58 Domestic Notices. 



any other apartment. If this invention answer the expectations which have 

 been formed of it, it will effect a complete revokition in the mode of heating 

 d-Cvelling-houses throughout the world; because it is the only mode hitherto 

 discovered by which heat can be produced by combustion, without any heat 

 being lost. At present, whether a room is heated by an open fireplace, a close 

 stove, steam pipes, or hot-water pipes, or by the introduction of a current of 

 heated air from a cockle-stove, still a large proportion of heat necessarily 

 escapes along with the smoke produced by the consumption of the fuel ; but 

 here not one particle of heat escapes, and the only care requisite in regard to 

 the air of a room will be, to have a quantity of fresh air admitted proportionate 

 to what is deteriorated by the combustion of the material employed in this 

 new mode of heat.ng, and by the persons breathing in the room. One ad- 

 vantage attending this invention is, that it is perfectly free from dust, and that 

 the stove, when once charged and lighted, requires no attention whatever for 

 from 20 to 30 hours, according to the charge. The convenience of such a 

 mode of applying heat to rooms without fireplaces, closets of every description, 

 cabinets, whether of books, curiosities, or plants, &c., and, in short, to all en- 

 closed places without chimneys, must be obvious. It is also adapted, beyond 

 all other inventions, for heating, with security from fire, ships, and for warming 

 the inside of close carriages ; and it might be taken under water in a diving 

 bell, or into the atmosphere in a balloon. It is also admirably adapted for the 

 purposes of French cookery. We shall not, however, enlarge farther on this 

 invention till we can explain to our readers what it is ; and this Mr. Joyce 

 has kindly promised to enable us to do at the very earliest moment after his 

 patent is sealed. It is no small honour to the profession of gardener, that 

 an invention of so much importance has been made by one of their number. — 

 Cond. 



Art. II. Domestic Notices. 



ENGLAND. 



The Lavibertian Herharium has lately received a rich collection of rare and 

 unique specimens of plants from New Zealand. Among these, are some 

 trunks of tree ferns believed to be undescribed species ; the flowers and leaves 

 of a climbing aroidean plant, which ascends to the tops of the highest trees, and 

 part of the spathe of which forms what the natives consider as a most de- 

 licious food J and an immense mass of the resin of the kowrie pine, or dam- 

 mara, of New Zealand. The outside of this resin is opaque, and of a dirty 

 white; but, where broken, it has a glassy transparent look, and a pale greenish 

 tinge. There are a number of stems and roots of scitamineous plants and 

 palms, and also various dicotyledonous plants, all of which remain to be de- 

 scribed or recognised by botanists. Among the known plants, are some 

 splendid specimens of Knightia; of Clianthus, from a new, and much colder 

 habitat, &c. Mr. Lambert devotes every Saturday, while he is in town, to 

 the display of these, and the numerous other treasures of his herbarium, to the 

 botanical world; who assemble in his richly furnished library in Grosvenor 

 Street, as they did formerly in that of Sir Joseph Banks in Soho Square. 



Art. III. Roijnl Caledodian Horticultural Society. 



The Winter General Meeting of this Society was held on December 7., in 

 the Council Room, at the Garden, Inverleith, James Gammell, Esq. (in the 

 absence of the Vice-President), in the chair. 



The Prize Committee had been occupied for several hours in examining and 

 deciding on the respective merits of the articles produced. They reported, 

 that, for the premium offered for the best six sorts of French, Flemish, or 

 German Peers, of recent introduction, four competitors had appeared ; and 

 that the medal was due to Mr. James Smith, gardener to the Earl of Hope- 

 toun, Hopetoun House; the kinds being, Grumkower Winterbirne, beurr^ 



