circular colonnade, of which the intercolumniations were entirely closed; and, thirdly, a tholus, or cupola, with an ornament upon the crown of the dome. For this. munificent gift of Mr. Dewhurst, the members expressed their gratitude by a simultaneous clapping of hands. (Preston Chronicle.)

We have great pleasure in recording this attempt to diffuse architectural taste and knowledge. No description of science, or of taste, is more in want of a stimulus, especially in the country. It is remarkable that, not-. withstanding the great number of societies in England for objects of utility,, there should be so few for objects of taste. Scarcely one of the numerous. gardening societies pays any attention to the art, as one of design or taste.. We should like to see a society established for the diffusion of architectural knowledge, which a society might do by merely publishing periodically a series of designs and details of all manner of ordinary buildings, at a price which would come within the reach of every journeyman bricklayer and carpenter. - Cond.

State of the Poor in Colne. - The labouring population at Colne, we hear, are at present suffering more severe distress than they suffered in 1825 and 1826. The wages for weaving are now something lower than they ever were at that period, and provisions are nearly one third dearer. A survey of the poor was made last week, by personal visitation at their houses, and the result is, that there are 1940 individuals (being nearly one third of the population), whose average weekly income per head, inclusive of parish relief, amounts only to 1s. 24d., or 2d. a day; and that there are 1248 individuals, whose average weekly income per head does not exceed Is. 9ąd., or 3d. a day; thus there is nearly one half of the population who have not on an average above 24d. a day to live upon. Similar returns have been obtained from the adjoining townships, with nearly the same results. It is added, that preparations are making for forwarding to government a

memorial on this unnatural state of society. Surely it forms a strong ground of appeal on the subject of the corn laws. (Bolton Chron., May 2.) The unfortunate difference between the poor of England, and the poor of every other country in Europe is this, that being raised higher by artificial circumstances, their fall to the lowest state is so much the greater. Requiring a good deal to live even miserably, when misfortune arrives they cannot live at all. Small as may be the sum of 2d. a day, it would support a man in France or Germany. In all countries, the only poor who can be considered as having any fixed comfort, either in hand or in prospect, are those who derive their income direct from the produce of land; who rent or own a cottage and large garden, or who are labourers in agriculture, paid chiefly in kind, as in the northern counties. In all that relates to food and warmth, the poor of Russia and Poland are incomparably better off than the poor of England; but this evil in England, like every other evil, will work its own cure, and in proportion as it presses on the class next above them, in the same proportion will remedies be sought after and found. Nothing worth mentioning will ever be done for either the poor, the farmer, the tradesman, or the manufacturer, till the trade in corn be perfectly free. - Cond.

Atherstone Self-Supporting Dispensary. — The object of this institution is to furnish medicine to the poor, not gratuitously, but on a certain scale of payment, according to the means of the applicants. We would strongly recommend it as deserving encouragement and imitation, were we not deeply impressed with the opinion, that nine tenths of the diseases of the poor arise from want of sufficiency of good food and clothing, and from low, damp, uncomfortable cottages; and we know very well that medicine cannot do much in curing these evils. Would not the same amount laid out in soup do them more good? It is lamentable to think, that, in such a place as Atherstone, stated in the Gazetteer of England to contain only a population of 2500 individuals, there should have been so many as 765 under the medical treatment of this dispensary in one year. Surely this in a country population cannot be what may be called natural disease. We highly applaud the elevated motives of the members, but we can see no hopes for poor of England but in the general diffusion of education, and in a perfectly free trade in corn and in every other raw material. The poor of England will then, and not till then, be upon an equal footing with the poor of other countries. - Cond.

the

The Drainage of extensive Tracts of Marshy Country, by means of steam, begins to be adopted; though it is surprising that it has not long ere now become more general in the marshy and fenny districts of the eastern coast. A steam-engine of 40-horse power, with a water-wheel of 28 ft. in diameter, has lately been erected at Misterton, near Gainsborough, for the purpose of draining upwards of 6,000 acres belonging to different proprietors, and lying in four parishes. After the engine had worked one hour, it was ascertained that the main drain running from the carrs had been lowered eight inches, and that the drain into which the water was thrown, measuring from the stop-gates of the engine to the sluice-doors adjoining the Trent (which were kept closed), about three quarters of a mile in length, and about forty feet in breadth, had risen two feet. The commissioners and proprietors present, after intimating their entire satisfaction with the engine, buildings, &c., and as to the capability of the former performing the work for which it was calculated, presented the workmen, about sixty in number, with a sum of money to regale themselves, and expressed their thanks to Alfred Smith, Esq., the engineer employed on the occasion, and also to the contractors of the work, for the manner in which it had been executed. (Farm. Jour., Jan. 26. 1829.)

The Arbutus hybrida, in the Fulham Nursery, is sixteen years old, and 16 ft. high, with a large head completely covered with foliage. No frost has