462 Tasmanian Almanac. 



There is scarcely a country labourer who does not purchase an almanac, 

 and we rely upon every reader, at all events, upon every gardener, pur- 

 chasing and recommending that which, as a man of honesty and liberal 

 principles, he cannot but consider as the best. 



The Library of Useful Knoiuledge continues to be published regularly. 

 The last number (xviii.) is the second part of Lord Bacon's Novum Or- 

 ganon Scienliarum. We mention these treatises, because one of them, 

 No. xiv., parti, of Vegetable Physiology, is peculiarly in our way. It is 

 attributed to Professor A. T. Thomson, and may be easily recognised as his, 

 by those who are acquainted with the subject, by the great care and pains 

 with which it is composed, by the number of explanatory wood-cuts, by 

 the appropriation of the discoveries of Dutrochet (p. 78.), and by a number 

 of original discoveries and views made by the Professor himselfi The num- 

 ber of wood engravings in this sixpenny tract is no fewer than 81. As the 

 subject is deeply interesting to every gardener and farmer, and the price 

 may almost be called merely nominal, we should be sorry to suppose that 

 there is a single journeyman or apprentice gardener so dead to his own 

 interest as not to become a purchaser. 



Australasia. 



Busby, James : A Treatise on the Culture of the Vine, and the Art of 

 making Wine ; compiled from the works of Chaptal, and other French 

 writers ; and from the Notes of the Compiler, during a residence in some 

 of the Wine Provinces of France. Australia, 1825. 8vo, pp. 270. 

 This is the first book which has been printed in N. S. Wales, being 57 years 

 after the first landing in that country. It is a judicious compilation from 

 French and English works on the same subject, and will prove highly useful. 

 Bent, Mr. Andrew, Editor and Printer of the Colonial Times Newspaper : 

 The Tasmanian Almanac for 1827. Hobart Town. 18mo. 

 We notice this work chiefly on account of the gardener's calendar 

 which it contains, and from which a very good idea may be formed of the 

 kitchen-gardening of that part of the world. The spring months in Van 

 Dieman's Land are September, October, and November. Potatoes are 

 stated to be successfully cultivated, putting in the garden crop about the 

 10th of September, and the field crop from the beginning of October to 

 the 10th of December. " A garden winter crop may be planted in January 

 or February." New potatoes are generally obtained by the 1st of Decem- 

 ber, which is there the first month of summer. The Swedish turnip is said 

 to grow enormously large here ; it is sown where it is to remain, and also 

 transplanted. Asparagus is grown with much success. Cauliflowers " do 

 well twice a year, but are generally planted in the months of August and 

 September ; " at no period of their growth is glasses or frames necessary. 

 " Peas and beans may be cultivated near the sea coast in almost any season ; 

 but for a general crop, throughout the interior and places subject to frost, 

 they should not be planted earlier than the first or middle of July; and it 

 is advisable that the ground should be as strong as possible, and even that 

 a little manure should be added." The climate and soil are said to be par- 

 ticularly adapted for onions, which are sown in the last week of April. The 

 potato onion is very productive, and is planted in May, the last week of 

 their autumn. Carrots and parsnips grow to an extraordinary size. Cu- 

 cumbers, pompions, and melons are cultivated with much success ; they are 

 raised under glass during winter and spring, and in summer grown on dung 

 beds in the open air. Cabbages do well at any season. Turnips grow to 

 an extraordinary size. Artichokes are very large. Leeks are transplanted in 

 the month of April. Horseradish, common red radish, lettuce, celery, and 

 shallots, are enumerated as " doing well." It is stated that, " as all kinds 



