6 1 4> General Notices. 



" The winepress was of different kinds : a bag in which the grapes were put 

 and squeezed by means of two poles turning in contrary directions, a vase 

 being placed below to receive the falling juice; or a bag, supported in a frame 

 in a horizontal position, one end of the bag fixed, and the other passing 

 through a hole on the opposite side, this last end being twisted by means of a 

 rod turned with the hand. In the Thebaic!, the grapes were generally pressed 

 by the feet. Some of the presses were very ornamental, and are beautifully 

 represented in the engravings. The foot-press of the Romans bore a strong 

 resemblance to that of the Egyptians. After the wine was fermented, it was 

 poured into earthenware jars, with or without handles, like the Roman am- 

 phorae. These were closed with a lid, resembling an inverted saucer, covered 

 with liquid clay, pitch, or mortar, stamped with a seal, and were then removed 

 from the wine-house, and placed upright in the wine-cellar. The Egyptians 

 had several kinds of wine ; but that of Mareotis was the most esteemed, and 

 in the greatest quantity. It is described as white, of excellent quality, sweet 

 and light, with a fragrant bouquet, by no means astringent, or affecting the 

 head." (Vol. ii. p. 161.) 



"^he Fruit Trees cultivated by the ancient Egyptians were chiefly palms, 

 more especially the date ; but they had also figs, vines, pomegranates, the 

 sycamore fig, the myxa (Cordia Myxa £.), the olive, peach, almond, locust, 

 with a variety of others." (Vol. ii. p. 182) 



" The houses and grounds of the Egyptians were superintended by stewards, 

 who regulated the tillage of the farm, received the landlord's proportion of 

 the produce, and, when necessary, punished the peasants who laboured on the 

 estate." (Vol. ii. p. 366.) 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



PATENT flattened Crown Glass. — By means of this glass, in the ridge and 

 furrow mode of roofing invented by Mr. Paxton, a very great improvement 

 may be made in the construction of hot-houses, particularly botanic stoves. 

 The patent flattened glass is so much thicker than the common crown glass, 

 that it is in no danger of being broken by hail storms, even when used in panes 

 8 or 10 inches wide ; and, what deserves particular attention is, that these 

 panes may be made 40 in. long at the same cost per foot as ordinary-sized 

 panes. Hence, if a roof is constructed in the ridge and furrow manner, with 

 the sides of the ridge not more than 40 in. in length, there will be no lap at 

 all ; and thus a botanic stove or pinery may be constructed absolutely air-tight, 

 and much heat, which now escapes between the panes, saved. These long 

 panes will also be of great use in glazing verandas, and even common flat- 

 roofed houses, sashes for pits, hot-bed frames, &c. The cost is from Is. 3d. 

 to 35. per foot, according to the width of the pane, and the thickness of the 

 glass. The immense conservatory at Chatsworth, and the curvilinear iron 

 house now erecting in the Horticultural Society's Garden, are being glazed 

 with this description of glass. We have also lately designed a veranda up- 

 wards of 300 ft. in length, which will be so glazed. — Cond. 



Setting the Blossoms of Stillivell's Sweetwater Grape is readily effected by 

 brushing them over, when fully expanded, with a camel-hair pencil. This is 

 practised by Mr. Pond, gardener to Lady Hood, at Whitly Abbey, near Co- 

 ventry, with the greatest success. StillwelFs sweetwater will set best at 60°, 

 while the muscat of Alexandria requires from 70° to 75°. — W. Brown. Mere- 

 vale, Warwickshire, Sept. 1839. 



Increasing the Number of Flowers produced by Primula sinensis. — This is 

 done by pinching off the first crop of flowers when they appear in autumn, 

 when the second crop will come out much stronger. Practised with the 

 greatest success by Mr. Dowel, gardener to Sir George Chetwynd, Grendon, 

 near Atherstone, — W. Brown. Merevale, Warwickshire, Sept. 1839. 



