1852.] 



REVIEWS. 



stalk. The produce of seed per statute acre amounted to the 

 value of £5 IGs., wbicli was nearly equal to the value of wheat 

 per acre — supposing the straw valueless ; having also this advan- 

 tage over wheat, that the flax might be sown in the spring and 

 jjulled up even before the wheat crop. It was not to be wondered 

 at that the farmers of this country had long ago abandoned the 

 growth of flax, considering the trouble and expense of retting, 

 exposed in ponds, with constant watching necessary. The seed 

 also, which at least ti'ouble is the most profitable part was then 

 neglected. But if by any such plan as Mr. Watts's they could 

 readity convert the flax straw grown in the fields to the purpose 

 of manutiictures, the objections to its growth would be greatly 

 obviated, and it would be remunerative. In Fife they have now 

 five hundred acres of flax grown. Some conversation then en- 

 sued. Mr. Sowell, of Penryn, said the societ}' had offered a £5 

 premiiim, and a machine had been promised, yet although he 

 had stimulated parties togrow flax, (nearly a ton weight growing 

 in Constantine,) still he had received neither the £5, nor the 

 machine. Sir C. Lemon inquired how much the bulk was dim- 

 inished by the use of the simple machine Mr. Fox had spoken of? 

 Ml'. C. Fox replied, it was diminished about l7-28ths, but the 

 whole taken away was not useless ; the finer flax, however, was 

 about 11 lbs. in 28. Maclean and Go's, machine breaks 56 lbs. 

 of straw per hour into 22 lbs. of flax, 14 lbs. of clean tow, 12 

 lbs. of straw, and 8 lbs of roots and refuse. After some further 

 inquiries in reference to the process, Sir Chai-les Lemon referrring 

 to what Mr. Sowell had said, stated that last year he said he 

 would give £5 towards the jjurchase of a machine, and Mr. Enys 

 said he would also give £5, it being then understood it would 

 cost only £10. He was ready now to renew that promise. He 

 also asked Mr. Sowell how his crop of nettles got on, which he 

 talked about last year ? Mr. Sowell said he had grown a crop 

 of nettles this year in his garden, and they had produced excel- 

 lent flax, though no seed. It was long, but considerable coai-ser 

 than that grown from the flax plant. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



In enumerating the list of membqrs of the Canadian Institute, 

 we omitted to place the name of Mr. Vincent Parkes, among the 

 list of Life Members; Mr. Parkes having been elected an Honor- 

 ary Life Member, on account of the services he has rendered the 

 Institute. We shall be enabled to furnish a con-ected list if(ler 

 the annual election of officers and members of the Institute, which 

 will take place on Saturday, December 11th. 



We regret that the October and November numbers of the 

 Journal have been delayed beyond the time specified for their 

 publication. The difficulty of procuring suitable paper for the 

 Journal, and other causeg over which we had no control, have 

 led to their somewhat tardy appearance. We solicit the kind 

 forbearance of oiu' readers in these matters, and we hope that 

 such measures have been taken as will secure the appearance of 

 each future number at its appropriate season. 



We are happy to have it in our power to announce that 

 through the courtesy of a zealous member of the Canadian 

 Institute, we shall be enabled to furnish a record of Canadian 

 Patents in the order of their grants. 



Cauadian Institute. 



evening will include the nomination cf Officers for tlie ensuing year, 

 and the discussion of matters relating to the organization of the 

 Institute. 



The Second Meeting of the Institute will talre place on Saturday, 

 December llth. The election of officers will then be proceeded with- 



REVIEWS.. 



Scobie's Canadimi Almanac for 1853. HughScoeie: Toronto. 

 It speaks well for tlie progress of Upper Canada, that it is possible 

 for an enterprizing publislier to have compiled and printed ninety- 

 six octavo pages of close matter, in small type with any amount of 

 figure, and a good map of the country got up especially for the work, 

 and all for the paltry sum of sevenpence half-penny. And yet, 

 such is Mr. Scobie's Almanac for 1853. The Astronomical and Meteor- 

 ological portions are highly interesting. The notes appended to the 

 Meleorological table for Balsam Lake, contain some curious and even 

 startling records. Very delightful indeed for our Balsam Lake savans to 

 have the opportunity of making notes like the following ! — 1841, Aug. 

 11, two calves killed by wolves ; 1850, Ang. 20, bears iti'hc wheat; 

 21st shot a bear' <fec. ifec. lis well f >r Toronto sportsmen that Balsam 

 Lake is some 70 miles to our north-east, and sufficiently inaccessible. 

 "We notice the introduction into the Almanac before us of some admirable 

 articles on subjects of general interest which do not usually find a 

 place in such publications, — one on 'Gold and Silver,' and another on the 

 ' Winter of 1851-2 in Upper Canada,' contain much interesting infor- 

 mation of great value for reference. The Tariifs of Britain, United 

 States, Canada, and the N. A. Provinces are given in all their impor- 

 tant details. Besides many highly valuable tables and lists relating to 

 representation of Law, Physic and Divinity in this Province, we find 

 a Regnal table for computing dates ; the Statistics of Schools for all 

 the Provinces of British America : the Census Returns for 1852, to- 

 gether with a Statement of the Affairs of Canada and sister Provinces 



An immense amount of information is compressed into an exceed- 

 ingly small space, and altogether tlie work does infinite credit to the 

 energy of the publisher as well as to the Province, which can so 

 appreciate its value as to absorb an immense edition with that prompt- 

 itude which renders its publication possible in the country. 



IfoTiCE TO Members. — The Session of the Canadian Institute for 

 1852-3 will commence on Saturday, December 4th. Members of the 

 Institute will meet in the Government House. The business of the 



"Reports by the Juries — Exhibition of the ^Yorhs oflnditslr.y of all ,^ aliens 

 1851." London : "W. Clowes. 1852. 

 We have received a copy of this exti'aordinary work. It seems as 

 though the wonders connected with the Great Exhibition are never to 

 cease, and the Commissioners never to be weary of their labours. 

 After aH the great and glorious successes appertaining to the Exhibition, 

 — its organization.^its building, — its wonderful collection, — the con- 

 course of its visitors, — the order of all its details, — its catalogues, — the 

 award of the prizes, and their distribution, — after all these, each in 

 itself au evidence of most judicious conception and most pei'fect 

 realization, we now have before us a quarto volume of nearly 900 pages, 

 containing the principles laid down for the guidance of Jurors in 

 making their awards, the classification of subjects in detail of the thirty 

 classes into which the Exhibition was divided, a list of the Jurors, a 

 list of the awards, and the explanatory and descriptive Reports of the 

 Juries in reference to the articles rewarded, with, finally, a complete 

 Index, which facilitates reference to every note-worthy item of the 

 Exhibition, either by the medium of the name of the country, of the 

 exhibitor, or of the ai'ticle rewai-ded. 



The value of these Reports cannot be too highly estimated. They 

 embody the deliberate and unprejudiced opinions of the gi'eatest 

 celebrities amongst the savans of Europe, on the most recent and 

 valuable illustrations of the Practical Science, the Industry, Ingenuity 

 Taste, and SkiU of the world ; and, as such, are alike invaluable f jr 

 present teaching and Historic record. 



"We most strongly commend this volume to tlie close and careful 

 study af all who, not content with the excitement, dcsii-e to sharp in 



