470 



Domestic Notices. — England. 



rank of a gentleman), if we did not strongly recommend each parent so 

 situated to purchase a share. An interest of 4 per cent, is guaranteed to 

 the shareholders. A prospectus may be had at Mr. Murray's, in Albemarle 

 Street, and at the office of the University, in Percy Street. 



Kensington Gardens, and the Parks adjoining. — The erection of lodges 

 for the doorkeepers, as suggested in our First Volume, p. 285., was com- 

 menced last autumn, and has recently been completed. They are square 

 boxes, with fire-places, chimneys built according to the plan of Mr. Hiort, 

 which deserves universal adoption, boarded floors, and, with the exception 

 of one of thatch, slated roofs. We are happy to see them, because we 

 know they will add much to the comfort of the doorkeepers, without in- 

 jury to the gardens or to any person or thing whatever. The bridge (Vol. I. 

 p. 284. Jig. 56.) is completed : it is, as we said it would be, a handsome 

 object of itself; but, considered as a work of utility, a most egregious folly, 

 and, in regard to the beauty of the scene of which it forms a part, an ex- 

 crescence or monstrosity, which, by disturbing the harmony of" what sur- 

 rounds it, completely destroys the natural character of the grounds. In 

 common parlance, it is too big for every thing. We are exactly of the 

 opinion expressed (Vol. I. p. 280.) by our esteemed correspondent, Mr. 

 Thomson (now in Australasia), as to what ought to have been done 

 with Hyde Park as connected with Kensington Gardens ; and, though it 

 would be too much to expect that this bridge should be pulled down, we 

 should like much to know, as our suggestion of removing the cascade has 

 been adopted, what could be said against continuing the river to Hyde Park 

 Corner, and under the road into the Green Park, on one level, as shown in 

 Mr. Thompson's plan. (Vol. I. p. 281.) Of the piece of water now forming 

 in St. James's Park, we shall say nothing till it is completed, though we 

 cannot help thinking the form al style would have been better adapted for 

 that very limited and formal situation. Many, we know, think the healthi- 

 ness of that part of the metropolis would have been better consulted by 

 having no water there at all. 



Labels for Trees. — I send you a sketch {fig. 

 1 69.), which will answer either for parchment or 

 thin lead. For the common uses of the nursery- 

 man, it may be of parchment, and written on 

 with common ink; for sending trees abroad, or 

 for a gentleman's grounds, it may be of thin sheet- 

 lead, with letters or figures impressed on it by 

 steel types ; or the label may be painted white, 

 and written on with oil paint of any dark colour. 

 The advantage of this plan for permanently 

 naming trees or shrubs in a gentleman's grounds 

 is, that as the branch increases in size, the label 

 will give out. Yours, &c. — G. B.§ N. Lynn, 

 October 3. 1827. 



Salt and the Vegetable Marrow. — Whether salt 

 is manure appears to be still a question. I will 

 relate a circumstance which occurred a few weeks 

 ago. My attention was attracted by a dead leaf 

 of vegetable marrow, of most singular appear- 

 ance, which was grown on a piece of ground 

 dressed with salt in the proportion of 3oz. to 

 each square yard; it was so fully impregnated 

 with salt, which it absorbed from the soil, that 

 it appeared in innumerable concretions on the 

 surface, which presented a singular and beautiful appearance through 

 a good microscope. The leaves of this plant abound with such a 



