438 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



plants and in the produce, amounted to a third. 

 The "Tains were of the same size in the two 

 cases. He also observed that the new variety 

 was less impatient of drouth, and, in consequence, 

 expresses a hope that it may be possible to culti- 

 vate it where there is only sufficient water to 

 keep the soil moist. M. J. B. Gard. Chron. 



Horse Chestxut Flour. — That the seeds of 

 ihe Horse Chestnut contain a large quantity of 

 Hour is well kno w-n ; and attempts have been made 

 to convert them into bread. But the Horse 

 Chestnut is bitter and acrid, and, in its natural 

 state, unfit for human food. Our readers will 

 therefore be glad to know that pure flour has been 

 obtained from Horse Chestnuts by very simple 

 means. M. Plandin, the discoverer of the pro- 

 cess, gives the following directions for its prepa- 

 ration: The chestnuts are to be reduced to a 

 jmlp, to which an hundredth or even a fiftieth part 

 by weight of carbonate of soda is to be added; 

 the whole is then to be washed and strained. In 

 this way samples of flour were obtained perfectly 

 free from any bitter taste, white, and equal in 

 every respect to potato flour, which, tticre is some 

 reason to believe, will to a great extent be super- 

 seded by that extracted from the hitherto com- 

 paratively useless Horse Chestnut. Gard. Chron. 



Planting the Slopes of Railroads. — A 

 Neapolitan ambassador at the English court, said 

 that during a residence often years in London, he 

 had eaten but one ripe fruit ; and that was a baked 

 apple ! 



Whatever allowance is made in this assertion 

 for southern exaggeration, it is quite certain, 

 that without the help of walls and espaliers, 

 the greater part of the best fruits, particularly 



grapes, would not ripen in the open air in the 

 climate of England; and it is very nearly the 

 same with us. At this moment in England, 

 the sides of the slopes or deep cuts, made by rail* 

 roads, are considerably used for espaliers, wherev- 

 er these cuts have revealed a rock firm enough 

 to be used as the surface of a wall , A border or 

 bed at the foot of the slope, is filled with good 

 soil ; peach and apricot trees occupy the lower 

 part; grapevines, planted here and there, climb 

 up above these trees, and may be extended over 

 an indefinite space. 



Although our country is less irregular in sur- 

 face than Great Britain, and consequently the cuts 

 of tlie railroads are less frequent and not so deep, 

 there is, however, in this fact an example that we 

 might follow with advantage. 



In otlier sections, where these cuts have ex- 

 posed fertile soil, they have tried plantations of 

 vines supported by props. These are indeed, true 

 artificial hills, which, when they have more or 

 less of a northern exposure, are sheltered from 

 the cold winds, and give a reasonable hope of 

 the possibility of ripening the grape in the open 

 air, without the aid of the espaliers. In ordinary 

 fieasons, the Belgians e&t verjuice under the name 

 of grapes; our epicures pay every year a conside- 

 rable tribute to France, for the Chassclas de 

 Fontainbleau, v/hich is brought for them at great 

 expense, and for which they are taxed accord- 

 ingly. 



The culture of the vine would give much bet- 

 ter results on our soil, if, on one hand, we made 

 use, like the English, of every spot favorable to 

 the production of the grape ; and if, on the other j 

 we took care to limit ourselves to the cultivation 

 of those kinds which ripen their fruit early — the 

 only ones really adapted to our climate. Journal 

 d' Horticulture Belse. 



DOMSSTIC NOTICES. 



Horticultural Honor. — We notice with great 

 pleasure that the Massachusetts Horticultural So- 

 ciety has voted Col. Wilder, who has, to the 

 unanimous regret of the members, retired from the 

 presidency, after many years of most successful 

 1 ibor, a handsome piece of plate, valued at a hun- 

 dred and fifty dollars. Gen. Dearborn has also 

 received a like token in the shape of the society's 

 gold medal, as well as Mr. Teschemacher, the 

 scientific Secretary of the Society, in a piece of 

 plate of the value of fifty dollars. It is easy to 

 see why public institutions are well managed in 

 Bo.ston — the associates not only select the most 

 able men, but are never unmindful of the merit of 

 past services. 



Col. Wilder in the mean time, seems not to be 

 allowed to rest on his laurels — for we notice that 

 he has been appointed president of the new agri- 



cultural .society of Norfolk county, and Councillor 

 to the State. 



The Misletoe. — I have sent you, by express, 

 a package of the seeds of the misletoe, which I 

 trust will reach you in a good state of preserva- 

 tion. 



As this plant is not so well known at the north 

 as here, where it frequently covers the branches 

 of large trees so completely as to make them pre- 

 sent the appearance of magnificent evergreens, I 

 will venture to say a few words regarding its 

 growth, which may not be unacceptable. The 

 novel effect of these trees covered with misletoe, 

 is greatly heiglstened by the numerous transparent 

 berries, which, at certain seasons, enliven every 

 branch of the plant. 



The seeds of the misletoe are deposited by birds 



