664( Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 



salary and every comfort, disgusted with the unsuccessful result of his 

 labours, becomes low-spirited, and returns to a more genial climate, where 

 his professional toils are rewarded with success. {From Dr. Howison's 

 MS. Notes.) 



Spots in Leaves. — In summer, when, after some days of fine weather, a 

 storm happens, accompanied by a slight shower, and the sun appears im- 

 mediately afterwards resuming his usual strength, his beams produce upon 

 the flowers and leaves an effect similar to that of a burning glass, marking 

 them here and there with round spots. Naturalists have been much 

 puzzled about the cause, but the truth I think is this : — During fine wea- 

 ther a certain portion of dust is deposited by the wind upon the foliage as 

 well as on other places. When the shower falls upon the dust, the drops 

 collect together, and assume a rounded form, as we may observe within 

 doors on a dusty floor, when we sprinkle a little water on it. Now, these 

 little globules of water collecting upon the leaves act like c6nvex glasses, 

 and produce the same effect. If the shower happens to be heavy and to 

 last for some time, the same effect is not produced, because the dust is by 

 degrees washed off, and the drops of rain, losing their globular form, spread 

 over the leaf, and cease to exert their caustic effect. (Constable's Miscel- 

 lany, vol. x.. Table Talk, p. 65.) As you invite extracts from books, I send 

 you the above. The hypothesis is plausible, and I should like to know if 

 it coincides with your view of the subject. Every year the leaves of the 

 wall apples, pears, and cherries in my garden are more or less affected with 

 these spots, and this year particulai'ly so. The epidermis of the leaf (if I 

 may so call it), as far as it is covered with the spot, readily separates, and, 

 in its early stage, is occupied by a small brown maggot. — John Ferme. 

 Haddington, Sept. 23. 1828. 



S7iag-]3riming of Trees. — Some time ago I had occasion to be on the 

 public road, about a mile west of Paisley, and was astonished to find, in the 

 neighbourhood of that enlightened town, a number of fine old trees, con- 

 sisting of beech, ash, and elms, on which had been committed the unmerci- 

 ful operations of snag-pruning : a practice which every lover of his country 

 should try to abolish. — X Y. Z. Near Renfreiu, May 26. 1 826. 



List of a few of the rare Plants xvliich have flowered in Carlowrie Garden 

 this season. — ikf imulus moschatus, luteus var. rivularis, alatus, and gutta- 

 tus, Gentiana alpina, Bellevah'« romana, Diphylleia cymosa, Xerophyllum 

 Gsphodeloides, Chamselirium carolinianum, 6'yciamen v6'num and repan- 

 dum, iychnis fulgens, ^conitum voliibile, Zigadenus glaberrimus, Hypdxis 

 erecta, Nuttallict digitata, Silene regia, Salpiglossis atropurpiirea and sinuata, 

 Sieversia montana, triflora, and Peckfj, Astrantia minor, Dryas integrifolia, 

 Trillium pictum, 7Yis tripetala of Bot. Mag. 2886. : the plant figured by Mr. 

 Sweet in Brit. Flower Garden, pi. 274., appears to be a distinct species. — 

 David Falconar. Carlowrie, near Edinburgh, July 20. 1829. 



Cdlla cethiojnca (Rickdrdia of Kunth). — Having seen this plant in the 

 open air on a terrace at Beil, in this county, where the intelligent florist, 

 Mr. Street, informed me it stood the winter with the protection of only a 

 little litter thrown over it, I turned out a large plant, in the beginning of 

 last summer, at the foot of a wall with a west aspect. It throve remarkably 

 well, and had a fine flower on it as late as the month of November. The 

 stalk and leaves were all cut down by the subsequent frost, but I am glad 

 to see that the root is quite safe, and that it is already beginning to throw 

 up fresh shoots. I have little doubt (although it is marked as a green- 

 house plant in Sweet's Hortus Britdnnicus) that the Calla has already 

 grown in the open air in other places; but, as it is considered by most per- 

 sons as a green-house plant, I think it proper to notice it, for the purpose of 

 introducing it as an inhabitant of our borders, to which it forms an elegant 

 addition. The plant received no shelter from me, and I may mention 

 (though usually treated as an aquatic) that the situation was drj', and it 



