1884.] THE FALL OF THE LEAF. lO'J 



and let to Mr. Beach, some forty hands are employed. In one of 

 the eleven copper cans, just cleaned, is poured a jug of water, and 

 into the water 28 lbs. of white sugar — best Dutch crushed, as it is 

 called, being a mixture of half-and-half cane and beetroot. When 

 the sugar is dissolved, 24 lbs. of raspberries, some of it, perhaps, 

 gathered only an hour or two since, is thrown in, and then the 

 crimson mixture, foaming and bubbling under the heat of steam 

 (50-lb. pressure to the square inch) from the great boiler in the 

 adjoining stable, is for about eight minutes stirred and critically 

 examined with the aid of a long wooden ladle, till, being pronounced 

 ready, it is run off into another copper and carried into the old 

 cattle-shed, now fitted up with dressers and shelves, where it is 

 adroitly transferred to thirty-six Ijottles, each now containing 1^ lb. 

 of the most brilliant raspberry jam. As soon as the air-tight covers 

 are tied on, these bottles are ready to be despatched to the four 

 corners of the globe, or, as the case may be, to take their place on 

 the weU-laden shelves among the gooseberries, currants, and straw- 

 lierries, to await their turn to go. Some idea of the extent of Mr. 

 Beach's business may be obtained from the fact that the bottles 

 used in a year cost about £1000. The setting of the fruit is 

 assisted by the visits of bees to the flower, and there is here an 

 apiary consisting of 165 hives, under the care of an experienced 

 bee-master. 



THE FALL OF THE LEAF. 



MJ\. LINDSAY, the Curator at the Eoyal Botanic Garden, Edin- 

 Ijurgb, in his monthly weather report for October, says : — 

 Deciduous trees and shruljs have parted with their foliage early. 

 By the end of the month most kinds were stripped bare, while at 

 the same time last year Ijut few leaves had fallen. Autuuni tints 

 on various trees and shrubs were very fine, but of short duration. 

 JMaples, oaks, pyrus, beecli, and Virginian creeper were amongst the 

 finest. Forest and fruit trees generally have formed firm, well- 

 ripened wood, whicli will be of great advantage in the event of a 

 hard winter taking place. Holly and cotoneaster are well covered 

 with berries, now finely coloured ; other berry-bearing shrubs are 

 l)ut sparingly set. Ehododendrons, azaleas, and other ericaceous 

 plants have not been so well set with flower buds for some years 

 back. The season is most favourable for transplanting and out- 

 door work generally. 



