Notices Russia, Poland, and North America. M' 



RUSSIA AND POLAND. 



Potash of Russia. This alkali is obtained from every species of wood 

 indiscriminately, but chiefly from the roots of the Scotch fir, when the 

 trunk has been cut down for timber. The ashes, when lixiviated, are col- 

 lected and packed in casks, which before they are exported undergo an 

 examination in presence of the foreign merchant who purchases them. 

 {Edin. Philos. Journ. No. 25.) 



Horticulture at St. Petersburgk. The following memoranda have been 

 sent us by an eminent English gardener there : — 



Peaches grown to ripen in August and September, are not so good fla- 

 voured as-those ripened in May, June, and July; as frequently in August 

 and September we have cold nights; and it is observed, that if the ther- 

 mometer remains below 6° of heat (say 45° Fah.) for any time, the peaches 

 and apricots become insipid, and without flavour. Apple trees about St. Pe- 

 tersburgh generally remain unprotected in the open air, but sometimes in very 

 severe winters they are injured by extreme frosts. Plums rarely ripen 

 unassisted with glass, the season being too short. Cherries of the best 

 sorts are all protected by being planted in large sheds, and covered with 

 shutters during the winter. Early in the spring these are removed, and 

 entirely exposed to the open air, in which manner they ripen to perfection. 

 Apricots force equally well as peaches: there is a house in the Taurida 

 garden containing nine trees planted in the ground, which frequently pro- 

 duce 5000 fruits. (T. A.) 



Burning Steppes in Siberia. After the thawing of the snow, the dried 

 herbage on the surface is set fire to, in order that it may not injure the 

 growth of the new vegetation, which springs up from self-sown seeds ; 

 for there are few perennial plants in that country. The flames extend 

 in all directions, and travel over extensive tracts of country, and the 

 appearance at a distance is like an immense ocean of flame. {Annali Uni- 

 versal^ Sfc. August, 1825.) 



Sandomir Wheat, commonly called Polish Wheat. This variety is culti- 

 vated in Moravia, by M. de Harkenfeld, administrator of the domains 

 of that state, who describes it as growing upon an inferior soil, requiring 

 less seed per acre, admitting of being later sown, more productive, and 

 bearing a higher price than the common wheat. Sandomir is the name 

 of a Polish province. {Bui. Univ.) 



NORTH AMERICA. 



The Timber of the Scotch Pine is said to be much improved in quality 

 by being cut down in May when it has begun to grow, and then immersed 

 in water. This is the practice in Virginia, and other parts of America, with 

 all the pine tribe, and it is said by the inhabitants to retain the turpentine 

 and resin more effectually than by cutting in winter, or cutting at any 

 season without steeping in water. Of course the durability of the timber 

 will materially depend on the quantity of these principles which are fixed 

 in it. Deciduous trees the Americans always cut down in mid-winter. (J. B.) 



The tender Tops and Leaves of the Potato, boiled and dressed as spinage, 

 or boiled with salt meat, are very palatable, while the plants are not much 

 injured by being deprived of them. {Canadian Paper.) 



Feeding Swine in Mexico. Fine breeds of pigs are kept for their fat, 

 which is used as a substitute for butter in Spanish cookery : the offal fat 

 is manufactured into soap, and the blood into a kind of black pudding, and 

 sold to the poor. The swine are fed with maize, " slightly moistened and 

 scattered at stated hours on the ground, which, in the yard as well as the 



H H 3 



