164 Domestic Notices. — Irelanit. 



the best six stage auriculas, to John Young, gardener to Thomas Oliver, 

 Esq., Bruntsfield ; to David Stephen, gardener, New Liston, for the second. 

 (^Scotsman.) 



Vegetable Market. — Watering gives vegetables long exposed a fresher 

 colour and a more attractive appearance ; but repeated waterings are highly 

 pernicious, as they neutralise the natural juices of some, render others bitter, 

 and make all others vapid or disagreeable. This practice has, however, 

 been long persisted in, and is not likely to be left off) till the dealers find it 

 for their interest to attend more to the quality than the appearance of their 

 vegetables. Owing to the want of sunshine, asparagus and sea-kale are so 

 scarce that the prices are not fixed. Garden cresses are getting plenty. 

 Pickling cabbage are about done, and broccoli is getting scarce and dear; 

 ordinary heads now cost from 4rf, to 6d. Kitchen articles of all sorts are 

 plenty and cheap. {Scotsman, April 26.) 



Several hundred Almonds have, this year, ripened in the garden of Har- 

 viestown, in the county of Clackmannan, in the open air, upon standard 

 trees. The trees are all young; and the fruit, which is now gathered in, is 

 quite as large, and is said to be as fully flavoured, as the best Jordan al- 

 monds. {Scotsman, Dec. 26.) 



Dwarf Almond. — I have cultivated the Single Dwarf Almond, Jmjgdalus 

 nana, for a great number of years, and either from the soil, or situation, or 

 both, being propitious, it thrives uncommonly well, the plants attaining 

 between four and five feet in height. Although covered every year pro- 

 fusely with blossom, I never was able to get it to fruit till last year, when 

 six or eight almonds ripened on it, one or two of which I sent to Mr. 

 Barnet, of the Caledonian Horticultural Society's garden, Edinburgh. 

 The almonds represented in miniature the common almond, and were in- 

 tensely bitter. Perhaps this may not be an uncommon occurrence ; but I 

 notice it as the only instance that has come within my knowledge, and no 

 person to whom I have mentioned it has seen the shrub in fruit. I am, 

 dear Sir, &c. — John Ferme. Haddington, April 1. 1828. 



IRELAND. 



Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Societii. — The following is from a 

 printed circular: — lam directed by the Committee to state, that they 

 have purchased a most eligible piece of ground containing fourteen acres, 

 for the purpose of carrying the intentions of the subscribers and friends to 

 the establishment into effect. It is situated within a mile of Belfast, 

 extending from the Malone road down to the river Lagan, and possesses 

 a variety of soil and surface, while it commands, on every side, the most 

 rich and beautiful prospects. 



The Committee, therefore, request your favourable attention to the sub- 

 ject, in the firm belief that a garden, such as is about to be formed, must 

 be equally useful to the community, and creditable to those who lend it their 

 assistance. Botanic gardens, supported by public subscription, have been 

 formed both in England and Scotland. These, while they serve as monu- 

 ments of the taste and munificence of the inhabitants, form most attrac- 

 tive objects for the inspection and gratification of strangers ; besides being 

 delightful places of recreation during the occasional moments of leisure 

 from business. Among the various benefits likely to result from this esta- 

 blishment, we would particularly state the following : — 



It will, we apprehend, prove a desirable place of public recreation. It 

 is, perhaps, too prevalent an idea, that a botanic garden can be useful only 

 to persons who have a taste for flowers, or who may wish to pursue botany 

 as a science. But this is altogether erroneous ; asonegreat object of such 

 a garden as is now to be formed, is, that it may be a delightful place of 

 resort, a place for taking occasional air and exercise ; for enjoying an 

 agreeable walk, and the pleasures of the summer. It is not, however, to 



