General Notices. 283 



Bishop informs us, arises from a propert}' which it possesses, and which is 

 common to no other grass cultivated in Scotland, viz. ; that of the flower- 

 stem, after being cropped, reproducing shoots from the stem as well as the 

 root ; in consequence of which it continues growing throughout the whole 

 year, particularly in the latter part of summer and autumn. Mr. Bisliop adds, 

 " I fear not to state that it is the best sole [turf] grass in Britain. I have 

 saved several bushels of its seed, which I am now sowing in mixture with 

 other grasses, and by itself." 



In the Perthshire Courier for April 21. 1836, it is stated, that a specimen of 

 the Hudson's Bay meadow-grass, mown off cold damp land, on the 14th of 

 that month, was exhibited in INIr. TurnbuU's seed-shop in Perth; and the 

 stems averaged from 18 in. to 20 in. in length, showing all the fullness and 

 verdure of midsummer. We trust this grass will be very generally tried, not 

 only in Britain, but throughout Europe ; and more especially in the northern 

 climates, for which it seems particularly adapted. — Cond. 



Xcw Varieties of Potatoes. — Mr. Bishop, to whom we are indebted for the 

 Hudson's Bay meadow-grass, has raised a number of new varieties of potato 

 from seed, which he purposes to bring into cultivation, as substitutes for the 

 old varieties, which he, Mr. Gorrie, and Mr. Aikin of Castledouglas, consider 

 to have failed of late years, chiefly from a deficiency of vitality in the sets, 

 which consequently renders them unable to withstand the contingencies of bad 

 seasons, &c. These potatoes, and also the grass-seeds, are sent by Messrs. 

 Dickson and TurnbuU of Perth to all parts of the country. — Cond. 



Transmitting Seeds from China. — I have just got a very interesting collection 

 of seeds direct from China. They are packed in a novel waj', in little China 

 jars, full of bone-ashes, and tied over with bladder. They seem to have come 

 verv safe. The bladder smells of oil of sassafras. — B. Mallet. Ryder's Row, 

 Dublin, Mail 11. 1837, 



Plant Markers. — Zinc is the only fit ingredient for labels, whether to be 

 used in the open ground or in pots. A slieet 6f zinc is easil}' cut by the 

 gardener, with strong scissors, into labels of whatever size he may want. If 

 the zinc is greasy, the labels should be steeped for a minute or two in diluted 

 nitric acid. The following receipt for making ink for writing on the zinc was 

 communicated to me by a gentleman who was in the habit of using it, and I 

 have found it indelible. Take verdigrise in powder, 5i- ; sal ammoniac in 

 powder, 5i-; lampblack, 5fs- ; water, 5x. Mix carefully in a mortar: keep 

 the ink in a bottle, well corked. It must be well shaken before the pen is 

 dipped in it. {Herberfs Amari/lliddcece, p. 411.} Zinc labels, and also the ink, 

 may be obtained of Mr. Charlwood. 



A Hi/brid between the Cabbage and Horseradish is said to have been produced 

 by M. Sageret of Paris. The plant has some seed-pods, which resemble the 

 short pod, or silicula, of the Cochlearia, and some the long pod siliqua of the 

 ^rassica. " In consequence of M. Sageret's statement, I tried, in 1835, to 

 impregnate a plant of i?rassica with the horseradish, and with the pollen of two 

 or three other genera of Cruclfera? ; but I did not obtain a single seed from at 

 least fifty flowers, on which the experiments were tried, all other flowers being 

 cut off from the plant. I beg to be understood as not denying M. Sageret's 

 assertion, but requiring better proof of the accuracy of a fact so important to 

 science, in which he may be mistaken ; and more detailed particulars, and 

 especially the production of the plants ; and I invite M. Sageret to communi- 

 cate one of them to the Horticultural Society of London, that opportunities 

 may be afforded of examining it carefully." {Herbert's AmarylUdacecE, p. 353.) 

 We hope our correspondent M. Vilmorin will point out this passage to M. 

 Sageret. 



Grapes ripened ivithoiit the Sun's Rays. — The following fact will prove that 

 grapes may attain their full size, and become perfectly ripe, without receiving 

 the immediate rays of the sun, if the vine on which they grow receive the sun's 

 necessary warmth : — On the south side of the Orphan Asylum at Oranien- 

 burg there is a vine of the white gut-edels, which is partly trained over an 



