Domestic Notices : — Scotland. 209 



A remarkable Stone Pine (Vinus 'Pinea), growing in the pleasure-grounds at 

 Bywell Hall, near Newcastle on Tyne, the seat of T. W. Beaumont, Esq., 

 M. P., in Northumberland. The situation in which the tree grows is upon 

 the north bank of the river Tyne, and it is partly sheltered from the north- 

 west and north-east winds. The soil is of a very light nature, the subsoil 

 approaching to river sand. The dimensions of the tree are as follows : — 

 Circumference at 1 ft. from the ground, 8 ft.' 7 in. ; height of the ti'unk to the 

 branches, 11 ft.; circumference at the lowest branches, 6 ft. 3 in.; greatest 

 diameter of the branches, 44<ft. 6 in.; height from the ground to the topmost 

 branch, 44 ft. 9 in. The cones are generally from 4 J to 3 in. in length. I have 

 not been able to ascertain the age of this tree ; but, judging from its appear- 

 ance, I should suppose it to be between 60 and 70 years old, and it is supposed 

 to be the largest specimen of the kind in the north of England. It usually 

 produces a large quantity of perfect seeds ; from which many thousands of 

 young plants have been raised. I send you a specimen of the branches, 

 cones, and bark, that you may be certain of the species. [P. Pinea, as Mr. 

 Lambert and Mr. Don assure us.] — James Reid. Bretton Hall Gardens,near 

 Barnsley, Bee. 26. 1834. 



A very beautiful Specimen of Crafcs^gus Oxyacantha var. pr^cB^cox, gathered 

 in flower on Christmas-day, 1834, in the Botanic Garden, Oxford, has been 

 sent to us by the curator, Mr. Baxter. The leaves and blossoms were as 

 perfect and as beautiful as ever we saw on any in May. 



Apples cultivated in the South of England in the Sixteenth Century. — " The 

 names of apelles which I had ther graffes from Brentmarch from one Mr. 

 Pace : — Item, the appell out of Essex : the Lethercott, or russett apell ; the 

 Loundon peppen ; the Ken grueling, or the Croke ; the glass appell, or pear- 

 meane; the redd stear; the Nenies appell, or grenling; the Bellabone; the 

 appell out of Dorsettsher; the Domine quo vadis ; the Paces pear." (^Ex- 

 traded from a common-place book, written by John Trevelyan, of Nettlecomhe, 

 Somerset, in 1582.) 



In Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary, Brent marsh is said to be a district 

 containing four parishes on the west side of the Mendip hills, near the Bristol 

 Channel. — W. C. Trevelyan. Athenceum, Jan. 26. 18.35. 



A Substitute for Bellows for the purposes of fumigation is now sold, imder 

 the name of Clarke's Blower. It consists of a small tin fan-wheel, which 

 works like the fan of a winnowing machine, in one end of a tin tube ex- 

 panded at that end on purpose to receive it. The appearance of the whole is 

 that of a large horse pistol. It is said to be more durable than the common 

 bellows. 



SCOTLAND. 



Among the Prizes offered by the Caledonian Horticultural Society are some for 

 the following important articles and essays : — For discovering a mode of suc- 

 cessfully cultivating the truffle, the morel, or any of the esculent fungi, besides 

 the common mushroom, or for introducing them into places where they do not 

 grow naturally. For the introduction of any new evergreen or deciduous 

 shrub, of an ornamental character, and sufficiently hardy to withstand the 

 winter of Scotland. For the introduction of any ornamental or useful forest 

 tree, adapted to our climate. For the best model of a moss house, with an 

 account of the materials, mode of construction, and probable expense. For 

 the best model of a rustic chair, with a description of materials recommended 

 for Its construction, expense, &c. For the best communication, founded on 

 at least five years' observation, on bringing tender flowers and shrubs to such 

 a state of hardiness as to enable them to endure, in ordinary situations, the 

 climate of Scotland. For the most ample and correct list of shrubs, ever- 

 green or deciduous, or of ornamental forest trees, probably suited to the cli- 

 mate of Scotland, and which have not yet been introduced into this country : 

 the shrubs or trees may be either sj^ecies or marked varieties. For the best 



Vol. XL — No. 61. a 



