102 Domestic Notices : — England. 



on the contrary, should be allowed to repose in common mould, before excit- 

 ing them again with ferruginous soil. Is this true or false ? Or can it be 

 that artificial ferruginous mould can never equal soil naturally ferruginous ? 

 This may be probable, from the analogy of artificial mineral waters, which are 

 never equal to those naturally mineral. In short, are there amateurs in Eng- 

 land who would wish to import mould from the mountains of Madeira into 

 England for growing blue hydrangeas ? If that is the case, amateurs should 

 address their orders, by letter (post paid), to me, within three months from 

 this time (October 21. ]837), so that I might be able to execute their orders 

 before my departure for the Canaries, which will probably take place next 

 spring. — Z)/-. J. F.Lippold. Funchal, Madeira, Oct. 21, 1837. 



Pine-Apples in Madeira. — In almost all the large gardens in Madeira, near 

 Funchal, pine-apples are found planted in the open air; but almost all these 

 plants look sickly, and produce but very indifferent fruit, and that rarely. 

 May we not look for the cause in the want of care in general, and particularly 

 in the fatal influence of the rainy season, when the water penetrates into the 

 heart of the plant (the leaves of which form a very close small cornette), and, 

 at the same time, keeps tiie earth about the roots too cool ? Would it not be 

 better to take up the plants before the rainy season, plant them in pots, and 

 replace them, in spring, in the open air, after having well dug and improved 

 the soil ? or, at least, to shelter the pine-apple plants, during the rains, by a 

 movable roof of canvass or planks, sloping sufficiently to carry off" the water? 

 I have seen this method of cultivating the pine-apple, partly in the open 

 ground and partly in pots, succeed pretty well in France. It would, no 

 doubt, succeed perfectly well, and with less trouble, in the fine climate of 

 Madeira. — Id. 



The Tea Plant has been introduced here, on a large scale, by Mr. Veitch, 

 late British consul at Funchal. Mr. Veitch has made different plantations of 

 different species or varieties of the tea plant on the mountains, at the height 

 of 3000 ft. above the level of the sea, in situations where the snow falls occa- 

 sionally in winter, and sometimes rests even on the tea plants. I hope Mr. 

 Veitch may be induced to send you a detailed account of these very interest- 

 ing plantations. — Id. 



Guards for single Trees in Egypt. — Last of all, we went to see the palace of 

 Mehemet Ali, which lies at the end of a tongue of land between the two har- 

 bours of Alexandria. It is in some degree characteristic of this prince, that 

 an avenue 2000 ft. in length leads to it from the city, bordered by brick 

 towers, without roofs, 8 ft. high, the use of which is to protect against injury 

 the young acacias that are planted in them. {Athenceum, Dec. 2. 1837.) 



Art. III. Domestic Notices. 

 ENGLAND. 



Surrey Zoological Gardens, November 28. — One great attraction in these 

 gardens during the past summer was the gigantic model of Mount Vesuvius 

 during an eruption. The models of the mountain and the lesser hills of the 

 range still remain ; and, rising boldly into the horizon above every other ob- 

 ject, have, unaided by the volcano, a very grand and impressive appearance ; 

 and suggest the idea of introducing panoramic views of mountains in different 

 parts of the world in landscape scenery, on an equally large scale. For this 

 purpose, it would be necessary to have a piece of ground containing ten or 

 twelve acres, and of a circular form. In the centre might be an island of, say, 

 150 ft. in diameter ; beyond this, there might be a zone of water, 200 ft. wide ; 

 and farther on, lawn, trees, and shrubs, to be arranged and varied in such a 

 manner as to form an appropriate basement for the mountain range. Whether 

 such an exhibition would pay for the expense, is very doubtful ; but no one 

 who has seen the portion of panoramic view of the Vesuvian range alluded to 



