290 



FOREIGN NOTICES. 



nal branch of which, ending in a flower skeleton (or 

 group of buds) for next spring's bloom. There 

 are two trees here twenty or thirty feet high, the 

 leaves not larger than those of the Catalpa; and 

 exceedingly like that tree, in the stiff and brittle 

 looking growth. Yours, H. W. S. Paris, Oct. 

 27, 1848. 



Destruction of Rats and Mice. — There is no 

 need of demonstrating how sadly troublesome 

 these two species of ronzeurs are to our young 

 plantations of all sorts, and especially to the seed 

 beds. Many modes have hitherto been devised to 

 destroy them, none of them quite satisfactory. The 

 following two methods are however certain to ef- 

 fect the purpose. 



Cut a cork into very small pieces, and fry the 

 latter in lard, butter, or drippings; place it here 

 and there in little heaps in the garden. The rats 

 and mice swallow it with avidity, and soon disap- 

 pear from the garden, killed by this indigestible 

 Bubstance. Bits of sponge fried in the same man- 

 ner, produce the same effects still more promptly. 

 The same dose may be used with equally good ef- 

 fect against those wandering cats and dogs, whose 

 gambols are so destructive to the good condition 

 of glass-ranges or newly planted beds. These sub- 

 stances are easily obtained and made ready for use, 

 and they offer none of the inconveniences and dan- 

 gers attending the employment or arsenic. Flore 

 des Serves. • • • • 



Aberdeen Bee-hive Strawberry.— This sort, 

 so much vaunted in the newspapers by the origina- 

 tor, is likely to prove a complete " humbug." 

 Several English gardeners state, in the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, that it is only the old Grove-end Scar, 

 let, a well known sort ; and we notice the follow- 

 ing note in M. Van Houtte's Catalogue just re- 

 ceived from Ghent : — 



" This variety, pompously announced, as a new 

 wonder, by Mr. Jas. Matthewson, of Aberdeen, 

 appears to bear nothing but fruits of inferior qual- 

 ity. I possess a considerable quantity, and I of- 

 fer plants gratuitously to any of my correspon- 

 dents, who may desire to try its culture. I will 

 on the other hand, indemnify fully those to whom 

 I may have sold this strawberry." 



Large fruited monthly Raspberry. — This 

 new variety has been exhibited before a Horticul- 

 tural Society, and at various places in London this 

 autumn, " the canes loaded with clusters of fine 

 fruit on every lateral from base to summit. It is 

 likely to prove a decided acquisition. Mr. Rivers 

 (of the Sawbridgeworth nurseries, England,) we 

 observe, offers plants for eighteen shillings (ster- 

 ling) per dozen. 



New Foreign Grapes — We copy the following 

 description of new varieties of grapes (by Mr. 

 Thompson,) from the Journal of the Horticultu- 

 ral Society of London. It will be very desirable 

 to introduce them into this country, especially the 

 sort last named. Ed.] 



Notes on some varieties of Grapes fruited 

 IN the garden of the Society in 1847 — 1. Sa- 

 hibee. a Deccan Grape, sent to the society by 

 Colonel Sykes. 



A large handsome bunch, sometimes slightly 

 shouldered, berries large, oval, white, with a rose- 

 colored tinge next the sun. Pulp tender, juicy, 

 sweet, without any muscat flavor, pleasant, but 

 not equal in richness to the Sweet-water. 



The vine, notwithstanding the hot climate from 

 which it was imported, bursts soon into leaf; and 

 as the fruit ripens early, it may prove eligible for 

 easy forcing. 



2. Verbal. The foliage of this resemble, that 

 of the white Frontignan; but the fruit is like that 

 of the Royal Muscadine; yet, independent of its 

 properties as a wine grape, it appears deserving 

 of cultivation. It ripens soon after the Royal 

 Muscadine. 



3. Reeves' Muscadine. This was imported from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, without a name, by John 

 Reeves, Esq., and as it appears worthy of culti- 

 vation, it has been designated as above. 



Bunch large, shouldered, stalk thick, pedicels 

 short and stifl", berries oval, skin yellowish white, 

 rather thick, pulp melting, juicy and rich. A good 

 grape, ripening quite as early as the Black Ham- 

 burgh, under similar circumstances. 



4. Blussard Noir. From Messrs. Baumann. 

 This may be described as a smaller, earlier, and 

 more sugary variety than the Black Hamburgh, 

 which, in other respects, it resembles. 



5. Gros Gommier du Cantal. This was sent 

 to the Society from Paris, by Mr. Francis Rauch. 

 A very strong-growing variety, with remarkably 

 short-jointed wood ; leaves deeply serrated, and oc- 

 casionally lobed, veins and mid-rib on the under-side 

 somewhat rough with bristly hair. Bunch large, 

 with a strong stalk; berries very large, upwards 

 of three inches in circumference, round, and of a 

 red or grizzly color, pulp juicy, with a flavor as if 

 between the Black Hamburgh and white Sweet- 

 water. The latter being by itself a bad setter, 

 and on that account not unusually fertilized by the 

 Black Hamburgh, it is probable that this variety 

 is across between the two; at all events, if this 

 be imagined, a correct idea of the grape will be 

 obtained, for it seems to partake of both. Jour. 

 Hort. Soc. vol. M, part 4. 



