340 Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 



SCOTLAND. 



Caledonian Horticultural Society. — A General Meeting of the Caledonian 

 Horticultural Society was held in the Physicians' Hall on the 3d of Dec. last, 

 Daniel Ellis, Esq., first vice-president, in the chair. Mr. Ellis delivered a 

 luminous and interesting discourse on the unpropitious nature of the past 

 season, and on the best means of obviating the evils of our climate. We 

 can only give a very meagre outline of the substance of this discourse. He 

 remarked that " the coldness of the spring "months, which so much retarded 

 the blossom of the earlier flowers, that the usual period of competition was 

 necessarily deferred, has continued through the months of June, July, and 

 August, the mean heat of the day during those months not much exceed- 

 ing 56°, and its highest temperature rising only for a few days to 70 or 75°. 

 The more delicate fruits, therefore, as peaches and nectarines, were but 

 very imperfectly ripened ; but those of a hardier description, as apples and 

 pears, which do not require so much heat to ripen them, were less affected 

 in quality, and in quantity have surpassed the production of former years. 

 The mean heat of the months of September and October was about 49°. 



" From accounts received, it appears that the temperature has been pretty 

 much the same in most parts of Britain;' and, consequently, the periods at 

 which fruits have ripened in different districts have corresponded more 

 nearly than in former years. The chief defect in our climate, in regard to 

 the production of fruit, was stated • to arise from a want of heat at the 

 period of maturation ; and, therefore, our aim should be directed to hasten 

 the progress of growth, and augment, as much as we can, the temperature 

 at the ripening period. Great attention, therefore, should be paid to the 

 nature of the soil and to shelter, both of which contribute much to ameli- 

 orate the climate ; whilst the aspect, or exposition to the sun, should be 

 such as will enable the plant to receive the greatest force of solar heat, 

 and for the longest period. Ringing the bark of a branch, or removing a 

 small circular piece of it, so as to intercept the descent of the nutrient 

 matter, has the effect of accelerating the growth of the fruit in that branch ; 

 and experience has shown that blackening the walls, so as to increase their 

 power of receiving heat, likewise hastens the progress of growth, and the 

 subsequent process of maturation. 



" Against the destruction of the blossom, which too often happens to 

 our wall fruit in early spring, a covering through the night was recom- 

 mended. The injury done at this period is produced, not by the cold of 

 the night, but by the. sudden action of the morning sun on parts previously 

 reduced and enfeebled by cold ; and the mischief may therefore be pre- 

 vented either by raising the temperature of the plant before the sun shines 

 upon it, or by intercepting his rays till the plant shall have acquired, through 

 the medium of the atmosphere, a suitable degree of heat. In very un- 

 favourable seasons, when the atmosphere is obscured, and the sun exerts 

 but little force, no fruits can be expected to ripen in the open ah, without 

 the aid of walls heated by flues or by some other means. Even in better 

 seasons they materially accelerate growth, and must ensure a more perfect 

 maturation. Very fine Black Hamburgh grapes were this season ripened 

 in the open air, by the aid of such walls, in the neigbourhood of Glasgow; 

 and brought, in the .market of that city, a price equal to those of the same 

 sort grown in the hot-house." 



A ballot took place for the admission of new members, when those pro- 

 posed as candidates at the previous Meeting, among whom was the Bight 

 Hon. the Earl of Traquair, were all duly elected. The office-bearers for 

 the ensuing year were then chosen, and prizes awarded as follows : — 



For the best three sorts of pears, not generally cultivated in Scotland, 

 with names, to Mr. James Smith, gardener to the Right Hon. the Earl of 

 Hopetoun, at Hopetoun House. The kinds sent were Nouvelle Beurree 



