316 Foreign Notices : — France. 



taken of the Meloncito, which is undoubtedly a new species of Cucumis". 

 The seeds should be sown in a hot-bed in January or February, the young 

 plants cut down and shifted into larger pots several times before the begin- 

 ning of April, and then planted out in a common melon frame, with a good 

 strong bottom heat, in which they will flower and fruit abundantly in June, 

 July, and August. By no other plan is a crop certain, as the Duke of 

 Portland's gardener can tell you, and as Pontey knows, never having ob- 

 tained fruit since the first year. — W. Hamilton. Oxford Place, Plymouth, 

 Nov. 7. 1829. 



Strawberries. — This fruit has engaged the attention of so many able 

 pens, that it may appear almost presumption to add to the list ; yet the high 

 estimation in which the fruit is deservedly and universally held may justify 

 a few more words on the subject, the object of which is to protract their 

 enjoyment to a later period than, at least, I had till very lately contemplated 

 possible. In the spring of this year, I turned out of pots, in which they 

 had been kept all the winter, about 100 plants of Keen's seedlings, which 

 showed no disposition to blow; my object was to obtain strong runnel's for 

 my next year's potting. After some time, about a third of these plants 

 came into blossom, and have continued to bear in succession until this 

 month, leaving many unripe berries on the plants. I am aware that the 

 showery season may have greatly contributed to produce this unusual 

 effect ; but to those to whom so late a crop is an important or even a de- 

 sirable object, the means of supplying the want of rain will readily present 

 themselves. — J. M. Brighton, Nou. 1829. 



Potatoes are a very fit esculent to lower the food of the opulent, and to 

 diminish their consumption of richer viands ; but as the sole support of the 

 poor, as a substitute for bread, they are totally inadequate. Man cannot 

 live upon them long, in health and strength, whatever may be said of the 

 Irish. Bread replenishes the system of itself, unaided by flesh meats; 

 whilst the potato provokes and nurses a desire of ardent spirits, and places 

 the individual so miserably fed in the situation of a traveller, who, his fare 

 being coarser than usual, finds consolation in extending the indulgence of 

 strong potations. Poor nourishment may drive a whole people into habits 

 of drunkenness, into which, with better fare, few, comparatively, would be 

 led: thus we may soon see the hitherto steady, industrious, joyous English 

 people, changed into a nation of miserable turbulent drunkards. (Times, 

 Oct. 28. 1829.) 



Art. II. Foreign Notices. 

 FRANCE. 



A SUBSCRIPTION Park and Warren for Field Sports. — The Drapeau, 

 Blanc gives notice of an association of a new kind, for the purpose of ena- 

 bling persons of all ranks to enjoy the pleasure of the chase. A park of 

 great extent is, it is said, taken on lease at no great distance from Paris ; its 

 extent is above 6000 acres, partly arable, and partly forest ground. The 

 plan is, to open it to subscribers during six months, viz. from September 1. 

 to March 1., an ample stock of game being secured in preserves. Part of 

 the shares are, it is said, already bought up, and the purchase of the remain- 

 der is recommended to all amateurs of sporting, as bringing within the reach 

 of almost every class an amusement hitherto confined to men of fortune. 

 (Scotsman, Jan. 9. 1830.) 



We rejoice in this, as we do in every attempt to bring those pleasures, 

 which at present almost exclusively belong to the rich, within the reach of 

 their poorer brethren. Knowledge and accomplishments, sports and recre- 

 ations, fine clothes and comfortable houses, were all rare and exclusive pos- 



