Domestic Notices. — England. 1 59 



bited a model of an improved draining tile, which he calls a junction tile, 

 being for the purpose of conducting the water from the branch drains into 

 the main one. It differs from the common tile by its having an aperture 

 in the side, and a short projection to join the tile in the branch drain too. 

 Where the hole is in the side, the tile should be made stronger. It is 

 placed in the main drain, where the branches are intended to enter it. The 

 extra cost is trifling, compared with the advantage. — {Farm, Jour., Jan. 

 14. 1828.) 



The Farjner's Librmy. — A series of practical tracts on farming, gar- 

 dening, and domestic economy are announced for publication by Mr. 

 Murray. The object is stated to be, to diffuse a more general acquaintance 

 with the principles of agriculture, supply the cultivators of the soil with a 

 store of useful and agreeable information, and facilitate the general adoption 

 of the most approved practices of husbandry, and a superior style of house- 

 wifery and cookery. 



Application of Steam-Engines to Agricultural Purposes. — In farming 

 there are few things that admit of the employment of steam power with 

 economy ; but, where it is employed at all, it is an advantage to apply it to 

 as many purposes as possible. The species of work to which it is suscepti- 

 ble of apphcation are, — thrashing and winnowing grain, chafF-cutting, 

 grinding bones for manure, and to grinding corn for fatting cattle and for 

 family uses. The boiler may be further applied to steam food for cattle. 

 No other objects occur to me except to notice that for drainage in fenny 

 districts, and for irrigation in others, it is worthy of the landowners' con- 

 sideration whether its application would or not repay the expense. {Tred- 

 goliVs Treatise on the Steam-Engine, p. 293.) 



Substitutes for Mulberry leaves. — Dr. Sterler, of Bavaria, has found that 

 the leaves of A'cev tartaricum, a hardy tree, common in the nurseries, may 

 not only be substituted for the mulberry, but are even preferred to it by 

 silk-worms. Mr. Edward Herard, chemist, of London, has also shown, in a 

 letter in Mr. Gill's Technological Repository for February, 1828, that 

 worms, fed upon a particular variety of lettuce, yield an equal quantity 

 of silk with those reared on the mulberry leaf, {Mech. Mag., Feb. 2. 

 1828.) 



Heating by Gas. — Mr. Strutt, of Derby, has begun to employ coal gas 

 for the purpose of heating as well as of illumination. The double use of 

 it has been often recommended, even as early, we believe, as the time of 

 Winsor, but always unaccountably neglected. {Ibid.) 



New Grapes and old ones have been sent to the table of Lord Surrey, 

 by Mr. Aeon, His Lordship's gardener at "Worksop Manor, for three 

 weeks past. — J. T. Walbeck. March 26. 1828. 



The Lady-Bird (Coccin^Ua of various species) is beginning to appear in 

 immense numbers in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and other midland 

 counties. A correspondent (R. B.) says, " they threaten us with a plague 

 like one of the Egyptian visitations." We shall be particularly obliged to 

 any naturalist who will furnish us with a full history of this insect, and 

 particularly with reference to the British gardener and farmer. 



Mangold Wurtzel. — The culture of this plant has greatly increased in 

 Guernsey, and crops have been raised of 100 tons per acre. {Newsp.) 



Mr. Dalmaine of Dakton's Auricida. — Sir, From the mildness of 

 the weather, the auricula bloom round London, though rather early, 

 has been particularly fine this season ; the plants in general have ex- 

 hibited the most healthy appearance, and the luxuriant growth of the 

 foliage has been such, as to completely cover the pots in many instances ; 

 the number of fine seedlings produced has been greater than usual ; but 

 the one which has surpassed all others, and attracted the most notice, is 

 that of Mr. Dalmaine of Dalston, who is very proud of it, and has offered 

 to show it for one hundred guineas against any other auricula in England. 



