DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



387 



from which our florists might have derived inspi- 

 ration. Ah'cady beautiful perlbrmanee.s liave been 

 produced in this way since the introduelion of 

 larire bouquets. Bou(iucts arc now a eon.siderable 

 article of commerce throughout Europe, — a tax 

 which is paid without conf:;traint, and the receipt 

 of which is a smile. 



The botanic garden of Padua is one of tlie old- 

 est in Europe, and in which there are exotic trees 

 of the large.st size, bearing their fruit as in their 

 native countries. On oriental Plane dates from 

 1545, and this monument of three centuries is in 

 all the vigor of age ; its only infirmity eon.sLsts in 

 a great number of knots, Vv"hich render it very cu- 

 rious without destroying its robust health. The 

 Maijnolia gi-andiflora is as strong as tlie oak of 

 oiu' forests, and is covered with fruit every year. 

 'I'here is also a very old tree of Ginko biloba, and 

 the high pyramids of Cypresses bespeak the re- 

 mote period when they were planted. Quercus 

 ilex, and ^^gilops, have also attained to a large 

 size. The Agnus-castus (Vitex Agnus-castus,) 

 v/hich is but a simple shrub in our lawns, has here 

 attained to the stature of a large tree ; it appears 

 to date from that good old time when the rustics 

 believed in its virtue;^, or when the ancient monks, 

 provided with a branch of the tutelar .shrub, set 

 the enraged demons at defiance in respect to the 

 repose of their souls. But the tree, in getting 

 old, has no doubt lost its powers; or if there still 

 issues from it an atmofiphere of purity, it extends 

 but little beyond its own shade. Hort. Magazine . 



'^ The PRESEsvATroN of Potatoes. — We have 

 read the following note in the Bulletin of the 

 meetings of the National and Central Society of 

 Agriculture, second series, fourth volume, num- 

 ber 2 : 



" Process of Keeping Potatoes ; by Mons. Bru- 

 NO-FouQUE. — Nothing is more simple and econo- 



mical. My discovery is so easily put in pi-actice, 

 that you are almost led not to believe it. Never- 

 theless, all eonjectures are vain; and whoever 

 wislies to convince himself of what I say, let him 

 try the jilan here recommended. 



" Put some lime in a large tub or hole dug in 

 the earth, and slake it in the same way as the 

 masons do. As soon as the process is completed, 

 throw in the potatoes you desire to preserve, (be- 

 ing careful that the lime entirely covers them,) 

 and leave them there twelve hours; at the expi- 

 ration of which time, take them out, wa.sh them, 

 and dry them in the sun. By employing this ex- 

 tremely ea.sy and simple method, you can preserve 

 your potatoes for several years without the loss 

 of flavor, and they will never vegetate." 



Winter Bui.bs. — It is not too late to speculate 

 in these attractive productions, so admirable for 

 adorning the interior of a dwelling-hou.se in win- 

 ter. Hyacinths may still be planted in pots, and 

 put into glasses; and those which have been 

 brougiit forward, according to previous directions, 

 should be brought in-doors for forcing. 



These bulbs can be grown in baskets of moss 

 with excellent efleet. The baskets may be varied 

 in shape and size according to the fancy of the 

 amateur; they must have the lower parts imper- 

 vious to water, either by being made of metal, or 

 by having a China dish put in of the right size. 

 This must be filled with sand, covered with a 

 layer of moss, on which the bulbs are to be 

 placed. If rooted before put in, the plants will 

 be more sure of a regular advancement. The 

 whole should be covered with the best specimens 

 of fresh green moss that can be procured, and a 

 moderate degree of moisture kept up in the whole 

 mass. If the colours are properly varied, these 

 moss-baskets will prove beautiful objects. Card. 

 Chron . 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



Circular to the General Fruit Commit- 

 tee. — The following Circular has already been dis- 

 patched to the chairmen of state committees of 

 the Congress of Fruit-growers, for the purpose of 

 serving as a guide in some measure to their la- 

 bors in preparing reports for the next session of 

 the Congress of Fruit- growers. 



As there are also many of our readers, not upon 

 these committees, who are quite as zealous as the 

 committees, in all matters touching the progress 

 of fruit culture, and who will therefore gladly help 

 the good cause by placing such materials or expe- 

 rience as they may possess in the hands of the 

 chairmen or members of these committees, or lay 

 the same, themselves, before the Congress at its 

 next session, — we reprint the Circular in our eo- 

 li^mns, that it may find its way to all parts of the 

 eonnXry. 



(circular.) 



Di'ar Sir — As several members of the General 

 Fruit Committee, have requested information re- 

 garding their duties during the year preceding the 

 next session of the Congress of Fruit Growers, I 

 have thought it might promote a systematic spirit 

 of co-operation among the various members of the 

 State Committees, to address a few suggestions, 

 directing your attention to the most prominent 

 points of investigation. 



It is, I believe, understood that our investiga- 

 tions are to be directed, in the first place, rather 

 to the acquisition of information, regarding the 

 merits and culture of fruits already known and de- 

 scribed, than to collecting new fruits. It is par- 

 ticularl}' desirable to arrive at all important facts, 

 regarding those varieties whose excellence, hardi- 

 ness, and productiveness, render them valuable 



