384 Notices respecting New Books. 
within a separate room like a small closet, where the large hollow 
pillar also assists to support the upper story. The holes are of 
a small circumference, but dug toa surprising depth, and boiling 
water is daily poured down, which effectually prevents the least 
offence. The rubbish and offal of each house was burnt every 
morning atthe back of the street; and they were as nice and 
cleanly in their dwellings as in their persons.” 
‘The author proceeds to give a particular ‘description of several 
public and private buildings, which he has accompanied with some 
elegant and beautifully coloured drawings. 
Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 2 vols. 8vo, 
with numerous Engravings. 
The Scotish Horticultural Society was instituted in 1809. One 
of its chief objects was to encourage practical gardeners to com- 
municate any new information which their experience might from 
time to time furnish, and to afford facilities for its publication. 
The Society has, therefore, published its Memoirs periodically, in 
parts or numbers, four numbers forming a volume ; and two vo- 
lumes have already been completed. These contain more than 
one hundred communications, on subjects so various that almost 
every topic connected with horticulture is more or less treated 
of. It is a well known remark, that the comparative coldness 
and variableness of the climate has operated as a spur to the in- 
genuity of Scotish gardeners ; and so high‘ has their character 
risen, that at this day, almost all the first-rate gardens of Eng- 
land are intrusted to the management of gardeners from Scot- 
land. Asa proof that this high character is probably well de- 
served, it may be mentioned that, among the authors of the 
papers in these two volumes, there are no fewer than fifty-four 
practical gardeners, men actively engaged in the superintendance ° 
of the principal gardens in every -district of the country. 
A Philosophic and Practical Inquiry into the Nature and Con- 
- stitution of ‘limber ; including an Investigation into the Causes 
and Origin of the Dry Rot: some important Considerations 
introductory to the Suggestion of a better Method for sea- 
soning Timber; a Proposal for effectually preserving Timber 
against ever contracting the Dry Rot or Internal Decay; and 
the Particulars and Result of a Set of successful Experiments 
made and tending to establish the Authenticity of the aboye 
Proposal. By John Lingard. 8vo. pp. 56. 
The general object of the remedy proposed by the author con- 
sists (p. 33) ‘ in the application of a liquid composition which 
renders timber afterwards impervious to moisture of any kind 3 
an 
