104« Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 



patent for administering medicines by steam, and extensive establishments 

 for this purpose, makes it a rule not to allow the use of milk or butter by 

 his patients, while this species of ranunculus is in flower. All the diseases 

 with which we are afflicted, he says, are owing to the imperfection of our 

 agriculture, by which the seeds of poisonous weeds are ground into flour 

 along with the corn ; and milk, butter, and beef are contaminated, even in 

 the living animal, in consequence of the deleterious plants which are suffered 

 to grow in our pastures. It was a happy thought in Mr. Whitlaw, to combat 

 such a wide-spreading evil by the power of steam. 



Botanical Lessons. — We observe, with great pleasure, that Miss Kent, 

 the author of those elegant works Flora Domestica, Sylvan Sketches, &c, 

 proposes to give young ladies instruction in the science of botany. It 

 is remarkable that this delightful science, which would seem to be more 

 peculiarly a lady's study, has hitherto been almost entirely neglected by 

 them ; this may have proceeded, in some measure, from the difficulty in 

 obtaining assistance ; and Miss Kent is encouraged to hope that she may 

 be the means of extending to others the pleasures and advantages she has 

 herself derived from this innocent and interesting pursuit. Miss Kent's 

 address is No. 72. St. Paul's Churchyard. {Times, Aug. 7.) 



SCOTLAND. 



Caledonian Horticultural Society, June 7. — Prizes were awarded for the 

 best brace of cucumbers, and their history ; for the only parcel of early peas 

 exhibited, of the early frame variety ; for the best specimen of early po- 

 tatoes ; for the best asparagus. The Committee regret to state that no 

 China roses were produced to the meeting; "eight distinct varieties" 

 being required in flower, while few cultivators can have more than half 

 that number in flower at one time. An extra medal was awarded to Mr. 

 W. Oliver, gardener to the Earl of Rosslyn, at Dysart House, for the best 

 collection of dessert and baking apples, with a request that he would com- 

 municate their history, and mode of preserving the fruit till this season. 



Specimens of a very good late Pear, in perfect preservation, were exhibited ; 

 and the Committee were of opinion, that an extra medal should be awarded 

 for this pear, and grafts of it requested for the experimental garden ; and, 

 also, that an account of the mode of keeping the fruit should be requested. 

 A medal was accordingly awarded to Mr. Robert Reid, gardener to Sir 

 Alexander Keith, of Ravelstone, who sent the pear. 



A box of Nonpareil Apples, in the most perfect state of preservation, ex- 

 cited the admiration of the Committee ; and, as they did not consider them- 

 selves entitled to vote farther medals at this meeting, they directed that 

 particular notice should be taken of these nonpareils. Thanks given to 

 Mr. Alexander Bisset, at Methven Castle, who transmitted them, and that 

 he be requested to communicate his mode of keeping fruit. (Edin. Adv., 

 June 19.) 



The North British Professional Gardener's Society held a meeting June 

 15. Prizes were awarded for tulips, peaches, potatoes, cauliflower, rhubarb, 

 ranunculas, geraniums, and double balsams. {Edin. Adv., June 19.) 



The Dundee Horticultural Society held a meeting on August 1st, and 

 gave away numerous prizes, which, we regret, want of room prevents us 

 from recording. Mr. Daniel Stewart, gardener to David Blair, junior, Esq. 

 Craighill, exhibited some flowers of a superb new seedling rose, which pro- 

 mises to be an important acquisition to that deservedly popular tribe ; to 

 the rambling habit of the Ayrshire, it adds the beauty of some of the double 

 white varieties, and undoubtedly it will ere long supplant many of our com- 

 mon ornaments of the cottage and the rock. We understand it is to be 

 named the Craighill climbing rose. {Dundee Cour., Aug. 5.) 



