350 Domestic JSTotices. 



the 15th and 16th inst. A fine show is expected. — T. Hancock, Bur- 

 lington, Jug. 8, 1842. 



Lard Oil. — The use of lard for himps is daily becoming more 

 general. In the country, where oil is not easily to be obtained, and 

 where lard may be had in abundance, it will prove economical to 

 the fi\rmer or the gardener to make use of the latter. A newly in- 

 vented lamp for the purpose of burning it, has been invented by Mr. 

 Ellis S. Archer, No. 32 North Second street, Philadelphia. By Mr. 

 Archer's method, the plain lard is taken and warmed sufficiently to 

 run, and then put into the lamp, which is all the preparation required, 

 and when lighted burns with a most beautiful brilliant light, and pro- 

 duces no offensive smoke, which is certainly a great advantage over 

 many of the sperm oil lamps, and besides, there is a very great sav- 

 ing in the use of hogs' lard in place of sperm oil. I have no doubt 

 the above discovery will prove very important to the agriculturist, 

 at least. — Yours, T. Hancock. 



Nursery of T. Mien, Winchester, Va. — We have received a cat- 

 alogue of trees, plants, t&c, from our correspondent, Mr. T. Allen, 

 of Winchester, Va. The catalogue contains a small and good col- 

 lection of fruit trees, and a greater number of fine roses, pelargo- 

 niums, dahlias, &c., than we had su[)posed was to be found in the 

 interior of Virginia. To gentlemen residing in the western part of 

 Virginia, and the adjoining States, Mr. Allen's nursery offers a good 

 opportunity to purchase. Of the state of gardening in Virginia 

 some account is given by Mr. Allen in another page. — Ed. 



Bloodgood Nursery of Messrs. Witcornb ^ Ring, Flushing, L. 

 I. — We have also been favored with a neat catalogue of trees and 

 shrubs for sale by Messrs. W^ilcomb & Ring, of Flushing, L. 1. 

 The catalogue enumerates a great variety of fruits, all collected 

 from the best sources. U|)wards of forty acres are devoted to the 

 cultivation of trees, and the personal inspection of the proprietors 

 enables them to insure correctness in the propagation of the newer 

 and choicer kinds of fruit. — Ed. 



Horticulture in Virginia. — I expect you scarcely know that there 

 is any thing like gardening in this section of country, for 1 see Wash- 

 ington is the furthest to the south your journey extended last year. 

 It is true we are a great way behind the large cities, in almost every 

 thing connected with the business, but we are improving, and the 

 Valley of Virginia is perhaps as well adapted for the cultivation of 

 all the varieties of fruits as any other part of America, and were 

 your Magazine more circulated in this country, it would be a great 

 stimulus to improvement. The taste for flowering plants is consid- 

 erable, but a work that would suit best, is one of practical use; for 

 information is very important in the growth of trees, plants, and 

 even vegetables of a great many kinds. Should you let me know, 

 through your columns, whether it be acceptable, I will make out a 

 communication at some length, on the general state of gardening in 

 the Valley of Virginia, with my views as to climate, &c. — Yours, T. 

 Jlllen, Winchester, Va., Jiugust, 1842. 



Cultivation of the Grape vine in Vineries, without Heat. — I have 

 looked in vain for a compliance with the request of your corres- 

 pondent, (Vol. VI., p. 384,) asking information relative to the 

 best culture of the grape under glass, wiiAoui artificial heat. Per- 



