Mints for Imp'oveinents. ' 1091 



they might find a refuge and a residence, without resorting to an unnatural 

 banishment from their native land. How many hundred families are sub- 

 sisting with difficulty upon incomes varying from 150/. to 300/. or 400/. per 

 annum, who would be thankful for such information to guide them ! The 

 boasted cheapness of the West of England is exaggerated. Provisions are 

 there both dear and bad. Hoping that you will not reject this request, 

 I remain, &c. — P. C. H. Seven Oaks, Sept. 9. 1830. 



If P. C. H. will send us his desiderata for a residence, we have little 

 doubt some of our readers will be able to point out the most suitable dis- 

 trict in England for supplying them. — Cond. 



Telegraphic Commiinications as to com'mg Weather. — Sir, It has often 

 occurred to me that a great proportion of the severe storms which visit 

 our island proceed from south to north. I do not mean that they travel 

 in that regular and gradual manner in which a cockney finds himself 

 conveyed from London to some of the moors by North Killicrankie, in 

 a stage-coach, to shoot grouse, about the 12th day of August; but rather 

 flitting across the island in regular starts, taking in about one degree of 

 latitude, or thereabout, at every reflux, and occupying about two days for 

 every wave or pulsation. Assuming this theory to be correct, from eight 

 to ten days will elapse before the horticulturists in Perthshire will be 

 visited with the storm which may have played its part at Bayswater : and 

 should this theory, by regular communications from some of your numerous 

 correspondents in different parts of the island, be found entitled to rank as 

 a well established fact, intelligence could be easily conveyed by mail or 

 telegraph from Paris to Bayonne, London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and In- 

 verness, &c., with sufficient celerity to enable every gardener and farmer to 

 provide against the effects of the coming storm. There is a beautiful re- 

 gularity in all nature's works ; nor do I think the progress of storms forms 

 an exception. I am aware that correct and regular observations require to 

 be made and recorded for some time from different parts of the country : 

 few have the same influence, and perhaps fewer still the same inclination, 

 as yourself to promote investigations of this nature, and if you could 

 prevail upon some one or other of your correspondents in the South of 

 England to register and communicate regularly, for every Number of your 

 Gardener's Magazine, the commencement, intenseness, and duration of 

 storms of snow, hail, thunder, direction of the wind, fall of rain, tem- 

 perature, &c., I should, if you wish it, most cheerfully contribute remarks 

 of that nature from this quarter ; and my friend Mr. Gorrie will, I doubt 

 not, cooperate from Perthshire. This would be a beginning ; and, if the 

 coincidences recorded shall be such as I anticipate, I doubt not others will 

 contribute towards settling the question. Sir, yours, &c. — John Machray. 

 HoiuicJc Garden hy Alnwick, Nor'thumberland, Aug. 23. 1830. 



A Benefit Society for Gardeners. — Some of your readers may say that 

 we have enough of benefit societies already : I agree with them ; but, in 

 my opinion, we have none suitable for the class of men I speak of, viz. 

 gardeners. Gardeners are seldom fixed in one situation for many years : 

 of what use, then, is it for a gardener to enter into a benefit society in 

 the country ? Perhaps in a few years he might be two hundred miles from 

 it : he will then either relinquish the society, or get some friend to pay the 

 subscription for him ; either of these methods is attended with inconve- 

 nience : but if a society for gardeners were established in London, as the 

 centre, a gardener in the country would then have many opportunities of 

 remitting his subscription, either by the family going there, friends, or 

 nurserymen. I think it would also meet with support from many of the 

 gardeners in and near London ; I trust the nurserymen also, or at least 

 many of them, would become honorary members, and perhaps you. Sir, 

 would subscribe your mite. In your Encyclopccdia of Gardening you have 

 given some very excellent advice to gardeners, which might be applied 



