General Notices. 319 



tnetal, in consequence of which it is much stronger than lead wire alone. 

 Thus, a foot in length of No. 14 lead wire will carry 14 lbs. and be broken by 

 15 lbs.; while No. 14 metallic wire will carry 20 lbs. a foot, while 21 lbs. will 

 break it. This shows the latter to be 5 lbs. stronger than the lead wire. Mr. 

 Rowland adds, that wii'e formed of lead alone does not draw kindly, and can 

 only be produced in short lengths, while that with the alloys which he puts to 

 it can be drawn Into lengths of 40 yards or upwards. The advantages of this 

 wire for garden purposes promises to be, its softness, pliability, and durability. 

 For all these properties it has greatly the advantage of copper or brass wire, 

 which is tough, rigid, and very apt to cut, and otherwise injure the bark of 

 plants tied with it. Messrs. F. and J. Dickson, of the Chester Nursery, in- 

 form us, that they have " used this wire for some time, and found it exceed- 

 ingly useful in tying up almost all kinds of plants, attaching labels, &c." 

 Where a durable tie is wanted, and one which will not injure the tree, we 

 certainly think that this wire has advantages over every other tie that we have 

 heard of; for attaching labels to specimen trees in a shrubbery or arboretum 

 it seems well adapted, and also for labelling trees which are to be packed and 

 sent to a great distance. For all ordinary garden purposes, however, we should 

 prefer common garden matting, not only on account of the cheapness of the 

 material, but because it requires less labour in the tying. We state this to 

 prevent it from being supposed that we think, because this wire is good for 

 many things, that it is good for every thing. Ideas of this kind are often 

 propagated with regard to useful inventions, but the invariable consequence 

 is an injury both to the inventor and to the public. By endeavouring to 

 prove the suitableness of an article for universal application, which is only 

 adapted for being applied partially, we lead to its ceasing to be applied at all. 

 We recommend gardeners and nurserymen to give this wire a fair trial. The 

 price seems to be Qd. for a pound drawn into two yards, and \s. Qd. for a 

 pound drawn into 60 yards ; the latter being the smallest size, and the former 

 the largest. 



Prepared Zinc Labels for Plants of different sizes and shapes have been 

 sent to us. They are written upon with an ink of a particular description, 

 which forming a combination with the metal is said to be indelible. The ink 

 is sold at 1*. Qd. a bottle, and the labels at various prices, from 3.5. a hundred 

 to 12.?.; the latter being for a plate of metal 5a in. by 3 in. with two holes 

 pierced, for the purpose of nailing it to a wooden shank or rod, or riveting it 

 to one of iron or other metal. These labels certainly promise well. They 

 are cheap, as easy to write upon as paper, and as they are thin and narrow, 

 and pointed at one end for sticking in the ground, they are easily stuck in or 

 taken out, and not likely to injure the roots of plants. They may be ordered 

 through any seedsman. — Cond. 



Of what the ink is composed that is used for writing upon these labels we 

 are not informed by the gentleman who sent them ; but an ink which answers 

 the same purpose is prepared by Mr. Hawkins, of Pancras Vale, Middlesex ; 

 and the following composition is mentioned in the Horticulteur Beige as the 

 invention of M. Symon, of Brussels, and as resisting the effects of air and rain 

 on zinc : — Reduce equal parts of verdigris and sal-ammoniac to powder ; add 

 a fourth part of lampblack, and five parts of water. Mix the composition 

 well in a stone mortar ; add the water gradually, and take care to shake the 

 composition before it is used. 



Apples are kept nearly till apples come again by H. H , Esq , in a shed 



placed against the north end of a barn at in Sussex. The shed is 



a span roof, with one end placed against the barn, and the other quite open. 

 The side walls have no openings in them whatever, so that air and light are 

 admitted only at one end. Along the middle of the shed there is a wall as 

 high as the ridge of the roof, and against the wall shelves 3 ft broad are fixed, 

 at the distance of 2 ft. one over the other, from the ground to the top of the 

 wall. The apples are laid on the shelves as they are taken from the trees to 



