90 Foreign Notices. — North America. 



Thongs of twisted leather- are used in Poland and Russia, instead of 

 tanned leather, in the harnessing of horses. The skins are prepared by 

 drying, steeping in warm water to get rid of the hair; drying again, and 

 then steeping in hot grease. After this several thongs are tied together at 

 the ends, and twisted by fastening one end to the floor, and turning the 

 other round by a stick. The heat, the grease, and the continued twisting 

 and untwisting, softens the leather, and renders it fit for use. Such a prac- 

 tice may sometimes require to be resorted to by emigrants in uncultivated 

 regions. {Bull. Univ.) 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Linnean Botanic Garden, Flushing, near New York, Feb. 14th, 1826. 

 We have received an account of this extensive establishment from its pro- 

 prietor Mr. Prince, that we cannot but think will be gratifying to our 

 readers. The efforts of Americans in every useful art are gigantic like their 

 country. " This establishment," Mr. Prince observes, " is so much 

 larger and more extensive than any other, or than all others com- 

 bined in America, that I have no doubt it would be a matter of surprise 

 to you in so new a country. The collection of young fruit trees, plants 

 and flowers, alone, covers 52 acres compactly filled. — The green-houses 

 are 200 feet by 30. — The number of species and varieties exceeds 8000. 

 The collection of oranges is the best known out of Italy, and the collection 

 of fruits equal to any in the world, having culled the most select from 

 Brussels, the north of France, Paris and its vicinity, and Marseilles and the 

 rest of the south of Fiance Those offered for sale as very select, after 

 rejecting several hundred kinds of European inferior varieties, are as fol- 

 low : apples, 172 varieties; pears, 202 ; plums, 140; cherries, 76; apri- 

 cots, 25; peaches, 84; nectarines, 16 ; almonds, 14; quinces, 8 ; mul- 

 berries, 14; figs, 17; currants, 15; raspberries, 15; grapes, 345; 

 strawberries, 21 ; roses, 610 ; ornamental trees of the largest size, 80 ; ditto 

 second size, 65; ornamental shrubs, 150; evergreens, 65; hardy vines and 

 creepers, 68 ; pseonies, 41 ; carnations, 115 ; Chinese chrysanthemums, 32 ; 

 iris 54 distinct species, and varieties innumerable ; hardy herbaceous plants, 

 above 1000 species; hj'acinths, 588 varieties; tulips, 620; amaryllis, 60; 

 and other bulbs in proportion ; oranges, near 40 ; camellias, 32 ; and the 

 v/hole collection of green-house and hot-house plants exceeding 2500 

 species. — With regard to fruits, I have for 50 years pursued the principle 

 of planting out specimen fruit trees of every variety, to ascertain deci- 

 sively as to their correctness ; and I have now above 1200 varieties, which 

 stand as bearing trees to afford permanently genuine grafts, and to show 

 the genuine kinds to persons visiting the establishment. I take as my 

 guide for French fruits, Duhamel, the Bon Jardinier, and the government 

 publications. I have originated a great many extremely valuable fruits by 

 mixture of the pollen ; one of the oldest, and which is of about 50 years' 

 standing, is the Princes St. Germain, originated by my mixing the pollen of 

 the Virgouleuse with the St. Germain, and it is known throughout our 

 country as one of the finest fruits ; the original tree is now full, and if I 

 can recall it to mind, I will send you a box of the pears this season. I 

 estimate very highly the experiments making by the Hort. Soc. ; but the 

 theory as to the duration of fruits for a certain period, and that they then 

 become universally extinct, can be very easily overturned, as I will shew you 

 hereafter. I am at this moment engaged in tasting the fruits of every 

 section of Europe in order to arrange the synonyms, and you will see 

 when my pamphlet catalogue reaches you, that I have paid great attention 

 to that particular." 



