226 Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 



So many wonderful Stalks of Oats have been sent us within the last fort- 

 night, that, if the grain had been ripe, we would have thrashed it our- 

 selves, and got new meal without delay. Two of these grew on Mr. 

 Brown's farm of Bellriding, and contained, the one 301, and the other 280 

 pickles of grain. Another stalk, which grew at Carthagena, was upwards 

 of seven feet in length, and was at the same time so bushy at the top, that 

 we tired counting the individual pickles. But the crowning stalks of all 

 were two which grew in a field on the estate of Cargen. Both were most 

 beautiful, and would yield singly a return of five hundred fold. One of 

 them, which we have preserved, is liker a young tropical tree than an ordi- 

 nary stalk of potato oats. Near the root it measured one inch in circum- 

 ference, and, as near as may be, a foot and a half betwixt the commencement 

 and termination of the grain. The flag leaf is an inch and a quarter in 

 breadth, and altogether we never witnessed such a gigantic specimen of 

 what, according to Dr. Johnson, forms the food of men in Scotland, and of 

 horses in England. (Dumfries Courier.) 



A single Stalk of Berwickshire Oats, from the farm of Picketlaw, in the 

 parish of Eaglesham, was sent us, having the extraordinary number of 317 

 grains . ( Glasgow Herald. ) 



A Stalk of Oats was pulled on the farm of Lampits, parish of Carnwath, 

 on which there were in all 470 grains. It was pulled on a patch of moss 

 just brought under cultivation, and the whole crop is remarkably luxuriant. 

 (Scotsman, Aug. 29.) 



A Field of Barley was cut down at Camelon on the 23d of July, which 

 is considered remarkably early for this rather backward season. (Scotsman.') 



A Hydrangea, in the Garden of St. Mary's Isle, near Kirkcudbright, 

 measures round the extremities of the shoots 32 feet, and shows 525 

 flowers. It was planted in the open garden by Mr. Nisbett three years ago, 

 and the old wood has been annually cut to the ground. (Dumfries Courier, 

 Aug.) 



A Hydrangea in the Earl of Rosslyn's Gardens at Dysart House, measures 

 round the extremities upwards of 40 feet, is about 6 feet in height, and 

 displays not fewer than 605 flowers, many of which are 2§ feet in circum- 

 ference ! And this plant (though, like that at St. Mary's Isle, it has been 

 several times cut down) is not more remarkable for its size than its general 

 healthiness, the variety of colour in the flowers, which are for the most part 

 exquisitely beautiful, and the uncommon luxuriance of the foliage. (Scots- 

 man, Sept. 8.) 



Hainault Scythe. — The most laudable exertions continue to be made, in 

 different parts of the country, to introduce this instrument as a substitute for, 

 or adjunct to, the sickle. In East Lothian an Irishman (Toner) has cut half a 

 Scotch acre of wheat in a day, and at the rate of a Scotch acre of oats in 

 eight hours. One peculiar feature of this mode of reaping is, that the lower, 

 or nearer the surface, the crop is cut, so much easier is the work for the 

 reaper. The United East Lothian Agricultural Society have adopted the 

 very judicious mode of giving Toner a premium, on condition of his instruct- 

 ing such reapers as may choose to require his assistance, at the rate of 5s. 

 a day. Hopes are entertained that in a few years this style of reaping will 

 become general. (Scotsman, Sept. 29.) — The mode of cutting wheat with 

 the sharping hook, called bagging, and practised in the neighbourhood of 

 London, is in effect exactly the same as the mode by the Hainault scythe ; 

 but as the operator with the sharping hook has to stoop very low, it is 

 performed at a greater waste of strength. 



Calceolaria purpurea, a new species (p. 196.), and iVepenthes distillatdria 

 mascula, flowered in the Edinburgh botanic garden in August last. The 

 latter plant was kept in the stove, and produced a very striking effect by 

 supporting itself on the adjoining plants, and hanging from them its singular 



