Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 103 



should be adopted, a soil which nature seems to point out as most congenial 

 to its growth. — John Young. Kinnoul Nursery, July 1. 1830. 



Huge Rose-bush. — Mr. Ramsa\", gardener, Chancelot, has a gigantic 

 rose-bush in his garden, which excites the admiration of all visitors. It is 

 nearly 10 ft. in height, and measures fully 30 ft. in circumference. Mr. 

 Ramsay has it very tastefully dressed and trained ; and it is considered by 

 horticulturists not only the largest, but among the handsomest rose- 

 bushes in the kingdom. (Scotsman, June r2-l.) 



J\'ew Plcin of sticking Peas. — Procure a number of slim poles, about 

 5 ft. long (the tops of larch firs, if they can be found), and drive them into 

 the ground at the distance of three or four yards. Pass a small line along 

 the poles, taking a turn on each, within three inches of the ground ; raise 

 the next turn three inches, and so on in succession, till you have attained 

 the common height to which the peas rise. The tendrils of the peas seize 

 and twist round these lines, and they are supported in a more attractive 

 and a more profitable manner than they are by the coaunon stakes. When 

 spread regularly along the lines, they have a fine circulation of air, more 

 advantage from sunshine, and pods can be pulled at all times without toss- 

 ing and injuring the strav/ ; and as the sparrows have no twigs to alight on, 

 the portion of the crop which they destroy and devour is saved. This 

 mode is so cheap, simple, and possesses so many advantages, that it is 

 likely to be soon generally adopted. (Scotsman.^ 



Naming Roads, Lanes, and' Villages. — Robertson, in his Rural Recollec- 

 tions, mentions that such is the spirit of mischief inherent among idle bo3's 

 in Scotland, that they not only mar and deface guide-posts, but even mile- 

 stones. This was written in 1829 ! What a shame for a people who call 

 themselves a nation of gentlemen ! ! Gentlemen, indeed ! — The time is not 

 far distant when there will not be a lane, a foot-path, or a village, which 

 will not have its name placed and kept up by the public authorities, as the 

 names of streets now are in London. — Cond. 



Bell's Reaping Machine. — Sir, We have some time ago finished our 

 third campaign with the reaping machine. This season, like the former, 

 the elements have been against us. Lodged and broken-down crops, 

 together with fields completely saturated with rain, are what we have had 

 this year to contend with ; and these are obstacles which, of all others, 

 are the most to be dreaded in the successful application of a reaping- 

 machine. Notwithstanding these difficulties, however, it gives me pleasure 

 to be able to give 3 ou a favourable account of our operations ; at least as 

 favourable a one as could have been expected, all things considered. As 

 far as I know, there were altogether twelve or thirteen machines constructed 

 this past season, all of which worked more or less ; though, as by far the 

 greater number were only newly constructed, their proprietors very wisely 

 did not entirely depend upon them, but had the usual number of hands 

 for their harvest work, only trying the machines by way of experiment, to 

 ascertain their powers, so as to enable them to form their plans for next year's 

 proceedings. Of course little good was obtained by their use under such 

 circumstances ; but, as far as I know, the farmers were satisfied that in a 

 future season they would be able to use them with advantage. 



My attention was of course principally directed to what took place in 

 this immediate neighbourhood ; and, to give you an accurate idea of the 

 practical operation of the machines, I shall state particularly the manner 

 in which my father's and brother's machines wrought this season. 1 believe 

 I have mentioned to you in some of my former letters that my father's 

 farm is very small ; in fact, it is too small for a reaping-machine. This 

 year he had only twenty-five acres under crop ; twenty-four of which were 

 cut by the machine in forty-seven hours and a half This, you will observe, 

 was the actual time that the machine was working, though we never had 

 occasion to work longer in one day than five or six hours ; that is, as near 



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