Domestic Not ices : — Scotland. 457 



removal of some nuisances. We think, were Sir Michael Bruce, or some of 

 the other gentlemen whose names have been used to forward the views of 

 Mr. Green, to take some steps to remove him from this countiy, they would 

 be rendering a great benefit to society at large. {Elgin Courier, May 23.) 



Botanical Garden at Elgin. — We have much pleasure in stating that Mr. 

 Forbes has been busy this week in commencing operations for the formation 

 of a Botanical Garden. In the present advanced state of improvement 

 throughout Scotland, we have been surprised that Elgin did not possess 

 something of the kind long before this time; but good things can never 

 come too late, and we should be happy to see, not only a good botanical 

 garden established here, but a society formed for giving prizes for the best 

 flowers, fruits, and other gifts of nature, improved by the culture of man. 

 Such a society, we believe, formerly existed here, but from some cause 

 was given up. Since that time, however, a great difference appears to have 

 taken place in the taste for flowers ; and situations where we used to see no 

 brighter flowers than kale rising to seed, are now decked with many of Flora's 

 most beautiful ornaments. Let us, therefore, endeavour to form a new society 

 for the farther encouragement of a taste for beautiful flowers, and we shall do 

 more for the happiness of our fellow-creatures than all the temperance socie- 

 ties which have ever existed, by inducing the labourer and artisan to employ 

 their leisure hours in improving their little spots of ground, instead of idling 

 away their time. We might improve upon the plan of the former society, by 

 having exhibitions quarterly in some pleasant spot near the town, instead of 

 in the Assembly Rooms as formerly ; and, if no better place can be found, we 

 shall be happy to afford our own garden for that purpose. {Ibid., May 23. 

 1834.) 



Plants of the Forest Trees indigenous to Van Diemen's Land have been raised 

 from seeds by Dr. Rolland of Montrose; and it is stated in the Scotsman 

 newspaper of July 16., that Dr. Graham of Edinburgh thinks that one of 

 them is likely to prove of so hardy a description, as to attain a considerable 

 size in the open air in the climate of Edinburgh. It is stated to be a very 

 beautiful plant, probably a eucalyptus. Dr. Rolland is said to be well 

 acquainted with the flora of Van Diemen's Land, and to have a very interest- 

 ing collection in his garden at Montrose. Should he see this, we shall be 

 very much obliged to him for some account of his garden, and particularly for 

 the name of the species which is thought (according to the Report of the 

 Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, as given in the above paper) 

 likely to endure the open air in Scotland. 



The Wheat Grains from Caraccas, kindly sent by you last season, of the 

 earliness of which so much was written in the newspapers, I sowed part of, 

 at the same time with my field wheat, near the end of October. It stood the 

 winter well, and came into ear on the 30th of May, just thirteen days earlier 

 than common wheat in the same field. Although I never entertained extra- 

 vagant notions as to having in this northern climate anything like two crops 

 in a season, yet, if it ripens, as I trust it may, a fortnight earlier than the or- 

 dinary varieties, it may be of immense importance in the agriculture of this 

 part of the kingdom, which is near the northern limits of growing wheat, if 

 not nearly on a level with high-water tides. At this place, the highest eleva- 

 tion at which wheat can be cultivated with success, is 400 ft. above the level 

 of the sea. It so happens that a farm on this estate, which I occupy, extends 

 in height from 300 to nearly 800 ft., so that I have an excellent opportunity 

 of proving whether the new wheat may extend the limits hitherto fixed for 

 the culture of that important grain. One good thing I remark is, that it does 

 not seem so liable to rust as many other varieties of that grain are on their 

 first introduction. I will hereafter communicate to you its time of ripen- 

 ing, quality, and appearance of fertility ; and, in short, will pay to it all the 

 attention it may deserve. — A. Gorrie. 



