460 General Notices. 



warranted b}' Mr. Reid to last a lifetime. By the addition of a flexible tube 

 of 4 ft. in length, it becomes an excellent veterinaiy syringe, and, as such, will 

 be nearly as useful to a farrier as to a gardener. Like Mr. Raid's common 

 syringe, it is also valuable for aiding in the extinction of fires newly broken out : 

 for which purpose we have recommended it in our Suburban Gardener, to be 

 kept in every house, in a particular place, familiar to all the occupants of the 

 house ; and we keep one ourselves, at the back of our entrance door. — Cond. 



Mr. Gowans J\Iude of grafting the Vine. — After relating my success in the 

 herbaceous grafting of y/Hiies Smith/rt?ia (Morinda) on yi'bies excelsa, I cannot 

 omit noticing the important discovery of grafting vines by Mr. Gowan, at 

 Cadder House, by Glasgow. He is a most unassuming man ; and, in my opinion, 

 has not }et had that attention paid to him that his merit deserves : indeed, I 

 was a little sceptical in my opinion of the matter; but, in March, 1836, I had 

 a few kinds grafted, and two of them bore fruit the same season ; and that year, 

 on application to the Horticultural Society of London, a few cuttings of vines 

 were sent to this place, and grafted at the end of March. Some of the shoots 

 are now 10 ft. long, and will be in fine condition for bearing next year. Is 

 this not of importance in old established vineries, where any new sorts are 

 wanted ? The success in grafting vines depends on the time, which appears 

 to be when the young shoots of the stocks have advanced from \5 in. to 18 in. 

 long ; but, as Mr. Gowan has given a particular description of his method 

 (p. 117.), it would be improper for me to advance any thing more upon the 

 subject. — James Smith. Hopctoun House, .Jul ij 1. 1837. 



H«r/c/(,'um jiereune. — The Scotch newspapers, particularly those of Ayr, 

 are directing public attention to a new species of i/eracle;(?», or cow-parsnep, 

 introduced from Siberia, by our amiable and intelligent friend Mr. Smith of 

 the Ayr Nursery. " Its qualities for feeding, especially dairy stock, have been 

 proved by many respectable individuals to be very superior ; and its bulk of 

 herbage far exceeds that of any vegetable yet known in Britain. It is very 

 hardy, and from 4 to 5 weeks earlier than any other plant in cultivation in this 

 country; which alone adds to its value beyond price. Such an acquisition of 

 early feeding in backward springs will prove of incalculable benefit, as it grows 

 freely upon any soil, and is easily managed. Mr. Smith sows it in drills, and 

 treats it in the same manner as lucerne. It is a true perennial, and the older 

 the plant, the more vigorous is its growth, and the greater the bulk of vege- 

 table matter which it produces." (Aj/r Advertiser.) 



Rhubarb .Jelly. — At the Caledonian Horticultural Society's show, held on 

 July 12., a new and interesting article of confectionary was exhibited in the 

 Council Room, and tasted by many of the company. This consisted of jelly 

 and jam made from the tender leaf-stalks of a peculiar variety of red rhubarb, 

 cultivated in the Society's Garden.' The flavour was considered equal, if not 

 superior, to that of currant jelly, and it may be prepared in the spring, three 

 months before currants are ripe. The Society's honorary silver medal was 

 unanimously voted to Mr. James Macnab, who has the sole merit of 

 introducing this novelty. (^Scotsman, Julv 19.) 



Rhubarb Wine. — The leaf-stalks of the giant rhubarb, cut into pieces as if 

 for tarts, and bruised with a wooden mallet to express the juice, will make a 

 delicious wine, quite equal to green gooseberry, and very closely resembling 

 champagne. — .7. W. L. 



Keeping of Filberts. — This being the nut season, I may as well inform 

 you that a dish of filberts, the growth of 1835, was exhibited in our garden, on 

 the 2d of this month, by J. Johnson, Esq., of this town. His experiment was 

 most successful, for the kernels of most of them were sound, and of good 

 quality. A prize was awarded to Mr. Johnson on the occasion. The filberts, 

 when perfectly ripe and dry, are packed, with their husks on, in earthen jars ; 

 a layer of salt is spread over the surface ; a piece of brown paper is fastened on 

 to exclude the air ; and they are kept in a dry cool cellar. The Turkish method 

 ► of preserving filberts {Gard. Mag.,i\. p. 307.) is somewhat akin to the 

 above. — A. Campbell. Manchester, August 15. 1837, 



