38' General Notices, 



liming the plant would force it on prematurelj', and that after a brief season 

 of remarkable growth it would be found deficient in stamina, and decline as 

 rapidly as it had arisen. Experience and observation have dispelled these 

 fears. The plants are thriving steadily and vigorously in the most exposed 

 parts of the forest ; and, the dangerous period of their existence being over, 

 there seems no doubt that they will co tinue to assert and maintain their 

 superiority of growth over their brethren of the forest. Indeed, we anticipate 

 that in a short time lime will be universally used for this purpose, as it is in 

 the operations of agriculture. The person that first used lime for manuring 

 his land in Ross-shire was Major Mackenzie of Fodderty, and many of his 

 neighbours shook their heads in wonderment and pity at the adoption of such 

 a scheme for " burning up the land." The worthy major, however, triumphed 

 over all the unbelievers of the district, and has lived to see the universal 

 adoption of lime, as well as another potent auxihary of the soil, bone dust. 

 May we not hope for a similar result as to the application of lime in our 

 forest plantations ? With respect to quality of soil, we need only remark 

 that, wherever ferns grow strong and abundantly, oaks will thrive and prosper; 

 and it is on a soil of this description that lime has been found to answer in 

 the nurture of plants. (^Inverness Courier, Oct. 16. 1839.) 



New Kinds of Wheat. — I herewith give you the particulars of the cultiva- 

 tion of fifty-five sorts of wheat which you so kindly submitted to me for 

 experiment. The conclusion arrived at from the cultivation of the small 

 wheats (Triticum sativum) may be briefl}' stated, viz. that they are every 

 one inferior to the most approved sorts grown in the district, with which they 

 were compared. The Ble de Lammas rouge sans barbe is probably the best, 

 being hardy, healthy, and productive, and the grain being of good quality, 

 but it is deficient in produce of straw, and from its velvety chaff is liable to 

 be damaged from wet in harvesting. The Poulards or Rivets promise 

 better. Three varieties I have chosen for further experiment j Patineille 

 blanc d'orient, for its superior grain, Poularde d'Auvergne a epilony, for early 

 maturity and productiveness, and also Ble de St. Helena. I need scarcely say 

 that the experiment has been highly interesting in affording an opportunity 

 for observation, and especially in exemplifying the difference of habit in the 

 same plant, some varieties being found so much more liable to be affected 

 by mildew, red gum, fly, or lodging, than others, — John Clarke. Saffron 

 Walden, Nov. 15. 1839. 



Sida Abutilon L., a malvaceous annual, has lately been brought into cul- 

 ture by W. Taylor, F.L.S., of Holbrooke, near Ipswich. From experiments 

 it appears that the plants succeed best when sown in May, as they arrive at 

 perfection in three months and a half The quantity of seed required for an 

 acre, when sown in drills, is about 8 lb. Mr. Taylor sowed 5 rods of ground 

 at Old Brompton, which produced 50 lb. of fibre, or at the rate of 15 cwt. 

 of saleable fibre per acre. Some of the fibre he had manufactured into ex- 

 cellent ropes, by Mr. Buckingham, hemp and flax manufacturer, Broad Street, 

 Bloorasbury. The maceration of the smaller stalks is finished in about six 

 days, and of the larger in twelve days. Mk\v^. crispa, M. peruviana, and 

 M. mauritiana also produce fibre which might be applied to the same pur- 

 pose as that of Sida Abutilon ; more especially ilialva crispa, a very common 

 annual in British gardens. — W. T. London, Nov. 1839. 



Madia satha. — This new oil plant, first brought into notice in this Maga- 

 zine by M. Hertz of Stuttgard, has been grown on a considerable scale last 

 summer, by Mr. Taylor, at Holbrooke, near Ipswich. One acre of very poor 

 stiff clay loam, which otherwise would have been left a naked fallow, was 

 sown on March 5. with 5 lb. of seed; and, about the middle of August, the 

 crop was mown and dried like hay, and carried to the barn and threshed. 

 The produce was 33 bushels of fine seed : 8 bushels of this seed weigh 320 lb. ; 

 and 3201b. yielded 50 lb. of oil, and 1081b. of oilcake. The total pro- 

 duce of the acre was 2501b. of oil, and 410 lb. of oilcake. The oiMs 

 worth 5s, a gallon of 7 lb. ; so that, independently of the value of the oil- 



