Domestic Notices : — England. 225 



we know, from the best authority, has greatly increased the comforts of 

 the poor on his own estates, not only by improving their dwellings and 

 adding land to them, charging less for it than he could have got from the 

 farmers, but even by granting loans of money to enable them to improve 

 it. — Cond. 



Improved Furnace. — A sort of gas furnace has been invented by Witty, 

 an ironmonger of Nottingham, and two of them have been applied to hot- 

 water apparatus in the pinery and conservatory at Alton Towers. Instead 

 of coal, they consume the worst sort of slack (refuse). The advantages are, 

 a saving in the article of fuel, and the total absence of smoke. — R. J. L. 



Steivfirfs Patent Copper Lap for glaz'mg Sashes. — You have described 

 this lap in your Enci/c. of Gard., § 1630. : it may be interesting to gardeners 

 and glaziers to know that Mr. Macgowan, button-maker, Gerrard Street, 

 Soho, has the original mould, and can supply any quantity of the manu- 

 factured article. — Henry Lowndes. Cedar Cottage, Brixton, Jan., 18.31. 



Peake's semi-metallic Tiles. — These tiles, the forms of v/hich have been 

 already figured in this Magazine (Vol. VI. p. 154.), well deserve the attcn- 

 -tion of architects who wish to place a covering of extraordinary durability 

 and elegance on churches, theatres, manufactories, and every other descrip- 

 tion of spacious buildings. In weight and colour they are more like cast 

 iron than earthenware ; but paint may be applied so as to give them any 

 tint. We consider this the very best tile for cottages ; and Mr. Peake writes 

 to us, that, wherever they have been so used, they have given the greatest 

 satisfaction to the inhabitant, and the greatest pleasure to the man of taste. 

 — Co7id. 



Mac/line for excavating Earth. — Mr. G. V. Palmer of Worcester has 

 been ten years and upwards engaged in constructing an extraordinary 

 engine to excavate earth, &c., for which he has taken out a patent. This 

 engine works by steam, and is particularly adapted for cutting canals, level- 

 ling hills for railways, and removing large masses of earth. This engine 

 cuts, at a single blow, G ft. in width and .3 ft. in depth ; delivering on either 

 side, or into carts, 1 ton and upwards per minute; it also cuts and sifts 

 gravel in the same proportion for road-making. We understand there is 

 great simplicity of construction, and the weight of the engine does not ex- 

 ceed 3 tons. (^Manchester Courier, Aug. 21.) 



Watering the Highways. — The road from London to Brighton is watered 

 to the extent of 12 miles (that is, nearly one fourth of the whole distance), 

 the expense being paid by a small charge of one farthing per horse per day, 

 which is paid by the coach proprietors to the trustees of the turnpikes. — 

 (Newsp.) If all roads were as much frequented as that to Brighton, they 

 might probably clear the expense of watering them in a smiilar manner. 

 Roads near the sea should be watered with salt water, which, as it attracts 

 moisture from the atmosphere, does not dry so soon. This has been proved 

 in Regent Street, London, which it was once in contemplation to water 

 with salted water. — Cond. 



The Kitley Shaddock. (Vol. I. p. 26.5.)— Sir, You would be delighted 

 to see my shaddock tree at the present moment, with its fine clusters of 

 fruit. I find trees worked by the bud from the original prove very fruitful, 

 which is very desirable. 



The China Orange is a very fine sort, if the fruit be properly treated ; 

 that is, if it be gathered at a proper season. I find the best time to 

 gather it is just as the fruit begins to colour, having still a degree of 

 greenness. After gathering, keep them in a warm room for about a fort- 

 night previously to sending them to table ; by which method the skin will 

 be very soft, and the juice more delicious. This, I believe, is not generally 

 known. — Herman Saunders. Kiilei/, Feb. 15. 1831. 



Seeds of the Bitter Orange and the Vlnus Vinea. — The seeds of bitter 

 oranges (Arancia forte) have been received by us from our correspondent 



Vol. VII. — No. 3 L q 



