602 Domestic Notices : — Ireland. 



colour, he was, before and about the time of moulting last year, made to 

 eat a portion of canary seed (which he would not taste if he could help it) ; 

 and in process of time he was furnished with a beautiful new suit of the 

 original colours. It is now moulting again, and kept upon a mixed diet. I 

 would have fed him on hemp-seed again, by way of experiment, but was 

 afraid of injuring his health. Do you think that the sort of food he eats 

 can affect the colour of his feathers ? And, if so, would not you think that 

 the same cause might produce a somewhat similar effect upon the colour of 

 the human species ? By the by, goldfinches, which used to be plentiful 

 enough hereabout, are scarcely to be seen, whilst I understand there are 

 still plenty of them farther north. 



I was lately at Castle Semple gardens, the property of Colonel Harvey, 

 which have been formed at great expense, under the superintendence of Mr. 

 Hay of Edinburgh. There I saw pine-apple plants growing in a bed of earth, 

 placed over a chamber filled loosely with stones, and heated by steam, the 

 stones being introduced for the purpose of retaining heat. The plants were 

 in a very healthy state, and growing vigorously; but the gardener, Mr. 

 Lauder (whose brother you may recollect being some time ago with Mr. 

 Campbell, at the Comte de Vande's), was apprehensive they would not show 

 fruit at the right time. Experience, I believe, proves that such a result may 

 be anticipated. I am, dear Sir, &c. — A. W. 



The Ash and Beech doubtful Natives. — These trees have a place in the 

 Flora Scotica of Lightfoot and Hooker, and they have long ornamented 

 our " woods and plantations." But there is great reason to doubt their 

 being truly indigenous to this country, or having formed any part of the 

 ancient forests. No traces of them occur in our peat mosses : yet ash 

 keys and beech mast would in all probability have proved as indestructible 

 as hazel nuts or fir cones, which are abundant in many peat mosses. Be- 

 sides the oak, which seems greatly to have prevailed, the ancient forests pro- 

 bably consisted chiefly of fir, meaning the Pinus sylvestris, or Scotch pine ; 

 birk or birch ; hazel ; wych elm, or broad-leaved, not the smooth wych elm 

 of England ; roan tree, or mountain-ash ; yew ; aller or alder; and saugh, as 

 the willow is here called." (Note by the Editor in Jameson's Journal for 

 Oct. 1829. and Jan. 1830.) 



Setting the Tokay Grape. — I have for the last seven years practised the 

 following method of setting the Tokay grape with the most perfect success ; 

 — Before the vines come into flower, I keep them in a temperature of from 

 70° to 75° ; and as I see the first opening of the flower, I gradually lower 

 the temperature to 60° or 65°, and find that they set freely, and as well as 

 the Hamburgh, and other free-setting kinds. Any persons wishing to satisfy 

 themselves as to the above statement may, if convenient, call and see my 

 Tokay vines, when I shall be ready to answer any enquiries they may make 

 respecting them. — Duncan Wright, Gardener to James Kibble, Esq., of 

 Greenlaw, near Paisley. July 12. 



IRELAND. 



Horticultural Society of Ireland. — June 22. Among the plants which at- 

 tracted particular notice were, Combretum purpureum, Cactus speciosfssima, 

 Ixora coccinea, Calceolaria corymbosa, C rugosa var. angustifolia, C. arach- 

 noidea, Alstrosmen'a tricolor, Lantiina mutabilis, and fine specimens of Erica. 

 ventricosa var. stellata and odorata, sent by Mr. Mackay, from the college 

 botanic gardens ; Erythrina Crista galli, Paeonz'a Whittle/;', Gaultheiv'« Shal- 

 low,, and fine flowering specimens of Calceolaria rugosa, connata, and inte- 

 grifolia, sent by Mr. Nevin, from the chief secretary's garden ; Thunbergza 

 alata, sent by Viscount Dungarvan ; Erythrina Crista galli, ^Trum Colocasia, 

 Amaryllis purpurea, sent by Isaac D'Olier, Esq. ; Carmichaeh'a australis, 

 Lechenaulti« formosa, Pimelea decussata, Euchilus obcordatus, sent by 

 Mr. Grant, gardener to G. Putland, Esq. ; Melaleuca splendens and fulgens, 



