Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 83 



The following were admitted new members : — W. C. Hunter, Esq., of 

 Tillery; Henry Lumsden of Tilwhilly ; Thomas Wilson, Esq., Clinterty ; and 

 Messrs. George Knight and Isaac Machrayj Aberdeen. [Aberdeen Jour., 

 Nov. 19.) 



Pine-apjjies and Melons. — The Horticultural Society of Edinbugh have 

 lately awarded a prize to Colonel Patterson's gardener at Cunnoquhie, for 

 some fine fruit of this description produced by means of steam. The pit 

 in which they were raised is contrived in a very ingenious manner to obviate 

 the inconvenience of too rapid changes of temperature, which are sometimes 

 felt when steam is applied in hot-houses. In this case, the chamber in 

 which the vapour is collected for supplying the bottom heat, instead of be- 

 ing empty, and on that account quickly heated and quickly cooled, is filled 

 with small round stones, which absorb the heat as it is produced, giving it 

 out gradually and retaining it long ; producing, by application of the steam 

 for an hour and a half in the evening, an equable heat through the whole 

 of the night and next day. The steam is distributed through this chamber 

 by means of a cast-metal tube, perforated at certain distances ; and it may 

 also be admitted at pleasure amongst the plants above, by means ot tubes 

 with movable caps communicating with the same receptacle. The idea is, 

 we believe, due to Mr. John Hay, of Edinburgh ; but Colonel Patterson is 

 the first amateur who has carried it into practice. The beauty of the fruit, 

 and the neatness of the whole apparatus (so different from the usual ap- 

 pearance of melon frames), seem to point it out as one of the most eligible 

 modes yet discovered for securing to this country the productions of the 

 tropics. {Fife Herald.) 



Crops on Moss Soil. — As an instance of what crops can be produced 

 from the moss grounds in the neighbourhood of Paisley, under proper ma- 

 nagement, we may mention that a field of H acres, sold by the magistrates 

 and town council to William Cochran, weaver, in 1780, for 455., and Ss. S^d. 

 of yearly feu-duty, was reaped on the 19th of October, and yielded the fol- 

 lowing excellent crop of wheat, viz, fifty-four stooks, containing fourteen 

 sheaves in each stook. The sheaves stand upwards of 6 ft. in height, and 

 the heads are remarkably well filled and heavy. The field was in hay in 

 1827, it was summer fallowed and manured with 12 cwt. of salt, thirty carts 

 of short dung, and 300 carts of earth. It is the property of Mr. Pattison, 

 and it lies immediately to the north of Mr. Bell's cottage of Mossvale. 

 {Paisley Advertiser.) 



A turnip, on the glebe of Longformacus, of this year's growth, was lately 

 taken up, which measured .3 ft. 2 in. in circumference, and weighed 20 lb. 

 In the same field there were many of a very large size. {Scotsvian,Nov. 29.) 

 Huge Gourd. — During the week, a huge gourd has been exhibited at the 

 door of Messrs. Boyd and Bayne, fruiterers. Prince's Street, which has at- 

 tracted considerable attention from the amateurs of large natural produc- 

 tions. It measures 6 ft. 5 in. in circumference, and weighs upwards ot 1 12 11). 

 This is, no doubt, the largest gourd ever grown in Scotland, and a number 

 of naval, military, and commercial gentlemen who have examined it, state 

 that, even in the West Indies, the native place of the gourd, one so large is 

 rarely seen. {Scotsman, Oct. 11.) 



Gigantic Sweet Myrtle. — Fourteen years ago, Miss Gilmour, of Craig- 

 millar, planted a myrtle at the garden wall, on a finely sheltered spot with 

 a southern exposure. Mr. David Stewart, gardener, has continued since to 

 pay considerable attention to this plant, and it has flourished far beyond 

 his expectations. By an accurate measurement made on Wednesday after- 

 noon, it was found to be 7 ft. 9 in. in height, and the side shoots extend 

 16 ft. 10 in. along the wall. Some horticulturists, well skilled in these 

 matters, consider this by far the largest myrtle ever grown in Scotland in 

 the open air. {Scotsman, ivvc\G.'2.%.) 



Produce of Bees at Brechin. — From one swarm of bees, on the farm of 



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