54' Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 



(Vol. III. fig. 161.), and these I stick in the ground, at the edge of the bed, so 

 that each peg may hook fast the corners ot two mats. If I wish to look at 

 my tulips in calm weather, I lift up the tails of the mats at the shady side, 

 and lay them on the top ; in windy weather, I separate the mats a little on 

 the sheltered side, and put my heail through between them. This latter 

 mode Mr. Saul, perhaps, will think too homely, but it does not often 

 become requisite. 



I shade my carnation and hyacinth beds in the same manner ; and m the 

 winter time, when I wish to protect the beds from frost or rain, I use forked 

 sticks of 1 ft. 6 in. and 2 ft. with single mats, instead of long sticks and long 

 mats. The straw coverings recommended by your correspondent, Mr. 

 Shennan, (Vol. III. p. 167.) would answer as well, and probably come 

 cheaper than Russian mats ; but what would answer better still, and I 

 should imagine be more agreeable to the taste of Mr. Saul, would be mats 

 of the same material as those of Russia, viz., bast, for the weft, and small 

 packthread for the woof. The advantage of mats of this texture would be, 

 that they would throw ofF the rain almost as perfectly as canvass, which 

 those now used are far from doing, owing to the interruption of the water 

 by the woof. I wish some of your readers who have a knowledge of 

 weaving, or know how these mats are wove in Russia, would set about get- 

 ting mats of the description to which I allude into general use. An ex- 

 periment might be made in this country, by unravelling one or two new mats 

 and weaving them up again with packthread woof, and then one might be 

 sent to the British Consul at St. Petersburgh, as a specimen for the natives 

 to imitate. — S. T. P. Reading, March 7. 1828. 



A Shozv for the JEncouragement and Breed of Poidtry is proposed to be 

 annually held, the week before Christmas, under the patronage of Lord 

 Althorp, at his farm in Northamptonshire, when premiums are to be 

 awarded for the best turkeys, pullets, geese, and ducks. {Doncaster Gazette.) 

 A fine Dish of New Potatoes was got on January 1st, for the new year's 

 dinner, which were grown in the open garden, at Hermitage, the villa of 

 Mr. M. Saul, near this town. {Lancashire Gazette, Jar. 5.) 



The Thames Tunnel. — Mr. Thomson, of Welbeck, with that generous 

 ambition that leads him to be the first in entering into every thing that has 

 for its object the advancement or the honour of the profession of gardener, 

 lost as little time in seconding our suggestions as to the Thames tunnel, as 

 he did in following up our views as to garden libraries. He immediately 

 set on foot a subscription among the gardeners and other servants of the 

 Duke of Portland at Welbeck, and the result is as follows : — The steward 

 and the few household servants now (March 15.) at Welbeck (the family 

 being absent) raised 2l. 5s. 6d. ; the gardener and his men, 21. 7s. ; the 

 farmer and his men, 1/. I5s.; the joiner and his men, \l.; the mason and 

 his men, 10s. 6d. ; and Mr. Conway, clerk of the works, 10^.; in all, 8/. Si-. ; 

 which was forwarded to us, and which we have sent to the Committee, as 

 will appear in the lists of subscriptions published in the daily papers; for 

 example, the Times and Chronicle, of March IS. 



SCOTLAND. 



The Caledonian Horticultural SocietyheXd their Quarterly Meeting in their 

 own Hall on March the 5th. This institution is regularly furnishing new 

 proofs of its utility, and is rapidly rising in the estimation of the amateurs 

 of horticulture. On this occasion, there were six collections of hyacinths, in 

 pots and glasses. Two of these collections contained sixteen pots, and the 

 other four, eight pots each. This was by far the best show of the sort that 

 has been seen in this city for a long time; and such a number of this beau- 

 tiful flower, in its various colours, ranged on one table, gave great satis- 

 faction, and elicited the warmest encomiums of the connoisseurs. The 



