Domestic Notices. — E7ipland. 



279 



" My method oi feeding bees, I think, is new. Sink a cavity in the 

 middle of the floor, about 6 in. in diameter, like a trencher, deep enough to 

 hold a quarter of a pint of honey, and no more. If the cavity be too deep, 

 the bees may be suffocated. A channel must be made from the outside to 

 communicate with the cavity in the bee board, and a piece of wood to fit 

 close into the channel, to keep out the vermin." {Gill's Tech. B epos., 

 vol.ii. No. viii.) 



Small ivhiie Slugs in Gardens are more injurious than the larger variety, 

 because their diminutive size escapes the gardener's eye. A good way to 

 keep them under is to make small holes, about an inch deep, and about the 

 diameter of the little finger, round the plants which they infest. Into these 

 holes the slugs will retreat during the day, and they may be killed there by 

 dropping in a little salt, quicklime in powder, or by strong lime and water. 

 — David Spiers Lee's Nursery, June 13. 



The Thames Tunnel. — A lecture on the recent and present state of this 

 undertaking, was lately delivered at the Royal Institution by Mr. Farraday, 

 who concluded by expressing, in strong terms, his firm belief in its ultimate 

 success. A considerable sum has been subscribed, and we hope the country 

 will not loose the honour of completing this gi'and and singular undertaking. 

 Gardeners, we hope, will refer to what we have said in Vol. III. p. 468. 



Thomson's Nursery, Mile End. — We are glad to find that this venerable 

 establishment, which some time ago it was thought would be given up, has 

 been revived by Mr. Thomson, jun. (See advertising sheet.) We sincerely 

 wish success to the undertaking. 



Imjoroved Dairy System. — Mr, Harley is now in London, receiving sub- 

 scribers for the history of his celebrated dairy establishment at Willow 

 Bank, Glasgow, which will be generally useful, as it gives suitable directions 

 for the pi'oper accommodation and management for one cow as well as 

 many. The work will also point out the proper mode of ventilating 

 stables, the want of which is very injurious to the horse. The author in- 

 tends to visit Holland, with a view to get additions to his extensive inform- 

 ation upon dairy husbandry, in order that the treatise may be a standard 

 work upon that subject. {June IV.) 



Destroying Insects. — Dr. Forster, of Boreham, near Chelmsford, " has 

 made some important observations on the utility of preserving, instead of 

 destroying, small birds in flower-gardens, as the only means of keeping down 

 certain sorts of injurious insects," the particulars of which we are promised 

 for a future Number. We shall be glad to know if sparrows are included in 

 the small birds alluded to; and, if so, how crocuses are to be preserved 

 from them. 



Protecting Peach Trees with Fronds of Fern. — Mr. Lee, of Ottery St. 

 Mary, Devonshire, has been in the habit of protecting his wall-fruit trees, 

 during the period of flowering and setting of the fruit, with common fern. 

 He merely inserts the fronds of the fern behind the branches, arranging 



them in proportion to the length of the spurs, &c. You will readily be able 

 to understand it by the sketch. {Jig. 79.) The fern curls up in drying, and 



T 4' 



