Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 219 



Fruit eaten by Rats. — A gentleman of Doncaster, who had frequently 

 missed wall fruit from his garden, endeavoured to find out the robbers but 

 for some time he was unsuccessful. A day or two ago, however, he observed 

 a number of rats issue from an adjacent building, and commence their work 

 of destruction on the fruit, which they voraciously eat. Several of the rats 

 were destroyed. {Yorkshire Gaz., Sept. 8.) 



SCOTLAND. 



Caledonian Horticultural Society. — The Annual General Meeting of this 

 Society was held September 6th, in the Physicians' Hall, Dr. Duncan, sen. 

 in the chair, when several new members were admitted by ballot, and 

 reports from the Finance and Prize Committees were read, from the latter 

 of which it appeared that, in the competition of the preceding day, prizes 

 had been awarded for twenty-five different articles. 



Report of the Wine Committee. A smaller number of samples of wine 

 have been produced to-day than on former occasions, only five competitors 

 having appeared. The Committee beg leave to report that the best of 

 those produced is one with the motto, In vino Veritas, No. 1., by Daniel 

 ' Vere, Esq., of Stonebyres, to whom they award the prize for the best and 

 most vigorous home-made wine. No cider has been produced, which the 

 Committee regret, as, from the increased attention bestowed on orchards, 

 and on the cultivation of the apple tree, since the publication of the report 

 on the orchards of Scotland, a considerable field has been opened for the 

 manufacture of cider, which might tend much to the advantage of the 

 tenantry. The prize offered by the Society for the best liqueur has brought 

 out a variety of these. Of these the Committee considered Nectar No. 2. 

 prepared by Mrs. W. H.Lizars, 5. St. James's Square, as being decidedly 

 the best, to whom they accordingly awarded the medal. But the Com- 

 mittee cannot resist their desire to recommend another medal to Mr. 

 Lewis Pederanca, butler to the Hon. Douglas Gordon Halyburton of 

 Halyburton, who has forwarded ten samples of different liqueurs, some of 

 which are exceedingly palatable ; and also of an oil prepared from walnuts, 

 the growth of Scotland, which, in their opinion, is excellently adapted for 

 table use and culinary purposes. The Committee propose this medal, with 

 the double view of showing the Society's approbation of his skill and 

 attention, and of inducing others to follow his example. 



Communications. An interesting communication by Mr. Dewar, gardener 

 at Rockville, on the use of steam in raising melons, which had been used 

 at Rockville for two seasons with great success, was then read. The 

 reading of two other communications ; the one on raising ananas without 

 fire heat, by Mr. Bisset, Methven Castle, the other on raising auriculas 

 from seed, by Mr. Forrester, gardener at Carlowrie, were delayed for want 

 of time, on account of the immediate assembling for 



The Dinner. In the afternoon, the Society celebrated their eighteenth 

 annual festival of Pomona, in the Waterloo Tavern (Gibb's), the Right 

 Hon. the Earl of Roseberry, president, ill the chair, supported on his right 

 and left by the Right Hon. the Lord Provost, and the Right Hon. Sir 

 John Sinclair. Andrew Dickson and John Linning, Esqrs., officiated as 

 croupiers. Dr. Scott of Corstorphine having craved a blessing, about two 

 hundred gentlemen proceeded, with appetites nothing loath, to attack an 

 excellent dinner, and a dessert, which comprised the competition fruits, con- 

 sisting of no fewer than two hundred and eighty-eight different dishes. A 

 great many toasts were drank, among others, " The staple exports of Scot- 

 land, Gardeners, Doctors, and Black Cattle." {Caledonian Mer., Sept. 8.) 



The Glasgow Horticultural Society and Library. — Arrangements with 

 regard to the Society and Library till the general Meeting in August 1828, 

 and as to the intention of the managers till 1854, have been published, and 



