French Boohs. - 147 



Sinclair, The Right Hon. Sir Jo7m, Bart. &c. &c. : On the Culture' and 

 Use of Potatoes. Edin. Pamph. 8vo. pp. 100. 

 This is an abstract of nearly all that is known respecting the use and 

 culture of potatoes. Potatoes were brought to England about 1586, but 

 their culture spread very slowly for a long period afterwards. They 

 wei-e first planted in the open fields in Scotland so late as 1728. 

 There are a great variety of species, some of which yield about twice as 

 much as others on the same ground, and with the same culture. The pro- 

 duce in England varies from 136 up to 830 bushels per acre, the average 

 being about 360 bushels, or 12 tons. Including Scotland, however, Sir 

 John estimates the average at 216 bushels, or 7 tons. Where families 

 live entirely on potatoes, it is calculated that a man, his wife, and four 

 children, will consume about a ton each, or 6 tons altogether ; but where 

 milk is used, according to Dr. Skene Keith's estimate, about half the quan- 

 tity will suffice ; so that among a population living in the Irish cottier mode, 

 an acre would supply solid food for 14 persons. A pound of oatmeal is 

 reckoned to affijrd as much nourishment as 6 lbs., ancl a pound of wheaten 

 bread as much as 5 lbs. of potatoes. The potato, as analysed by Dr. Pear- 

 son, consists of 70 parts water, and 30 of meal. The meal is composed of 

 starch, or fecula, 16; leafy, or fibrous matter, 8J ; extract, or soluble 

 mucilage, 5^ ; total, 30. (Scotsman, April 1 9.) 



France. 



Prevosf, M., fils. Nurseryman at Rouen : Essai sur I'Education et la Cul- 

 ture des Arbres fruitiers pyramidaux, vulgairement appelles Quenouilles, 

 pr^cedd de Considerations sur les Causes qui se sont oppos^es et s'oppo- 

 sent encore aux Succes de cette Culture dans la plupart des Jardins. 

 Rouen. 8vo, pp. 58. 



Soulange-Bodin, M. le Chevalier, Nurseryman at Fromont, and General 

 Secretary of the Horticultural Society of Paris : De la Culture des Plantes 

 dites de Terre de Bruyere et de leur Introduction en grand dans les Jar- 

 dins Paysagers. Paris. Pamph, 8vo. 



After pointing out the beauties of American trees and shrubs generally, 

 the author gives the culture of some of the principal species, and concludes 

 with a diagram and list for planting a bed or border 150 ft. long, and 18 ft. 

 wide. The tract will be useful in France, where very little is known of 

 American plants or their culture. 



Martin, Alexandre : Manuel de I'Amateur de Melons, ou I'Art de recon- 

 naitre et d'acheter de bons Melons ; precede d'une Histoire de ce Fruit, 

 avec un Traite sur la Culture et une Nomenclature de ses diversesEspeces 

 et Varieties. Paris. 1 vol. 18mo, pp. 156. 4 pis. 2frs.S0c. 



This is a comprehensive little treatise, amusing as well as instructive ; it 

 abounds with singular anecdotes and reflections, connected with the subjects 

 of gastronomy and horticulture. A melon is shown to have been the cause 

 of the loss of the battle of Arques ; another, of the reduction of Ulm by the 

 French ; two other melons, given to Bernis and Madame de Pompadour, 

 were the original cause of the former being elevated to the rank of cardinal. 

 The art of selecting and purchasing melons in the public market is laid 

 down, and a catalogue given of all the books which treat of the melon. 



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