96 General Notices. 



retains within the bosom of her population the germs, the nuclei, of diseases; 

 the food, if not the principles, of malignant epidemics. To what cause is this 

 supineness on the part of the British government to be attributed." 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



The Penny Post, as a Gardening Measure. — We cannot sufficiently express 

 our gratitude to Mr. Hill for having devised this measure, and to the present 

 chancellor of the exchequer, Mr, Baring, for having carried it into execu- 

 tion in such a prompt, straight-forward, and efficient manner. What we 

 especially admire in the carrying of it into execution is, that no exclusive 

 privileges have been reserved for any class, from the sovereign to the 

 meanest subject. The humblest journeyman gardener may now send a letter 

 as cheaply as the peer or M. P. his master. But the benefits to be derived 

 from the new system of postage are not confined to the mere cheapness of 

 letters. By introducing the principle of charging by weight, money may be 

 sent to any amount, and in any intermediate sum between a fourpenny-piece 

 and a five pound note. A journeyman gardener in London may enclose a half- 

 crown to his parent in the remotest corner of Ireland for 2d., and five or six 

 packets of seeds may be sent any where for \d. Indeed, with respect to 

 seeds, if a little trouble were taken by the sender, several hundreds of 

 sorts might be sent to any distance within the British Islands for a penny, 

 thus : — Take a sheet of letter paper, and with a rule and pencil divide the 

 second page into squares of half an inch each, leaving a margin all round 

 the page of half an inch. This will give 238 squares for as many different 

 kinds of seeds. On the first page, at the back of each square, write a number ; 

 and on the fourth page write a list of the numbers, and the kinds of seeds to 

 be placed on each square. Then, having the seeds ready, and also some 

 paste or gum water, put a coating of paste or gum over one row of squares, 

 and place a few seeds of the kinds corresponding to the numbers and list on 

 each square, gently pressing them down so that they may stick in the paste 

 or gum. Having covered all the squares in this manner, paste or gum the 

 margin which was left all round, and also paste or gum the opposite or third 

 page. Then gently press the two pages together, so as to retain all the seeds 

 in their places; and fold up the letter, and put it in an envelope. If the 

 sender is accustomed to write a small hand, the names might be written on 

 the squares instead of the numbers, and a list and envelope rendered unne- 

 cessary. The postage of a letter, so charged, if prepaid, will not exceed a 

 penny. We have tried it to the extent of seventy-three kinds of annuals, 

 which we happened to have by us, and which we sent on January 11th to our 

 correspondent Dr. Edmonston at Barasound, in the Shetland Islands. When 

 the letter arrives, it is not necessary to separate the pages, and pick out the 

 seeds. Tallies with numbers or names being prepared, each square may be 

 clipped off by itself and sown, paper, seeds, and paste together; the moisture 

 of the soil will soon release the seeds, and the gum or paste will serve as 

 nourishment to them. 



Scions and cuttings may be sent in letters, being previously painted over 

 with a wash of paste mixed with loam, to prevent evaporation ; and even 

 roots and young plants, not even excepting dahlia roots or sets of choice 

 sorts of potatoes. Dried specimens may also be sent from one botanist to 

 another to a great extent, even for \d., the dimensions of the letter containing 

 them not being larger than that of an octavo page. To nurserymen and 

 florists the new system will be of immense advantage, by enabling them to send 

 their catalogues in every direction ; while collectors of plants receiving such ca- 

 talogues, when they see a kind mentioned in them of which they are doubtful. 



