536 General Notices, 



dyce's briek tallies, particularly (fig. 12-, in VIIT. 33.), are better adapted 

 than any others we know of for naming trees and shrubs j and, as the panel 

 for containing the glass is large, we would use plate glass on account of its 

 greater thickness and strength. The name, including the English name, Lin- 

 naean and natural class and order, native country, and year of introduction, 

 and the year when the tree or shrub was planted, might all be introduced on 

 a slip of paper of the size of the panel.; and the only mode of getting this done 

 in a masterly manner is, to have the whole printed from types. This, we 

 know, from extensive experience and observation, is the only mode of insuring 

 accuracy and uniformity. Mr. Ball contemplates transferring the names from 

 a printed catalogue, which would do well for plants in pots, or herbaceous 

 plants,; but for trees and shrubs, we think a larger-sized type is requisite, and 

 therefore ,the names would have to be printed on purpose. If this were done, 

 perhaps the simplest way would be to print on stout cards, which, when 

 glazed over so as completely to exclude the atmosphere, would last a great 

 many years. If saturated with oil, their durability would be rendered still 

 more certain. — Con(L 



To dry Botanical Specimens with Despatch, Mr. Ball, in the Irish Farmer's 

 and Gardener s Magazine, ii. 266., suggests putting the plants between dry 

 flannel, and pressing them with a flannel bag full of salt. The avidity of dry 

 salt and dry wool for water, he thinks, would produce rapid desiccation, with- 

 out change of colour. 



Kyan's Patent for seasoning Timber ought to be noticed in the Gardener's 

 Magazine, in order to make it better known. It really does appear to me 

 that this is one of the most valuable discoveries that have been made for these 

 two hundred years ; and I want to have it generally introduced into practice. — 

 W, T. Bree, Allesley Rectory, near Coventry, April, 1833. 



[This invention has been noticed in most of the periodicals, and some ac- 

 count of it will be found in the Architectural Magazine for May (p. 236.). 

 It is simply a mode of preparing wood, analogous to the mode of preparing 

 leather by tanning. In the case of the leather, the tannin principle obtained 

 from oak and other barks is made use of; and it acts by combining with the 

 gelatine of the leather, and forming a durable substance of that which would 

 otherwise hasten decay. In the case of preparing timber, the preserving prin- 

 ciple is a particular preparation of mercury, called corrosive sublimate, which 

 combines with the albumen, or soft white matter of the sapwood, and renders 

 it hard and durable. The expense of preparing timber in this manner for 

 the ordinary purposes of building is estin;ated at the very moderate sum of 

 twent^^ shillings per load .; and, when it is considered that this twenty shillings 

 per load will render soft woods, and young trees of twenty or thirty years' 

 growth, as durable as the oldest and best seasoned timber, the advantage does, 

 indeed, appear almost beyond calculation. There only wants the further dis- 

 covery, which will no doubt be arrived at in time, of rendering this timber 

 completely fire-proof; and then we shall have wooden houses as safe and as 

 durable as stone ones. (See the Arch. Mag. as above; or a pamphlet by 

 Dr. Birkbeck, entitled, A Lecture on the Preservation of Timber by Kyan's 

 Patent for preventing Dry Rot, Sfc. 1835. Price Is.) — Cond. 



Early, Middle, and Late blossoming Ajoples should be distinguished in the 

 catalogues of nurserymen, to enable buyers to make a choice suitable to their 

 situations ; so that, if two sorts are spoiled with frost or insects, a third might 

 have a chance. Kirke's Lord Nelson is the latest-blowing apple I know ; it 

 is almost as late as the mulberry. — H. Loundes. Humble, near Southampton, 

 Feb. 9. 1835. 



Kidney Potatoes planted whole, it has been discovered by H. Hollist, Esq., 

 F.H.S., seldom produce more than one shoot : he suspects this may be the 

 case also with round potatoes ; and, if so, it is a strong argument against plant- 

 ing whole potatoes instead of sets. When we consider that a potato tuber 

 is nothing more than a concentrated shoot, and that shoots of trees and shrubs, 

 when planted as cuttings, or inserted as scions, often do not push from more 



