Domestic Notices : — Englmid. 699 



In vol. ii, of the Journal of the Royal GeograjMcal Society is a very inter- 

 esting account, taken from the papers of the late Mr.Wm. Moorcroft, of 

 the floating gardens of Cashmere, where both melons and cucumbers are 

 grown in great perfection. The beds are described as only 2 ft. deep and 

 7 ft. wide, and of various lengths. — Charles M. Willich, London, Oct. 23. 

 1833. 



Foreign Grapes,— ^ We have never seen foreign grapes, whether from the 

 continent or Portugal, in greater abundance, of better quality, or cheaper, 

 than they are this season. Nothing can exceed the size and "beauty of the 

 Hamburgh or Frankenthal grapes, brought from Holland, and sold in Lon- 

 don from Is. to \s. 6d. a pound. Arriving in less than twenty-four hours by 

 the steam-packets, they have all the plumpness and bloom of fresh-gathered 

 fruit. The black Portugal grapes also arrive in little more than a week 

 by means of the steam-packets ; and though part of the bloom and fresh- 

 ness of appearance of their berries is lost, yet for eating, though not for 

 show, they are uninjured. Were there a proper demand for eating grapes 

 from Portugal, the Muscats and Frontignacs would doubtless be cultivated 

 there, when the poor man in this country would be able to have on his 

 table as good grapes as the richest. The same may be said as to the pine- 

 apple, which doubtless might be cultivated in Portugal at far less expense 

 than in England, and steam would soon transport them to the remotest 

 parts of Britain, nay of Europe, After a few more years of struggling, 

 French wines will be as cheap in England as in France. Thus, then, the 

 tendency of all things is to equalisation, and those who now produce every 

 thing will ultimately also enjoy every thing. — Cond. 



Bees a7'e particularly fond of the flowers of the snowberry bush ( Symphoria 

 racemosa Ph.) : so I find, and I would, in consequence, recommend that 

 numerous plants of this shrub be planted near to apiaries. 



Crocuses of all Kinds, in abundance, should also be planted in the same 

 situation. Their precocity will invite the bees abroad, when the air is 

 chilly; and, if the crocuses grow at a distance, the bees will be unable to 

 return to the hives. The crocuses are, besides, very ornamental, particu- 

 larly many of the new sorts, and, by their early flowering, are cheering ob- 

 jects to the human eye. — VVm. Godsall. Hertford, Oct. 16. 1833. 



I once made a list, not to be found just now, of the species of plants 

 whose flowers I had observed bees to most frequent. 1 remember that 

 the flowers of that interesting miniature shrub, the 5edum /lopulifolium, 

 Jiot. Mag. 211. (yinacampseronpopulifolia Hawor th),^N ere \\sited. as much 

 or more than the flowers of any other plant in my list. — J. D. 



Bees are remarkably fond of the flowers of the Cuscuta sinensis, now 

 (Nov. 5.) profusely in bloom, and filling the air with its fragrance, in Mr. 

 Malcolm's nursery, Kensington. -»- Condi 



Art. II. t)omestic Notices^ 



ENGLAND. 



Professor Mirbel, of the Jardin des Plaiites at Paris, and the French Go- 

 vernment Architect, M. Rohaultj were on a mission to this country, in 

 December last, for the purpose of procuring information on the construc- 

 tion of hot-houses, and on the different modes of heating them by hot 

 water, steam, &c. Neither of these gentlemen know a word of English, 

 and they only stayed in the country about a week. It is intended to reno- 

 vate the hot-houses in the Jardm des Plantes, and to exhibit there different 

 modes of construction, and of warming and ventilating. 



