1 00 Domestic Notices. — Scotland. 



sists of a president, Henry Westmacott, Esq. ; a committee of five, a secre- 

 tary and treasurer Mr. Charles Sharp, and a number of members, with 

 amateurs and practical gardeners. The prizes are to be given on the first 

 Wednesday of May, June, July, and September. — A circulating garden 

 library would, we are inclined to think, prove highly useful at Montrose. H.L. 



Ayrshire Horticultural Library. The general annual meeting of the Ayr- 

 shire Horticultural Library took place at Ayr on the 3d November, when 

 the following office-bearers were elected. 



Mr. Thomas Skinner, preses. Committee, Messrs. James Andrew, John 

 Goudie, John Smith. Thomas Imrie, treasurer. William M'Carter, 

 librarian and clerk. 



Among the many institutions at present in the town and county of Ayr, 

 none seems to be in a more thriving state, and worthy of notice, than the 

 one above named. It is progressively advancing in number of members, 

 and consequently in number of books. It was instituted about two years 

 ago by several gardeners, and is now patronized by the first gentlemen in 

 the county. It consists of about 100 vols, of most expensive and valu- 

 able works, which are scarcely any where else to be found. They are well 

 selected by a committee of intelligent Horticulturists, and it requires simply 

 to mention the fact for the purpose of bringing the Institution more into 

 the notice of the farmers, for whose interest we rejoke to understand they 

 have determined likewise to embrace works calculated to promote the 

 science of agriculture. We hesitate not to say, that the Institution bids 

 fair to become one of the most valuable and useful libraries in this country, 

 and an honour to the county of Ayr. We understand this laudable and 

 praiseworthy example has been followed in other counties. The terms are 

 extremely moderate, and the money, when collected, is instantly laid out 

 in increasing the general stock of knowledge of Horticulture, Floriculture, 

 Agriculture, &c. — {Ayrshire Magnet.) 



We received the above after the whole of our Magazine was sent to 

 press, otherwise we should have endeavoured to procure some account of 

 the origin and rules of this very interesting institution, so much in unison 

 with our sentiments. We trust to Mr. M'Carter to supply us with this in- 

 formation for our next Number. 



" Grapes. — There is at present (Oct. 1.) growing in the open air, on the 

 front of a house with a west exposure, belonging to Mr. William Craven, 

 village of Dirleton, a most abundant crop of black cluster grapes, fully ripe. 

 Opposite the windows, where they have the benefit of the reflection of the 

 rays of the sun, they are singularly large. This is a rare occurrence in this 

 part of Scotland, being within one mile of the sea, quite exposed to the 

 west winds. Mr. Craven has bestowed great pains on the training of the 

 vines, and now considers himself more than requited for the trouble be- 

 stowed on them. The abundance of the crop may by some be attributed 

 to the mildness of the season ; but for these two years back he has reaped 

 a plentiful crop. A vine of the Black Hamburgh is growing in the open air 

 in the garden of Claud Nelson, Esq. Ardardan, which has a good crop. 

 The clusters are large and handsome, the berries well swelled, and nearly 

 as highly coloured as if they had been grown in a hot-house. This is a 

 striking effect of the almost tropical heat which prevailed in this country 

 this season. — {Fife Herald.) 



Grapes in the open Air. — As a proof of the extraordinary fineness of 

 the season, a good crop of grapes has been produced in the open air at 

 Barncluth garden, near Hamilton, a great part of which were completely 

 ripe. A few of the bunches weighed from a pound and a half to a pound 

 and three quarters ; but these were forced, in so far that either bricks, tiles, 

 or slates were placed under them, and bell-glasses above them. The gar- 



