506 Domestic Notices. — Etigland. 



the most suitable apparatus for removing the atmospheric pressure, and we 

 hope these will be produced at such a price as to be within the means of 

 every country carpenter. Some details of this process will be found in the 

 Mechanic's Magazine for June last, and we shall not lose sight of such 

 farther improvements as may be made. 



Uses of the Sunfiower. — All kinds of poultry fatten on the seeds; and 

 the leaves, green or dried, are eaten by most ruminating animals as grass or 

 hay. In Portugal, bread, and likewise a kind of groats, are made ot the 

 seeds ; in some parts of America they roast the seeds, and use them as 

 coffee. The whole plant exudes a thin odorous resin. They might be judi- 

 ciously planted in front of the apiary among borage, which, of all other 

 plants, is the most essential to bees' culture. Any one who has seen thera 

 ignorantly planted on vine or other fruit tree borders (the sunflower leaves 

 perspire more matter than any other plant known to exist) will conclude 

 that they like a strong rich soil. {James Hoiisman in Newcastle Courant.) 



Indian Corn. — Mr. Cobbett is making an attempt to introduce in Eng- 

 land the cultivation of Indian corn, for which the farmers have hitherto 

 considered the climate too cold and damp. He has a field of it at his farm 

 of Barn Elm, near the suspension bridge leading to Hammersmith. Not- 

 withstanding the bad season, Mr. Cobbett anticipates that his corn will 

 ripen in about a month. It is a dwarf kind, more hardy and productive 

 than the common Indian corn grown in America. {York Courant, Sept. 9.) 

 The greater part of it has since been successfully harvested, yielding, at the 

 least, 95 bushels to the acre. 



Large Mushroom. — A few days ago, a mushroom was gathered in the 

 neighbourhood of Blyth, which measured 54 in. in circumference, and 

 weighed lib. On Saturday last, a mushroom, measuring 2ft. 5Jin. in cir- 

 cumference, and weighing 1 lb. 1 oz., was gathered in a field at the Garden 

 House, near Chester-le-Street. {Newcastle Courant, Sept. 13.) 



Increase from a single self -planted Potato. — I this morning got from Mr. 

 Lam, of this town, fifty-two fine potatoes, which he had taken from one 

 single plant which had been accidentally left in the ground last year. The 

 fibres had extended from the old potato nearly 3 ft., which made the new 

 potatoes, which were fifty-two in number, a fine size. I placed them end 

 to end, and they measured 12 ft. long, and weighed ISjlbs. when cleaned. 

 They are of the Broad Kidney kind, and I shall reserve them for seed. I 

 remain, yours. &c. — M. Said. Sulyard Street, Lancaster, Sept. 11. 1828. 



Asparagus. — It is now fully ascertained that this favourite vegetable may 

 be forced on permanent beds, in the open garden, with the utmost success. 

 Our valued correspondent, M. Lindegaard, some time since informed the 

 world how this was done by him (Vol. I. p. 173.), and we have, in p. 360., 

 given a communication on the subject from our correspondent, Mr. D. 

 {Spiers, stating that it has been practised in Lancashire for several years. 



Method of bui^ning Lime without Kilns. — The practice of lime-burners 

 in Wales was, formerly, to burn lime in broad shallow kilns, but in some 

 parts they now manufacture that article without any kiln at all. They place 

 the limestone in large bodies, which are called coaks, the stones not being 

 broken small as in the ordinary method, and calcine these heaps in the way 

 used for preparing charcoal. To prevent the flame from bursting out at 

 the top and sides of these heaps, turf and earth are placed against them, 

 and the aperture partially closed. The heat is regulated and transfused 

 through the whole mass, so that, notwithstanding the increased size of the 

 stones, the whole becomes thoroughly calcined. As a proof (?) of the su- 

 perior advantage that lime burnt in these clamps or coaks has over that 

 burnt in the old method, when farmers have an opportunity of taking either 

 lime at the same price, a preference is invariably given to that burnt in 

 heaps. This practice has long prevailed in Yorkshire and Shropshire, and 

 is known in Scotland, {New Monthly Mag., No. xviii, p. 582.) 



