Journal des Jardiniers et Amateurs. 445 



collection of medical plants, or of plants used in agriculture or in the arts ; 

 no model school of horticultural operations, such as grafting, &c, as in the 

 Paris garden; and no library or botanical museum. The range of hot-houses 

 is 400 ft. long. The other particulars of this garden will be found in our 

 eighth volume, as above referred to. 



An article by Poiteau, taken from the Annates cV Horticulture de Paris, 

 examines the question as to whether white or black walls are preferable for 

 fruit trees. Black walls are preferred where the exposure is directly south, 

 as moderating the heat during sunshine, and increasing it in the sun's absence. 

 Smooth white walls, facing the south, reflect so much heat during sunshine, 

 that they are apt to scorch the branches of peach trees ; but, for east and west 

 walls, a white polished surface produces no injury. 



Passing over several articles, we come to a mode of destroying moles, 

 which is by placing in their runs earthworms which have been sprinkled with 

 the powder of mix vomica two days before, and left in a pot or in a heap till 

 they become swelled, so as no longer to be able to bury themselves in the soil. 

 The moles eat them, and of course are poisoned. A slight variation of this 

 mode has been already noticed, (p. 234.) 



To give apples an agreeable perfume, Bosc long ago directed them to be 

 mixed with a few dried elder flowers, and it is now found that a similar effect 

 is produced by a few truffles. Elder flowers, cloves, and a little garlic are 

 said greatly to improve vinegar. Thatching gooseberry bushes, in the manner 

 done with beehives, during winter, is said to be one of the best modes for pre- 

 serving the ripe fruit on them for a long time. Tomatoes, when ripe, may be 

 preserved a year in a strong solution of salt in water, without boiling, or any 

 culinary preparation whatever. When taken out of the brine for use, they 

 must be steeped some hours in fresh water. The common privet is highly 

 praised as a hedge plant ; its leaves contain a great quantity of tannin, and it 

 is said to be cultivated in Silesia for the tanners. The leaves are gathered 

 from the hedges when they are clipped in the month of June ; they are dried 

 in the sun, or in stoves, and afterwards reduced to powder ; in which state 

 they are sold to the manufacturer. The leaves, when green, are eaten by 

 cows and sheep, but not by horses. The shoots of the privet are useful for 

 tying articles, and hence the origin of its Latin name ligustrum. In Bel- 

 gium, the shoots are used for basket-making, like those of the osier, and as 

 props for vines ; the wood generally makes a superior description of charcoal, 

 which is used in manufacturing gunpowder, and the old wood is valued by 

 turners for the closeness of its grain, and because it is not liable to be attacked 

 by insects. The berries afford winter nourishment to thrushes and other 

 birds ; they supply a green fluid, used in colouring maps, &c, and a dark sub- 

 stance, used in colouring wine ; but the most valuable product obtained from 

 them is a greenish, mild, agreeably flavoured oil, which may be used both for 

 culinary purposes and lamps, or for making soap. For making oil, the berries 

 are put into a cask for twelve or fifteen hours ; they are then taken out and 

 ground, and afterwards pressed, and the oil skimmed off. The marc, or mass 

 of husks and seeds, is then ground a second time, heated and moistened, and 

 again pressed, when a supply of oil of an inferior description is obtained, 

 which is used for coarser purposes. 



The flowers of the lime tree infused in cold water are antispasmodic ; and 

 in hot water they make an agreeable kind of tea. The leaves and young 

 shoots are mucilaginous, and may be employed in poultices and fomentations. 

 The tree will clip into any form of hedge, avenue, or bower ; it grows rapidly 

 in all calcareous and flinty soils, especially if they are slightly humid. The timber 

 is better adapted than any other for the purposes of the carver; it will take 

 any form whatever ; it admits of the greatest sharpness in the minute details, 

 and it is cut with the greatest ease. It is also used for sounding-boards 

 for pianos and other musical instruments. But the peculiar use of the lime 

 is the formation of mats from its inner bark. In June, when the leaves begin 

 to develope themselves, and the tree is full of sap, branches or stems, of from 



Vol. X. — No. 54. ii 



