DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



569 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



Illustrations of Medical Botany, (consist- 

 ing of colored Figures, large quarto, of the Plants 

 affording the important articles of the Materia 

 Medica, and descriptive text by Joseph Carsen, 

 M. D., Prof. Mat. Med., Sfc. SfC. Philadelphia, 

 Robt. P. Smith, 1848.) 



It is gratifying to observe the progress of Ame- 

 rican art in the production of accurate and finished 

 works in the different branches of Natural History. 



That the taste and demand for really excellent 

 works of this kind is sm-ely increasing, is proved by 

 the successful publication of such works as Audu- 

 bon's magnificent collections of birds and animals of 

 America, Michaux and Nuttall's beautiful series of 

 plates of the American trees, and others of similar 

 character. We are now gratified by the addition 

 to this series, of two beautifully executed volumes 

 of illustrations of the plants used in the Materia 

 Medica, by Dr. Carsen, of Philadelphia. 



They have been taken from nature, as well as 

 from a great variety of the best and most authen- 

 tic authorities, with care and judgment. The me- 

 dical value of the work, which from the high com- 

 mendations of the principal MedicalJournals, must 

 be great, does not lie within our province, but as 

 a valuable contribution to botanical science, we 

 cheerfully recommend it to our readers. We would 

 notice in particular the beautiful plates of the Ce- 

 rasus serotina (wild cherry) and the Cornus flo- 

 rida (dog wood.) taken from nature, as being 

 beautifully and faithfully executed. 



Heating Green-hotjses. — In some late files of 

 the Gardener's Chronicle, published in London, 

 and edited by Prof. Lindley, I find strong recom- 

 mendations by the editor, and numerous contribu- 

 tor in favor of ''Polmaise heating" conservato- 

 ries, vineries, &c., without any explanation of the 

 necessary apparatus of such a mode of heating. 



Will you have the kindness to state in your in- 

 teresting journal, if it be adapted to the cold cli- 

 mate of Canada, and to give such an explanation 

 of the plan of such mode of heating, that any good 

 mechanic may understand it ? 



I am just completing a vinery 210 feet in length, 

 18 feet i;i width, and am desirous of ascertaining 

 if the Polmaise heating can be advantageously ap- 

 plied. 



I send you the first report of our Horticultural 

 Society. I have proposed to our committee to of- 

 fer a premium to the practical gardener who 

 possesses the greatest amount of knowledge in 

 Horticulture, including chemistry and engineering 

 and landscape gardening, so as to be able to take 

 levels, and lay out grounds, as well as cultivate 

 them well. It would, I think, tend to excite a 

 spirit of emulation among gardeners in the study 



Vol. II. 72 



of their profession. Yours, very respectfully, 

 William Lunn. Montreal, April, 1848. 



[" Polmaise" is an excellent mode of heating, in- 

 asmuch as it provides a circulation and supply of 

 fresh air for the plants. We fear that in the mode 

 applied in England, it would not be found of suffi- 

 cient power for the climate of Canada — but the 

 principle — that of a warm air chamber round the 

 furnace into which cold air enters, and from which 

 warm air issues into the house — may be applied 

 with the aid of the old system of flues or water 

 pipes. We will endeavor to give some explana- 

 tion, and the necessary illustrations of " Polmaise 

 heating," soon. Ed.] 



General Com'ENTioN of Fruit Growers. — 

 Allow me through the widely read columns of the 

 Horticulturist, to suggest the propriety of holding 

 a convention of fruit growers the coming autumn 

 in the city of New York, to exhibit, compare, and 

 test the qualities of all snch fruits as may then be 

 at maturity. The first week in October would 

 probably be a convenient and suitable time. The 

 convention might be composed of delegates from 

 the various Horticultural Societies, and such fruit 

 growers as chose to attend. 



I cannot but think that such a convention would 

 have a tendency to produce unanimity of opinion 

 respecting really desirable fruits, to establish a 

 more correct nomenclature of the varieties alrea- 

 dy in cultivation, and bring practical men in close 

 connexion — all of which I deem of great impor- 

 tance to the community at large. 



The sessions of such a convention might be ad- 

 journed from year to year, thus making it a perpe- 

 tual institution, if its labors were found useful. 

 Yours. &c., Thomas Hancock. Burlington, N. J. 



[Our correspondent's suggestion meets with our 

 entire approval — committees from the difTerent 

 societies, and fruit growers generally, would be 

 able to bring together a vast number of the finest 

 iVuits of the Union. Comparison, and the free ex- 

 pression of opinion as to the merits of varieties, 

 would soon enable the convention to determine the 

 really good sorts from the indifferent. We are sa- 

 tisfied that while this is left to individual prefer- 

 ences, and local prejudices, this kind of winnowing 

 the wheat from the chafTmust go on very slowly, 

 or not at all. 



New York appears to us to be the point to hold 

 such a convention. It is more central to fruit 

 growers and pomologists from north, east, and 

 west than any other of our larger cities. We hope 

 to hear the opinion of other correspondents on this 

 proposal for a general convention, and trust a plan 

 may soon be matured for its convocation. — Ed.] 



